Soli’s 80 Gallon Shallow Build

[Solitaryensis]

Tank is so clean and clear! nice, I see the clam doing well. Has it grown much?

Thanks, Arnold! The clams been doing well and has grown ever so slightly. Thanks again for the clam!


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[Solitaryensis]

Couple updated shots below. Tank seems to be chugging along.

Good news: I got a new clump of chaeto about a month ago and along with a new light it looks like I’m finally able to grow chaeto. It’s not growing super fast but def. does seem to be growling finally. Hopefully it really takes off soon.

Most of the LPS and SPS seem to be growing well but I am questioning my Alk and calc uptake. I am dosing about 11ml per day to keep my alk at 8.2 and calcium around 450 which seems awfully low. Alk is being measured by a Hannah checker. Thoughts?

Bad news: I still can’t seem to grow zoas and mushrooms. I recently added chemi pure blue in case there was some chemical warfare but that does not seem to have made a difference. So frustrating that my SPS are growing so well but I can’t keep a mushroom alive!

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[MolaMola]

Wow, looks awesome! 11mL sounds low to me; I dose more than that daily in my 22g. But your corals look healthy and growing. Do you do frequent water changes that replenish the Ca, Alk?
I like those frags on the tonga branch up top that you were worried was too high. Think of it as a much nicer alternative to a magnetic frag rack stuck on the back wall. The open water under that branch looks very cool and highlights the awesome branch itself.
Still weird about no luck with shrooms and zoas. Is your water too polished?

 

[Solitaryensis]

Wow, looks awesome! 11mL sounds low to me; I dose more than that daily in my 22g. But your corals look healthy and growing. Do you do frequent water changes that replenish the Ca, Alk?
I like those frags on the tonga branch up top that you were worried was too high. Think of it as a much nicer alternative to a magnetic frag rack stuck on the back wall. The open water under that branch looks very cool and highlights the awesome branch itself.
Still weird about no luck with shrooms and zoas. Is your water too polished?

Thanks! I actually don’t change my water very often - maybe once every 3-5 weeks. I hadn’t checked my alk in months and it dropped to 7.5 so I’ll up my dosage. But I agree with you, it still seems awfully low.

My water is most def. not too polished. I have fairly high nitrates and phosphates which makes this mystery all the more difficult to understand. You’d think the zoas and chaeto would be thriving and the SPS not so much in this environment but it’s exactly the opposite.


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[Solitaryensis]

Quick update here. I was getting a fair amount of shadowing on the sides with my Radions so decided to pick up the Aquatic Life T5 hybrid system. Not thrilled that the brackets are offset but really happy with the color. This is bay far the best light combo I’ve ever had. I love the adjustability of LEDs but the T5 gives off such an even and pleasant light distribution.

Anyone else running this combo out there? Would love to get your opinions on bulbs. I am currently running 2x blue plus and 2x coral plus. While I like the color of the T5 alone, it seems a bit too white for my taste with the LEDs on. Thoughts?

Also decided to start the process of removing the sand bed. I love the look of sand but was running into issues with sand blowing around and dead spots. I am still having issue with bringing my nitrates down so I figured removing the sand couldn’t hurt. Its a hard look to get used to and I still wonder if I made the right call but time will tell.

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[Flagg37]

I’m pretty sure @Chromis is running a hybrid LED/T5 combo.

 

[ofzakaria]

I run t5 led combo for couple of years now. Very satisfied with the results. My setup is hydra 52hd and 4 t5's. I use aqua blues and coral plus

 

[Solitaryensis]

I run t5 led combo for couple of years now. Very satisfied with the results. My setup is hydra 52hd and 4 t5's. I use aqua blues and coral plus

Nice! What LED do you use and what kinds/combos of T5 bulbs?


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[sfsuphysics]

Give me until the weekend and I'll let you know how I like my led-t5 combo

Going for 2 coral plus, 2 blue plus and 2 UVL actinic (had the bulbs from a long time back never used), with my home made led fixtures

 

[ofzakaria]

Nice! What LED do you use and what kinds/combos of T5 bulbs?


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I rotate between ATI and giesemann. I change bulbs every 8 months. Which I believe is important.

 

[Solitaryensis]

I rotate between ATI and giesemann. I change bulbs every 8 months. Which I believe is important.

Thanks. What color combo?


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[ofzakaria]

Thanks. What color combo?


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You mean the led?
I run AI david baxiby profile.

 

[sfsuphysics]

David Baxiby?

Saxby?

 

[ofzakaria]

David Baxiby?

Saxby?

Ha ha. Do not txt and drive lol.
Yes saxby!

 

[Solitaryensis]

You mean the led?
I run AI david baxiby profile.

No, I mean the T5 bulbs - what color bulbs do you use?


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[ofzakaria]

No, I mean the T5 bulbs - what color bulbs do you use?


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I mentioned it earlier.
2 aqua blue and 2 coral plus.
I think changing the bulbs regularly is crucial. While I know it's not proven beyond reasonable doubt but I see correlation between old bulbs and cyano.
Also I can almost tell when my t5s are getting old where my alk consumption skow down. Which I think it had to do with spectrum shifting and coral slow down growth a bit.

 

[Solitaryensis]

I mentioned it earlier.
2 aqua blue and 2 coral plus.
I think changing the bulbs regularly is crucial. While I know it's not proven beyond reasonable doubt but I see correlation between old bulbs and cyano.
Also I can almost tell when my t5s are getting old where my alk consumption skow down. Which I think it had to do with spectrum shifting and coral slow down growth a bit.

Sorry, missed that. Thank you!


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[JVU]

Can you show and describe some more detail about how you mounted the hybrid fixture? Your solution looks interesting. I’ve been considering adding a hybrid setup to my Kessil AP700’s but I’m stuck on the mounting part.

Tank looks great!

 

[ofzakaria]

Can you show and describe some more detail about how you mounted the hybrid fixture? Your solution looks interesting. I’ve been considering adding a hybrid setup to my Kessil AP700’s but I’m stuck on the mounting part.

Tank looks great!

Are you talking to me or the OP?

 

[ofzakaria]

Can you show and describe some more detail about how you mounted the hybrid fixture? Your solution looks interesting. I’ve been considering adding a hybrid setup to my Kessil AP700’s but I’m stuck on the mounting part.

Tank looks great!

Btw I did in the past kessil+led. I had the kessils mounted in the middle of the canopy with 2 t5 on each sides. I followed the design brs did on their brs 160.
I used kessil canopy mounting bars and screwd in the t5 fixtures on both sides.
If you do not have canopy it's easier to go with the led t5 combo fixture brs sell. It's easily mountable and allow for most common led fixtures to be integrated with the t5.