24G Nano Cube DX Nano Reef Setup

[billlcarroll5781]

Forget the halogen.....cut the vinyl off over the back middle chamber and illuminate it from the outside. MUCH BETTER. SH

Better simply from a growth perspective or how so? The halogen didn't create heat; correct? The egglite looked better aesthetically, so what is the real advantage of removing the back and using more light? Thanks for input on the subject.

 

[steelhealr]

Easy, with regards to the halogen:

1) inadequate wattage at 10 watts for nitrate reduction
2) greater than 10 watts, HEAT
3) less internal wires
4) incorrect light spectrum (halogen has under 3400K, re 6700K)

External fuge light:

1) Easy to do
2) Wide choices of lighting options
3) Minimal to NO heat influence on the tank
4) Higher available light spectrum drives photosynthesis, growth and drives nitrates to 0 ppm.
5) Unless you face the back of your tank to the front and watch wires (just teasing), there ARE no aesthetic issues. Tell me where my fuge light is in this picture:

SH

 

[billlcarroll5781]

Easy, with regards to the halogen:

1) inadequate wattage at 10 watts for nitrate reduction
2) greater than 10 watts, HEAT
3) less internal wires
4) incorrect light spectrum (halogen has under 3400K, re 6700K)

External fuge light:

1) Easy to do
2) Wide choices of lighting options
3) Minimal to NO heat influence on the tank
4) Higher available light spectrum drives photosynthesis, growth and drives nitrates to 0 ppm.
5) Unless you face the back of your tank to the front and watch wires (just teasing), there ARE no aesthetic issues. Tell me where my fuge light is in this picture:

SH

Excellent points and no need to apologize for being blunt. In my opinion blunt and honest truth can save one serious time, money, and headache in this hobby. I appreciate your follow up and plan to order a palm light and embark on my own DIY fuge in the near future.

 

[billlcarroll5781]

While we are on the the mod topic, what are your feelings about the Hydor FLO addition? It's real cheap so i figured i'd give it a shot if you thought it was worthwhile.

 

[Mr Miagi]

OMG! That tank has gone off SH! Your gonna need a bigger tank soon! Just look at those shrooms!

 

[steelhealr]

Don't worry miag....I had a 'plague' last fall and lost a lot of stuff. I actually need to add some, but, I"m holding for now. SH

 

[Siamese Fighter05]

What did you lose?

 

[steelhealr]

..some nice pieces. I am preparing my one year post and you'll see. Nano reefing is not easy even in 'expert' hands (I say that tongue in cheek). Sometimes you can do everything right and some 'imponderable' can nuke your tank. That is the tradeoff...the Achilles heel.....the challenge for us 'under 20' folks. SH

 

[billlcarroll5781]

I can't remember, but how much live rock rubble did you place in your 2nd chamber when starting your refugium?

 

[billlcarroll5781]

Also, do you remove the sponge in the first compartment once your cheato growth has really taken? Thanks for your insight.

 

[@ombomb]

Remove the sponges from day one.

The only time I ever use sponges if there's any sand etc kicked up by moving things round in the tank, then I have an attachment to turn my powerhead into a basic sponge filter which clears the water in no time.

 

[steelhealr]

I have about 3lbs of LR rubble in the back middle chamber. I have not used any sponges in my system since after cycling completed. No sponges...no bioballs...no ceramics. SH

 

[lljdma06]

It's been over a year. I'm waiting.

 

[steelhealr]

It's coming...my update thread is posted but 'invisible' until I get time to take a pic.

BTW...my yashia haze died. I found it behind my surface skimmer. He was acting weird of late..insisting on jumping into the rear sumps. I had to fish him out of there 3X. Fortunately my pistol build a new cave right in the front of the tank, so, I've been feeding it by hand. Will have to get another yashia but have seen none around. SH

 

[lljdma06]

It's coming...my update thread is posted but 'invisible' until I get time to take a pic.

Alright, fine, I guess I'll have to be patient. Sooooo slow.

Sorry about your yashia. Had to think for a minute about what it was, but then you said pistol and now I remember.