help a 150g newb - let's do this reef together

[lastlight]

With halides of course the heat issues would almost force you to use 2 lights and scape with two towers with a center valley. I'm asking not so much about the light penetration but the safety of have the LEDs over the glass brace. I'm thinking it would be ok as the fixtures are all designed to draw most of the heat out the top right?

[jon in alberta]

Hi All,

I have the coral in the tank ... here is a pic. Let me know what you think. I still have to add about 20 lbs of live rock when the time comes (probably this weekend). Also, I have vacuumed out all the plastic chips from the eggcrate (before you post about that)



I will be adding the sand shortly. I guess I can still move the corals after the sand and water ... but it will be a pain in the butt.

Thanks to asmodeus with the pillars suggestion - I kinda went for that on the left.

I bought the Vertex Illumina 260 from Red Coral (Randy here in Calgary was a big help). So I will be busy tonight hanging the LEDs and putting finishing touches on the stand.

[Nano]

that a neat aquascape so far! I like how one side will have more open space and the other will have caves, its balanced in that sense! good job

[jon in alberta]

another pic.



here is a close up of the arches, before I put in the rock behind. Again, I am still filling in the seams between the coral with little rocks to make it look like one big continuous coral.

still have to find room for the live rock ... I wonder where I'll put that.

[Nano]

I would put the live rock in your sump, that way you can keep the open space in your tank for coral, and swimming, plus the live rock will still seed your tank. thats just my opinion though

[jon in alberta]

Hi all,

back from holiday (10 days). I was really excited to see what the live rock I put in my new tank did.

Well here is a close up picture:



as you can see from this close up of a small fragment, there is some algae growing. Also, there is a whole bunch of brown 'film' all over the place.

My plan is to monitor water chem (to see if it has settled down) and maybe introduce a snail or another invertebrate. Suggestions please?

[jon in alberta]

calling all lighting enthusiasts ... share your thoughts about my lighting set up. What should i be doing at this phase of my tank (or does it really matter?)

I would be happy to try out your Vertex program file - if you want to share it with me.

Below is a screenshot of the vertex control panel, for the 'day' settings. as you may be able to see I have blue, royal blue, and white. How would you tinker with the timing, ramp time and intensity?

Thanks!

[jon in alberta]

Hi All,

Long time away - I have been busy, and also busy with the tank. But I come back to you again with an issue:

I have purchased an Elegance Coral from the LFS and it was fine, then it started swelling up (see the pic; sorry about the blue, I did't want to colour correct in fear that I might mis-represent the problem).

I did some reading, and it seems there are many issues (from protazoa to too much flow to pestering hermits) but the one I thought it might be is the lighting. I won't go into detail on my tank conditions (unless someone thiks that it is that), but I ask this: is my vertex illummnia 260 lighting too bright? I had the led whites turned up the highest (actually higher than in the picture of the previous post) - and from what I have read it seems that I may have sunburned my Elegance Coral.

Does this sound (and look) like a potential?

any Elegance Coral keepers with Vertex Illumina 260 or just using LEDs out there?

Thanks.

[reefwars]

imo elegance are the trickiest lps to keep, its by far my favorite coral but its very fragile.


they love the light but its possible to burn them up their flesh is very delicate and they do not heal well unless your tank is VERY healthy.


elegance do not tend to do so well in new tanks or ulns systems, they need "dirtier" water.


having strong flow isnt ideal as well, plus elegance love to be fed.

unfortunately yours does not look like its going to make it, if it has been like that for a while it is prob slowly dieing.

its not uncommon for them to close up but they shoud not stay like this for more than a day or a half day.


if i were you i would move the elegance to a different spot and see how it reacts, and at the first sign of tentacles i would try feeding it(only once its open dont force feed it)

elegance also need to be in the sand bed, as they grow if they are on rocks their flesh will rub against rocks and then they can melt away(they do not take damage well)

my elegance is around 14" long and has about 10-15 mouths, i feed it once a day a hefty feeding of meaty foods, im only running halides but its on my sandbed directly under the 250w halides.mine doubles in size at peak lighting

good luck and cheers with this beautiful and tricky coral