KM's ongoing grow/build log

[kmog33]

Thank you. I may have missed it but what are your average temps. My flower room is 33" × 43" and about 9 ft tall and I've had a 600 hps in a 21 sq.ft. closet so im prepping myself for the struggles of heat management. Watching your grow really has me thinking about using Leds after a few runs to compare quality.

Leds just worked in my current situation. My height is only 5'3" so the lower profile of LEDs from hps was a big bonus. If I was working with 9' ceilings I'd probably still be using my 600s. They're in the closet for now lol.

 

[kmog33]

Damn bro! Pushing those walls out! One good looking tent @kmog33

Thanks Bb. Got a little more overgrown than I thought it would this run. But there are worse problems I could have lol. Appreciate you stopping in.

 

[JorgeGonzales]

Man, I have an oooold saltwater tank. Like, old. I downsized to a 30 galon when I moved house from a 60 gallon and 30 gallon refugium underneath. All the same rocks and coral. It moved cross country with me in 5 gallon buckets, heaters and bubblers in the trunk.

The other thing I did, and this was in 2011, was switch to 90W of led lighting from 500W of MH. Best decision ever, even with 2011 Cree technology. Corals are all happy, temps are never a problem in summer with 80F in the house.

Good luck with your tank. It can be tough, but rewarding. But once things are dialed in it's easy. Although my corals are all soft now, so slightly less demanding than the stony stuff, it practically runs itself with regular water changes. Although I do have some algae now, after adding a couple cleaner shrimp. I was down to hermit crabs, small snails and starfish for awhile.

My biggest problem is the bubble coral that is roughly 25% of the tank. It's like 15 years old.

 

[kmog33]

Man, I have an oooold saltwater tank. Like, old. I downsized to a 30 galon when I moved house from a 60 gallon and 30 gallon refugium underneath. All the same rocks and coral. It moved cross country with me in 5 gallon buckets, heaters and bubblers in the trunk.

The other thing I did, and this was in 2011, was switch to 90W of led lighting from 500W of MH. Best decision ever, even with 2011 Cree technology. Corals are all happy, temps are never a problem in summer with 80F in the house.

Good luck with your tank. It can be tough, but rewarding. But once things are dialed in it's easy. Although my corals are all soft now, so slightly less demanding than the stony stuff, it practically runs itself with regular water changes. Although I do have some algae now, after adding a couple cleaner shrimp. I was down to hermit crabs, small snails and starfish for awhile.

My biggest problem is the bubble coral that is roughly 25% of the tank. It's like 15 years old.

Yeah my tank is only 2 so still fairly young. Mostly stable at this point. Just got an ro lol. Probably about time. My torches take up the most space. But they're my favorite. And my elegance, but it's being an ass right now so I hope it makes it. I will be upgrading to a 90 gallon starfire with 45 sump at the end of the year I think. Bigger take parameters seem to stay more stable.

 

[kmog33]

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[kmog33]

pretty colors this round.

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[Bbcchance]

pretty colors this round.

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Very pretty, nice knuckle on that supercrop too

 

[kmog33]

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[kmog33]

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[kmog33]

Pretty hilarious.

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[Growmau5]

Pretty hilarious.

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are your Mandarins trying to bang? or just saying hi to you.

 

[kmog33]

are your Mandarins trying to bang? or just saying hi to you.

They have been spawning and this is a new trick lol. They're little water fountains. Got the male a few days ago since my female started to look like she had a marble in her belly.

 

[Growmau5]

They have been spawning and this is a new trick lol. They're little water fountains. Got the male a few days ago since my female started to look like she had a marble in her belly.

that is so cool man. I am a reef junkie too, or at least I used to be. If you ever need any gear, let me know. I literally have a garage full of stuff. pm me anytime

 

[kmog33]

that is so cool man. I am a reef junkie too, or at least I used to be. If you ever need any gear, let me know. I literally have a garage full of stuff. pm me anytime

Thanks, pm sent. Always glad to find another saltwater enthusiast. . It was crazy how fast the mandarins stared spawning after I added the male to the tank. Thought it would at least be a few days. But they were right at it.

everyones waking up for the day.

 

[JorgeGonzales]

Pretty hilarious.

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How open is the top of your tank usually? I had a mandarin that was doing really well for a good year jump to it's death on me. That was really sad coming home to that, they are awesome fish.

I had a covered tank after that.

 

[kmog33]

How open is the top of your tank usually? I had a mandarin that was doing really well for a good year jump to it's death on me. That was really sad coming home to that, they are awesome fish.

I had a covered tank after that.

Mines all the way open all the time. It's deep though the mandarins only come to the top when they're spawning. I used to have a glass cover but the coral seem to like it open better. Better gas exchange maybe.

 

[JorgeGonzales]

Mines all the way open all the time. It's deep though the mandarins only come to the top when they're spawning. I used to have a glass cover but the coral seem to like it open better. Better gas exchange maybe.

Glass covers are icky, and annoying. I use this black egg crate mesh they sell in 2x4 sheets at home depot to cover fluorescent lights. You can cut it with scissors, or wire snips. You can feed through it, cut holes for gear, and black looks ok. Open looks better for sure.

I have my protein skimmer sitting on a box made of it, used it for dividers in my refugium, have a little quarantine box as well, all just zip tied together. I had a little live rock structure built on top of it for awhile. Good tool to have if you need it.

It's funny, the two fish I hear about jumping out a lot are gobies and mandarin, which makes no sense.

Anyway, I'm sure you'll be fine. I just had bad luck.

 

[kmog33]

Glass covers are icky, and annoying. I use this black egg crate mesh they sell in 2x4 sheets at home depot to cover fluorescent lights. You can cut it with scissors, or wire snips. You can feed through it, cut holes for gear, and black looks ok. Open looks better for sure.

I have my protein skimmer sitting on a box made of it, used it for dividers in my refugium, have a little quarantine box as well, all just zip tied together. I had a little live rock structure built on top of it for awhile. Good tool to have if you need it.

It's funny, the two fish I hear about jumping out a lot are gobies and mandarin, which makes no sense.

Anyway, I'm sure you'll be fine. I just had bad luck.

It's funny because I have two clown gobies and now two mandarins and they all seem to stay down by the live rock except when they're feeding. I've got like 80 pounds of love rock in a 30 gallon though so there are lots of places to hide. The only thing I'm having issues with right now is my elegance. It's pissd off and I can't figure out why. All my other Lps, sps and softies are thriving. Just the one angry coral.

This is my first tank and I'll be upgrading to a bigger one with sump when we move after the wedding, but for now this is what I'm working with.

 

[Growmau5]

It's funny because I have two clown gobies and now two mandarins and they all seem to stay down by the live rock except when they're feeding. I've got like 80 pounds of love rock in a 30 gallon though so there are lots of places to hide. The only thing I'm having issues with right now is my elegance. It's pissd off and I can't figure out why. All my other Lps, sps and softies are thriving. Just the one angry coral.

This is my first tank and I'll be upgrading to a bigger one with sump when we move after the wedding, but for now this is what I'm working with.

The elegance corals come from one of two regions : Indonesia & Australia. The Indonesian ones come from nutrient rich lagoonal zones. They do great for a few months then they either get a protozoan or bacterial infection "brown slime disease" or their zooxanthellae slowly starve. If it starts to puff up and the tentacles become short. It will be dead in a matter of weeks.
- the Australian imports come from a less nutrient rich environment (typically) and can thrive for years & years in captivity.
-you can try a phytoplankton supplement if it's not already too late.
Cheers.

 

[kmog33]

The elegance corals come from one of two regions : Indonesia & Australia. The Indonesian ones come from nutrient rich lagoonal zones. They do great for a few months then they either get a protozoan or bacterial infection "brown slime disease" or their zooxanthellae slowly starve. If it starts to puff up and the tentacles become short. It will be dead in a matter of weeks.
- the Australian imports come from a less nutrient rich environment (typically) and can thrive for years & years in captivity.
-you can try a phytoplankton supplement if it's not already too late.
Cheers.

Thanks for the info. It was great for about 3 months but the past month or so has started to decline. It doesn't look like ecs maybe a phosphate thing.