Some Dude's Reef - led's vs halides post 347

[Kristy]

Aww! The heart shape on your mandarin's back is so sweet and even sweeter that you treasure it!! She's a beauty!

[Europhyllia]

that lobo is awesome!

[BSJF]

Hey Lorraine, I think I'll have a frag of this guy very soon for you.


Awesomeness! I have a frag for you too - just don't know what you want so you might have to give me a hint or two or three - pink birdsnest, duncan, ORA oregon blue tort, rhodactis mushroom (I think- it has bright green puffy things all over it)...

[CoryDude]

Definitely the pink bird's nest. Been looking to add a splash of pink to the tank.

I was looking last night when the mushrooms shrunk, and there were a few polyps on some smaller rocks that I can pull.

[BSJF]

Better to keep a bit of rock attached if you can.

[CoryDude]

Sorry, I meant pull from the tank, not the rock. I'll grab the larger sized polyp and maybe I can head over to your place this Saturday if you'll be around.

[kkiel02]

Looking good Cory!!! I really like that nebula and the skittles stylo!

[CoryDude]

Here's the red monti that I picked up earlier this week, and an updated pic of the right side of the tank:

http://i401.photobucket.com/albums/pp100/cpryor74/tank%20progress2012/DSC_7716.jpg

http://i401.photobucket.com/albums/pp100/cpryor74/tank%20progress2012/DSC_7744.jpg

[CoryDude]

Some top down shots.

http://i401.photobucket.com/albums/pp100/cpryor74/tank%20progress2012/DSC_7645.jpg

http://i401.photobucket.com/albums/pp100/cpryor74/tank%20progress2012/DSC_7680.jpg

http://i401.photobucket.com/albums/pp100/cpryor74/tank%20progress2012/DSC_7705.jpg

http://i401.photobucket.com/albums/pp100/cpryor74/tank%20progress2012/DSC_7709.jpg

[CoryDude]

http://i401.photobucket.com/albums/pp100/cpryor74/tank%20progress2012/DSC_7704.jpg

http://i401.photobucket.com/albums/pp100/cpryor74/tank%20progress2012/DSC_7694.jpg

http://i401.photobucket.com/albums/pp100/cpryor74/tank%20progress2012/DSC_7685.jpg

[Europhyllia]

shroom is just fantastic!!!

[CoryDude]

Karin, I have two or three polyps that are available. Lorraine wants one. Do you want one too? I pretty much owe you since you talked me into getting it in the first place.

[CoryDude]

Aiptasia...oh how I hate you. I hope the berghias do the trick. Kalk paste knocks 'em back for a while, but then they come back.

Added a dozen blue knuckle hermits and 4 halloween hermits over the past two weeks. Still working on the halloween hermit pics, but here's the electric blues:

http://i401.photobucket.com/albums/pp100/cpryor74/tank%20progress2012/DSC_7772.jpg

[BBQHILLBILLY]

I probably missed it somewhere. What model camera are you using? Thats a great pic.

[Kristy]

I probably missed it somewhere. What model camera are you using? Thats a great pic.

It's a nice camera, but mostly it's the operator. Boy's got skills!

[CoryDude]

Ah, shucks ma'am. Thanks Kristy.

Thanks BBQ. It's a nikon d5000 and a lot of practice.

[CoryDude]

Still working on the Halloween Hermits. This is the best I could get so far.

http://i401.photobucket.com/albums/pp100/cpryor74/tank%20progress2012/DSC_7802.jpg

Since nitrates have gone up a little, the colors have intensified on all the acros. Here's a close up of one of the stags
http://i401.photobucket.com/albums/pp100/cpryor74/tank%20progress2012/DSC_7871.jpg

[CoryDude]

So these little pests have been showing up all over the place:
http://i401.photobucket.com/albums/pp100/cpryor74/tank%20progress2012/DSC_7852.jpg

[CoryDude]

...and so the great berghia expirement begins. I've tried using kalk paste, but since I can only work above and behind my tank, gettting them them makes it a little hard.

Alton was gracious enough to put together a berghia nudibranch order. I added 5 to the tank on Thurs 2/2/12. Here's a pic and probably the first and last time I'll see any of them for a while since they are nocturnal creatures:
http://i401.photobucket.com/albums/pp100/cpryor74/tank progress2012/DSC_7829.jpg

[BSJF]

Everything is beautiful. I would be willing to take more than one shroom... :)

[BSJF]

Good luck with the berghia. When they are done are your place, you can send them my way.

[CoryDude]

Everything is beautiful. I would be willing to take more than one shroom... :)

You got it. I'm going to move the rock around and put the loose polyps in my frag box. I should be able to get two at least.

[Europhyllia]

Thanks Cory but I hope to be without a tank soon. Glad the shrooms turned out as great as they did!

Cory 5 looks very cute with his little belly freckle. Hopefully he came hungry! :)

[CoryDude]

Well, the berghia trial seems to be slowly working. I've noticed a few of the smaller glass 'nems disappearing. From what Alton explained to me, the berghias start on the smaller hidden ones that are easier to get to and then start searching for the more visible 'nems as their food source becomes more scarce.

Also ordered a true polyp undata that should arrive next Tuesday. Ever since I saw TexasTodd's last year, I've wanted this montipora more than any other.

[FireWater]

Dude you should have said something. I knew you liked the undata. You could have just snagged a piece of mine.

[CoryDude]

Dude you should have said something. I knew you liked the undata. You could have just snagged a piece of mine.

Didn't know if yours was ready John. Plus I hate asking for frags without them being offered first.

Here's mine. Showed up on Tuesday, but is still trying to regain some of it's color:

http://i401.photobucket.com/albums/pp100/cpryor74/tank%20progress2012/DSC_8338.jpg

[CoryDude]

Berghia are definitely working. There was an area that had about 3-4 aiptasia and as the week progressed, one disappeared, then another, then another...

Plus last night I had the flashlight out and found one of the berghias crawling along the glass. It was about twice the size then when I added them. So this is definitely encouraging.

[CoryDude]

Updated FTS
http://i401.photobucket.com/albums/pp100/cpryor74/tank%20progress2012/DSC_8252_edited-1.jpg

New Coco worm
http://i401.photobucket.com/albums/pp100/cpryor74/tank%20progress2012/DSC_8257.jpg

and my splendid dottyback finally posed for a decent pic
http://i401.photobucket.com/albums/pp100/cpryor74/tank%20progress2012/DSC_8351.jpg

[CoryDude]

Well, I have to say that if you're having an aiptasia problem, and you don't want to spend all day injecting them with lemon juice, boiling water, and what ever else you're grandma has cooked up, then take a chance on adding berghia nudibranches. The process is slow, but it works.

Clusters of the nasty nems have started to disappear everywhere. I've even had berghia egg strings showing up on the glass now. Now, I've only seen these cool looking nudibranches twice. The first time, it was almost 1am and I was off to bed and was too tired to look for my camera. But, the other night, I had the camera nearby and was able to get a few pics and even a video. Please excuse the quality as I was holding a flashlight in one hand and the camera in the other.

My only experience with nudibranches were of the montipora eating variety. This little guy didn't even touch the reverse superman monti you see in the pic:
http://i401.photobucket.com/albums/pp100/cpryor74/tank%20progress2012/DSC_8433.jpg

And here's a quick video:
sGxOcMZX6Z4

[Europhyllia]

pretty coco worm :)

[350gt]

They are working for me as well. I bought 3 and placed one in a rock that had a few heads all over... It's free now of any apstasia, the other 2 were placed in my fuge where there were some heads as well..... All gone. I'm now having a problem in one of my overflows..... Do you think the nudis will get up there?

[CoryDude]

I'm now having a problem in one of my overflows..... Do you think the nudis will get up there?

I was wondering the same thing. I may try and catch one and place it in the overflow. But, as you know, they're not easy to find since you only see them at night.

[alton]

They are working? Then this morning I look over and one in my office tank and one is crawling across the rocks. So I know he has been eating them, you just have to wonder how many there are in a tank where you see only a few?

[CoryDude]

They are working for me as well. I bought 3 and placed one in a rock that had a few heads all over... It's free now of any apstasia, the other 2 were placed in my fuge where there were some heads as well..... All gone. I'm now having a problem in one of my overflows..... Do you think the nudis will get up there?

They will make it into the overflow. One made its way into the right overflow and completely gorged itself on every last glass 'nem.

Did my first trimming of the tanks short lifespan today. This guy (german blue monti from Chris) was starting to crowd out the lovelli. I cut 8-9 large size sticks off. I didn't want to mess with fragging/glueing them so I threw them in a bucket to dry out.

http://i401.photobucket.com/albums/pp100/cpryor74/tank%20progress2012/DSC_7071.jpg

[CoryDude]

I also managed to drop a mp-40 wet-side on the ground and break the impeller shaft. Guess it could have been worse. Already went to ecotech's part store and ordered a $20 wet-side maintenance kit. Still getting pretty decent flow.

Went to the aquadome and picked up a crazy orange plate coral and a pretty crocea with a nice electric blue lip.

[CoryDude]

New orange plate coral from Aquadome

http://i401.photobucket.com/albums/pp100/cpryor74/tank%20progress2012/DSC_0221.jpg

Same coral under actinics
http://i401.photobucket.com/albums/pp100/cpryor74/tank%20progress2012/DSC_0360.jpg

Updated Borealis photo
http://i401.photobucket.com/albums/pp100/cpryor74/tank%20progress2012/DSC_0335.jpg

Nice Bird's Nest that I picked up from BSJF at the frag swap. This has colored up nicely in the last week or so:
http://i401.photobucket.com/albums/pp100/cpryor74/tank%20progress2012/DSC_0322.jpg

[CoryDude]

Updated Chips Acro
http://i401.photobucket.com/albums/pp100/cpryor74/tank%20progress2012/DSC_0154.jpg

Updated unknown purple acro. I call it The Purple Nebula
http://i401.photobucket.com/albums/pp100/cpryor74/tank%20progress2012/DSC_0133.jpg

[CoryDude]

The fish were feeling at little photogenic also.

Fat and happy lyretail anthia
http://i401.photobucket.com/albums/pp100/cpryor74/tank%20progress2012/DSC_0120.jpg

Fiji damsel
http://i401.photobucket.com/albums/pp100/cpryor74/tank%20progress2012/DSC_0153.jpg

Flame hawk
http://i401.photobucket.com/albums/pp100/cpryor74/tank%20progress2012/DSC_0349.jpg

Powder Blue Tang
http://i401.photobucket.com/albums/pp100/cpryor74/tank%20progress2012/DSC_0269.jpg

[CoryDude]

...and finally, Mr. Shy Guy, aka Splendid Dottyback:
http://i401.photobucket.com/albums/pp100/cpryor74/tank%20progress2012/DSC_0252.jpg

[Zack]

Did my first trimming of the tanks short lifespan today. This guy (german blue monti from Chris) was starting to crowd out the lovelli. I cut 8-9 large size sticks off. I didn't want to mess with fragging/glueing them so I threw them in a bucket to dry out.

Next time you're doing another trim you should let me know, I'd gladly take an un-glued stick off your hands to get my feet wet in SPS.

[CoryDude]

Next time you're doing another trim you should let me know, I'd gladly take an un-glued stick off your hands to get my feet wet in SPS.

No problem. I still have some pieces laying in the substrate you can have, or let me know next time your going to be in town and I'll break you off a piece of two. It's a pretty good starter sps. Very hardy and one of the fastest growers out there.

[CoryDude]

Thought I'd post an updated FTS. Everything has been moving along pretty well. Recent changes:

- Since I'm not adding any burrowing fish,I removed a lot of the broken shell pieces that were mixed in with the caribsea super reef sand and added about an inch of special grade reef floor sand. The aiptasia liked the shell pices too much. I like this look a lot better.
- Nitrate reactor wasn't working as efficiently. But it turns out that the recirculating pump on the reactor was going out. I replaced it with a new eheim pump and it's cranking out zero nitrate water at about 2-3 drops per second.
- Last water change was about 3 weeks ago at about 20 gallons. Right now, I'm only changing about 20 gallons of water every 3 months.
- Been ramping up the kalkwasser dosing to 3 times per week at about 1.5 gallons dripped into the system over 12 hours each time. I tested CA levels last week and they were around 375ppm. I'll test again this weekend to see if that'll keep the levels above 400 as calcium demand has really spiked with the increased growth.

http://i401.photobucket.com/albums/pp100/cpryor74/tank%20progress2012/DSC_2126.jpg

[Bill S]

Very nice, Cory. Is that a Paletta lovelli in the front?

[Zack]

Absolutely beautiful tank and amazing photography as usual!

[BSJF]

Awesomeness~!

[hobogato]

great looking tank cory, i bet the fish love all that swimming room at the top

[Mr Cob]

looks great bro, those overflows are screaming for some mounts...

are those 2 mp40s or 10s? What setting do you keep them on?

[CoryDude]

Very nice, Cory. Is that a Paletta lovelli in the front?

Yeah, on the front/left by the solar wrasse. The more delicate blue/green stag on the right is what Jeremy at B&B named "Lovely Eyes". Wasn't sure if you were talking about that one.


Absolutely beautiful tank and amazing photography as usual!

Thanks! Other than the aiptasia, I'm pretty happy with it right now.


Awesomeness~!

Thanks again for the duncans. I'm still trying to find a spot. I got a lot of my inspiration from looking at your tank last year when we had our first totm meeting. I decided I wanted bigger mix of corals. Just can't bring myself to keep as many fish as you did. BTW, your biocube looks pretty nice too!


great looking tank cory, i bet the fish love all that swimming room at the top

Thanks Ace. I'm really diggin' your new setup with the solar reef too! Yeah, I decided after the last tear down to get rid of some of the rock to give more swimming room for the fish and more room for the corals to grow into.


looks great bro, those overflows are screaming for some mounts...

are those 2 mp40s or 10s? What setting do you keep them on?

Thought about it. Was thinking about adding a plating monti in a few places.

Running two of the older mp40s's. One on the left is setup as a synced slave and I run the reefcrest mode. I like the variable current speeds. But I sometimes flip back to short pulse 'cause me likey the wave action.

[ErikH]

The lovely eyes was from the original frag that Bill gave to me. It was my largest colony, mini basketball size. Now you know the lineage! :)

edit: You feed Dianichi? I just got a new anthias and it loves it!

[CoryDude]

Sweet Erik. Didn't know that. I was new to sps and stopped by his old store and saw a single 1.5 inch stick of it on a frag plug and had to have it. Ah, I miss that store. Jeremy wasn't the friendliest of owners, but he was fair with his prices.

I have a bag of the marine fx baby pellets, but don't feed it very often. Usually stick with frozen blends.

[ErikH]

LOL, did you ever see his selection of Christmas zoas? They were OUTSTANDING. Those things grew like mad for me. The Lovelli was a haven for all of my baitfish (chromis), I used to love cheking out the tank to see what was crashing in what coral. Ahhhh thank God I've got my tank up again. :)

[CoryDude]

Guess it's time for a quarterly update. Still battling the aiptasia. But with the help of some peppermint shrimp and weekly kalk slurry injections, I'm reducing their numbers.

Had some issues with some sps losing tissue, but they always recover within a few weeks. I think it has something to do with my nitrate swings. As the NO3 levels have come back down, I think the sps suffer for a few weeks while they adjust to fewer nutrients in the water.

I'm also having problems with cyano. Manual removal has helped and it's only relegated to a few small patches here and there. Lastly, I'm thinking about adding my calcium reactor back into the mix since I'm having problems keeping the calcium levels above 400 ppm using two part and kalkwaser drips. So, long story short, the tank has a few warts, but I'm pretty happy with the way things have progressed.

Here are some FTS progression shots:

Fall 2010
http://i401.photobucket.com/albums/pp100/cpryor74/Talk%20Build/DSC_0054.jpg

Fall 2011 - Tank was re-started in the Summer of 2011 due to some particularly nasty hair algae so there was not a lot of growth the first year
http://i401.photobucket.com/albums/pp100/cpryor74/120%20Progress%20Fall%202011/DSC_5185.jpg

Spring 2012
http://i401.photobucket.com/albums/pp100/cpryor74/tank%20progress2012/DSC_8252_edited-1.jpg

11-5-12
http://i401.photobucket.com/albums/pp100/cpryor74/tank%20progress2012/DSC_3671.jpg

[Flyride95]

Very very very nice!

[FireWater]

The things we try to control keep us comin back time and time again.

Tank is coming along nicely.

[BSJF]

Coming along nicely. Surprised that you can't keep your levels up.

[hobogato]

great pics cory - really shows how much your tank has matured.

[BBQHILLBILLY]

very nice pics ; lotta color

[Europhyllia]

OMG Cory! That is GORGEOUS!

[Texreefer]

Very nice

[350gt]

Very nice Cory...

Can u describe the lighting changes of each pic? The last one looks best..

[lt1z28]

Awesome!

[allan]

I'm really digging the last fts.

[CoryDude]

Very nice Cory...

Can u describe the lighting changes of each pic? The last one looks best..

The main difference is an adjustment to the white balance on the camera. I'm still running 4 x 110w VHO's and the phoenix 14k bulbs. But, some of the change has also come from switching from magnetic hqi ballasts to Ice Cap electronic ballasts. Troy V downgraded from 250w to 175w and he graciously gave me the 250w ice caps.

[CoryDude]

Thanks everyone! I pretty much owe everthing to this club and all the ideas I've picked up over the last few years.

Before I start chasing the calcium dragon, I'm going to get a new test kit just to verify my calcium levels. I borrowed a kit from Troy last month and think my kit by be off by 20-40 ppm. His was showing levels at 420-430 ppm and my kit always shows 390-400 ppm.

Anyone care to share their results when dosing phyto? I've working on a building a phyto culturing shelf and want to setup a green water reactor. From the studies I've read, I'm hoping to build a stronger tank by improving the food supply for the lower level organisms and thereby strengthening the tank's entire food chain.

[Big_Pun]

i have a hanna checker and its worth every penny!! just bite the bullet

[CoryDude]

i have a hanna checker and its worth every penny!! just bite the bullet

That's the very one I'm looking at. May need Santa to bring it to me this year. Troy and I have a deal...He's got the phosphorous test kit and he's going to get the ph kit. I'll buy the alk and ca calcium kits and together we'll have a complete set.

But seriously, I can't stress enough that everyone needs to get a reef buddy. Troy and I have banked corals in each others tanks, share test kits, and just bounce ideas off each other's heads. If you don't have a reef buddy, go find one.

[Big_Pun]

That's the very one I'm looking at. May need Santa to bring it to me this year. Troy and I have a deal...He's got the phosphorous test kit and he's going to get the ph kit. I'll buy the alk and ca calcium kits and together we'll have a complete set.

But seriously, I can't stress enough that everyone needs to get a reef buddy. Troy and I have banked corals in each others tanks, share test kits, and just bounce ideas off each other's heads. If you don't have a reef buddy, go find one.

im a lone wolf!! but i have a few friends ive banked my prized coral with need to get some more out there.

[CoryDude]

Sorry, Chris. My computer was getting hung up. I was trying to edit my post. I owe you some credit as well. If it wasn't for banking corals, I wouldn't have my oregon tort and my lovely eyes stag that you banked in your old tank.

[Big_Pun]

Sorry, Chris. My computer was getting hung up. I was trying to edit my post. I owe you some credit as well. If it wasn't for banking corals, I wouldn't have my oregon tort and my lovely eyes stag that you banked in your old tank.

and i eneded up with a piece of oregon so full circle. wouldnt mind a piece of lovely eye for some blue milli??

[350gt]

Group buy on Hanna checkers? I would be in...

[Big_Pun]

maybe a lfs can help us on that

[FireWater]

Is a lovely eye the same as lovelli spell checked?

[Big_Pun]

Is a lovely eye the same as lovelli spell checked?


nope lovelli is a type of acro such as tort and others

[FireWater]

I know that. Thanks capt obvious. Lol

Cory, did you mean to type lovely eye? If so what does it look like, I might need to "bank" a piece of it for you.

[Big_Pun]

The main difference is an adjustment to the white balance on the camera. I'm still running 4 x 110w VHO's and the phoenix 14k bulbs. But, some of the change has also come from switching from magnetic hqi ballasts to Ice Cap electronic ballasts. Troy V downgraded from 250w to 175w and he graciously gave me the 250w ice caps.

the electronic ballast are very nice, im running galaxy 250w with phoenix 14k. nothing like good ole MH!!

[CoryDude]

I know that. Thanks capt obvious. Lol

Cory, did you mean to type lovely eye? If so what does it look like, I might need to "bank" a piece of it for you.

Yeah, that's what Jeremy at the old B&B location called it. He said it came from a guy out near Victoria that was tearing his tank down. He drove all the way out there to pick up a few pieces and that was one of them.

Here's the Lovely Eyes which is more of a delicate stag:
http://i401.photobucket.com/albums/pp100/cpryor74/tank%20progress2012/DSC_3736.jpg

And the Lovelli which has more of a tort growth pattern (s Chris said) and thicker branches.
http://i401.photobucket.com/albums/pp100/cpryor74/tank%20progress2012/DSC_3794.jpg

[Big_Pun]

I did snag a piece is this is pic is bad but it's green just like yours and blue tips. top left corner

http://img.tapatalk.com/d/12/11/07/emadu7yb.jpg

[CoryDude]

I grows like a weed. John, you're more than welcome to a piece. I usually end of breaking off a piece during water changes. I'll snag one for you next time that happens.

[FireWater]

That's awesome Cory. I have a couple of sps that have been around for a while that not many people have and I will save you a piece of it.

[CoryDude]

Update:
Aiptasia are way out of control. I'm currently trying to get ahold of the guy from berghiadirect.com to see if they expect to have another batch of nudi's to send out. Those little guys were the only sure-fire way to get rid of these pests. I'll be spending the next few weekends working on manual glass 'nem removal duty.

In the meantime, everything is doing pretty good. A few of the acros are going through the process of losing tissue in the base area, as they branch out. Anytime I see exposed skeleton on a stony, I freak out a little.

Calcium dosing is all through kalkwasser right now. Sometimes I pour in a cup of slurry at night. I also drip 1.5 gallons of fresh kalkwasser 3-4 times over a week during the night hours. With the current growth rate in the tank, I'm barely keeping calcium levels in the 400-415 ppm range. Thinking about adding a PM kalk stirrer sometime in 2013.

On a sad note, the solar fairy wrasse disappeared a month ago. I quite seeing it at the nightly feedings and haven't seen it since.

In the meantime, here's some updated shots:

[CoryDude]

FTS
http://i401.photobucket.com/albums/pp100/cpryor74/tank%20progress2012/DSC_4282.jpg

Roadtrip Purple Shrooms
http://i401.photobucket.com/albums/pp100/cpryor74/tank%20progress2012/DSC_4258.jpg

Blue Tongan Mushrooms
http://i401.photobucket.com/albums/pp100/cpryor74/tank%20progress2012/DSC_4205.jpg

Coco Worm
http://i401.photobucket.com/albums/pp100/cpryor74/tank%20progress2012/DSC_4201.jpg

[CoryDude]

Yellow tabling acro. This one has worried me a bit since the polyp extension has decreased and there has been some major tissue recession as this thing has started to table out.
http://i401.photobucket.com/albums/pp100/cpryor74/tank%20progress2012/DSC_4175.jpg

Chips Acro
http://i401.photobucket.com/albums/pp100/cpryor74/tank%20progress2012/DSC_4105.jpg

Tri-color
http://i401.photobucket.com/albums/pp100/cpryor74/tank%20progress2012/DSC_4079.jpg

Reverse Superman Monti
http://i401.photobucket.com/albums/pp100/cpryor74/tank%20progress2012/DSC_4065.jpg

Undata
http://i401.photobucket.com/albums/pp100/cpryor74/tank%20progress2012/DSC_4038.jpg

[FireWater]

Wish you luck man. That undata still looks sweet.
I have noticed on some of my tabling acros that shaded areas don't fair well. I have started pruning my colonies for that reason.
If the Berghia dude answers you let me know and maybe we can go in together on some. I'm worried my wrasses will take them out, but I want to try. I'm not at plague proportions yet. Alton said once that for every one you see there are 10 times as many you don't see.

[CoryDude]

Had a few loses in December. The yellow tabling acro took a pretty quick dive. I snapped off a few pieces but think it may have been too late to save any of it. Also my favorite fish the solar fairy wrasse disappeared. It's been over a month since I last saw him. Maybe a fish thief stopped by while we were out of town.

On a positive note, a big change is afoot with my tank. A certain Euro member will be telling me "I told you so" in about a month. A certain type of long lasting light bulb lit up over my head this past weekend.

[Big_Pun]

**** another mh brother bites the dust!!

[CoryDude]

We'll see Chris. I'm ordering 1 unit and will run half and half for a month long comparison to see if I like the look and compare results.

[Southern Flame]

I'm in love with the purple feather duster looking thing what's it called and where can I get one :)

[reefreak]

Powder purple tang? Lol he has some wicked color sweet stix!

[FireWater]

Some comparisons over the same tank between MH and LED would be awesome.

[Louis-210]

That Superman monti looks Amazing!!

[CoryDude]

I'm in love with the purple feather duster looking thing what's it called and where can I get one :)

Just your standard run of the mill coco worm.


Powder purple tang? Lol he has some wicked color sweet stix!

Thanks dude. Actinics make everything look good.


Some comparisons over the same tank between MH and LED would be awesome.

That's the plan. Will post pics once its setup.


That Superman monti looks Amazing!!

Thanks man. I don't like where I placed it at. It and my red planet acro are duking it out for rock space.

[jvene1]

I like this one for totm ;p

[Southern Flame]

It's awesome I haven't seen a purple one before I want one lol

[CoryDude]

I like this one for totm ;p[/QUOTE

thanks. It's not as pretty in person but at least stuff is growing nicely.

[QUOTE=Southern Flame;897367]It's awesome I haven't seen a purple one before I want one lol

its the actinides. It's a standard white/red morph.

[350gt]

Look forward to the comparisons... Please take pics!!!..

[CoryDude]

Vega showed up today. Omg folks. This thing is amazing. Of course there is only a bare bones instruction manual. Don't have time to play with it today, but the side by side comparison with the 250 watt hqi is looking pretty similar. In fact the vega looks a bit more intense.

In order to get a better idea on the two sides, I need to block out the actinics on the led side. Any ideas? I had thought about taping card board to the bulbs to block out half of fluorescent tubes.

[CoryDude]

One of the things is not like the other. Can you guess which side is powered by the vega and which is the 250w hqi?

http://i401.photobucket.com/albums/pp100/cpryor74/tank%20progress2012/DSC_4518_zpsb7e13914.jpg

[BBQHILLBILLY]

vote MH left LED right

[Paul28]

vote MH left LED right

Same light it looks more spread on the glass

[BBQHILLBILLY]

look for the color pop:bigsmile:

[Paul28]

look for the color pop:bigsmile:

i stare at computer monitors to long now im blur vision haha :)

[Big_Pun]

look for the color pop:bigsmile:

oh yea ..... I think Cory did a good job matching the two, without turning up the blues like most people do. very nice Cory

[CoryDude]

Thanks Chris. At 100% they pretty much look like a 14k bulb. But I turned the blues/red/green back a bit.

Good catch BBQ, you can tell by the shimmer lines. Halides on the left and led's on the right.

[Paul28]

Thanks Chris. At 100% they pretty much look like a 14k bulb. But I turned the blues/red/green back a bit.

Good catch BBQ, you can tell by the shimmer lines. Halides on the left and led's on the right.

Do you like the Led better the MH ?

[350gt]

What are the intensities for the 14k look?

[CoryDude]

Do you like the Led better the MH ?

Overall yeah. I don't like the multi colored shimmer lines. But the color temp, the fact that I've replaced 250w of heat with only 65w, and the controllability have swung me over the fence into the led side. I may still run two vho's for aprox three hours during the peak time of the day. Nothing still comes close to the look of the UVL vho's bulbs.


What are the intensities for the 14k look?

Ai says running all the colors at 100% gives you a 14k look. I'm running the whites at 90%, all blues at 95%, and red/green at 70% during the peak photoperiod.

[350gt]

Cool, that's where I'm at on blues, whites are lower at 60 during peak..... Red and green are at 30%,
guess I will turn them up!!


how high above the water are they?

[CoryDude]

Cool, that's where I'm at on blues, whites are lower at 60 during peak..... Red and green are at 30%,
guess I will turn them up!!


how high above the water are they?

I'm only a week into it so I may adjust the colors. But having them right next to the halides let adjust to match the Phoenix bulbs pretty closely.

My light rack has them about 7 inches above the waterline. Troy came over and noticed that the area dead center near the top is a little dark so I'll probably raise the lights up a few inches.

[350gt]

I believe ai recommends them at 4-6" awl..