Jake's 50 gallon mixed reef

I went with the MP10. I expect it to arrive Wednesday

The solar wrasse and potters angel are hanging in there. They looked a bit better today.

 

Unfortunately my potters angel did not make it. That was pretty heart breaking I won't try another potters angel on this tank.

The solar wrasse and watchman goby look healthy. I added the MP10 yesterday too... really cool piece of equipment. I think it'll make a huge difference in the tank.

Here is a small pic update

 

I'm in the process of setting up a small chaeto-only refugium hopefully this will cut down on the cost of buying more RowaPhos every couple of months. I'll pick up some chaeto tomorrow.

I used s 16 W Phillips R30 fluorescent flood light. It has a built in reflector and is 6500 k. Is this a good choice? It seems like it puts out a lot of light. I just bought a clamp-on socket to hang it with.



Close up of the light


The cord is threaded through the hose strap, and tied around it. I also put a zip tie around the cord and hose strap as another safety measure against the light falling into the water (on top of the GFCI).

Also, here are my rics under actinic lighting I think these are my favorite corals at the moment.



Water tested today too, everything looks good despite fairly heavy feeding to my wrasse and goby

I'm still having ongoing problems with white spot, the wrasse seems to get it once a week. Hopefully the parasite population goes down eventually on its own, I don't have space for a q-tank right now and the good water quality/heavy feeding seems to be enough for the wrasse to fight it off. I won't add another fish until the wrasse is spot free for a month... and when I get another fish it will be an anthias, another wrasse, or a chromis, which are all pretty resistant to the parasite.

Also saw a crab eating my astrea yesterday... two snails down this week, the other was a margarita. The crabs needs to go, fortunately I know where it lives Next time I see it, I'll take the whole rock out and get it and put it into the sump (probably skimmer chamber to clean it up a little). Hopefully it doesn't go after my crocea clam in the mean time

Sorry for the essay length update!

 

Quick question for you--do you find the center brace leaving a shadow or affecting the light from your fixture? I am to go LEDs but my 65g has a center brace so I don't know if I'm limited to lamps only. Thanks.

 

The center brace doesn't leave a noticeable shadow. I think if there are LED lights with 40-60 degree lenses on either side of the brace, it would cover the area beneath the center brace well. PAR readings may be lower, but I doubt there would be a visual difference.

I plan on getting two AI sols one day.

 

OK--thanks. I know I probably could cut it out and attach an acrylic center brace, but if there isn't a noticeable difference then I won't go through the hassle.

 

I think it will be even less noticeable with the depth of your 65 gallon (6 inches deeper than my 50 gallon).