LEDs. Damn. And how does my tank sound, all good?

[ReeferKimberly]

Yeah...so um they rock. (LEDs)

My tank came with a small LED that was barely enough, then got some CFLs to supplement which were completely bad spectrum and got loads of algae. Got a great deal on a used LED light for $75 instead of a couple hundred new. It's still really bright. Here are a few pics of my tank, the bluest ones are the LED. The brightest are the CFLs that wreaked havoc with algae growth (after the pic was taken). The pic does it no justice but I finally feel like my tank looks like the ocean, and the rest of yours

I have only been here a very short time but have learned SO MUCH. I learned a lot from reading the entire hitchhiker thread then every question I ever had plus some I never thought to ask, along with asking all those questions I could not find. I joined June 1 and in 11 days have gained so much first hand knowledge. This place is incredible and you guys are so smart and funny!

My tank is a 10 gallon nano (I know I am crazy for attempting a nano first (well, first in 8 years and a lot of forgotten knowledge) but I am doing ok so far). I have softies, LPS and SPS (which is green and not brown today! thank you LEDs). A diadema dottyback, a springer damsel and a mandarin. I cycled the tank for three months to build a pod population and make sure it was well cycled. I then added the fish , 5 hermits, 1 turbo snail, 1 emerald crab, 1 peppermint shrimp, and one coral shrimp.

I change 2 gallons every 3 days. I feed roti-feast, phyto-feast, and oyter-feast along with gut loaded mysis (frozen) and live brine and tigger pods.

I have chaeto behind the rock which is lit in the back by a smaller led. I have a hang on back filter which I sometimes use carbon (phosphate free kind) in. Mostly it's for water flow. No skimmer, no refugium. I get away with it with water changes. I used DI water and Red Sea Coral pro salt.

I have a few hikers but all good guys.

Temp =77-78

Does everything sound OK to you?

Tank pics, progression earliest to now. Old LED. Algae causing CFLs, and today, my new LED.

My camera sucks.

[ReeferKimberly]

and one more pic. This is my new LED and my crappy old LED combined. I figure I will switch things up every once in a while. I can adjust the new one. The old one has more white and less blue.

[Donkeykong]

Can you raise the lights up a bit, seems pretty dark at the edges. Glad you are getting better coloration.

[ReeferKimberly]

Originally Posted by Donkeykong

Can you raise the lights up a bit, seems pretty dark at the edges. Glad you are getting better coloration.

Yeah it is dark at the edges. I had to rearrange a couple things. I can't move it up by the screws but I can set it on something higher, that's a good idea hadn't thought of that. Thank you

Oh yes the difference in coloration is amazing. Especially the green star polyps, they are crazy neon green! More than the day I bought them

[wildman926]

The change in LED is very good. Seeing our tank is inspiring me to go ahead and start up a 5g I have waiting in the wings.

[tankaddict]

Wait, Did you train your mandarin to eat frozen? Your tank will run out of pods pretty quickly.I had to train my even when I had a 20L with a 20H fuge filled with live rock. Gl led looks great.

[ReeferKimberly]

He eats both. He is from ORA. I also feed him live brine and tigger pods.