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My 1 year old tank. (photos attached this time!)

Discussion in 'General Discussion' started by PotRoast, Oct 28, 2009.

  1. Oct 28, 2009 #1
    PotRoast

    PotRoast Well-Known ReefKeeper

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    I take crappy pictures.
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  2. Oct 28, 2009 #2
    Marc

    Marc Inactive User

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    you have a beautiful tank...
     
  3. Oct 28, 2009 #3
    Guest

    Guest Guest

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    Great looking tank there! I love your little jawfish!

    After a year, what are your opinions on barebottom?
     
  4. Oct 28, 2009 #4
    PotRoast

    PotRoast Well-Known ReefKeeper

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    I think sand blows. (all around the tank)

    In fact I can't imagine ever using sand.
     
  5. Oct 28, 2009 #5
    matt1971 Waterloo

    matt1971 Well-Known ReefKeeper

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    Can I ask about your t-5 lights? How many, what spectrum? Ever used Mh in comparison? I assume you've had some good SPS growth.
     
  6. Oct 28, 2009 #6
    PotRoast

    PotRoast Well-Known ReefKeeper

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    I do use T5's...it is the only lights I have ever used. I actually like the look of the MH lights better, however the look with the t5's are close enough to MH (for me) that I prefer T5's, mainly because I don't have to use a chiller, and the energy consumption of the bulbs is less. As for growth, I have had excellent growth....a lot of those corals came from small frags. The lights do great, but the calcium reactor, when running like it should, really speeds up the growth.

    As for bulbs, I use a combination of ATI and UVL. I have 16 bulbs total, each 4' long, eight bulbs on each side of the tank. The bulb configuration is as follows: (from front to back, and the same configuration/order is found on both sides of the tank)

    ATI Blue Plus, ATI Aquablue, UVL Super Actinic, UVL Aquasun, ATI Blue Plus, ATI Pro Color, ATI Aquablue, ATI Blue Plus

     
  7. Oct 28, 2009 #7
    Guest

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    What are the dems of your tank? Is it a 6"er?

    Are their any downsides to the barebottom? Did you put starboard or anyhting down? Looks like you have nice coraline now but was it hard to keep clean prior to that?
     
  8. Oct 28, 2009 #8
    AJ

    AJ Inactive User

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    Nice lookin tank! I wish you were closer to IC...your tank would be a great stop on a tank tour.

    --AJ
     
  9. Oct 28, 2009 #9
    PotRoast

    PotRoast Well-Known ReefKeeper

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    I'm 47 min straight south of IC. Probably too far for a tank tour, unless I offer beer.....

    Dimensions are 8' x 2' x 2'

    Downsides to bbottom.....ummm maybe the look. Some people do not like the barebottom look. Otherwise I see no downside. I don't really believe that a sandbed does anything besides trap nitrates. That is my OPINION. Instead of a sandbed, I compensate with a ton of flow, and a large sump, a nitrate reactor, and cheato.

    I used 3/4" black acrylic for the bottom. The coralline growth started about six months ago. I didn't try to ever keep it clean.
     
  10. Oct 28, 2009 #10
    AJ

    AJ Inactive User

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    Was that acrylic an insert or the actual bottom of your tank?  I put an acrylic insert in the bottom of mine.  I had a devil of a time getting it to fit just right.  Lots of fitting, then trimming, then fitting again.  I finally got it right and siliconed it in.  I've heard that starboard is cheaper than acrylic and probably would use that if I had to do it again....not that it would work any better...just because it's cheaper.
    --AJ
     
  11. Oct 28, 2009 #11
    PotRoast

    PotRoast Well-Known ReefKeeper

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    I added the acrylic, ordered it from Grainger. It came in two 4' x 2' sections. I made a cardboard template of the bottom of my tank, then cut the acrylic. It fit the first time! I was not expecting it to, but sometimes I rock.

    I did not know about butcher block when I did the acrylic. I think they are very similar in price.
     
  12. Oct 28, 2009 #12
    AJ

    AJ Inactive User

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    Hahaha...nice.  /DesktopModules/ActiveForums/themes/_default/emoticons/biggrin.gif
    --AJ
     
  13. Oct 28, 2009 #13
    Guest

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    Thank you Roast! Appreciate the insight.

    AJ for some reason I looked past the fact that you were going to be barebottom aswell.
     
  14. Oct 28, 2009 #14
    adampottebaum

    adampottebaum Experienced Reefkeeper GIRS Member

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    I'm very jealous of the 8' long tank! Looks good!
     
  15. Oct 29, 2009 #15
    matt1971 Waterloo

    matt1971 Well-Known ReefKeeper

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    Thank you for the T-5 light info. I need to switch my bulbs out soon on an 8X54 unit. Good configuration, I may copy.
     
  16. Nov 1, 2009 #16
    Eric West Des Moines, IA

    Eric Experienced Reefkeeper

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    Posted By PotRoast on 10/28/2009 01:05 PM
    I take crappy pictures.
    I think I'd rather take crappy pictures and have a beautiful tank than take beautiful pictures of a crappy tank...
    Very nice looking!
    Nice to see someone locally with great hard coral growth and T5's!  If you ever have an open house I'd be interested in seeing the coloration of the T5 combination in person.
    -Eric
     

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