The Garden -- Rakies shallow SPS cube

[Rakie]

Can you get a picture of the ballasts?
I looked for these here, but cannot find them.

Do you have a way to find out if these will give you more PAR?

No par meter -- I suspect I will get more par, because par testing shows the Aquatic Life hybrid 4 bulb is only 15-20% more par than a 2 bulb LET.

 

[drawman]

So tomorrow the new Ballasts should be installed in the AquaticLife T5 fixture. I'll have absolutely nothing to do with instillation because I want it to work. They will be Phillips HEP ballasts, which are apparently top of the line. This should hopefully increase my par by quite a bit.. If so, I'll be mindful of killing everything with too much light.

I'm curious who is doing your install?

 

[RichtheReefer21]

It's a shame u dont have access to a local club's meter..?

 

[Rakie]

A friend is installing.

My club has had 2 par meters stolen so we won't get a 3rd. People who have the aquatic life fixtures next to regular fixtures have noted the aquatic life looks dimmer

 

[lbacha]

Just got a mq-510 second hand for a good price and I was amazed at how low my par was. I was averaging 180 when I thought I was around 250 based on readings I got when I used a seneye a while back. I had changed my lights to have less white and more blue and that evidently made a huge difference.

 

[RichtheReefer21]

My club has had 2 par meters stolen so we won't get a 3rd. People who have the aquatic life fixtures next to regular fixtures have noted the aquatic life looks dimmer

Now that's a real shame. Sorry to hear swine take advantage of a good circle of people. 1 bad apple.

 

[Rakie]

Just got a mq-510 second hand for a good price and I was amazed at how low my par was. I was averaging 180 when I thought I was around 250 based on readings I got when I used a seneye a while back. I had changed my lights to have less white and more blue and that evidently made a huge difference.

Yeah. I run all my lights at Max settings so par is never an issue.

@Janci @drawman -- That said, my friend Goober came by to upgrade the ballasts on my aquatic life fixture. No par meter but after changing out one the difference was immediately notable.. much more light from the new ballast and the t5 are giving off a bit more heat as well.

Not as scientific as a par meter but the difference was pretty noticable.

Phillips Advanced HEP ballast, the strongest on the market.

 

[Janci]

Thank you for the picture. I wanted to compare this one with the ballast in my fixture.
What type of reflectors are placed on the Aquatic Life?
Parabolic?

 

[Rakie]

Thank you for the picture. I wanted to compare this one with the ballast in my fixture.
What type of reflectors are placed on the Aquatic Life?
Parabolic?

Parabolic


@Janci -- these are pretty strong. After opening up the aquatic life we found theyxdid have hep ballasts , but probably not as strong as the ones in an ATI fixture.

 

[RichtheReefer21]

What's is ur protocol for Aminos and Fatty Acids?

 

[RichtheReefer21]

I saw a post somewhere that a guy said he adds aminos etc to his RODI ATO Resivoir. With the correct ratio based on his particular evaporation numbers.

 

[Rakie]

Aminos are daily, hufa are usually added to fish food to marinate.

Aminos -- dose at lights out

Lipids (selcon) -- best to have 2 days of fish food mixed up in a jar in the fridge, add selcon and whenever you feed fish corals benefit.

 

[RichtheReefer21]

Aminos are daily, hufa are usually added to fish food to marinate.

Aminos -- dose at lights out

Lipids (selcon) -- best to have 2 days of fish food mixed up in a jar in the fridge, add selcon and whenever you feed fish corals benefit.

Is it the nutritional makeup in the selcon that results in more beneficial fish waste for coral consumption?

 

[Rakie]

Is it the nutritional makeup in the selcon that results in more beneficial fish waste for coral consumption?

No, it's the lipids themselves which are good for fish and corals. Corals love lipids, all life does.

 

[RichtheReefer21]

No, it's the lipids themselves which are good for fish and corals. Corals love lipids, all life does.

I'll have to investigate and educate myself on selcon. Never tried it but heard only good things about it.

 

[Rakie]

So after a day of watching the tank... Yeah, the new ballast are a bit stronger. It's clear to the naked eye. Would be nice if I had a PAR meter of course but anecdotal will have to do.

 

[Rakie]

Also, I'm talking to West Mariculture about getting that bonsai rock thingy. It'll just be easier in the long run. And if the bubble algae ISN'T leaving, then even better... Because bubble algae has a harder time sticking to plastic surfaces, and will be easier to scrub off.

So excited for the new rockwork!!

 

[RichtheReefer21]

Also, I'm talking to West Mariculture about getting that bonsai rock thingy. It'll just be easier in the long run. And if the bubble algae ISN'T leaving, then even better... Because bubble algae has a harder time sticking to plastic surfaces, and will be easier to scrub off.

So excited for the new rockwork!!

Did u trade a frag for it?

 

[Rakie]

Did u trade a frag for it?

I wish, I've got a lot of that currency right now! Excited to finally get it, probably won't hear back from them until Monday or so.



Also really excited to say I'm going to be picking up one of the @MarineDepot control boards. I can't guarantee it'll look pretty after I'm done with it, but I can guarantee the rats nest will finally be gone..

Here is what it looks like now... This is shameful...

This item will help GREATLY!

 

[RichtheReefer21]

I wish, I've got a lot of that currency right now! Excited to finally get it, probably won't hear back from them until Monday or so.

Also really excited to say I'm going to be picking up one of the @MarineDepot control boards. I can't guarantee it'll look pretty after I'm done with it, but I can guarantee the rats nest will finally be gone..

Here is what it looks like now... This is shameful...

This item will help GREATLY!