Leonardo's BB ShallowCube

[Wiskey]

Originally Posted by Weatherman

Things like kalk are called "balanced additives" because they add calcium and alkalinity in, generally, the same proportion they are removed from the water through biological and abiotic processes.

However, alkalinity is removed much faster than calcium. For each 20 ppm of calcium, about 2.8 dKH of alk is removed. So, if you start out with 420 ppm calcium and 8.0 dKH alk, then a drop in calcium to 400 ppm would result in a drop in alk to 5.2 dKH. In fact, because 420 ppm and 400 ppm are pretty much within the noise of test kit measurements, it can seem like alk is falling fast, while calcium is not falling at all.

Well put Weatherman.

I love UV, and Really like the emporor aquatics models, I am going to put a 40W on my 125 and feed water through it at about 300 GPH. I am still not convinced that they do much for fish deseize (though they can't hurt) I do like that they break down the alopathic chemicals of coral warfare.

Great tank!

Whiskey

[panic]

I use a 40w AquaUV with the scraper. It clears up the water a little. It's just one more thing. Your reef is looking nice. I can't wait for the 6 month pic.

[rutz81]

Rather than running U.V., have you considered running ozone?? I think the chemical warfare would be better takjen care of by that. Just my opinion.

Can't wait to see those corals color up, great tank!

Dave

[Leonardo's Reef]

Many, many things has changed lately. Like I said in another topic, my sump cracked. This was the beginning of many changes I made:

I installed a new *larger* sump. More volume now

I pulled out the starboard. I'm glad I did this. The was much detritus under it, and it was only in the tank for a few months.
I also pulled it out because there were constantly growing algae on the starboard; after months it was still leaking phosphates.
Since I took the starboard out I dont have ANY algae anymore.

Not a real "change"; My Acanthurus Guttatus decided to jump out of the tank. It happend Monday during the night, I'm still sad because of it

I made a new plan about the tank and the corals that I want to keep. I will pick up many frags and colonies next week.

I want it to look much like this (only a cube of course ):




I also ordered a group of this mini-cardinals! (Apogon parvulus)



Updates (photo's) will be here in about a week.


-Leonardo

[gwaco]

well i shut down the fire wall so i could view your pics ( i just couldn't stand it anymore ) ! very , very , nice leonardo ! that is going to look ooo -so nice !

[JC VT]

I also ordered a group of this mini-cardinals! (Apogon parvulus)

You have no idea how jealous I am. Schooling cardinals are UNREAL!

[garvondavis14]

that tank is pretty sweet...looks like a coral garden

[Viv]

Wow, those mini-cardinals are gonna look great in your cube! Are they from the same family as the freshwater version? I have never really seen them before.

[Leonardo's Reef]

Thanks for the comments!

Viv, they are called "cardinals", but I think this is only based on how they look.
Freshwater-cardinals (Paracheirodon axelrodi) are from the order Characiformes
The "saltwater-version" (apogun parvulus) is from the order Perciformes...
In other words, they are not related at all

I can explain my plans a little more; I want my tank to be an "Acropora Formosa forest"
Next week I will pick up frags and colonys of different formosa's.

The inspiration to do this I got from the pictures of the Japanese tanks that I posted before. I also saw a doc. about Cardinals, and they filmed schools of these fishes hiding between Formosa-braches

- Leonardo

[Leonardo's Reef]

Tank is still in progress... The pictures will be here next weekend. The tank is taking shape at the moment, and I think is gonna look great I thing the Japanese style will come out very good.

Also some other Techical updates:

Adding a Cal/Mag Rxtor with 4 Kg of Media

Added 200 Micron filter bag

Replace MH: 250 Watt DE ---> 400 Watt SE
The 4 T's (24 Watt) will still be used for actinic supplement.

Adding a Carbon/Phosphate Rxtor for 2 Kg of Media

[Leonardo's Reef]

Tank is still in progress... The pictures will be here next weekend. The tank is taking shape at the moment, and I think is gonna look great I thing the Japanese style will come out very good.


Also some other Techical updates:

Adding a Cal/Mag Rxtor with 4 Kg of Media

Added 200 Micron filter bag

Replace MH: 250 Watt DE ---> 400 Watt SE
The 4 T's (24 Watt) will still be used for actinic supplement.

Adding a Carbon/Phosphate Rxtor for 2 Kg of Media


-Leonardo

[Viv]

Sounds great. Looking forward to the pics!

[Leonardo's Reef]

Ok, some impressions of my tank. I'm not happy with the photo's, but I hope you get the idea.

I like the Japanese BB tanks, and I busy to give my tank that look.

The school of Apogon's (cardinals) still have not arrived at my LFS.

The other technical upgrades; 400 Watt MH, Ca-reactor, GFO-reactor are ordered.

I hope you guys like the changes I made...

(will make better pictures )

-Leonardo

[MedicMike]

Wow that tank really looks sharp its nice to see a tank that isnt packed to the brim with rock. I'm really jealous of your tank I hope I can achive something close to this in the near future!

[gwaco]

looks great leonardo ! you must have some great patiences , short of cash , or plenty of restraint ! cause i know i'd be filling it up !