Dez' Tank Journal

[Dez]

Originally Posted by Madreefer

Hey Dez your corals still look great! Are you still running those LEDs? Since I put up mine I too have been getting some algae on the sandbed. I think it's due to the lights. But after reading what you posted about the flow that might also be a factor. Alot of my corals have grown alot and I dont really seem to get the undertow anymore on the sandbed. Is this hijacking? Sorry if it is.

I couldn't stand the fan noise of those LEDs so I sold them and DIY'ed some of my own and am running 3 AI sols. Have been running the Sols since July. Found a couple used ones and bought one new one. I've been slowly doing weekly siphons and it seems to help. I shouldn't have ignored the cyano that long, but had to get outside work done while it was warm outside.

[Dez]

Here's a couple of shots from 5 mins ago. Man, this is the first time I've tried to take top down pics with LEDs and it is darn near impossible. It fools the camera into thinking everything is blue, so these are all with flash.

Snappy's Super grape Mili grown from a 3/4" frag. To the left of it is my Saltynuts acro. I sold the entire colony which barely fit in a 5 gal pail and it's growing back now. I snapped it off at the base when I sold the colony, it was almost at the water's surface.


Pink Pocci and Green Mili


Frost polyps acro (originally from Lobsterboy), that purple one was a tiny brown frag, and the teal one is a grow back of a colony that I sold as well.


Montipora Spongides from Snappy (grown from a 1.5" frag)


One of my original corals - humilus (slow grower)

[Delphinus]

I wish my tank would look half as nice as your tank when it's "crappy" like this!

Very jealous man. Nice colonies and great colours and good overall health of the corals themselves. I'm sure in time things will bounce back up too, esp. now that it's winter and we'll all (presumably) spending more time indoors and stuff..

[MarkoD]

I've been battling with a cyano problem with a month now and have finally found a way to get rid of it. Put a filter sock on the drain and scrub everything while having all power heads on full. And cleaning sock every 30 min.
Also used a power head to blow off all buildup on rocks.

No cyano for 3 days now

[lastlight]

supergrape looks awesome man. I mounted all my corals so close together and unfortunately the supergrape I got from you has been light-starved for ages. Just has to survive a little longer and then I'll be happy to colour it up half that nice.

Besides the fans... did you feel the 1w LEDs were cutting it?

Originally Posted by MarkoD

I've been battling with a cyano problem with a month now and have finally found a way to get rid of it. Put a filter sock on the drain and scrub everything while having all power heads on full. And cleaning sock every 30 min.
Also used a power head to blow off all buildup on rocks.

No cyano for 3 days now

You're describing my current rock-curing regimen to a T =) I am using a very fine mesh bag and it requires a cleaning several times a day but it's paying off. I also use a long hose with an mj1200 on the end of it... stuffed right into the sock so you can calmly vacuum as long as you want. Be good for cyano removal too.

[BlueTang<3]

Originally Posted by Dez

I couldn't stand the fan noise of those LEDs so I sold them and DIY'ed some of my own and am running 3 AI sols.

So how many leds would u say u are running equivalent to 5 ai sol fixtures? What spectrum are you running the leds on?

[doch]

She still looks really good Dez!! Must be nice to have a green thumb with this stuff!!

[Dez]

Originally Posted by doch

She still looks really good Dez!! Must be nice to have a green thumb with this stuff!!

Thanks Johnny, it definitely isn't the same as it's "glory" days. Soon the cyano will be gone and I'll like it again. Now that winter is here, I'll probably look at it more - meaning I'll take better care of it.

[doch]

Originally Posted by Dez

Thanks Johnny, it definitely isn't the same as it's "glory" days. Soon the cyano will be gone and I'll like it again. Now that winter is here, I'll probably look at it more - meaning I'll take better care of it.

What's your plan for the Cyano Dez? Chemi clean? Or some less effective, non-cheating route?

I too ordered up Sol Blues... going to be running 4 on my tank, and I can't wait. I sure wish that I would have made the choice before I JUST bought my t5s. lol... oh well, money grows on trees, right??? I just need to find that damn tree!

[Dez]

Originally Posted by doch

What's your plan for the Cyano Dez? Chemi clean? Or some less effective, non-cheating route?

I too ordered up Sol Blues... going to be running 4 on my tank, and I can't wait. I sure wish that I would have made the choice before I JUST bought my t5s. lol... oh well, money grows on trees, right??? I just need to find that damn tree!

It's been better lately, last 2 water changes I've been plain old siphoning it out. So if I keep that up it should go away. I replaced my RO/DI filters too. I tried GFO - won't ever do that again. Bleached all the tips of my coral (1/2 lb in a mesh bag in the sump passively).