27 Gallon Chalice Dominated Tank

I want to do a chalice tank. I just can't decide how to scape it. Following along to see what you come up with.
 
The Lighting

For lighting I'm going to go with a Kessil A150 Ocean Blue.
Saltwater_A150_img02.jpg


This light produces a 15000 K look with a shimmer. So it should work well with chalices. I'll find out soon enough when this tank gets wet.
fullsizeoutput_6.jpeg

Chalices can be very finicky when it comes to LEDs, so I'm thinking about starting the PAR reading around 100. Typically I like to have chalices around 150 PAR, but LED's throw off the PAR meter in my opinion. Might as well start low instead of high.
 
IMG_4758.JPG


Got the tank wet. Just a heater, powerhead and light on a timer. Somewhat of a bacterial bloom causing cloudy water. I added 20 gallons of water from my established tank. Hopefully it will cycle sooner than later, but you never know.
 
IMG_4773.JPG


After one week diatoms have started. I haven't touched anything in the tank, not even cleaned the glass.

The UGLY stage begins! :mad:
 
IMG_4809.JPG


Week 2

Diatoms are in full effect. No fish or coral yet. I did test the light with the PAR meter. At the apex of the rock pile, the PAR was 50. This seemed a little low even for chalices. So I switched the light fixture for a Kessil 360.

The Kessil 360 has an adjustment for intensity and color. So I dialed in a 14k look and adjusted the intensity so that the apex of the rock is 100 PAR.
 
IMG_4813.JPG


Week 3

Really ugly! New tank uglies is no fun at all.

Added a lawnmower blenny and did a water change with water from my 120. Maybe I'll get a couple astrea snails next week.
 

IF YOU HAD TO TAKE A REEFING EXAM, WOULD YOU PASS?

  • Yes!

    Votes: 32 45.7%
  • Not yet, but I have one that I want to buy in mind!

    Votes: 9 12.9%
  • No.

    Votes: 26 37.1%
  • Other (please explain).

    Votes: 3 4.3%
Back
Top