Gilroy 425g Build Thread (All Apex, all the time)
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OP
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I didn't think I could have a box big enough for him and Robert said with all the tank
Ha in there, there would be plenty of distraction. And, his the biggest by far.
As far as grabbing him. No. That's not what happened. I simply stuck my hand down on the side of him so he would go in the direction of the container. He decided he didn't like my hand there.
Ha in there, there would be plenty of distraction. And, his the biggest by far.
As far as grabbing him. No. That's not what happened. I simply stuck my hand down on the side of him so he would go in the direction of the container. He decided he didn't like my hand there.
Black Pearl
Valuable Member
If the Achilles continues to be the aggressor maybe you could put him in the box for awhile, if he really gets on the PBT bad side he could have hell to pay, cause PBT will hold a grudge
OP
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Yes. It was discussed at length a number of pages back.
OP
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STOP...Picture time!
OP
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Second Philips CoralCare light controller is in! Now I can control the left two lights over the LPS side independent of the left two over the SPS. This was absolutely necessary as I want to run a slightly different spectrum and intensity over the LPS.
The lights are really amazing. I will have to shoot some more video soon.
The lights are really amazing. I will have to shoot some more video soon.
hybridazn
Acro killer.....
flagg37
Custom stair builder - TreeofLifeStairs.com
Do you still need to redesign your hood? I'm in San Jose and could give you a hand. Have you thought of attaching it to your wall? I built this one a while ago.
It hinges along the top and has a pass through that leads to an access panel on the other side of the wall to run all the cables to apex.
I wanted to see the sleek modern design of the ap700's but I know you've said you want to hide the lights so I wouldn't do the exact same design but something similar.
It hinges along the top and has a pass through that leads to an access panel on the other side of the wall to run all the cables to apex.
I wanted to see the sleek modern design of the ap700's but I know you've said you want to hide the lights so I wouldn't do the exact same design but something similar.
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That mounting system for the Kessils is beautiful I love it
Fudsey
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@flagg37 That mounting system is beautiful but doesn't the glass dampen the lights?
flagg37
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It's 1/2" tempered Starphire glass so it is extremely clear. It's about 7-1/2" above the surface of the water so I get little droplets that splash on it from surface agitation that I clean about every other month or so but it's very minor. This is Terrance's build thread though. I really only wanted to show him the pics to give an option of something I thought he might want to do for his.
OP
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Do you still need to redesign your hood? I'm in San Jose and could give you a hand. Have you thought of attaching it to your wall? I built this one a while ago.
It hinges along the top and has a pass through that leads to an access panel on the other side of the wall to run all the cables to apex.
I wanted to see the sleek modern design of the ap700's but I know you've said you want to hide the lights so I wouldn't do the exact same design but something similar.
I will never turn down help!
That said, anything I do at this point would be to simply improve on what I have and add a wood facade (to match existing decor and furniture) to the current aluminum structure.
Lighting must be enclosed though as I do want to minimize spillage into the house and also not have glare as you approach the tank.
If you have some ideas, PM me.
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So I did my first manual testing on the tank in about three weeks or so. Not all the tests, but just a few.
First, Alkalinity. Of course I am still running one of our initial prototypes on my system (yes, it is still running and I have not had to do one single thing to it. - not even calibrate - four tests a day for many months now). So I tested the Alk with a hanna checker, twice, and it came up at 10.1. Our Alk tester has always come in lower than the Hanna and there are some reasons for that I won't go into here. Anyways, it usually was about .5-.6 lower. this time it was .98 lower. So it looks like I need to do a calibration. Pretty easy. Very similar to how you would calibrate a pH probe.
So the next test I ran was my phosphate test. I use the Hanna ULR checker. I ran it twice. I could not believe my eyes. What!? ZERO!
Well that may sound good for some of you, but for me I just could not understand it. I do not even run GFO! However, I do have about a third to a half a cubic meter of three kinds of macro growing in my sump. Still though, I guess its time to up the feedings! I think I notice it too in the corals.
The last test I ran was for Potassium. My tank can't seem to keep a high enough level of K. I added another half bottle of TLF Potassium last week and my tank still tested out at 390. Now 390 is not bad. NSW is supposedly about 400. However, much has been talked about elevating K levels in home reef tanks to help with coral color and health. Justin Credebel was one of the first guys to really hone in on this and he runs his crazy high - something like 800. Mark Callahan told me he runs most of his tanks at around 600. So, I think I will be pushing for at least 550 on this tank and see how it goes.
To that end, I figured there has to be a cheaper and easier way to get KCl for the tank. So I read some stuff here on R2R and around the internet that the Mortons KCl might be the ticket. I picked some up and I am perfecting the process right now. Even without Mortons, there are other bulk suppliers of KCl out there so you could mix your own more economically if you happen to have a large tank. For smaller tanks, and tanks looking to keep their numbers near 400, its not worth messing with it.
So that's it for now - sorry, no pics - but at least you are up to date. If you want pics, hop on over to Revs thread, I think it is about that time of year that he will post a FTS!
First, Alkalinity. Of course I am still running one of our initial prototypes on my system (yes, it is still running and I have not had to do one single thing to it. - not even calibrate - four tests a day for many months now). So I tested the Alk with a hanna checker, twice, and it came up at 10.1. Our Alk tester has always come in lower than the Hanna and there are some reasons for that I won't go into here. Anyways, it usually was about .5-.6 lower. this time it was .98 lower. So it looks like I need to do a calibration. Pretty easy. Very similar to how you would calibrate a pH probe.
So the next test I ran was my phosphate test. I use the Hanna ULR checker. I ran it twice. I could not believe my eyes. What!? ZERO!
Well that may sound good for some of you, but for me I just could not understand it. I do not even run GFO! However, I do have about a third to a half a cubic meter of three kinds of macro growing in my sump. Still though, I guess its time to up the feedings! I think I notice it too in the corals.
The last test I ran was for Potassium. My tank can't seem to keep a high enough level of K. I added another half bottle of TLF Potassium last week and my tank still tested out at 390. Now 390 is not bad. NSW is supposedly about 400. However, much has been talked about elevating K levels in home reef tanks to help with coral color and health. Justin Credebel was one of the first guys to really hone in on this and he runs his crazy high - something like 800. Mark Callahan told me he runs most of his tanks at around 600. So, I think I will be pushing for at least 550 on this tank and see how it goes.
To that end, I figured there has to be a cheaper and easier way to get KCl for the tank. So I read some stuff here on R2R and around the internet that the Mortons KCl might be the ticket. I picked some up and I am perfecting the process right now. Even without Mortons, there are other bulk suppliers of KCl out there so you could mix your own more economically if you happen to have a large tank. For smaller tanks, and tanks looking to keep their numbers near 400, its not worth messing with it.
So that's it for now - sorry, no pics - but at least you are up to date. If you want pics, hop on over to Revs thread, I think it is about that time of year that he will post a FTS!
OP
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Small update:
Fish are all doing great - no tang aggression now from any of the likely candidates. Pretty much complete harmony. Had a tiny ich outbreak (mostly on hippo but a couple of spots on a few other fish) when my tank went from spring temp level (76) to summer temp level (79). Just kept them fed like crazy and it seems to have subsided.
Corals are growing well - keeping the Alk at around 9. Phosphates are too low - going to drop the RDP photo period by an hour or two. Nitrates are near zero. Slowly raising the K in the tank. Corals seem to be responding as color is improving. I have not checked K in a week or so, going to check tonight and then adjust dosing accordingly to get it between 500-600.
Banggai daddy has a mouthful again. I need to get a small long-spine urchin and see if some of these little guys can make it.
That's all for now...
Fish are all doing great - no tang aggression now from any of the likely candidates. Pretty much complete harmony. Had a tiny ich outbreak (mostly on hippo but a couple of spots on a few other fish) when my tank went from spring temp level (76) to summer temp level (79). Just kept them fed like crazy and it seems to have subsided.
Corals are growing well - keeping the Alk at around 9. Phosphates are too low - going to drop the RDP photo period by an hour or two. Nitrates are near zero. Slowly raising the K in the tank. Corals seem to be responding as color is improving. I have not checked K in a week or so, going to check tonight and then adjust dosing accordingly to get it between 500-600.
Banggai daddy has a mouthful again. I need to get a small long-spine urchin and see if some of these little guys can make it.
That's all for now...
Dxpert
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Amazing pictures. What a fantastic fish! I'm jealous of the continuous ALK testing on your tank. Thanks for sharing the updates. What test kit do you use for potassium?
