New Salty: My 29

[56jman]

Right now I am thinking lights..... I am thinking DIY LEDs or the light Tyler has a 96w 24" T5. Only reason for thinking DIY LEDs is for the DIY experience, no replacement bulbs, cooler, and look brighter and better PAR. I have done some research and am thinking 18-3w LEDs. 9 in front 9 in back. What color temps do you think I should get? I was thinking 2 green, 2 red, 6 white, 4 blue, 4 royal blue. Will this be enough power? Thinking about this on a 29" heatsink so it will fit on my 30" tanks lip. I am thinking:



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B w R R B R R w B

w R G w B w G R w

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[lljdma06]

I'm thinking, get Tyler's light first then do this DIY project on the side. Why?

A. you'll already have a decent light if you buy Tyler's and it's only $75
B. Doing a DIY side project is always cool, but you got your back covered in case it takes longer than expected
C. Once you complete the DIY project, a 24" fixture, such as Tyler's light, is an easy, easy sale to other hobbyists

Just my two cents.

 

[56jman]

Good idea LLj I will do that but will this confirguration work in the future?

29"
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R w V R R R V w R

w C V w C w V C w

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R=Royal Blue
w=White
C=Cyan
V=Violet

18- 3w :LED's

Tried to draw w/ symbols but it's hard w/ this software bu you get the point of the fixture and measurement

 

[SaltNoob]

You saw how that light fits on my tank just a heads up. you have to get boards so the light has something to grip on. Take a look at some of my pics cus it won't just fit on the tank as our tanks are 30"

-Tyler

 

[lljdma06]

You saw how that light fits on my tank just a heads up. you have to get boards so the light has something to grip on. Take a look at some of my pics cus it won't just fit on the tank as our tanks are 30"

-Tyler

That's right it's a 24" fixture isn't it? More ideally suited to a 20g high or any 2' footprint.

 

[56jman]

Yes, Can you show me the link cuz I found a light that I think you have and it has extendable brackets up to 30" so it will fit:
http/www.ebay.com/itm/T5-Quad-24-Aquarium-Light-Strip-Marine-Coral-Reef-Cichlid-LED-96W-4x-24W-Bulbs-/110891082630?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item19d19fa386

And will the LEDs work

I wanna know

 

[56jman]

Sorry for the late update, I ordered this light for now, http/www.ebay.com/itm/T5-Quad-24-Aquarium-Light-Strip-Marine-Coral-Reef-Cichlid-LED-96W-4x-24W-Bulbs-/110891082630?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item19d19fa386

Hope to do the LEDs soon. I think I have a winning aquascape, two arches with lots of sand and swimming room.

My porcelain had his first molt yesterday thought he was dead but saw him today. Now I know what to look for.

 

[ainsy]

Thanks, as of now my salinity is 1.024 and I can say no ammonia or nitrites but will have to check on pH and nitrates. Normally they are 8.3-8.4 and 0 for nitrates. Cyano is going down now after my mom and the 12 hr photo period while I was on vacation and my dad over-feeding. I have about 400 gph in the tank but hope to fix it with a HOB skimmer, 500gph canister filter, maybe an AC 70 or 110 and 1 or 2 350gph powerheads. Enough??? The rock is in a low flow area but there is not much light so it is not spreading and with the help of nerites, astreas, and ceriths it is getting cleaner. Right now the only pretty big algae problem I have is brown film aglae on the glass but the snails have yet to find it so no biggy . I have done maybe 3-4 WC since the start, of 10%,20% and 30%. All inhabitance are active and eating. The flame angel has com out more and is eating pods now so I know he's eating. He has also ate some bloodworms and brine shrimp so he's good. I have romaine in the tank for the CUC as well as the angel and just got some seaweed today for the future. After some more filtration and flow my next investment will be a RO/DI system.

P.S. My water temp is 80 so I set my heater to 76

P.P.S. I do my WC with a clear hose from home depot and a 5 gallon bucket, the old fashion way

I think you will certainly notice the difference by using high quality RO.

What are you using to test for nitrates? I only ask because it would be highly unusual to have 0 unless you are doing frequent high quality water changes or have a V. efficient fuge growing loads of macro or using some form of adsorber.

It may also be worth investing in a phosphate test kit.

 

[56jman]

Yeah should get a phosphate kit I had cheato in the DT for a long while but it made too big of a mess, a pain to clean

I have API carbon and GFO in my HOB

 

[56jman]

I have been thinking of stock and I definetly want a jawfish and clown goby in the future, maybe a Citrus or Panda Goby.

 

[56jman]

For the future, this is my stocking list:

Inverts:

Another Porcelain crab
Emerald Crab
Maxi Mini anemone
Bubble Tip or Sebae anemone but they get real big
is there a anemone a percula will host that doesn't
get too big?
Fire shrimp
Skunk shrimp
2 Sexy shrimp
1 bumblebee shrimp
Crocea or Maxima Clam


Coral:

Torch
Hammer
Possibly frogspawn if space allows
Candy Cane
Aussie war favia
Trumpet?
1 or 2 Rics and Yumas
Shroom colony (just 1)
Lots and Lots of Zoos and Palys
(My favorite,tied with torch and hammer)
1 Blasto 1 Acan
Acro, Monti, and Birdsnest
1 Duncan


Fish:

YWG
Flame Angel
Clown Goby
(Prob yellow or citron)
What CG species would be good
Pearly Jawfish
1 or 2 Perculas
Zebra Barred Dartfish
or Purple Firefish


Open to ideas and please comment if you think this stock list will/will not work.

Thanks

 

[lljdma06]

Do you have the sand bed for a pearly jawfish? If not, then no. Also, in a tank your size, I would not put a jawfish in with another burrower. You're better off with just a YWG.

 

[SaltNoob]

Also that Bubble Tip Anem needs Metal Halides....

-Tyler

 

[lljdma06]

Sheesh, and the clam, they need light too.

Unless he plans an equipment upgrade? He did talk about upgrading lighting at one point...

No clams or nems for me. I know my limits. Only rock nems.

 

[SaltNoob]

OK so to review the entire list...

The BTA anem will need halides.

Frogspawn / Torch / Hammer.... Chemical warfare be very careful. All have sweeper tentacles, will kill things within a 10-12" radius at night like zoas etc.

Stony corals... 6 months to a year with stable water quality or they could just die.. or not grow at all (also HIGH lighting).

Other corals ok. But do you have the real estate to place them on yet?

These are fun things. I especially love zoas and paly's they do great and are easy care.

I don't have trumpet/candycane coral yet, but I do want some! They are pretty

That is also a lot of shrimp! lol. There won't be free space with this list. My single skunk shrimp roams the entire tank quite dominantly.

-Tyler