FarmerTy's 215-gallon SPS Tank

[FarmerTy]

FarmerTy Eternal Flame

OG Purple Monster

Oregon Tort

RCA Baton Rouge

Palmers Blue Mille

 

[Peppe]

Amazing corals... what is you illumination? T5 alone or t5+leds?

 

[FarmerTy]

Amazing corals... what is you illumination? T5 alone or t5+leds?

Thank you! I was LED with T5 supplements but switched to an 8 bulb ATI fixture now and no LEDs. Blue+, coral+, actinic, coral+, purple+, actinic, coral+, blue+. Corals are coloring back up nicely after the lighting change.

 

[James72]

T5 rocks

 

[FarmerTy]

T5 rocks

Amen to that! [emoji6]

 

[Peppe]

Thank you! I was LED with T5 supplements but switched to an 8 bulb ATI fixture now and no LEDs. Blue+, coral+, actinic, coral+, purple+, actinic, coral+, blue+. Corals are coloring back up nicely after the lighting change.

But Whit 2 Actinic bubls, par level is not too low? What is in your opinion the best light for sps corals? What is reef's dimension? Do you use some additives?

 

[FarmerTy]

But Whit 2 Actinic bubls, par level is not too low? What is in your opinion the best light for sps corals? What is reef's dimension? Do you use some additives?

I measured par levels two days ago and they were not bad at all. I'll post when I get a chance but 450 up top, 300 in the middle of the tank, and 200 on the sandbed. No additives currently other than fish poop.

 

[FarmerTy]

But Whit 2 Actinic bubls, par level is not too low? What is in your opinion the best light for sps corals? What is reef's dimension? Do you use some additives?

I measured par levels two days ago and they were not bad at all. I'll post when I get a chance but 450 up top, 300 in the middle of the tank, and 200 on the sandbed. No additives currently other than fish poop.

72" x 24" x 29"

 

[bubbaque]

How high is the fixture from the water?

 

[FarmerTy]

How high is the fixture from the water?

9-10" off the water surface on a 29" deep tank. Par levels were pretty well spread in the tank, pretty homogenous and no hot spots like LED.

 

[Peppe]

I measured par levels two days ago and they were not bad at all. I'll post when I get a chance but 450 up top, 300 in the middle of the tank, and 200 on the sandbed. No additives currently other than fish poop.

72" x 24" x 29"

T5 bulbs are 80watt? Your system is DSB? You use refugium, active Carbon or zeolite?

 

[FarmerTy]

80 watts, no DSB, no refugium, no zeolite, no water changes.

 

[FarmerTy]

Can't do an update without a ubiquitous Colorado Sunburst picture. [emoji6]

 

[bubbaque]

Why do you believe you don't have an algae issue when you don't have an export method besides a skimmer? You don't even have fish currently to keep the algae at bay.

 

[FarmerTy]

Why do you believe you don't have an algae issue when you don't have an export method besides a skimmer? You don't even have fish currently to keep the algae at bay.

The fish have only really been gone for 5 weeks, so not too much time for algae to start growing. I actually try to encourage a little algae to grow for my tangs and angels to graze.

My export mechanisms include a skimmer rated for double capacity of tank volume, GFO, activated carbon, and biopellets.

I also keep about 5 tuxedo urchins who make short work of any algae usually.

 

[Peppe]

The fish have only really been gone for 5 weeks, so not too much time for algae to start growing. I actually try to encourage a little algae to grow for my tangs and angels to graze.

My export mechanisms include a skimmer rated for double capacity of tank volume, GFO, activated carbon, and biopellets.

I also keep about 5 tuxedo urchins who make short work of any algae usually.

You use biopellets to mantain nitrate Low? What are your water parameters?

 

[najer]

Had a catch up, congrats on the baby and the move.
I also don't do water changes but I have a display refugium and a refugium in the sump.
Your sps always inspire me, maybe one day mine will look as good.

 

[FarmerTy]

You use biopellets to mantain nitrate Low? What are your water parameters?

Yes, biopellets for nitrates, GFO for phosphates.

Standard parameters mostly:

Ca - 425 ppm
Alk - 7.0-7.5 dKh
Mg - 1380 ppm
NO3 - 5-10 ppm
PO4 - <0.03 ppm
Temp - 81 degrees Fahrenheit

Had a catch up, congrats on the baby and the move.
I also don't do water changes but I have a display refugium and a refugium in the sump.
Your sps always inspire me, maybe one day mine will look as good.

Thanks for following along and I appreciate the compliment! I don't think I'm doing anything special honestly, most of these corals will look good in any tank. [emoji4]

I'm just ready to put the aquascape together finally after 4 months of not being able to touch it yet. If my kid wasn't so dang cute, I'd be a little more upset by that. [emoji23]

 

[Peppe]

Yes, biopellets for nitrates, GFO for phosphates.

Standard parameters mostly:

Ca - 425 ppm
Alk - 7.0-7.5 dKh
Mg - 1380 ppm
NO3 - 5-10 ppm
PO4 - <0.03 ppm
Temp - 81 degrees Fahrenheit
Thanks for following along and I appreciate the compliment! I don't think I'm doing anything special honestly, most of these corals will look good in any tank. [emoji4]

I'm just ready to put the aquascape together finally after 4 months of not being able to touch it yet. If my kid wasn't so dang cute, I'd be a little more upset by that. [emoji23]

How high is the sand layer? How do you keep it clean?

 

[FarmerTy]

How high is the sand layer? How do you keep it clean?

2-3", not shallow, not deep. I have about 7 conchs on the sand that help out but strong flow is helpful too.