Melev's new 280g Starfire tank thread - Page 20

melev · 01/31/2006, 09:36 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by RGibson
Marc my name is Ralph not Robert,and how i new that you had the pump because you told me so.Now tell us all how much the pump will cost? Have a good day .

Hmm. I guess it is possible. I was given permission a few days ago to discuss the VorTech, but hadn't logged onto RC in 5 days. I always thought your name was Robert. Sorry about that, Ralph!

Knyght · 01/31/2006, 09:41 PM

Pretty

TheCoralNabber · 01/31/2006, 09:44 PM

Yeah marc, how much are those bad boys gonna be....any ideas? I ordered some reeflux bulbs on Saturday, how do you like them so far, and how long have you had them for? Is that a Tyree Soli?

GregM779 · 01/31/2006, 09:56 PM

the new pics are awesome. The SPS is looking great!

melev · 01/31/2006, 10:07 PM

Coral Nabber - LOL ... I've had the new 10,000K 250w SE ReefLux burning for about 10 days, and really like the look of my tank a lot. I even ordered a third bulb which we used over the frag (raffle) tank at Next Wave on Saturday, and everyone loved the look of the livestock. Last year, all I heard was "what spectrum is that bulb?... it sure is blue!..." I don't know what it is. I thought all this time it was a Tyree valida LE, but I guess one day I'll have to get Steve to tell me what it is.

Thanks Greg.

Morgandy · 01/31/2006, 10:14 PM

Marc, they look good! If I ever have $$$ again, I'm thinking of setting up my 'mostly dormant' 75gal as just an SPS tank. I would have a few TINY fish, not a huge amount of critters. Would I just wait for good parameters, get new lighting and such, and let it rock? My previous attempts at SPS were horrible in the big tank, and the pesky (sorry) pygmy angels pretty much destroyed them all.

So the basic question is, if I have very minimal fish-load, have a well established LR, pod, and other biological filtration going on, should I be okay?

thx!

GregM779 · 01/31/2006, 10:26 PM

did you talk to the speaker at your meeting about the seahorses?? If so respond to my thread.

Lunchbucket · 01/31/2006, 10:32 PM

marc - must be nice

wish i could have tested one out.

so when they coming out and how much

later buddy
Lunchbucket

TheCoralNabber · 01/31/2006, 11:01 PM

There is a funny story behind "the coral nabber" - Chad at reefscience sells corals at our local meeting each year, and my buddy chad (headonkey. different chad) and I helped him with bagging corals from his house, as well as with selling them. Near the end I bagged a coral for someone and accidentally placed it inside my cooler. Well Chad B. started to wonder where it had gone, becuase the guy was going to buy it, but we couldn't find it. So he asks everyone left at the meeting to look in their coolers, and see if it somehow got missplaced. I thought for sure that there was no way that I'd put it into my cooler, so I wait a while..... doesn't show up, decide to check mine...cause what the heck, I'm not perfect. And lo and behold, there it is, sitting in the top of my cooler. So I ashamedly pull it out, and give it to the customer, and take the name "The coral nabber" - Dan

bheron · 02/01/2006, 12:23 AM

Marc, absoultely amazing pictures!

- Whats the coral in the 2nd pic? Is that a hammer?

- Is that the true color of that Tyree?!?! WOw.

melev · 02/01/2006, 01:18 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by avansickle
Marc, they look good! If I ever have $$$ again, I'm thinking of setting up my 'mostly dormant' 75gal as just an SPS tank. I would have a few TINY fish, not a huge amount of critters. Would I just wait for good parameters, get new lighting and such, and let it rock? My previous attempts at SPS were horrible in the big tank, and the pesky (sorry) pygmy angels pretty much destroyed them all.

So the basic question is, if I have very minimal fish-load, have a well established LR, pod, and other biological filtration going on, should I be okay?

thx!

Micki and I have pretty much been having the exact same conversation via PMs tonight. Basically, if you can provide the proper parameters and keep the numbers as steady or consistent as possible, you should be able to keep beautiful SPS. It is a very frustrating goal, that is to be sure. I'm never content with my tank, always seeing vast room for improvement while others seem to really enjoy it as it is.

Just a week ago, I got a beautiful blue tort frag. A few days later, I saw it and its rock had fallen against a neighboring millepora and thought it was fine. After all, the rock was touching them milli and not the frag itself. Evan stopped by to work on the podcast, and told me my coral was getting nuked and I shrugged it off as him being wrong. He continued to tell me it needed to be moved, and finally got a chair to reach in for himself to move it. Only once it was moved did I see that the base was white. Heck, it was more than just white, as it looked like the milli burned or melted the skeletal mass of the tort. Disgusted I moved the entire frag & rock to a different spot. The next day, I saw it was RTNing from the base up, so I cut off the healthy tip and glued it anew. Today, the entire thing was white. ARGH.

This is the third attempt I've had at trying to keep a blue tort, and I don't know if I'll bother again. If I do, it'll be more than a 1"-2" piece. Maybe if there was more mass to the coral, I'd have a better chance at success.

Obviously, more fish means more waste and that translates into pollutants, nitrate, phosphate... all the things SPS prefer not to have in their water. Mine have adapted, I'm sure. A few of them survived all that PO4 in the water six months ago and are still growing well. Such as this one that y'all have watched grow via this thread from a single puddle last year.

Or this one from a single frag I got from Nathan 14 months ago. Remember pictures 3 months ago, when it was all orange with hardly any polyp extension, and I stated my tangs were chewing on it but it still was trying to grow? Here it is as of yesterday, and I count 23 tips or potential branches.

This one looks pretty cool with blue highlights (between the furry polyps) and purple tips. It has been encrusting nicely.

So while I'm able to show a number of nice corals, there have been frustrating losses along the way. SPS are simply the more challenging coral to keep.

melev · 02/01/2006, 01:22 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by GregM779
did you talk to the speaker at your meeting about the seahorses?? If so respond to my thread.

Yes he did. Thus far, I've not seen anything in your thread that needed my input Greg. Jorge feels that seahorses can be in a reef-like tank, as long as there isn't competition for food. He feels they are fine with several kinds of corals, and enjoy flow and relish pursuing food. They can be fed only once a day, and can even skip a day without issue. Bright lighting isn't necessarily a bad thing for their eyes as we've believed. He made it sound like they are very easy to keep, and based on how Casper has done in her tank for 6 months, I tend to agree.

Still, I think someone new to the hobby wouldn't be suited to keep one, and should get more familiar with saltwater and reefkeeping before delving into seahorses.

melev · 02/01/2006, 01:25 AM

Eric - March should be the first release. I don't know what the price will be, as I'm just testing the one I have.

Dan - great story. You should change your username to that.

Bryan - corals look so brilliant and their colors are different, similar to how clams look from above vs from the side. It does look crazy different, since I was used to the rose/pink color before. It is much closer to the bluish color from the side now.

Lunchbucket · 02/01/2006, 03:04 PM

melev - TOO COOL..i just got an ipod two days ago. i downloaded your two podcasts and subscribed

!! can you get into one more area of RC or reefkeeping? you should be the unofficial pimp of reefing

can't wait to find the time to listen to it

Lunchbucket

TheCoralNabber · 02/01/2006, 03:41 PM

Marc - all I have to say is averaging 14.5 posts a day is just redunkulous!

To change my name I'd have to start from scratch on my post though right.... no way to change it now

Konadog · 02/01/2006, 04:17 PM

ncsugrad04, you can request a name change in the Question and Feedback forum, but only once before being ignored

Airman · 02/01/2006, 04:23 PM

Great pictures. The pump looks cool. I hope that it is priced so that reefers on a budget can afford it.

RGibson · 02/01/2006, 04:46 PM

Marc did you build a part for your tunze stream to keep it level ?

melev · 02/01/2006, 06:40 PM

Eric - let me know how you like them. Don't set those expectations too high, as we are just getting our feet wet in this venue.

Coral Nabber - As Ken pointed out, you can request for the name change. You should do it.

Airman - there is a new thread in the IceCap forum with a MFG recommended price. I just saw it a couple of hours ago, but e-tailers may sell it for less than that.

Ralph - yes, I used a piece of 3/8" acrylic to act as a wedge to lift the lower Stream upward slightly, to keep it from affecting the sand.

RGibson · 02/01/2006, 06:56 PM

Melev can you show a pic of it.

RRodrigues · 02/01/2006, 07:34 PM

Hi Marc,

I really enjoy all your tanks and all the info you have on your homepage.

How often do you make water changes in your 280gal reef tank?

Waiting for #2 podcast...

Regards

melev · 02/01/2006, 07:41 PM

Ricardo, wait no more. It is available from the site.

I change 55g once a month.

Ralph - I'll try to locate the pictures I took of it.

RGibson · 02/01/2006, 08:23 PM

Thank you.

Lunchbucket · 02/01/2006, 08:37 PM

i'll let you know after i listen to them

Lunchbucket

thewuf · 02/01/2006, 10:07 PM

Having witnessed Coral Nabber's adventure first hand, he is, well, a Coral Nabber!!

Lunchbucket, I too just got my ipod and signed up with reefcast - so now, on top of pimping vortech's Marc can claim ipods as well

01/31/2006, 09:41 PM	#477
Knyght Registered Member Join Date: May 2004 Location: Oklahoma Posts: 1,536	Pretty __________________ Life is Tough, But It's Tougher if You're Stupid --John Wayne Freedom is Flying Go Spurs!!!!!!!!!

01/31/2006, 09:44 PM	#478
TheCoralNabber Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2004 Location: Durham, NC Posts: 554	Yeah marc, how much are those bad boys gonna be....any ideas? I ordered some reeflux bulbs on Saturday, how do you like them so far, and how long have you had them for? Is that a Tyree Soli? __________________ This spot for rent for frags! Back at it... Watch out or I'll Nab your Corals! Current Tank Info: 12g nano been going since '04 has been mostly FO but not adding some more corals

01/31/2006, 09:56 PM	#479
GregM779 Premium Member Join Date: Sep 2004 Location: West Palm Beach, Florida Posts: 1,961	the new pics are awesome. The SPS is looking great! __________________ Greg Current Tank Info: 125G Reef; SPS, LPS, and Softies; 3x150w 10k HQI MHs, 4x96w PC Actinics, 14 Moonlights; 25w UV Sterilizer; Euroreef Skimmer; Schuran JetStream 1 Calcium Reactor; Sealife Systems Sump; 10g Refugium

01/31/2006, 10:14 PM	#481
Morgandy Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Cleveland, OH Posts: 1,173	Marc, they look good! If I ever have $$$ again, I'm thinking of setting up my 'mostly dormant' 75gal as just an SPS tank. I would have a few TINY fish, not a huge amount of critters. Would I just wait for good parameters, get new lighting and such, and let it rock? My previous attempts at SPS were horrible in the big tank, and the pesky (sorry) pygmy angels pretty much destroyed them all. So the basic question is, if I have very minimal fish-load, have a well established LR, pod, and other biological filtration going on, should I be okay? thx! __________________ Amy. Current Tank Info: Numerous past tanks (down to nano now)

01/31/2006, 10:26 PM	#482
GregM779 Premium Member Join Date: Sep 2004 Location: West Palm Beach, Florida Posts: 1,961	did you talk to the speaker at your meeting about the seahorses?? If so respond to my thread. __________________ Greg Current Tank Info: 125G Reef; SPS, LPS, and Softies; 3x150w 10k HQI MHs, 4x96w PC Actinics, 14 Moonlights; 25w UV Sterilizer; Euroreef Skimmer; Schuran JetStream 1 Calcium Reactor; Sealife Systems Sump; 10g Refugium

01/31/2006, 10:07 PM	#480
melev Moved On Join Date: Sep 2002 Location: Ft Worth, Tx Posts: 43,217	Coral Nabber - LOL ... I've had the new 10,000K 250w SE ReefLux burning for about 10 days, and really like the look of my tank a lot. I even ordered a third bulb which we used over the frag (raffle) tank at Next Wave on Saturday, and everyone loved the look of the livestock. Last year, all I heard was "what spectrum is that bulb?... it sure is blue!..." I don't know what it is. I thought all this time it was a Tyree valida LE, but I guess one day I'll have to get Steve to tell me what it is. Thanks Greg.

01/31/2006, 10:32 PM	#483
Lunchbucket Premium Member Join Date: Jun 2001 Location: Brookings, SD Posts: 12,924	marc - must be nice wish i could have tested one out. so when they coming out and how much later buddy Lunchbucket __________________ Trying to lose weight by walking is like trying to bake a cake w/ a cigarette lighter - Lunchbucket - "Nancy-Boy Extraordinaire" - maxxII- Current Tank Info: 58gal Oceanic RR, 2x400w MH (20k XM and 10k XM), Deltec PF601 Ca Rx, Deltec AP701 skimmer, mag950 return, iwaki 55rlt w/ an Oceansmotions 4-way unit, Tunze 7300 and 6000 each w/ controller, fluidized po4 rx

01/31/2006, 11:01 PM	#484
TheCoralNabber Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2004 Location: Durham, NC Posts: 554	There is a funny story behind "the coral nabber" - Chad at reefscience sells corals at our local meeting each year, and my buddy chad (headonkey. different chad) and I helped him with bagging corals from his house, as well as with selling them. Near the end I bagged a coral for someone and accidentally placed it inside my cooler. Well Chad B. started to wonder where it had gone, becuase the guy was going to buy it, but we couldn't find it. So he asks everyone left at the meeting to look in their coolers, and see if it somehow got missplaced. I thought for sure that there was no way that I'd put it into my cooler, so I wait a while..... doesn't show up, decide to check mine...cause what the heck, I'm not perfect. And lo and behold, there it is, sitting in the top of my cooler. So I ashamedly pull it out, and give it to the customer, and take the name "The coral nabber" - Dan __________________ This spot for rent for frags! Back at it... Watch out or I'll Nab your Corals! Current Tank Info: 12g nano been going since '04 has been mostly FO but not adding some more corals

02/01/2006, 12:23 AM	#485
bheron Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2003 Location: Valley Forge, PA Posts: 2,655	Marc, absoultely amazing pictures! - Whats the coral in the 2nd pic? Is that a hammer? - Is that the true color of that Tyree?!?! WOw. __________________ Bryan Current Tank Info: 220 since Nov 2005

02/01/2006, 01:25 AM	#488
melev Moved On Join Date: Sep 2002 Location: Ft Worth, Tx Posts: 43,217	Eric - March should be the first release. I don't know what the price will be, as I'm just testing the one I have. Dan - great story. You should change your username to that. Bryan - corals look so brilliant and their colors are different, similar to how clams look from above vs from the side. It does look crazy different, since I was used to the rose/pink color before. It is much closer to the bluish color from the side now.

02/01/2006, 03:04 PM	#489
Lunchbucket Premium Member Join Date: Jun 2001 Location: Brookings, SD Posts: 12,924	melev - TOO COOL..i just got an ipod two days ago. i downloaded your two podcasts and subscribed !! can you get into one more area of RC or reefkeeping? you should be the unofficial pimp of reefing can't wait to find the time to listen to it Lunchbucket __________________ Trying to lose weight by walking is like trying to bake a cake w/ a cigarette lighter - Lunchbucket - "Nancy-Boy Extraordinaire" - maxxII- Current Tank Info: 58gal Oceanic RR, 2x400w MH (20k XM and 10k XM), Deltec PF601 Ca Rx, Deltec AP701 skimmer, mag950 return, iwaki 55rlt w/ an Oceansmotions 4-way unit, Tunze 7300 and 6000 each w/ controller, fluidized po4 rx

02/01/2006, 03:41 PM	#490
TheCoralNabber Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2004 Location: Durham, NC Posts: 554	Marc - all I have to say is averaging 14.5 posts a day is just redunkulous! To change my name I'd have to start from scratch on my post though right.... no way to change it now __________________ This spot for rent for frags! Back at it... Watch out or I'll Nab your Corals! Current Tank Info: 12g nano been going since '04 has been mostly FO but not adding some more corals

02/01/2006, 04:17 PM	#491
Konadog Master of the 16 hour day Join Date: Feb 2002 Location: East Long Beach, So Cal Posts: 13,151 Blog Entries: 4	ncsugrad04, you can request a name change in the Question and Feedback forum, but only once before being ignored __________________ Save the Reefs................................................................Save the world! -Ken Current Tank Info: Currently tankless, and loving it!

02/01/2006, 04:23 PM	#492
Airman Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: Boise, ID Posts: 643	Great pictures. The pump looks cool. I hope that it is priced so that reefers on a budget can afford it. __________________ What is man, that thou art mindful of him?...:) Current Tank Info: 55 Gal, DSB, protein skimmer, UV light, Sump/Refugium

02/01/2006, 04:46 PM	#493
RGibson RGibson Join Date: Nov 2002 Posts: 2,377	Marc did you build a part for your tunze stream to keep it level ? __________________ RGibson

02/01/2006, 06:40 PM	#494
melev Moved On Join Date: Sep 2002 Location: Ft Worth, Tx Posts: 43,217	Eric - let me know how you like them. Don't set those expectations too high, as we are just getting our feet wet in this venue. Coral Nabber - As Ken pointed out, you can request for the name change. You should do it. Airman - there is a new thread in the IceCap forum with a MFG recommended price. I just saw it a couple of hours ago, but e-tailers may sell it for less than that. Ralph - yes, I used a piece of 3/8" acrylic to act as a wedge to lift the lower Stream upward slightly, to keep it from affecting the sand.

02/01/2006, 06:56 PM	#495
RGibson RGibson Join Date: Nov 2002 Posts: 2,377	Melev can you show a pic of it. __________________ RGibson

02/01/2006, 07:34 PM	#496
RRodrigues Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2004 Location: Cascais - Portugal Posts: 260	Hi Marc, I really enjoy all your tanks and all the info you have on your homepage. How often do you make water changes in your 280gal reef tank? Waiting for #2 podcast... Regards __________________ "The natural world is, and probably always will be, complicated far beyond human understanding." J.E.N. Veron

02/01/2006, 07:41 PM	#497
melev Moved On Join Date: Sep 2002 Location: Ft Worth, Tx Posts: 43,217	Ricardo, wait no more. It is available from the site. I change 55g once a month. Ralph - I'll try to locate the pictures I took of it.

02/01/2006, 08:23 PM	#498
RGibson RGibson Join Date: Nov 2002 Posts: 2,377	Thank you. __________________ RGibson

02/01/2006, 08:37 PM	#499
Lunchbucket Premium Member Join Date: Jun 2001 Location: Brookings, SD Posts: 12,924	i'll let you know after i listen to them Lunchbucket __________________ Trying to lose weight by walking is like trying to bake a cake w/ a cigarette lighter - Lunchbucket - "Nancy-Boy Extraordinaire" - maxxII- Current Tank Info: 58gal Oceanic RR, 2x400w MH (20k XM and 10k XM), Deltec PF601 Ca Rx, Deltec AP701 skimmer, mag950 return, iwaki 55rlt w/ an Oceansmotions 4-way unit, Tunze 7300 and 6000 each w/ controller, fluidized po4 rx

02/01/2006, 10:07 PM	#500
thewuf Premium Member Join Date: Jan 2004 Location: Rocky Mount, North Carolina Posts: 683	Having witnessed Coral Nabber's adventure first hand, he is, well, a Coral Nabber!! Lunchbucket, I too just got my ipod and signed up with reefcast - so now, on top of pimping vortech's Marc can claim ipods as well __________________ I told her she had a sweet looking wrasse, and she SLAPPED me!! Go on, Click the little Red House! Current Tank Info: 150 Gal Reef Tank, OceansMotions 4-way, 45 Gal Sump, ASM G-4x, 3 250w MH