< 4 Months!

[::pete::]

I was digging through some pictures after taking some today to get a comparison .... :o

May '05

http://www.maast.org/albums/pete/May_2005.jpg

September '05

http://www.maast.org/albums/pete/September_2005.jpg

[jaded]

Wow look at the growth of that cap (low left)!!! I see something that looks like an orange digi that looks at least triple its original size.

did you change the lighting or is it the camera???

[alexwolf]

How come theres no Sohal in the second pic? :innocent

[::pete::]

No the actinics were not on yet and the left bulb cracked when fired up. Its 3 10K 250 W and 2 72" uri 160W

[::pete::]

How come theres no Sohal in the second pic? :innocent

Let me just say hes lucky he able to be in any pic!!

For those that saw him recently look at the size compared to the regal they are almost the same size ... he trippled before he left!!!

[Reef69]

Thats some awesome growth..cant wait to stuff my tank with corals..

[LoneStar]

nice stuff :) what happened to the ladder background? :pics

[::pete::]

Its in front holding up the chiller !!! Hahhaha

[Sherri]

Wow...look at the cap on the bottom left. Saw his tank yesterday. Fantastic colors...beautiful zoas. Everything looks soooo healthy and happy. :)

[gjuarez]

WOw Pete, when I saw it a couple of months ago I was super impressed. Some of the valley reefers were talking about your tank a couple of minutes ago and how they were drooling with the amazing setup. If they see it now they are going to want more than custom made stuff, they are going to want some frags. Great growth pic. WHat's your secret?

[::pete::]

WHat's your secret?


If I told you that it wouldnt be a secret :skeezy

Thanks!!!

[gjuarez]

A secret consists of two poeple knowing something that others dont. Send me a pm. :)

[::pete::]

In this case there are 3 ... me myself and I :lol

[gjuarez]

Youre right, thats too many people. A good magician never reveals his secret, but does he frag?

[::pete::]

I dont do anything special I keep my water parameters dead on and test every other day ... I do smaller weekly water changes ... drip kalk ... add buffer ... shortened my MH photo period from 8 to 6 and 5 hours.

I work on the tank and dont just add equipment.

[NaCl_H2O]

Looks great Pete! You have a very nice tank with great color, probably one of the best in the club!

BTW - I know his secret ... Pug Pee :roll

[::pete::]

BTW - I know his secret ... Pug Pee


Hey!!!!

[gjuarez]

Hey PEte, do you think that the shortened photoperiod has helped any? What have been your observations? I have read on RC of people having great results with shorter photoperiods, some even with just two hours of metal halides. It makes sense in that the reefs in the ocean dont get the intense lighting all day like we blast them in out tank, maybe just like four hours a day. I have no experience doing this but would sure like to get your opinion.

[::pete::]

Wow ... I dont think there is enough space on the server :P

Take into consideration anything and everything that could limit the suns "direct" intense lighting and then think about the depth of the corals. One specific spot on the reef gets direct sun for ? Once the sun moves a bit its now at an angle to the same spot and not nearly as intense. The further it moves the less intense it becomes so how long is it actually sitting in that one "perfect" spot. Now in our tanks we put the lights close to the surface and the corals are inches from the direct light all the time.

It sure makes sense to me ... how long does it take you to burn in the sun?

[gjuarez]

Very true. I dont know how long it takes for me to burn in the sun, and I wouldnt want to know. I am sure it wouldnt take too long at mid day. I think Sanjay did provide some info on this. I will see if I can find it. GOtta love this hobby, there is always different things experiment with. I am off to dose some greygoose in my tank. lol j/k

[::pete::]

Just think of the constant waves on the surface that reflect the sun. Its never the same and always in a different place even when it is the direct intense lighting.

I have seen better color and I am getting great growth including the areas that are shaded. I might even cut it back more.

[LoneStar]

I'm considering lessening my halide 'ON' time. This is a good example on how well it works. I've heard people doing it but goes to show the proof is in the pictures. :) Plus it will save on those **** electric bills~

[::pete::]

Thats another plus as well as the water temp being easier to maintain.

[gjuarez]

I have spoken to bomber at reefcentral a couple of times, he perhaps was one of the first people who started doing this. He only runs his halides for two hours. THe rest of the time he is running VHOs. His tank is amazing. He was also the pioneer of the starboard reef. Pretty smart guy in my opinion.
Jerry

[gjuarez]

I wonder if this applies to T5s as well.

[LoneStar]

I wonder if this applies to T5s as well.


I sure hope it will. ;) I got 2 55w t-5 actinic bulbs and am going to cut the halide time down 1 hour each week for 2 weeks and see how well it does. I'm freakin' never home anyway it seems to see the **** thing on, just feel the after effects of a hot room when i get home. :wacko

[TexasTodd]

How come theres no Sohal in the second pic?

First thing I noticed after the overall shock of such a nice tank.

Better look out Pete, someone might come in late with some bone cutters. :ph34r

He has amazing growth.

TT

[gjuarez]

Shh, dont give the heads up. :)

[AlexKilpatrick]

This is the first I have heard of the photoperiod thing. Can someone post any of the key threads from reefcentral? I remember some of the starboard threads there were ridiculusly long -- 100's of pages.

Anyhow, I'm not too sure we always want to mimic nature exactly. I don't know how analagous corals are to regular photosynthetic plants, but I thought that the longer the photperiod, the longer plants will grow. It may not be that natural, but it increases growth.

Also, I think you have to be real careful interpreting results. When someone does something with photoperiod, do they keep everything else constant? Pete's tank may be doing great with a shorter photoperiod, but it may be that his tank is just doing great because he is a good reefkeeper. Maybe the photoperiod is irrelevant.

One of the coolest things about reefkeeping is how often the "conventional wisdom" gets overturned.

[bigdscobra]

Nice tank Pete, now all I need is some timers to try out the MH fot 6hrs instead of 11hrs this will diffently help out my water temp and maybe get it closer to being constant..

[TexasTodd]

The good threads on RC unfortunately are ALL very long.

Dan, reduce your photo period SLOWLY!

IMO,IME there are a lot of factors that play in to this reduction of photo period that are specific to each tank. I have reduced some and may go lower. I went way down on my old tank at one point and believe I had some things I didn't like. I'm at 7 hours now for the big lights.

Todd

[falcondob]

Amazing Pete. I love looking at your tank.

[::pete::]

Some threads

http://reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?s=&amp;threadid=585711&amp;highlight=photo+ period

http://reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?s=&amp;threadid=642663&amp;highlight=photo+ period

http://reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?s=&amp;threadid=607205&amp;highlight=photo+ period