Charlie's Angel's Reef

[carlosdeandrade]

Since my last post, my solenoid decided to gas out. Decided to go the old fashion way and bubble my CO2 slowly into my reactor. My pH has stayed stable for weeks now. It did take some fiddling with the needle valve to get the correct pH inside the carx. Cheap and easy to do.

 

[carlosdeandrade]

OK by last post, I meant prior 12th April.

 

[carlosdeandrade]

Changed one or two things in terms of coral placement. Here is a pic taken this morning.

 

[butcherman]

Tank is looking good carlos. Still enjoying the bare bottom tank?

 

[carlosdeandrade]

Once you go bare you'll never go back (sic). Loving the fact that I have no detritus accumulation on the base.

 

[mytank]

Bare bottom definitely has its advantages and by far the best for a ULNS. It's just not aesthetically pleasing that's one of the only downsides.

 

[carlosdeandrade]

Very true Carlos. I think I inherited my mother's clean gene. Hate muck.

 

[carlosdeandrade]

Got an Eliphant ear. About 30cm across.

Algal bed, Dallas collecting some on Tuesday.

Best pic I could get of the Powder.

 

[carlosdeandrade]

mods, please resise if possible, tapatalk went ape on the settings I see.

 

[carlosdeandrade]

Now where is my elephant ear?

 

[dallasg]

its there now

 

[carlosdeandrade]

So I have decided to totally move away from LED, go totally T5 again. I need a unit that fits my 1m wide tank as well as it's 1,5m length. What do you guys suggest?
Only prerequisite is that it needs to have dimmable ballasts or a dimming programme. That's it. Give me your thoughts.

 

[mariusmeyer]

ATI 12X80W. 54W might also work.

 

[dallasg]

ATI 8 x 54W about 20cm above will be fine
as your reef is central

 

[Mekaeel]

12 x 80W will be perfect, but as Dallas mentioned, since your reef is focused more to the center of the tank, you can get away with the 8 x 54W ATI Sunpower. There is a dimmable Sunpower, which is what I use.

 

[CameL]

960 watts on lights is insane. Atleast it looks like eskom requested tariff increases are going to be declined. That's the only saving grace.

 

[Ridwaan]

I would go for a 10 x 54w ati powermodule...

 

[carlosdeandrade]

Twelve globes would be crazy, nice, but crazy. I am inclined to think of a 10x54watt would be the best fit (just in case I can get SPS to grow again) . My current light unit is actually 650w so even 540w would be a saving.

 

[carlosdeandrade]

So my tank is packed and ready for storage for a year. We leave SA on the 28th January. Looking forward to our new adventure and life in New Zealand. The marine hobby is well and alive in New Zealand, the tanks story isn't over and looking forward to start her up again in about 18 months. Till then, keep reefing peeps.

 

[tekkengal]

Good luck to you, Grant and Tsimmy!
Glad to hear that your reefing adventure is not over!