Ghurlag's Tanks - Part 2

[cyberwollf]

What Acro did you get?

Losing color can be a few things, but most likely too much light. Like you said, photo saturation! Try moving it down a bit. I tend to start all my Acros lower than I think they should be and watch their color. Slowly move them up if they turn brown.

I need to check my par. Something I noticed, I have an acro that is growing down. I wonder if it is growing away from the light. Likes its too much. Its not as green as it once was. But its still a super fast grower.

The PAR was <100 on the acro  definitely not too much light.  No disrespect to Brian's lights 

[lilleigh]

It's something like a lime green acropora.  After discussion and PAR readings yesterday, I really think I have a problem with lack of light.  We'll see, though

Got a picture? And yeah 250W would be too much on a 29 lol. Atleast my very humble opinion.

The thing is though. Reflectors, ballasts, bulbs, all that matters SO much. You will get incredible different readings with different equipment as I think you will see with use of your meter over time.

[lilleigh]

The PAR was <100 on the acro  definitely not too much light.  No disrespect to Brian's lights 

If its loosing color Zooanthlia are leaving, and its too much light I would think. Move it down. Remember though, as Brian said it can take weeks before you notice a change.

[ghurlag]

Although, it it's not enough light, there isn't enough photosynthesis taking place to sustain color...  I would have to say that it really is one of the dimmer tanks I've seen.  I thought that even though I was at the low end of intensity that it would at least be a sustainable intensity until I got the lighting all upgraded.  Now I'm not so sure.  Given that I have pulsing xenias that don't pulse, green star polyps that aren't green and very little coraline algae growth ( I got kudos on how "clean" the tank is), combined with otherwise excellent water parameters and happy, healthy fishies, I'm leaning toward light being the problem.

Oh, and Wes, after 24 hours with the T5s added, the xenias are pulsing again   Could we be moving in the right direction?  Only time will tell.

[ghurlag]

Here are some updated pics.  jd can be happy now - since I increased the light, my tank looks "dirtier"







~cyberwollf, this is the GSP you gave me.  It's colored back up but the polyps are still fully extended

~GSP from ~reefchik~


~Reef'd Up, these are the Eagle Eyes you gave me.  There are 3 new polyps that haven't opened just yet

[ghurlag]

FTS (a couple weeks old now):



My clowns:

[jd]

I am pleased Brian. But I have to say, ever since I moved my tank to the floor, its never looked better Have a shot of your new light setup?

[Reefinmike]

what kind of fairy wrasse is that? Are its fins really that big, or is it just the picture?

nice looking tank so far

[HUNGER]

looken better and better

[ghurlag]

jd - my new lights are "rigged" at the moment.  Not sure I can get a good shot. What do you mean about moving yours to the floor

The wrasse is a McCosker's flasher wrasse, and when he is "flashing", his fins ARE that big

[Aquatic Specialists]

tank is looking really good man!

[~reefchik~]

Wow, you've been busy!  It's really looking nice.

[ghurlag]

Hey, it's been a really loooooooong time since I've been on.  In case anyone has been wondering what I've been up to, here's a pic to show you what I HAVEN'T been up to:



I haven't done much with the tank since the middle of August, except for top it off.  I have some vegetation choking out all the light, and my corals are all suffering.  Not to mention all the bulbs are really old now, too.

Don't fret!  All hope is not lost!  Here is my immediate action plan:

1.  Remove as much of the vegetation as I can (today)
2.  Scrape the front and sides with razor blade (today)
3.  Clean entire protein skimmer system (today)
4.  Massive water change (today)
5.  Replace T-5 bulbs (have a 10,000K and an Actinic on order - should be here first week of December)
      5b.  Replace remaining 2 bulbs in next month or 2 (works out for the wallet, and for the coral)
6.  Begin rehabing ailing corals (I have a green acro that is completely brown now  )

I also have some sort of weird white "stuff" overtaking my GSP island, and a zoa colony.  I'm going to post a pic in a more appropriate thread for assistance.

Anyway, I haven't been intentionally avoiding anyone.  I've just been extremely busy and extremely broke.  Since I am cracking open the reef to save the ecosystem, I thought I would stop by and chronicle what I'm doing.

[cyberwollf]

looks about like my tank since i started gradschool lol

all i do is topoff and feed.  My last water change was like 4 months ago.  I made up 30 gallons of NSW and its evaporated down to about 15 now   ... Hopefully winter comes and we can renew.  Winter seems keep folks indoors and we see a rise in forum participation and increased tank maintenance. good luck

[ghurlag]

And here's the "Immediately After":



The following steps have been completed:

1.  Remove as much of the vegetation as I can (today)
2.  Scrape the front and sides with razor blade (today)
3.  Clean entire protein skimmer system (today)
4.  Massive water change (today)

And here are the steps coming up:

5.  Replace T-5 bulbs (have a 10,000K and an Actinic on order - should be here first week of December)
      5b.  Replace remaining 2 bulbs in next month or 2 (works out for the wallet, and for the coral)
6.  Begin rehabing ailing corals (I have a green acro that is completely brown now  )


As you can see, I have some serious bleaching to contend with.  I don't think I have completely lost anything, but "surgery" may be in the near future.  I'm sitting here staring at what is once again a nice tank to look at.  I can't believe I let it go like that... 

[Reefinmike]

looks MUCH better, just hope that birdsnest and Pocillipora(?) make it

[ghurlag]

I know...  The white guys were completely covered by vegetation.  A couple of other brown things were on the bottom due to space/"stay put" issues.  I'm hoping a combination of cleaner water, and soon to be improved lighting will help them all recover as well as possible.

[HUNGER]

does look better

[ghurlag]

Okay, so my first 2 new bulbs came today.  Coralife 10,000K and Actinic 36"/39W.  Here's a before (note how much clearer the water is today than a few days ago:



Here's the After:


It was taken with my Blackberry, so all you can really see in the pic is the change in light spectrum on the pink monti at the top, but in person it's a LOT brighter

And I finally got a pic of my clown hosting in a hairy mushroom with just the Actinics on(that's one that I got from you, Hunger!):

[HUNGER]

looks a lot better

[~reefchik~]

I'm confused.  The first photo (before) looks much brighter than the second one.  Did you get the links backwards or ??  Maybe it's the actinics.

[HUNGER]

it could be the lights

[ghurlag]

I'm confused.  The first photo (before) looks much brighter than the second one.  Did you get the links backwards or ??  Maybe it's the actinics.

it could be the lights

It's the Blackberry camera...  the blue text states that possible source of "FAIL".  The actinic spectrum really upped the blue ante.  I think the reason the first pic looks so much "brighter" is that the color spectrum coming off the bulbs was more in the yellow, likely where the camera was best able to catch it.

I assure you the effect was much better in person.  I'll use my good camera from now on

[ghurlag]

I got the ailing birdsnest fragged up yesterday, and back in the tank.  All the dead has been cut away, and I have probably 15-20 pieces that I've put back together to see if they we regrow into a colony.  Hopefully a few months down the road, if not sooner, the poor little guy(s) will have healed and be colored up with full polyp extension

[lazylivin]

Got any updated pictures for us? Curious how things are turning around.........will there be a part 3