d2mini's "Mixed Reefalicious" Cade 600 Build

gbru316 · Sep 17, 2023

d2mini said:
Some recent pickups, including a couple torches from today.

What's your WB correction method?

d2mini · Sep 17, 2023

gbru316 said:
What's your WB correction method?

The most important thing is getting White Balance as close to your end goal result as possible in-camera.
Then you only have to do minor tweaks in post.

To do this I have a "maintenance" setting on my GHL Mitras that has a color balance that is very white. I use this specifically for taking pics. So I turn that on and then set my camera's WB to 10,000k. And I shoot in raw format.

Then as you can see by these before and after screenshots, the tweaks to WB (and other adjustments) in my raw editor are minor.
This was for one of the torches.

gbru316 · Sep 17, 2023

d2mini said:
The most important thing is getting White Balance as close to your end goal result as possible in-camera.
Then you only have to do minor tweaks in post.

To do this I have a "maintenance" setting on my GHL Mitras that has a color balance that is very white. I use this specifically for tanking pics. So I turn that on and then set my camera's WB to 10,000k. And I shoot in raw format.

Then as you can see by these before and after screenshots, the tweaks to WB (and other adjustments) in my raw editor are minor.
This was for one of the torches.

Thanks.

I typically include a gray card for white balance in each tank shot session, but I think I need to take it a step further and put my lights in photo mode first. IIRC the issue with this method was that the required corrections exceeded the correction capability of lightroom. I suspect photo mode would help with that.

d2mini · Sep 19, 2023

Anyone have thoughts on skimmer size?

This tank is a 60g cube with another 15g in the sump. A mix of SPS and LPS. I recently won one of these skimmers... the 250. Too big for my tank? Should I try to get the 125 instead? Want to make sure it's not too big to work effectively and not be overly finicky. My sump's water level is 9" so just what is recommended for the 250. I would have to raise the 125 a few inches. https://www.aquavitro.com/division.php

Janci · Sep 19, 2023

I have not seen this skimmer before. The 250 will be too big and occupy more space in the sump.
Scaling it down to the 125 would not be a bad move.
If the info is correct, later you can always upgrade it with an additional pump to have more water skimmed.

csund · Sep 20, 2023

I would look at the Tunze 9410. I have always run Lifereef in the past, one even power with an Abyzz pump and thought I really liked them.. until this last year I replaced it with the Tunze skimmer. I have to say I actually prefer the Tunze. Skims like a champ, set and forget and best of all nearly silent. The cup can be removed with one hand with no need to shutoff skimmer.

d2mini · Sep 20, 2023

csund said:
I would look at the Tunze 9410. I have always run Lifereef in the past, one even power with an Abyzz pump and thought I really liked them.. until this last year I replaced it with the Tunze skimmer. I have to say I actually prefer the Tunze. Skims like a champ, set and forget and best of all nearly silent. The cup can be removed with one hand with no need to shutoff skimmer.

I won this skimmer. In a local store raffle. I don't need a new one, but want to try this one out and then decide which to keep.

LBCBJ · Sep 27, 2023

Delete

LBCBJ · Sep 27, 2023

d2mini said:
Anyone have thoughts on skimmer size?

This tank is a 60g cube with another 15g in the sump. A mix of SPS and LPS. I recently won one of these skimmers... the 250. Too big for my tank? Should I try to get the 125 instead? Want to make sure it's not too big to work effectively and not be overly finicky. My sump's water level is 9" so just what is recommended for the 250. I would have to raise the 125 a few inches. https://www.aquavitro.com/division.php

No experience with either, but based on the specs alone it seems it could be worth switching for the 125 if you can. I’ve gathered an undersized skimmer is better than oversized, plus you’d save 4” of height in the sump. I’m dealing with what may be an oversized skimmer in my new 500. If oversized it can be very challanging to get consistent skim.

That being said, hopefully you’ll be happy with either.

d2mini · Oct 7, 2023

Well, i ended up selling the Division skimmer for $200 and spent $500

on this beast... Ultra Reef Akula 160
It was the build quality and performance in all the reviews that sold me.
Hopefully that proves to be true.
It's normally $650 but Premium Aquatics has them for 15% off, and then I got another 10% off, so $498 plus tax, free shipping!

LBCBJ · Oct 7, 2023

d2mini said:
Well, i ended up selling the Division skimmer for $200 and spent $500 on this beast... Ultra Reef Akula 160
It was the build quality and performance in all the reviews that sold me.
Hopefully that proves to be true.
It's normally $650 but Premium Aquatics has them for 15% off, and then I got another 10% off, so $498 plus tax, free shipping!

Hot dang! What a beauty. I have the smaller UR Borei 120 on my 500 which has been a devil to tune but think my organics are just way too low being a new tank. These skimmers are built like tanks and breakdown great for cleaning. Now to get mine to skim…

The US distributor for these @AquariumSpecialty is an hour away from me. Nice guys. I think you’ll love it.

d2mini · Oct 10, 2023

Wut dis, Dad? Smells good!

d2mini · Oct 10, 2023

It's like a box of individually wrapped candies.

I hope my survival rate is better than previous!

At least my tank is stable now. Coming up on a year!

d2mini · Oct 10, 2023

Battlecorals · Oct 10, 2023

Wow, what a thread too. this is great!

LBCBJ · Oct 10, 2023

d2mini said:

Woah sweet haul. Nice 1 year old anniversary gift for the tank! This makes me want to add some corals now, only 4 weeks old but itching to add some color

Do you have just the one powerhead in the tank? How’s your flow? Cube’s seem tricky and it feels like my 500 needs a 2nd Nero 3 to keep SPS happy.

d2mini · Oct 11, 2023

LBCBJ said:
Woah sweet haul. Nice 1 year old anniversary gift for the tank! This makes me want to add some corals now, only 4 weeks old but itching to add some color

Do you have just the one powerhead in the tank? How’s your flow? Cube’s seem tricky and it feels like my 500 needs a 2nd Nero 3 to keep SPS happy.

Yeah, I only have a few left from the ones I added early on.

But go to your LFS and get a couple easy/cheap "starter" frags. See how it goes!

I have two powerheads now. The OctoPulse on one back corner and the GHL Versia Stream on the other back corner, both pointing diagonally across the tank.