Strider's 55 gallon reef learning exeriance.

**Strider199** · 02-26-2013, 10:55 PM

Bonus received from work today, time to shop for a nice light for the 48 inch tank.

That wave maker is awesome. I just can't get enough of it.

Question; should one turn it off during the night or leave it in full action?

**Strider199** · 02-26-2013, 11:00 PM

Received my bonus at work today so it's time to shop for a 48 inch light for this tank.

That wave maker is awesome, can't get enough of it.
Question; should one turn off the wave feature at night or is it normal practise to leave it running as it does during the day? I ask that question because the unit has an evening feature on it which turns if off for a period of time. I only turn it off during feeding time right now. It's on a 5 minute timer for that.

**Strider199** · 03-04-2013, 10:58 PM

Some pictures of my new LED r420r 160w 16k 3 panel light. This puppy has three programmable modes. Manual, pre-set (2 modes), and advanced. There are 6 time points to set your lighting to during the day and night. Ramping it up slowly in the morning to running it fully (or less if desired) during the day, and ramping her down in the evening. I am still learning what my reef wants.
Here is a picture of the led's. 3 panels and 2 cooling fans on this 36 inch fixture.

**Strider199** · 03-04-2013, 11:00 PM

Here is a picture of the power supply. It runs really cool even with the lights on 100% all day.

**Strider199** · 03-04-2013, 11:01 PM

A shot of the light on top of the tank. Light is 36 inches, tank is 48 inches. The light covers the bottom corners.

**Strider199** · 03-04-2013, 11:02 PM

A quick picture of my latest resident.

**Cliff** · 03-04-2013, 11:27 PM

The light looks pretty good

Based on how it spreads, you can have a pretty good mix of corals through the tank.

**Strider199** · 03-04-2013, 11:38 PM

Thanks Cliff. I have moved the soft corals down lower and toward the ends of the tank. I have mixed results with the zoa's. One is in centre mid tank level and is doing great, one is on the bottom right and is doing great, the third was on the bottom centre and didn't look too well. I moved it to the left bottom of the tank (mirror the one on the right side) and it is looking better but not as well as the other two. I hope it come around since I've moved it away from the centre of the tank.

**Strider199** · 03-13-2013, 11:40 PM

Last Sunday I purchased a button coral. It's approx. 1 1/2" in diameter and some funky tie-dye colours.
Yesterday I tried to feed it some pellets that I bought from the lfs as the coral was fed the same there.
I turned off my power heads and fed the fish and shrimp. When I was pretty sure all were full, I used a turkey baster and gently lowered a pellet unto the button. The skunk cleaner came over immediately so using the baster I persuaded him to hang back. I was watching the button move the pellet in-wards when a hermit came out of no where from the opposite side. I persuaded the hermit to change course gently. It took around 4 minutes for that pellet to disappear. Finally I could remove the baster and pick up my beer. The shrimp and hermit went right to the button to investigate. Those little pellets must be very aromatic. Shortly two more hermits showed up out of no where.
How do you keep the cleaning crew away from your LPS at feeding time?

**Cliff** · 03-13-2013, 11:51 PM

That is why I have a simple rule of thumb, I keep nothing with pointy feet in the same tank as corals that I will feed.

I found it to be a PITA. I had to use the below. It did the job, but it only works with corals sitting on flat surfaces