Tswifty's Custom 40g Rimless Build Thread

[Tswifty]

Originally posted by capn_hylinur
TJ in case you didn't read on Rae's thread----Harold lost his father yesterday. Thoughts go out to Harold and his family at this time.

Sorry to hear that. My deepest sympathies go out to him and his family.

[2frosty4u]

Thank you very much for the kind words.

[OwNeD162]

Originally posted by Tswifty
Sorry to hear that. My deepest sympathies go out to him and his family.

Mine too. I'm sorry for your loss Harold.

[Tswifty]

Have a non-exciting dry goods order coming in tomorrow or wednesday. I needed some test kits, GFO, and always order a few extra filter socks when I have the chance.

Depending on the GFO affects the tank, I may reduce my photo period from 8hrs to 6hrs... or begin Vodka dosing. All the corals are growing nicely, but I'm still not getting the colors I would like out of some of my SPS.

[Aquarist007]

Originally posted by Tswifty
Have a non-exciting dry goods order coming in tomorrow or wednesday. I needed some test kits, GFO, and always order a few extra filter socks when I have the chance.

Depending on the GFO affects the tank, I may reduce my photo period from 8hrs to 6hrs... or begin Vodka dosing. All the corals are growing nicely, but I'm still not getting the colors I would like out of some of my SPS.

are you going to use a phosban reactor to run the gfo?

[Tswifty]

yes.

[Tswifty]

Started running GFO today. I'm using the Warner Marine Research PHOSaR media, at approx 1 gram per gallon (recommended amount). I didn't feel like plumbing up the additional outlet on my manifold for the reactor, so it's just daisy chained to the other TLF reactor. I set the flow via the 2nd reactor which has the GFO in it.

[rs1831]

Do you have more pics of the canopy? I going to be making one this weekend that will be housing 2x250's and 2 t5s. I would just like to see some more pics.
Thanks...great tank by the way!

[Aquarist007]

Originally posted by Tswifty
Started running GFO today. I'm using the Warner Marine Research PHOSaR media, at approx 1 gram per gallon (recommended amount). I didn't feel like plumbing up the additional outlet on my manifold for the reactor, so it's just daisy chained to the other TLF reactor. I set the flow via the 2nd reactor which has the GFO in it.

I switched my phosban reactor back on about a month ago and have noticed a positive difference.

[Tswifty]

Originally posted by rs1831
Do you have more pics of the canopy? I going to be making one this weekend that will be housing 2x250's and 2 t5s. I would just like to see some more pics.
Thanks...great tank by the way!

I really don't have anymore other than the initial construction pictures since I have been unable to figure out a compromise to get it hung. If there is anything particular you are interested in, let me know and I can get you a picture or offer advice.

The canopy was constructed to hold 2 x 250w PFO Mini Pendants, sandwiched between 2 - 24" VHO's.

Originally posted by capn_hylinur
I switched my phosban reactor back on about a month ago and have noticed a positive difference.

Hopefully I will notice the same. I've got nuisance algae out the wazoo right now.

[Electrobes]

That really surprises me that you have nuisance algae. Considering your system, it's should be more sterile than a surgery room! I have too admit though I haven't seen it in your pictures.

[BigJay]

Originally posted by Electrobes
That really surprises me that you have nuisance algae. Considering your system, it's should be more sterile than a surgery room! I have too admit though I haven't seen it in your pictures.

Correct me if I'm wrong, but I thought Tswifty's worst nuisance algae was valonia. Those stupid bubbles sequester nutrients inside of them, and aren't immediately affected by cleaner water, GFO, carbon, or skimming.

PS: Tswifty, I feel your pain. I pulled out about three handfuls of valonia the other day. Of course I ended up wrecking my aquascape and redoing it to get rid of that much.

PPS: Try the high-capacity GFO from bulkreefsupply. That's the "good stuff" for removing phosphates.

PPPS: More coral pics!

[Tswifty]

Originally posted by Electrobes
That really surprises me that you have nuisance algae. Considering your system, it's should be more sterile than a surgery room! I have too admit though I haven't seen it in your pictures.

It's slowly been creeping up. Both types I have in the tank were introduced by me at some point probably. I know the one type was for sure. It came in with one of my chalices, and I thought... eh... that's no big deal. Needless to say, next time I see some algae on a frag plug... the frag will go onto a new plug before it goes into my system.

Originally posted by BigJay
Correct me if I'm wrong, but I thought Tswifty's worst nuisance algae was valonia. Those stupid bubbles sequester nutrients inside of them, and aren't immediately affected by cleaner water, GFO, carbon, or skimming.

PS: Tswifty, I feel your pain. I pulled out about three handfuls of valonia the other day. Of course I ended up wrecking my aquascape and redoing it to get rid of that much.

PPS: Try the high-capacity GFO from bulkreefsupply. That's the "good stuff" for removing phosphates.

PPPS: More coral pics!

Yeah the bubble algae is the worst, but this short dark red colored algae that hitchhiked in on a frag plug is REALLY starting to spread throughout the tank. Oddly enough it seems to enjoy the higher flow areas of the tank.

I'm keeping my fingers crossed that it will just be an algae cycle... but if it gets much worse, then I may need to do something about it. So far none of the algae effects any of the corals, but is just an eye sore. Actually the best way to kill it off seems to just let the corals encrust over it.

I feel your pain on wrecking things when you put your hand in the tank. My recent casualties have been my Steel Blue Chalice, my Green Digi. I shattered the heck out of both when trying to do maintenance in the tank.

[Tswifty]

Also, I raised the lights about 2 more inches off the water's surface today. After a few weeks, it's starting to become evident that some of my corals are REALLY unhappy and getting too much light.

I'll try and snap a few pics either later tonight or tomorrow. Maybe I'll do "the ugly" series, and get pics of all the nuisance algae, and corals that are suffering in my system.

[pcannone]

Originally posted by Tswifty
Also, I raised the lights about 2 more inches off the water's surface today. After a few weeks, it's starting to become evident that some of my corals are REALLY unhappy and getting too much light.

I'll try and snap a few pics either later tonight or tomorrow. Maybe I'll do "the ugly" series, and get pics of all the nuisance algae, and corals that are suffering in my system.

Hey TJ-

I've been having the same problem. About a month ago I changed from PC lighting to T-5 lighting. I keep the T-5 light about 5 inches off the water, and some fo the corals did not like it. Now I have it about 10 inches off the water. It's looking better, but not the colors I would like. My blue lighting goes on 1 hour before and after my daylights come on for 8 hours. How long do you have you lights on?

[Aquarist007]

Originally posted by pcannone
Hey TJ-

I've been having the same problem. About a month ago I changed from PC lighting to T-5 lighting. I keep the T-5 light about 5 inches off the water, and some fo the corals did not like it. Now I have it about 10 inches off the water. It's looking better, but not the colors I would like. My blue lighting goes on 1 hour before and after my daylights come on for 8 hours. How long do you have you lights on?

I normally wouldn't suggest it TJ but I know you would no when to find it a new home----but why not a small yellow tang until it matures a bit and or a coral beauty--they keep my tank reef rock spotless

Also how old are the bulbs now----6 months and the spectrum is starting to wander to the higher end which algae love.

[Aquarist007]

Originally posted by Electrobes
That really surprises me that you have nuisance algae. Considering your system, it's should be more sterile than a surgery room! I have too admit though I haven't seen it in your pictures.

skimmers ect ect only fractionally reduce phosphates---with not running the gfo reactor for awhile they have probably crept up to level that the algae like

[Tswifty]

Originally posted by pcannone
Hey TJ-

I've been having the same problem. About a month ago I changed from PC lighting to T-5 lighting. I keep the T-5 light about 5 inches off the water, and some fo the corals did not like it. Now I have it about 10 inches off the water. It's looking better, but not the colors I would like. My blue lighting goes on 1 hour before and after my daylights come on for 8 hours. How long do you have you lights on?

My lights are on for 8 hrs. With raising them up 2 inches, the Nightmare Palythoas have opened a bit more, but still are not fully expanded.

Originally posted by capn_hylinur
I normally wouldn't suggest it TJ but I know you would no when to find it a new home----but why not a small yellow tang until it matures a bit and or a coral beauty--they keep my tank reef rock spotless

Also how old are the bulbs now----6 months and the spectrum is starting to wander to the higher end which algae love.

Yeah, I've been looking for a Tang, but can't decide on one I like... I'm hoping to add one that you don't see everyday. I think I am going to go for one in the Ctenochaetus genus, as they are supposed to take out short algae, whereas the Zebrasoma genus are supposed to take out longer hair/thread-like nuisance algae.

The bulbs aren't old at all. I switched to brand new Pheonix bulbs maybe 2 to 3 months ago.. if that.

[Aquarist007]

Originally posted by Tswifty
My lights are on for 8 hrs. With raising them up 2 inches, the Nightmare Palythoas have opened a bit more, but still are not fully expanded.

Yeah, I've been looking for a Tang, but can't decide on one I like... I'm hoping to add one that you don't see everyday. I think I am going to go for one in the Ctenochaetus genus, as they are supposed to take out short algae, whereas the Zebrasoma genus are supposed to take out longer hair/thread-like nuisance algae.

The bulbs aren't old at all. I switched to brand new Pheonix bulbs maybe 2 to 3 months ago.. if that.

make it quick on the yellow tang---Figi has just put strick exporting quotas on their providers of yellow tangs. They soon will become a little less common to get and I imagine more expensive.

[kudora]

Originally posted by Tswifty


Yeah, I've been looking for a Tang, but can't decide on one I like... I'm hoping to add one that you don't see everyday. I think I am going to go for one in the Ctenochaetus genus, as they are supposed to take out short algae, whereas the Zebrasoma genus are supposed to take out longer hair/thread-like nuisance algae.

well you had a tomini already, they can stay small. same with the yellow/blue eye kole tang, if your going to keep a juvie thats a bristletooth then i would go for a chevron juvie. it has wonderful coloration as a juvie.

i have a yellow eye kole and it does pick at the rock work all day long but it never took out the larger algae. if you dont get a tang then an algae blenny is a good choice, it goes after the same type of algae as a bristle tooth.

[Aquarist007]

Originally posted by kudora
well you had a tomini already, they can stay small. same with the yellow/blue eye kole tang, if your going to keep a juvie thats a bristletooth then i would go for a chevron juvie. it has wonderful coloration as a juvie.

i have a yellow eye kole and it does pick at the rock work all day long but it never took out the larger algae. if you dont get a tang then an algae blenny is a good choice, it goes after the same type of algae as a bristle tooth.

I agree with you Kudora but my second pick would still be the coral beauty dwarf angel--it also goes at the aglae on the reef rocks and leaves my coral alone.

[Tswifty]

Originally posted by kudora
well you had a tomini already, they can stay small. same with the yellow/blue eye kole tang, if your going to keep a juvie thats a bristletooth then i would go for a chevron juvie. it has wonderful coloration as a juvie.

i have a yellow eye kole and it does pick at the rock work all day long but it never took out the larger algae. if you dont get a tang then an algae blenny is a good choice, it goes after the same type of algae as a bristle tooth.

I looked at the Juvenile Chevron Tangs a while back. I'm not crazy about the adult coloration (or the price tag). I've seen some pretty nice variations of Kole Tangs that have peaked my interest. Like I mentioned... I've been trying to make up my mind for a few months now with no luck. My default, if I can't make up my mind, will more than likely be a small Tomini Tang. Who knows... maybe you'll see a baby Powder Blue or Achilles.

Originally posted by capn_hylinur
I agree with you Kudora but my second pick would still be the coral beauty dwarf angel--it also goes at the aglae on the reef rocks and leaves my coral alone.

There are also a lot of very nice looking dwarf angels. However, I won't take the chance. If it decided to snack on my polyps or acans, it could potentially take out a lot of money in coral overnight.

[BigJay]

Originally posted by Tswifty
Yeah, I've been looking for a Tang, but can't decide on one I like... I'm hoping to add one that you don't see everyday. I think I am going to go for one in the Ctenochaetus genus, as they are supposed to take out short algae, whereas the Zebrasoma genus are supposed to take out longer hair/thread-like nuisance algae.

I keep two tangs, a Kole and a Powder Blue. I picked the two because they graze on two different kinds of algae and rarely compete with one another. Kole tangs prefer film algae, so he never touches the nori clip, macro algae, or tufts of hair algae in the tank. Powder blues will eat all of those things, but won't go anywhere near film algae or the stick-on algae tabs.

[Aquarist007]

Originally posted by Tswifty
I looked at the Juvenile Chevron Tangs a while back. I'm not crazy about the adult coloration (or the price tag). I've seen some pretty nice variations of Kole Tangs that have peaked my interest. Like I mentioned... I've been trying to make up my mind for a few months now with no luck. My default, if I can't make up my mind, will more than likely be a small Tomini Tang. Who knows... maybe you'll see a baby Powder Blue or Achilles.

There are also a lot of very nice looking dwarf angels. However, I won't take the chance. If it decided to snack on my polyps or acans, it could potentially take out a lot of money in coral overnight.

I agree---but the coral beauty would be the least chancy of the angels.
My cream angel leaves all my coral alone except for my elegance coral--as soon as I re-introduce it, it goes after the polyps
At least I can sell it to one of my customers now that doesn't have angels

IMO you don't have to worry about adult sizes or colouration of tangs because they won't be in there that long and as you know flake food spirulina algae can be problematic to sps coral tanks

[Tswifty]

Originally posted by BigJay
I keep two tangs, a Kole and a Powder Blue. I picked the two because they graze on two different kinds of algae and rarely compete with one another. Kole tangs prefer film algae, so he never touches the nori clip, macro algae, or tufts of hair algae in the tank. Powder blues will eat all of those things, but won't go anywhere near film algae or the stick-on algae tabs.

That's another reason I really liked my Powder Blue. Like you stated... they go after everything.

Originally posted by capn_hylinur
IMO you don't have to worry about adult sizes or colouration of tangs because they won't be in there that long and as you know flake food spirulina algae can be problematic to sps coral tanks

Maybe... However, re-homing a potentially less attractive fish to a larger system may be problematic. I already have a few friends picked out for what I call a "tang grow-out program."

Seriously... overfeeding, overstocking, etc... etc... is not a concern of mine... at all. Believe it or not, there is a method to my madness. Based on experience, knowledge, research, and the advice of those with stellar SPS dominated systems.