So I was intending to pick up an LED fixture at RAP last month in Southern Cali, but was discouraged by much conflicting information about the light output produced by them. The biggest concern, or rather question, I left with was whether or not LED's produce usable UV radiation. From my research I have found the consensus is that SPS coloration is all but dependent on UV in the light being provided to them. From what I have read the theory is that as a response to UV SPS produce their slime ...
Updated 11-20-2010 at 01:16 AM by melev
With all the months of planning, I still found myself thinking about how I wanted the plumbing to be, pondering on what would be the ideal layout that wouldn't result in having to make changes and modifications later. I had some crazy ideas in mind originally, but modified them some. The principle is simple: Water drains into the sump. Water goes back up to the display tank. Avoid too many turns and fittings, and keep it looking clean. The return assembly was a big ...
Updated 01-29-2011 at 05:03 AM by melev
My 400g reef had five drains in the external overflow. They are equally spaced apart, and plumbing these into my sump was a little challenging. I'm sure I got a few gray hairs trying to come up with the perfect plan. First of all, it needed five Durso Standpipes. All five are 1.5" black PVC going into 1.5" bulkheads. The drainlines are 1.5" as well. Each Durso is drilled with a 3/16" hole in the cap to vent the drain. None of the Durso Standpipes were glued. They ...
On February 6th of this year, I started running 2 liters of Vertex biopellets in my system, and over that 7.5 month period I was able to maintain zero nitrate and zero phosphate. Granted, my system has a DSB, live rock, a skimmer and a refugium, but so did my 280g reef. I've not had to dose Phosphate Control nor use GFO once with the new tank. And no vodka dosing either. I've only done a handful of water changes in that time. Maybe 600g, possibly. Two weeks ago, I hooked up a ...
I'm happy to report the new 400g is under construction at last. One piece of glass was taking forever to come in, but arrived September 29th and the guys at Marineland sent over a couple of pictures for me to share. You are looking at the tank from the end that faces the kitchen. The external overflow that will hang behind the black acrylic panel with the teeth. ...