Cliff & Plateau

[McCarthy]

Received my "backup" LED light today. I bought it just for fun, the real deal (EcoTech with ReefLink controller) should also arrive today, waiting for UPS. For the price it looks really great. Blue / white / reds can be turned on separately and all LEDs can be dimmed with the in-wire remote control.

I also managed to get both CO2 tanks filled at a place just 30 minutes from here. I tested the GLA Mini SS regulator with a cheap diffuser. That GLA bubble counter is pure porn.

That cheap diffuser is a useless POS. The CO2 finds its way around the stone and comes out in large bubbles which go straight up and don't "dissolve" into the water one bit. I bought this diffuser because it fit into the JBJ filter unit. I wanted to place the diffuser in the canister and under the pump in order to keep everything out of the tank. As we all know, I ditched that entire JBJ tank. Needless to say, both the JBJ tank kit and this diffuser are cheap crap made in China.

In the refugium tank, CO2 will enter the system with a GLA inline diffuser.

 

[Joellll]

That cheap diffuser is a useless POS. The CO2 finds its way around the stone and comes out in large bubbles which go straight up and don't "dissolve" into the water one bit. I bought this diffuser because it fit into the JBJ filter unit. I wanted to place the diffuser in the canister and under the pump in order to keep everything out of the tank.

I have the unknurled version with the longer tube+hook at top. They do the same thing but with enough tightening work correctly. Needed a rubber strip and a pair of pliers. They are indeed crap.

 

[Dantrasy]

Look into getting a reactor instead. A Sera 500 will do the trick.

What did you put in the bubble counter? Vegetable glycerine works very well.

 

[McCarthy]

I have the unknurled version with the longer tube+hook at top. They do the same thing but with enough tightening work correctly. Needed a rubber strip and a pair of pliers. They are indeed crap.

I saw the unknurled version on Amazon. I took mine apart and the seal was sitting sideways, corrected it and tighten it as good as possible by hand, same result. All the bumbles come out around the seal. I try the rubber band + pliers trick tomorrow, just for fun.

Look into getting a reactor instead. A Sera 500 will do the trick.

What did you put in the bubble counter? Vegetable glycerine works very well.

Just some RO water for now. Will vegetable glycerin last longer? Is it safe for the tank?

I actually bought a Sera Flore CO2 Reactor 500 for the main tank. For the refugium tank in the kitchen I bought a GLA inline diffuser, which might turn the tank into a Sprite soda machine. If I get too much mist, I'll get another reactor for this tank.

 

[McCarthy]

Alright. The permanent light setup for the refugium tank finally arrived. That UPS guy showed up at 7 PM, can you believe it?

I'm totally stoked! This EcoTech light and the controller are AWESOME.

As always, here a bunch of photos for you guys to enjoy:

ReefLink Controller to the right. EcoTech has an awesome phone app. You can adjust color channels, brightness levels, set timers, simulated the moon phase, clouds and lightning.

I had to run wires again through several cabinets, this time I spliced a surge protector into the outlet for the microwave. There must be particleboard dust in all my dishes now.

All the manual controls can be reached easily upfront:

This light is simply stunning! Awesome colors, which can be adjusted completely, extremely bright in the highest setting, active fan that only comes on when the light is on high output - so far it stays very cool and the fan doesn't even come on. This light together with the GLA CO2 regulators are so far my favorite parts.

 

[McCarthy]

Didn't like those large no-name pipes in the small tank and just placed another order with GLA:

 

[McCarthy]

Updated the parts list and included the refugium. Project cost is now at $7,191.38


Main Tank:

Refugium:

 

[Zeus.]

You could always have the inline diffuser on the filter input. Thereby basically turning your filter into a cerges as well as a filter.

Sent from Mountolympus via neural interface

 

[McCarthy]

You could always have the inline diffuser on the filter input. Thereby basically turning your filter into a cerges as well as a filter.

Sent from Mountolympus via neural interface

Question is, how much CO2 gets lost in the filter?

 

[Joellll]

Updated the parts list and included the refugium. Project cost is now at $7,191.38


Main Tank:

Refugium:

what the hell

 

[alto]

You may want to reconsider livestock #'s

Shrimp - really should be kept in minimum groups of 10 (same type & species is their preference but OK if mixed colours, if 2 or more species, plan on groups of 10 each, of course you may get lucky & have a laden female & good survival of offspring ...) Note, back when, no one would even sell shrimp in groups of less than 10
Also intensely bred shrimp tend to be significantly less sturdy than their wild type cousins (again stress is bad for long term survival)


For the Sawbwa resplendens, I'd not break up the group - keep all 24 in the main tank, they are a shy fish (ie stress which greatly reduces long term survival in fish) & will feel much more secure in the larger group, & you'll observe more natural behaviour & wider range of behaviours
(I've 30 or so)

Other consideration is establishing the tank, especially with a nutrient rich substrate, add in auxiliary plants during the first month or two to help with algae control & establishing the tank "balance"

Don't forget that ADA has it's own "protocols" for successfully starting a tank
eg, daily water change of 50-90% as required depending on what you're seeing in the tank during the first couple to several weeks (again depending), followed by a gradual reduction in water change frequency etc
Also look at the design of their fertilization series - very conservative during first weeks, increasing levels as needed re plant mass/growth



Well done on the itemized list

(Sorry I've forgotten if you've done loads of planted tanks )

 

[alto]

Sawbwa report
thankfully the pacing has stopped (disappointing to those who like their fish to "stream" but rather a relief to me & fish already accustomed to a Quiet Life )

They are at all levels in the tank, some picking substrate snacks (fed decaps yesterday so perhaps that's what they're finding), some mid level, some surface
A changing group of 3-5 boys were dancing a bit ... centred around some floating plant/wood ... just saw the girl come out & she seems to be the object of interest
A couple bigger males are beginning to show that nice steel blue body & iridescent flashes, though orange points are still dim - nose is just visible on most males, tail markings barely discernible

And now there's a shoal streaming but it lacks the edge of "frantic" that was so apparent the first day
- it began with 9 & now is 20 strong, then down to 7, then 13 ...

 

[Zeus.]

Question is, how much CO2 gets lost in the filter?

Well thats the basic idea then it gets more time to get in water. Bubble free tank except the pearling OFC

 

[McCarthy]

You may want to reconsider livestock #'s

Shrimp - really should be kept in minimum groups of 10 (same type & species is their preference but OK if mixed colours, if 2 or more species, plan on groups of 10 each, of course you may get lucky & have a laden female & good survival of offspring ...) Note, back when, no one would even sell shrimp in groups of less than 10
Also intensely bred shrimp tend to be significantly less sturdy than their wild type cousins (again stress is bad for long term survival)


For the Sawbwa resplendens, I'd not break up the group - keep all 24 in the main tank, they are a shy fish (ie stress which greatly reduces long term survival in fish) & will feel much more secure in the larger group, & you'll observe more natural behaviour & wider range of behaviours
(I've 30 or so)

Other consideration is establishing the tank, especially with a nutrient rich substrate, add in auxiliary plants during the first month or two to help with algae control & establishing the tank "balance"

Don't forget that ADA has it's own "protocols" for successfully starting a tank
eg, daily water change of 50-90% as required depending on what you're seeing in the tank during the first couple to several weeks (again depending), followed by a gradual reduction in water change frequency etc
Also look at the design of their fertilization series - very conservative during first weeks, increasing levels as needed re plant mass/growth

Well done on the itemized list

(Sorry I've forgotten if you've done loads of planted tanks )

First tank ever.

Thank you for all the good info. The fish and shrimp numbers are "just" what I came up with when building the list. I'll focus on the habitants when I'm cycling the tanks. Should give at least a month of time. Not sure yet if I'll start with the dry method, I think I prefer wet, TGM style.

 

[McCarthy]

Came up with another scape for the refugium tank. Stacked high and with a cave / tunnel.

 

[Dantrasy]

Egg crate could be added to your project list. Prevents scratches and helps build height.

Have you seen any scape pics you like the look of?

 

[McCarthy]

Egg crate could be added to your project list. Prevents scratches and helps build height.

Have you seen any scape pics you like the look of?

In the 90cm main tank I will use 1, 2 or 3 of those large stones. Not sure yet how many.

The tanks don't have to be completely similar but a complementary style it will be, because both will have SAN SUI stones, no drift wood and no long plants.

I'm wandering back and force between a flat / simple Iwagumi "style" setup and something with a lot more substrate, elevation changes and many stones in a "The Green Machine" style.

These 2 tanks are what I like:

The Green Machine version but with no moss in my case:

..and this Iwagumi setup, but with my more block'ish SAN SUI stones:

 

[McCarthy]

That first scape in the refugium tank was too much. Will be a pain to work in.

This is more like it... I like how these SAN SUI stones do best when they stand each alone, looking like those huge black lava rocks in the Red Sea.

 

[G H Nelson]

Hi Chaps
I have purchased a similar diffuser to the one mentioned!
(see attached picture file below)
The ceramic disc needs to be removed and soaked in water or mild bleach for a few days!
Works decently after this...purchase some more discs as replacements when needing cleaned.
I have one soaking in water a few days before I replace the soiled one!

hoggie

 

[Tim Harrison]

Nice glassware...watch out for the drop checker tho'. IME that design is very slow to show real change and may make it difficult to dial your CO2 in accurately.