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07/20/2013, 09:11 PM | #1326 |
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I would be amazed if someone doesn't pick this one up for a book on reef aquariums.
Dave.M
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My Gawd! It's full of corals! Current Tank Info: None. Nil. Zip. Nada. |
07/20/2013, 09:26 PM | #1327 | |
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Quote:
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The solution, to pollution, is dilution... Current Tank Info: 180 |
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07/26/2013, 12:42 PM | #1328 | |||
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In the interim, here's a little tease:
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- Mike & Terry "Less technology, more biology ... indeed." - Gary White Current Tank Info: 200g temp garage tank Last edited by prop-frags; 07/26/2013 at 12:48 PM. |
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07/26/2013, 04:50 PM | #1329 |
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Mike, love this thread. Amazing labor of love.
Re: your CO2 scrubber; was wondering if you just poured the media into the tlf reactor and connected to your skimmer? I was reading on the brs website and they say to add water in their reactor then the media into the canister. I know you're using the tls reactor so that may not be necessary. Just wondering how you installed your scrubber. Thx. |
07/27/2013, 05:30 AM | #1330 |
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I started reading back from the beginning and learning a ton of stuff. I see you got another flame angel. Felt bad when you lost the one you had for 8 years. Looking back would you do anything different? Especially the 4 way closed loop etc?
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The solution, to pollution, is dilution... Current Tank Info: 180 |
07/27/2013, 06:16 AM | #1331 |
Reefing is my middle name
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Teaser pics are always welcomed. They are inspirational.
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07/29/2013, 07:00 PM | #1332 |
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I always knew you guys took the best photos on all of reef central, but these two just really hit me as raising the bar even higher! I am specifically compelled to ask with the coral shot, how do you get such perfect clarity over such a large area of the entire coral? Specifically, what lens, what aperture, flash or not, tripod, underwater or not, with flow or without flow?
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^ Click on my username and 'Visit Taqpol's Home Page!" to view my 220 gallon custom Miracles tank! -Alex |
07/29/2013, 07:04 PM | #1333 |
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amazing tank and livestock
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75 g tall mixed reef 40 gallon softies 400+ Display/650 mixed reef up and running! Current Tank Info: 70 & 20 gallon reefs with tons of zoos, and others |
07/31/2013, 01:46 PM | #1334 |
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That time of year for low ph!
Do you mind me asking were you found the buckets of granular soda lime? |
07/31/2013, 01:55 PM | #1335 |
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brs currently sells them.
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08/01/2013, 09:38 PM | #1336 | |||||
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As far as what we'd do different, there's a long list. Let me see if I can think of a few of the top ones:
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Thanks for the support everyone. We do appreciate it.
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- Mike & Terry "Less technology, more biology ... indeed." - Gary White Current Tank Info: 200g temp garage tank |
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08/02/2013, 03:19 PM | #1337 |
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Thanks! the small brs containers of soda lime don't last long with a big skimmer pulling air through.
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08/03/2013, 02:33 PM | #1338 | |
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Quote:
Mark...
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The solution, to pollution, is dilution... Current Tank Info: 180 |
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08/12/2013, 12:42 PM | #1339 |
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Long time follower...great beauty.
Can you refresh me on current lighting and thoughts compared to the Radiums and whatnot you have ran in the past. Beautiful all around work of art!! |
08/13/2013, 10:31 AM | #1340 | |
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Ah yes, the lighting. The lighting schedule is shown back on post #625 , and remains accurate. As for the bulbs, we are currently running URI VHO actinics and the MH bulbs are Ushio 14,000K. We get many questions about the 14K vs Radium (or other 20K bulbs), and our experience is that there are advantages and disadvantages, and as you would expect, it comes down to preference. The 20K bulbs highlight some colors (particularly greens) and have more of a ultraviolet "pop" to colors that fluoresce. That said, we observe better overall coral growth and color balance with the Ushio 14K bulbs. The lower spectrum bulbs highlight lighter colors (especially red). So while many seem to prefer the "deep water" look of high spectrum bulbs, the 20K is just too blue for our preference. That coupled with the marked difference in coral growth, leads us to use the 14K bulbs. We recently tried the Ushio 20K bulb. It was nice; a bit brighter than Radiums (seems like more PAR, but that was not a quantified observation, strictly judging by eye), but still too blue for our tastes. We did a side-by-side comparison with the Ushio 14K bulb, and still prefer the 14K. Again, overall it's about trade-offs. Some of the impressive Japanese SPS tanks we've seen have invested in spot lighting; putting high-spectrum spot bulbs on green/blue corals, and using lower-spectrum spots on yellow/reds. That is probably the ultimate solution to the problem. A way to have cake and eat it, too.
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- Mike & Terry "Less technology, more biology ... indeed." - Gary White Current Tank Info: 200g temp garage tank |
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08/13/2013, 11:20 AM | #1341 |
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Thanks for the elaborate explanation. Pictures and colors look excellent! Do you know what T-5's would be close to the VHO 454's?
Also when are you changing bulbs out? 9mos? 1yr? Have you ever measured PAR? |
08/13/2013, 11:24 AM | #1342 |
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Your reef is wonderful. A true inspiration and have read your post a while ago. I decided to write and show my admiration.
The quality of your photos are professionals. Cheers!!
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ZEOVIT Dream Tank of the Quarter of 2011. DTQM Current Tank Info: 1700 liters (445 G), Tunze and Reef Octupus Skimmers, 6 MP40 Vortech, Zeovit Reactor, light 8 T5 and 4 MH, Balling powered |
08/21/2013, 06:13 PM | #1343 | ||
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Quote:
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- Mike & Terry "Less technology, more biology ... indeed." - Gary White Current Tank Info: 200g temp garage tank |
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08/21/2013, 10:43 PM | #1344 |
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I must say that this tank is overdue for a TOTM!
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Metal Halide Connoisseur! |
09/08/2013, 07:38 PM | #1345 |
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Thanks. Que Sera Sera. We'll just keep plugging away.
How about a little teaser. We are doing some work out in the garage: Top and bottom frames: A few pocket holes with the Kreg jig: The legs come together: A little dry-fit: Glued and screwed:
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- Mike & Terry "Less technology, more biology ... indeed." - Gary White Current Tank Info: 200g temp garage tank |
09/08/2013, 09:47 PM | #1346 |
RAIDER NATION!
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What's the new stand for?
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09/27/2013, 01:03 AM | #1347 |
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We're replacing our dysfunctional frag tank with a custom acrylic tank. The dimensions of the new tank are 48"Lx24"Wx12"H.
The tank will be delivered and installed next Friday (10/4) which is the weekend before our annual Reef Party - WOOT! In the meantime, the stand has been primed and painted: We also setup temporary housing (50g stock vat) for our frag tank livestock and have moved most of the corals/frags over:
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- Mike & Terry "Less technology, more biology ... indeed." - Gary White Current Tank Info: 200g temp garage tank |
09/27/2013, 04:56 AM | #1348 |
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Looks good Mike. What is the square thing in the vat. A skimmer?
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09/27/2013, 11:53 AM | #1349 |
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Thanks Wayne! And yes, that black box is a skimmer (Tunze DOC 9004).
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- Mike & Terry "Less technology, more biology ... indeed." - Gary White Current Tank Info: 200g temp garage tank |
09/29/2013, 07:59 AM | #1350 |
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Absolutely Stunning Tank!!
The 300 DD is my dream tank, and you've done a phenomenal job on your build. This makes me want my upgrade even more!! Do you find it difficult to work in the tank being 36" wide. My current tank is only 24" wide and I can't reach the bottom back of the tank without going for a swim ... just wondering if you've had any issues if corals fall etc. |
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