Hydrored's 300 Glass Cages Build

[drawman]

Gorgeous build! Following.

 

[Hydrored]

So a couple of updates-

Bad news is my last ICP came in with high vanadium and manganese. I lost a few tenuis to RTN, all of the acros and LPS look great and no idea what spiked those levels other than the salt from water changes. I looked in my salt barrel and noticed the sock was black and brown, I have never experienced this with TMP salt. This tank was filled with TM Turkey salt from the start along with water from my 210, the AWC was with the Turkey salt also.

I have now switched salts to Aqua Forest and polyp extension has came back in full force after a couple water changes.

The tenuis that had RTN showed no symptoms other than bad polyp extension from the time they were placed in the new tank, literally went to bed they were alive and woke up they were stripped.

Second item is the GNC Blueray’s are coming down, beautiful lights but won’t be my long term lights and creates a whole new headache with my light rack. We’ll see as I know this will be a set back to the tank and wallet I’m willing to accept.

I hope everyone stayed healthy over the holidays

 

[Mjl714]

So a couple of updates-

Bad news is my last ICP came in with high vanadium and manganese. I lost a few tenuis to RTN, all of the acros and LPS look great and no idea what spiked those levels other than the salt from water changes. I looked in my salt barrel and noticed the sock was black and brown, I have never experienced this with TMP salt. This tank was filled with TM Turkey salt from the start along with water from my 210, the AWC was with the Turkey salt also.

I have now switched salts to Aqua Forest and polyp extension has came back in full force after a couple water changes.

The tenuis that had RTN showed no symptoms other than bad polyp extension from the time they were placed in the new tank, literally went to bed they were alive and woke up they were stripped.

Second item is the GNC Blueray’s are coming down, beautiful lights but won’t be my long term lights and creates a whole new headache with my light rack. We’ll see as I know this will be a set back to the tank and wallet I’m willing to accept.

I hope everyone stayed healthy over the holidays

Bummer, but glad to hear the Aquaforest salt resolved much of the issue.

 

[sdreef]

So a couple of updates-

Bad news is my last ICP came in with high vanadium and manganese. I lost a few tenuis to RTN, all of the acros and LPS look great and no idea what spiked those levels other than the salt from water changes. I looked in my salt barrel and noticed the sock was black and brown, I have never experienced this with TMP salt. This tank was filled with TM Turkey salt from the start along with water from my 210, the AWC was with the Turkey salt also.

I have now switched salts to Aqua Forest and polyp extension has came back in full force after a couple water changes.

The tenuis that had RTN showed no symptoms other than bad polyp extension from the time they were placed in the new tank, literally went to bed they were alive and woke up they were stripped.

Second item is the GNC Blueray’s are coming down, beautiful lights but won’t be my long term lights and creates a whole new headache with my light rack. We’ll see as I know this will be a set back to the tank and wallet I’m willing to accept.

I hope everyone stayed healthy over the holidays

That's so strange regarding the salt batch. That's the salt I use as well, and I've been monitoring the thread regarding this. My last ICP looked ok, but I'm not sure what to make of how wide spread the issue has been. I'm glad to read your corals are looking healthier with the new salt.

What options are you considering for your lighting?

 

[VanDalsenReef]

So a couple of updates-

Bad news is my last ICP came in with high vanadium and manganese. I lost a few tenuis to RTN, all of the acros and LPS look great and no idea what spiked those levels other than the salt from water changes. I looked in my salt barrel and noticed the sock was black and brown, I have never experienced this with TMP salt. This tank was filled with TM Turkey salt from the start along with water from my 210, the AWC was with the Turkey salt also.

I have now switched salts to Aqua Forest and polyp extension has came back in full force after a couple water changes.

The tenuis that had RTN showed no symptoms other than bad polyp extension from the time they were placed in the new tank, literally went to bed they were alive and woke up they were stripped.

Second item is the GNC Blueray’s are coming down, beautiful lights but won’t be my long term lights and creates a whole new headache with my light rack. We’ll see as I know this will be a set back to the tank and wallet I’m willing to accept.

I hope everyone stayed healthy over the holidays

I see you're interested in orphek? Great lights. Especially if you can raise them above 13 inches

 

[Hydrored]

I see you're interested in orphek? Great lights. Especially if you can raise them above 13 inches

That's so strange regarding the salt batch. That's the salt I use as well, and I've been monitoring the thread regarding this. My last ICP looked ok, but I'm not sure what to make of how wide spread the issue has been. I'm glad to read your corals are looking healthier with the new salt.

What options are you considering for your lighting?

@sdreef I’m researching lights right now, the leader is Orphek Icons. I had never had these on my radar until I read Dana’s review and how he gave props to the added spectrums that many LED manufactures do not include and the importance, second option is a Spectra HQI but the lead time is crazy.

Spectrum for the Icon-

and the inclusion of 730 nm

@VanDalsenReef I can raise them many feet if needed lol, room has a 14’ ceiling

 

[rtparty]

Just put some dang halides over this tank and be done messing with lights!

 

[Hydrored]

Just put some dang halides over this tank and be done messing with lights!

I don’t disagree, wife said no way to reefbrite halides and called them street lights

 

[VanDalsenReef]

@sdreef I’m researching lights right now, the leader is Orphek Icons. I had never had these on my radar until I read Dana’s review and how he gave props to the added spectrums that many LED manufactures do not include and the importance, second option is a Spectra HQI but the lead time is crazy.

Spectrum for the Icon-

and the inclusion of 730 nm

@VanDalsenReef I can raise them many feet if needed lol, room has a 14’ ceiling

I'd do atleast 15 if wife is okay with it

 

[VanDalsenReef]

I'd do atleast 15 if wife is okay with it

I think you'd be very happy with orphek. I love mine. I came from kessil and actually added them back just to have more shimmer. Ha

 

[Hydrored]

I think you'd be very happy with orphek. I love mine. I came from kessil and actually added them back just to have more shimmer. Ha

@rtparty isnt wrong, I have been chasing the halide dragon, I can add Kessil’s as I have 4 sitting around, also but might as well just put halides.

it wont cost me anything to switch to Orphek, I actually put money away doing halides but the ridiculous lead time sucks

 

[VanDalsenReef]

@rtparty isnt wrong, I have been chasing the halide dragon, I can add Kessil’s as I have 4 sitting around, also but might as well just put halides.

it wont cost me anything to switch to Orphek, I actually put money away doing halides but the ridiculous lead time sucks

Halides are fantastic. The only cons are heat and expense. But you won't have heat issues but would cost a bit to keep replacing. Also make sure you buy like 10 years worth of replacements when halides finally die out completely. Which is sad but understandable

 

[rtparty]

I don’t disagree, wife said no way to reefbrite halides and called them street lights

Up your sales game! Lol

It's all about the floating canopy you build around them. Or find a used Gmann unit while you're waiting on a brand new unit.

I'm telling you after more than a decade of screwing around with almost every major LED out there, not one of them hits halide level.

I hope Orphek has stepped up their customer service game. Their US rep contacted me about 10-12 years ago when they were new and one was of the most vile reps I've ever talked to. Thankfully, he isn't the rep these days.

 

[ScottB]

I don’t disagree, wife said no way to reefbrite halides and called them street lights

I have to agree with her. My wife has trained me well. Thus the Stratons in the high visibility living space.

In MY (unfinished) basement I get to hang anything I darn well please. So I got that going for me.

 

[Joe Glass Cages]

I received the new Apogee MQ650 today and oh boy was my MQ510 reading much lower. The 650 range is 380-760 nm. GNC is amazing as always and sent over another Blueray Pro, I removed all of the Kessil’s. I couldn’t be more satisfied with the customer service from GNC, not sure of any other lighting company that will reach out and have a FaceTime discussion about what you are trying to accomplish. I ended up turning my lights down a bit but the coverage is now what I would consider perfect.

Edit: By no means is this amount of Bluerays required to grow SPS, I like to run lower percentages with more fixtures to provide even coverage.

@Hydrored, this is totally EPIC!

 

[Hydrored]

Well nothing more than water changes with a different brand of salt and I have full polyp extension back. ATI ICP came back with manganese and vanadium back to normal and a touch low on iodine. I haven’t had anymore coral loss so fingers crossed it stays that way.

Sorry for the crappy videos, lights are going off and unfiltered but you can get the idea

- YouTube

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- YouTube

Enjoy the videos and music you love, upload original content, and share it all with friends, family, and the world on YouTube.

youtube.com

 

[drawman]

Well nothing more than water changes with a different brand of salt and I have full polyp extension back. ATI ICP came back with manganese and vanadium back to normal and a touch low on iodine. I haven’t had anymore coral loss so fingers crossed it stays that way.

Sorry for the crappy videos, lights are going off and unfiltered but you can get the idea

- YouTube

Enjoy the videos and music you love, upload original content, and share it all with friends, family, and the world on YouTube.

youtube.com

- YouTube

Enjoy the videos and music you love, upload original content, and share it all with friends, family, and the world on YouTube.

youtube.com

Same water changes really have helped! I've thought about running carbon too but not sure if it will do anything.

 

[CoralDanimal]

I love your build! The attention to detail is amazing and I'm getting a lot of inspiration for my future build.

Quick question on this:

Spent some time on the plumbing tonight, almost looks like I know what I’m doing (almost) Don’t sleep on using a laser, love this thing.

I've never done my own plumbing as I've always bought systems with plumbing already pre-fabricated (ex: Red Sea Reefer 425). It's something that intimidates me a bit about going the custom route. Can you elaborate on how you use a laser to help you custom plumb a tank?

 

[CoralDanimal]

One more question if you'll indulge...

I went through your entire thread, which again is absolutely awesome, and I didn't see anything about structural support for the tank. Did you look into this at all or were you not concerned?

 

[Hydrored]

I love your build! The attention to detail is amazing and I'm getting a lot of inspiration for my future build.

Quick question on this:



I've never done my own plumbing as I've always bought systems with plumbing already pre-fabricated (ex: Red Sea Reefer 425). It's something that intimidates me a bit about going the custom route. Can you elaborate on how you use a laser to help you custom plumb a tank?

One more question if you'll indulge...

I went through your entire thread, which again is absolutely awesome, and I didn't see anything about structural support for the tank. Did you look into this at all or were you not concerned?

Thank you for the kind words.

There are marks on the fittings to make proper angles, I setup the laser level while mocking them to ensure everything was aligned with the fittings, marked the fitting and pipe with a marker, then when I was ready to glue I just glued everything to those marker markings.

I’m on a concrete slab, basements are not really found in Texas due to the soil and the wood is glued down. I figured if the concrete slab were to fail me in any way I have bigger problems lol