Well my tank is still firmly within the ugly phase, without much exciting going on, but I did just need to make an equipment change and switch up my lighting and pump.
I've also ceased dosing TM Bacto-Balance entirely because my nutrients are completely undetectable with test kits. I've actually begun dosing Nitratest and Phosphates so that I am hovering around 5 ppm Nitrates and .04 Phos. I really don't want to deal with Dino's again and this is going to be primary a softy and LPS tank and having those low nutrients is stressing some of my coral out.
But, on to the big news.
I replaced my Maxspect Jump 65W LED's with the new Current USA R24 lights. One of my Maxspect lights connecttion to my wifi died and appears to be out for the count. Frankly, I've been looking for an excuse to change lights anyways. Not because of the performance, as these lights appear to do a good job, but the SYNA-G Cloud app is atrocious and there is no alternative for it. The options for it were pretty good, but it was so buggy. I realize it's a pretty new product, but there's no excuse these days for not having a stable control app on an android or IOS device. Not to mention if you change WIFI settings the process for changing the connection is needlessly complex.
I bought the Current USA R24's because they seem to be a decent price/performance and I already have the current usa wave pumps that have performed well for me. It's also an attractive form factor and a pretty compact unit:
So far the setup is really simply with the Bluetooth controller that Current uses. I'll say that other options might have slightly more full featured apps for the scheduling, but it's got full spectrum control and timings. The weather stuff on it seems a little more gimmicky than it is useful. It is nice to be able to control your pumps, lights, and see your water temps all in one app.
I have no performance figures yet. The spectrum SEEMS nice and the lights appear bright, but PAR testing and long-term use will be the decider of that. I was between these and the Reef Breeders and I ultimately decided on these because the mounting options seemed easier and I like how compact they are.
I also replaced my pump. The MightyJet pump that came with the IM was functional, but it was never exactly a quiet pump and after several months with this tank it's only gotten louder. I replaced it with a Hygger 800 watt DC unit that I'm running at about 35% power and it is completely silent with more flow, thought it was annoying fitting it down the overflow.
