The Reef Central Corner Club Thread

[liquidplumber]

Have used 36" current with 2-150hqi fixture to t-5's and last mont tried 2 120 evolutions 14k and now the AI's SOL BLUE, These AI's blow away the evolutions and are less wattage, Wish I went this route 1st, here's a couple pics.

[bennylab]

thanks for the pics. I am using a canopy also and was concerned about how high I would be able to get these AI fixtures above the water. I hadn't considered putting the mounting hardware on top of the canopy.

[Michael]

Originally Posted by liquidplumber

Have used 36" current with 2-150hqi fixture to t-5's and last mont tried 2 120 evolutions 14k and now the AI's SOL BLUE, These AI's blow away the evolutions and are less wattage, Wish I went this route 1st, here's a couple pics.

Fantastic tank, I love the full shot, very very nice

[liquidplumber]

Thanks Michael and I have the AI's 8" off of the water and so far so good. I traced out the ai's on the plywod i used and cut out with a jig saw so they would drop down, I then used some Aluminum L channel I had laying around to slide in the groove on the heat sink of the AI units to keep them from falling thru and used 2 set screws to hold the L channel in place, pretty simple.
I may add 2 T-5 Blue plus bulbs to suppliment some UV .

[gawf4fun]

Hey Corner Guys, it's been a while since I posted an updated full tank shot. Did a water change yesterday and got the "take a picture" euphoria. Not much different in the tank itself except that I accidently broke off my huge tabling green milli, so I fragged it and have added a few new SPS at the top to fill my mixed reef requirement.

As for equipment, I've upgraded my skimmer to the Deltec 1060 2-pump unit, from the single pump 1250S, and I've added a second MP40 for massive flow. Finally, I've been running a lifereef reactor with bio-pellets for about 3 months with seemingly excellent results.

Enjoy the pics.

[RobinR]

Can anyone help with instructions on how to install a seaswirl on one of the back walls of a 92 gal corner, and tap off of the return line that supplies the overflow nozzles as well? Like somehow doing a Y junction with one to each? I am not sure, not a plumber, and not much height clearance from where the return pipe comes up in the overflow to begin with. Right now looks like an elbow attaches the return to the 2 nozzles, all hard plumbed....and suggestions appreciated. It might be a self-explanatory install for you...but not for me, or I wouldn't be asking ~ lol The seaswirl is 1/2", thats why I am not suing it as the single return on a 92. Its rated for 550 gph, and the current returnm pump is a Mag 9.5, rated at around 1100gph I think. I figure a split between the seaswirl and the return nozzles should be okay?

[Michael]

Originally Posted by gawf4fun

Hey Corner Guys, it's been a while since I posted an updated full tank shot. Did a water change yesterday and got the "take a picture" euphoria. Not much different in the tank itself except that I accidently broke off my huge tabling green milli, so I fragged it and have added a few new SPS at the top to fill my mixed reef requirement.

As for equipment, I've upgraded my skimmer to the Deltec 1060 2-pump unit, from the single pump 1250S, and I've added a second MP40 for massive flow. Finally, I've been running a lifereef reactor with bio-pellets for about 3 months with seemingly excellent results.

Enjoy the pics.

I love the anthias, very nice and the reef wall has grown, very impressive fella.

[jcolletteiii]

Had no idea there was a corner club until I did a site-wide search using 'corner' as the search term. I was looking for aquascaping ideas, as I will be moving in a few months and never really liked the rock wall look (which, incidentally, I rock right now). I had built up a monster 135 with all of the bells and whistles - it had everything, due to my patience in setting it up buying a bit at a time. Unfortunately, life got in the way, and I will be moving in a few months, so I had to drastically downsize. Hence the little 36.

I was initially thinking I wanted a sump so I could mount all of the equipment and such remotely, and thus not see it. But then I started thinking - KISS - one of the many acronyms that really are apt: Keep It Simple, Stupid! I knew I would be moving again, so everything would have to be bullet-proof, easy to break down and set up, and inexpensive. Fortunately, I had alot of the high-end stuff left over from the 135, so from that I knew I wanted to use my AI LEDs for lighting, my Apex lite for control/remote access, and my MP40Wes, as well as a couple of BRS reactors. So, I grabbed the tank and stand from Petco (I know, I know... but my situation dictated sourcing a tank FAST), and set the little tank up.

I went bare bottom because I knew the MP40 would kick any substrate around the tank causing a continuous sandstorm. I also went without fish to keep nutrients low and minimize maintenance (I'm a paleontologist and do a lot of fieldwork/museum work in the summer). I setup one of my reactors with carbon and the other with biopellets -I had had issues with PO4 in the big tank turning things brown, so I was determined to keep nutrients low. Both reactors are run off of a dedicated MJ-1200 that pulls from mid depth behind the rock work. I picked up a used CPR Backpack skimmer with another MJ-1200 and mounted that on one of the 2 long straight sides. This skimmer is pretty impressive - I have it set up to run for only 10 hours a day (when I sleep), and it still pulls like crazy. I might do the MJ-1200 impeller mod to increase efficiency even more, but I can wait until the move.

For lighting, I use 2 AI modules controlled with the AI controller. They're second gen units, but were pre-Sol with 2 cool white XP-G and 1 blue XR-E per grouping. I had 4 of these on the 135, and sold one off because I wasn't sure if I needed 2 modules or 3 due to the weird footprint of the tank. Needless to say, I only needed two - I have one more for sale if anyone is interested. I have since modified the 2 units a bit - After following one of the LED threads in the lighting forum, I realized having a broader array of blue emitters is probably a good thing, so I ordered 1 modules' worth of sol white emitters (I think 2 blues would be too much for my liking) and installed these staggered with the original blues. The result is a nice blue-purple color that is not as purple as all royal blues and not as blue as all blues. I also decided that the standard 40 degree optics are too harsh for the relatively shallow 36g. depth, so I ordered 70 degree optics for the 2 modules. The increase in spread was quite dramatic. Every single bit of the tank is now quite evenly lit - well, except for overhangs, caves, etc.

Unfortunately, all of my SPS are a bit dull right now due to an alk spike. I thought I had my alk usage dialed in, and went 3 weeks without testing. The alk had increased from my usual 8.0 up to about 9.5. Not bad, you might say, because it was gradual. But, because of the extremely low nutrients in my system (has to be near ULNS) the corals began to suffer. Polyp extension was still pretty good, but all of my colored sticks turned to variously colored brown-hued sticks. I'm now testing the big 3 every 2 days to get the chemical usage down rock-solid - I'll be at the Smithsonian this coming summer for 6 weeks, so I need to know EXACTLY how much to dose.

Also currently having a bit of a war with aiptasia. The little bastards irk me to no end. I ordered 5 peppermints online last week, but they showed up DOA. The supplier is really making it right, though, shipping the replacements out at his own cost. They should be here on Tuesday - can't wait to see some glass anemone death!

Also, you'll notice in the photos below, there is no MP40. I decided to get rid of it because of the dry side taking up space preventing at least one side of the tank from getting close to a corner, and also because it made too much noise for the space the tank is in. I've replaced it with 2 Koralia 1040's that give plenty of flow. I've added a third K nano that I had laying around to the back wall toward the bottom to keep detritus from accumulating. I've also added a chepo HOB filter to take some of the particulates out of the water. Both the filter and the skimmer come on from midnight to 10am, so the system is nice and quiet during the day and evening.

Enough talk - how about some pictures!


FTS


FTS AI on.


FTS moonlights only (4% blue/ 0% white)


Blue-polyped digitata


Mystic Reef Mycedium. This ting is getting big - must be 4" across now at least.


AOG garden. Look at that little bastard in there! Peppermints come Tuesday - can't wait for some anemone death!

[gawf4fun]

Welcome to the corner club!

Nice write up and good looking system. I like your forethought and planning for the long time away regarding dosing and bio-load. Hope it all works out.

Mark

[jcolletteiii]

Thanks Mark.

Still have to add a few things. My goal is to be able to control everything via the Apex lite, which will in turn be connected to a wireless game adapter and to the interwebz. I want to be able to control everything remotely so that if there is a problem while I am away, I can receive an alarm via email and address it promptly. I also plan on adding a webcam to I can monitor things like polyp extension and color visually as well.

Unfortunately, even with all of this, I'll still need someone to pop in at least once per week to do Ca and Alk tests, rinse the filter pad in the HOB, and empty the skimmate cup at least. Having made the mistake of thinking I had everything dialed in once, I don't want to make that mistake again.

[cabenin]

Just set up my 92 megaflow and have a question about water height there is an 1/8 or less of an inch gap between the water line and the black rim. Is this normal? It is driving me crazy. Thanks.

[L98-Z]

Originally Posted by jcolletteiii

Mystic Reef Mycedium. This ting is getting big - must be 4" across now at least.

I think this may be the first time I've seen a chalice coral larger than a quarter. I've never understood the obsession with them but I must say, they look quite good when grown out.

[jcolletteiii]

Originally Posted by L98-Z

I think this may be the first time I've seen a chalice coral larger than a quarter. I've never understood the obsession with them but I must say, they look quite good when grown out.

I agree 1000%. I don't understand the crazy prices on some of the 'le' chalices. Most of them aren't terribly attractive - there are better colors and more fluorescence on most Favias. I also can't stand it when people try selling boogers for 100+ bucks. I stay far, far away from reefers that try to make money in this hobby by throwing a fancy name on something so they can jack the price up and frag the thing into itty bits. I either trade or buy cheap from fellow reefers. I usually go to one show a year, but I don't go looking for the "high-end" stuff - that stuff will be the dime-a-dozen stuff the following year, and I have patience. I paid 20 bucks for the initial frag that grew to this size in just over a year.

[liquidplumber]

Nice setup jcolletteiii, I have 2 sol blues new generation over my 92 and love the spread, It has mixed optics 4 are 40 and 4 are 70 on each unit and it lights my tank pretty nicely, I don't have any special corals though since I have two triggers in that tank so never really power up past 60%.
Those AI's have been the best lighting setup I have had on my 92 corner tanks.

[jcolletteiii]

Thanks - would love to see photos of your guys' tanks as well - or point me to what page they're on as this thing is long and has at least 2 splits.

Yeah - the AI lights are fantastic - really, really bright. I lit a 135 with four modules - you're lighting a 90 with 2! Growth has also been pretty fantastic under these lights. How high do you have to mount them to get enough spread to light up a 90?

[liquidplumber]

I have mine mounted in my hood 8" off of the water. My pics are at the top of this page.

[jcolletteiii]

Nice - saw the pictures but didn't associate the name. Looks like you get pretty good spread from the modules when mounted sideways. What is the tank footprint? I've often wondered if one would do it for me - with SPS though, I think they'd suffer.

[liquidplumber]

Originally Posted by jcolletteiii

Nice - saw the pictures but didn't associate the name. Looks like you get pretty good spread from the modules when mounted sideways. What is the tank footprint? I've often wondered if one would do it for me - with SPS though, I think they'd suffer.

Foot print is 36" on the sides and like 48" or so in the front, I was suprised myself with the spread, I don't have sps in this tank but I,m sure if I added two t-5 bulbs for suppliment it would be no problem for sps. I don't have a par meter to be sure.

[sdoggssf]

I haven't posted a picture in a while of my 54 corner, because I've been trying to get rid of some things and add others, but here she is..

[gawf4fun]

Originally Posted by sdoggssf

I haven't posted a picture in a while of my 54 corner, because I've been trying to get rid of some things and add others, but here she is..

Phenomenal looking SPS corals Sdogg. Great looking tank. What additional flow do you have beyond the two tunzes? Is that locline for your return? Any shots of your cabinet equipment handy?

THanks,

Mark

[Hookup]

Holy moly sdoggssf! I think I remember your posts pre-splits and wow, the thank has grown up!

Very nice SPS tank!

[sdoggssf]

Mark, Thanks for the kind words. The only flow in the tank besides the return (Mag12) are those two tunze 6105's. I have to tune them way down because the have tons of flow. It gets hard to position the 6105's as the corals grow because the corals eventually grow in the path of the powerheads flow. Those are lock lines coming from my return. They work ok, I like them because they agitate the surface current giving you those nice ripples. However, since i switched to t-5's no more ripples. I will get some pictures of the cabinet a little later on.

Thanks Hookup

[jcolletteiii]

Wow - just wow. I just nominated your tank for TOTM. There hasn't been any activity in the nomination forum in awhile though, and not sure the mods even check it, but submitted a suggestion in any case. This tank is definitely deserving.

TOTM nomination thread is here if anyone else wants to chime in -> http://reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?t=2002691

Originally Posted by sdoggssf

I haven't posted a picture in a while of my 54 corner, because I've been trying to get rid of some things and add others, but here she is..

[Michael]

I'm not allowed to access that page unfortunately, otherwise I would be delighted to nominate it as well. Fantastic Tank.

[Omie]

Hi everyone!!!
Want to show u a video that i made of my tank...
Hope u like it!!!
http://m.youtube.com/#/watch?xl=xl_blazer&v=MBtjbjILptE