Marie's 175g mixed reef (new pics added jan 27)

[Myka]

Originally Posted by marie

Yep, they're 250w. I got them from Premium Aquatics in the states

Ah ok. You say you think they were a tad too blue for your liking, how do you like them now they have burned in? Have you seen the DE version? If so, how do you think compares? I'm interested because I just bought a pair of Phoenix SE from The Reef Shoppe, and I don't have my SE setup made yet (running DE right now), so I'm excited to see what they look like. I haven't seen the Phoenix SE lit up yet.

[marie]

Hi Myka, yes I still find them a tad too blue for my liking but then I'm a big fan of the xm 10k's

I am using a HQI ballast to fire them and they are a bit bluer then the phoenix DE's I have on my other tank but the bulbs on my other tank are also over a year old.

[Myka]

Ohhh, ok well that makes sense then! I'm going to fire my SEs with electronic ballasts. Thanks for the info!

[marie]

It's been a long while since I updated this because things haven't been doing great in the tank. I was kinda neglecting it a bit in the hopes of moving everything to a bigger tank.......that dream has had to be put on hold and seeing as how the tank has recently had it's 5th birthday I figured I should post something

FTS (the lighting is a bit weird because I am trying out 2 phoenix bulbs with a 10k xm in the middle, I don't like it and will be going back to 3 10k xms shortly)

[Greenmaster]

Some of your colonies look like they need a little piece cut off here/there. I know somewhere that they could go hehe. But in all seriousness the tank loos awesome. Just a minor lighting issue

[marie]

The fish
These guys will have been in the tank for 5 yrs this june as well as an orchid dottyback who is totally camera shy






4 yrs in the tank are a pair of mandarins. The female refuses to get her picture taken



3 yrs last feb



2 yrs, a pair of potters angels



and because he is too big to miss a 3 yr old long spined urchin

[marie]

and last of all, a couple of pics of my favorite tank at the moment....my 120g tank

[SeaHorse_Fanatic]

Gorgeous fish Marie. Congrats on hitting the 5 year mark.

[Myka]

I just looked at the pics with the XM and Phoenix side by side, and your SE are much bluer on the magnetic ballasts than mine are on my electronic ballasts. Even with 2x54w UVL Super Actinic running beside them mine aren't as blue as yours.

Congrats on 5 years!

[PoonTang]

Would it help to motivate you on your upgrade if Christy and I came over and stole all the corals out of your 175G ?