If you don't mind me asking what's the intensities for your lights and how high up are they? Looking at getting these for my frag tank build since I have seen pretty good reviews so far
Hi Borgie,
Currently, the light fixture is about 23cm (9 inch) from the water surface. The Channel 1 (Blue) is 70% and Channel 2 (White) is 35%.
Welcome back, my friend!
Your new setup looks amazing. I cant wait to see this reef grow and prosper. Please keep us updated with pictures and perhaps a video or two.
The use of LED's in your system has peaked my interest. I have been leary of jumping to LED as I have seen so many issues and really a lack of SPS colors. You seem to be doing well with LED which is comforting. How are your rates of growth and overall colors compared to T5/MH?
-Sonny
Thank you so much for your compliments. Your aquariums are/have been a great inspiration for my projects. I am using CaribSea sand because you used it. My rock layout was inspired in yours, etc. and many other things that I've learned with you on how to successfully run an SPS tank. Therefore, it is a great pleasure to read your comments on this thread.
My rate growth seem very similar to T5/MH. In regards of color, I have more difficulties to get those light pink seriatopora/poccillopora than with T5's. However, blue, green and even purple seem more "strong" under LED lights.
Update - Day+128
Not great news from the aquarium. Unfortunately, I've lost several fishes over the last two/three weeks - I've lost 2 Pseudochromis fridmani, 1 Ac. Leucosternon, 1 Z. flavescens, 1 C. tominiensis, 1 salarias ramosus, 2 A. ocellaris, 1 E. oceanops and 2 H. polilepis.
About one month ago, I was stupid enough to buy 2 Hemitaurichthys polylepis although the aquarium was only a 3 months old. Most of my fishes came from my previous aquarium, so I have them for more than twelve months. That fact was what mistakenly led me to consider that I could easily manage so many fishes in such short timed aquarium. I couldn't have been more wrong. In a couple of weeks, Amyloodinium ocellatum / Marine Velvet developed in my aquarium affecting most of my fishes. Everything was so quickly that I couldn't do anything at this point.
My current fish stock:
- 8 x Chromis viridis
- 1 x Stonogobiops nematodes (+ 1 alpheus randalli in simbiosis)
- 1 x Elacatinus oceanops
- 2x Halichoeres chrysus
- 1x Cirrhilabrus exquisitus
Total: 13 fishes
Fortunately, my corals seem not having been affected by this instability and are doing great. However, I do have cyanobacteria in my sand bed which I think is the result of nutrient imbalance due to the death of so many fishes in a short period of time. I am struggling to get rid of them.
Finally and as previously requested, here is a photo of my sump.
