My 90g + 20g sump mixed reef

[Hookup]

whoa whoa tim.... theres also alot of totm that are vho and mh actually i think im gonna have to count how many in the last little while were vho vs t5...regardless they're awsome either way...

I'd guess that 70% are MH + T5 combos... there are defiantely some of everything, proving that there isn't one right solution...

I could be off.. but even if 50% of them are T5+MH, the other 50% is divided across all other systems..T5 only, VHO+MH, etc...

If you do a count on TOTM to get a "real number" as opposed to my guesstimate/WAG i'm curious to see the final count and how close I am.

[salvini55]

I bet MH will be a thing of the past soon and more and more will use LED, plasma or T5. Dont get me wrong MH lights are the bomb but they consume lots of electricity and produce lots of heat. So why not switch to something more "green".

Mike, I think a nice black enclosure would be easy to make and look great. Maybe black acrylic for a very sleek look with clean lines and reduced wieght since you hang your fixture?

[Hookup]

I'm all for LED systems... But the cost aside, there really isn't any good info on them.  Just pioneers trying stuff to see how it works...   In time, you're right, MH are likely a dying technology for those exact reasons...

[mikerobart]

Like the discussion guys. I tried the VHO super actinics and the look wasn't quite what I was hoping for so I am now thinking about using 4 t5's or just taking it easy right now... not like the phoenix 14k is not nice on it's own  ...

In the meantime I added two coco worms and a nice big turbo snail.

Unfortunately lost the small regal tang to ich... going to be staying away from tangs for some time I think! None of the other fish have even a spot and all are very happy. Even the mandarin just seems to be getting fatter... and no sign of the pod population decreasing in any way my eyes can notice at least. I'll keep you updated.

[salvini55]

I love coco worms. Sorry about the tangs, they make nice show fish.

[mikerobart]

Yeah they were great while they lasted  . I guess the yellow probably could have been a bit fatter when I got him... but after getting sucked into the powerhead he got bad ich, and regal as well... and things went downhill.

[mikerobart]

I ran into a small bit of hair algae in the display but it is nicely contained to a few parts of the sand. Hopefully 3 turbo's will help, along with some reduced feeding. I also picked up a next reef mr1 media reactor from Ray, great build quality on this thing and quite a bit of room. I am planning to run carbon for now until I get some GFO.

Also, my two-part starter kit from bulk reef supply came the other day... pretty good deal for some high purity chemicals for Ca/Alk/Mg. Will start using this stuff when my current supply of two-part and mag runs out. For now I am dosing by hand usually daily, eventually I would like to get into dosing pumps, probably running off a controller.

Oh, and got a pink/blue spotted watchman goby and pistol shrimp from Pat last weekend. I had read enough about them and girlfriend said we had to have them... At first they started the tunnels in the back of the tank where I couldn't see them but with selectively feeding the front of the tank only they now opened it up in the front.

I think maybe 50-75% of my bottom rock is actually on the bottom glass or very close to it... fingers cross I don't get a rock slide. Has anyone actually had a rock slide happen from a shrimp/ goby? I tried to slide most of the rock into the sand a bit when I first set up but it's not all actually on glass.

My mandarin is still living in the fuge after the six-line decided not to be friendly anymore.

How many of you guys run carbon and how often? GFO ? I may eventually put another piece of filter pad in the reactor to create two chambers and get some gfo media in there but for now will try the carbon only for a bit.

[Hookup]

I saw those gobies... very nice.

I run carbon 100% of the time.  It's fairly inexpensive and helps polish the water making it that much clearer.  I've also not heard of any problems running carbon 100% of the time.  I change it every 6weeks (or there about) and use a two little fishies phosban reactor and MJ400.

[salvini55]

ALGAE! When i started running GFO in the reactor i havent had problems since. 

PS. I have a sea hare for you!!!! lol

[mikerobart]

LOL we will see about the sea hare! If it does not get better with this new reactor, some water changes etc I may have to think about it  . I think it may have been me overfeeding a bit and neglecting water changes... not like I have a major nutrient problem though, levels are good and even my sps seems to be doing very well so far. I know an update with pics is well overdue.

Have had this reactor going with carbon only a few hours and although my water was pretty damn clear before it is absolutely sparkling now.. gotta love that.

[salvini55]

I want pics!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!11

[salvini55]

show me that tank!

[salvini55]

ok, Ill cut yo an offer you cant refuse. Update your thread and ill deliver some snails to you! DO IT

[audioslave_36]

get the feeling he is ignoring this threrad?   

[Severum]

Ya Mike, update this thread and take the snails. You can come pick them up at my place...

[mikerobart]

Have been INSANELY busy lately... but ... will post a very very short update for you guys. Including a little video of my goby/pistol shrimp doing their thing.

[mikerobart]

All taken with my my phone please don't mind the quality ! Also some changes I'd like to make to the scape etc. when I have time! The tank needs some work but not looking bad overall.

[salvini55]

I started to get worried there. Cell pics get the job done. Lookin good coraline up the wazoo. Ya get your snails from Vafa... lol

[mikerobart]

Yeah Coralline growth has been really good .. and it's mostly on the rock, not as much on the glass, even the back panel which is not really cleaned much.. so I'm quite pleased. I'll get that video up tonight or tomorrow. Might be a little while before I can get some snails.. seriously swamped with work.

[Cheebs]

Looks great man, good job!