BPB's Humble SPS Dominant 90 Gallon

[Bpb]

So I’ve been using reborn media since I first filled my reactor. Discovered tropic eden media this week so decided to order a bag and try it out. Topped off the reactor. Looks identical to reborn but clocks in a $2.27/lb. versus $4.54/lb if buying smaller quantities. Will see how it does

 

[jolt]

That's good to know!

 

[C. Eymann]

Great build, love the more simple old school approach!
Awesome corals and outstanding growth rate! gotta love halides!

Subscribed!

 

[Bpb]

Great build, love the more simple old school approach!
Awesome corals and outstanding growth rate! gotta love halides!

Subscribed!

Thanks man. Truthfully, my old school method is 80% out of budget necessity. No a calcium reactor isn’t cheap, but it’s certainly cheaper than an automatic testing device paired with a multi channel doser. And way less trouble.

Yeah. Halides have to be replaced occasionally, and run a little warm, but they’re bulletproof and cost me nothing to acquire. To get this level of par, coverage, and reliability from bleeding edge leds would cost me thousands.

Now, I do believe the maxspect gyres to be the cream of the crop when it comes to water movement, so that was a no brainer.

Anyway. It’s not that I’m opposed to the new school, It’s just ruinously expensive for someone on as modest of a budget as me. I’ve maybe spent 1500-2k of my own money on the hobby over an 8 year timespan. Which isn’t bad. The rest has been in the form of trade ups and coral sales (the tank paying for itself).

Anyway. I’ll take an updated top down video this weekend or next week. Haven’t purchased any new corals simply because I’m going to be upgrading tanks soon and don’t see the point in buying new stuff just to sell it away in a couple months.

 

[C. Eymann]

Thanks man. Truthfully, my old school method is 80% out of budget necessity. No a calcium reactor isn’t cheap, but it’s certainly cheaper than an automatic testing device paired with a multi channel doser. And way less trouble.

Yeah. Halides have to be replaced occasionally, and run a little warm, but they’re bulletproof and cost me nothing to acquire. To get this level of par, coverage, and reliability from bleeding edge leds would cost me thousands.

Now, I do believe the maxspect gyres to be the cream of the crop when it comes to water movement, so that was a no brainer.

Anyway. It’s not that I’m opposed to the new school, It’s just ruinously expensive for someone on as modest of a budget as me. I’ve maybe spent 1500-2k of my own money on the hobby over an 8 year timespan. Which isn’t bad. The rest has been in the form of trade ups and coral sales (the tank paying for itself).

Anyway. I’ll take an updated top down video this weekend or next week. Haven’t purchased any new corals simply because I’m going to be upgrading tanks soon and don’t see the point in buying new stuff just to sell it away in a couple months.

Same boat with you on budget, I have several other pricey hobbies so frugality is key.

While I have done zeovit before with good results, I wanted to stop being a slave to my tank because "life". Agree that a calcium reactor is definitely worth the investment up front, I will not run a tank without one.
I did dose vodka for a while but switched to adding vinegar in my ato reservoir that I was pushing through a kalk stirrer to get away with daily dosing.

I too love halides, next to plasma arc tech, metal halides will be as close as we can get to the sun for now at least IMO, also they grow corals about 25% faster as per Sanjays observations on his tank after he switched to LED.

I will have a hard time leaving them once bulb availability/choices goes bye bye in the coming future. I know I still cant get Aqualine buschke 250de 10ks anymore, one of my favorites next to 250se radiums on pulse start m80s but I have grown to like lower Kelvin temp bulbs.

Anyways, excellent looking set up, great build thread. Look forward to seeing the video!

 

[Bpb]

What may seem counterintuitive, my bulbs being 10 months old now have actually increased in par by upwards of 20% in some readings. I had to cease running the blue supplements just simply because without them I’m still in the 300-600 par range everywhere, so I feel like growth may even improve a bit if I’m not torching everything so much. I’ve heard magnetic ballasts can actually increase the current as bulbs age as opposed to electronic ballasts that can optimize their current to keep it more stable. I could be way off mark. But I saw an article by Sanjay about this a while back. Anyway. Couple updated shots. 14k bulbs have shifted to a 10k by my estimate.

 

[RichtheReefer21]

Clean up isle 3. I just wet my pants. White tipped forests are the beez neez! Nice work sir.

 

[Bpb]

Clean up isle 3. I just wet my pants. White tipped forests are the beez neez! Nice work sir.

Lol thanks man. I am wondering how I can get par down just a hair. Pendants are at max height for the canopy. Really want to be in the 200-400 range. I’m hitting 700+ on some corals.

 

[Bpb]

enjoy the soundtrack

 

[bubbaque]

I expected your voice to be much different, haha. Nice tank as always.

 

[Bpb]

I expected your voice to be much different, haha. Nice tank as always.

helium is fun!

 

[Bpb]

I expected your voice to be much different, haha. Nice tank as always.

hey man can you shoot me a link over of the frag tiles you used in your old setup? Ive seen people using mosaic tiles from the hardware store but unsure of which specific ones.

 

[bubbaque]

They don’t have many different ones that are 4x4 and travertine. At the few stores I been to they are in the bottom shelf.

MSI Chiaro 4 in. x 4 in. Textured Travertine Floor and Wall Tile (1 sq. ft./Case) THDW3-T-CH4X4T - The Home Depot

Chiaro is a natural stone travertine that illustrates a rustic "old world" charm. Perfect for today's casual lifestyle. With a large selection of sizes and accessories to choose from, chiaro can easily

www.homedepot.com

 

[Bpb]

Been a while without an update. Mass mushroom murder day today. I cannot wait to be done with these for good. It will be worth starting over totally fresh to never have to deal with mushrooms again. All the white areas were totally coated with layers of discosoma shrooms

 

[Wicky48]

I do have a question I might as well ask here. How do you add the quotes of others before your comments? I seem to have problems figuring this out. Thanks!!

Bruce

 

[Bpb]

I do have a question I might as well ask here. How do you add the quotes of others before your comments? I seem to have problems figuring this out. Thanks!!

Bruce

I don’t know that I do it the easiest way but I click the quote button first on all the ones I want to include then just hit reply and they should all populate. I think

 

[Perry]

Wow, beautiful tank!!!
I am loving the colors, and selection of SPS corals! Love the approach too
Cheers

 

[Perry]

Been a while since an update. I’ve refrained from buying any coral despite some great deals I’ve seen on here and elsewhere. Tank upgrade looking like maybe September? So I don’t want to buy something I’ll have to turn around and sell so soon. Gonna be hard enough keeping samples of all my favorites.

But. Here are some coral pictures none the less.

I think wwc sent the wrong one. It was labeled Greg hillers aqua delight. It’s in 450+ par, heavy flow, but looks absolutely nothing like any aqua delight I’ve seen. It’s got little skinny delicate branches and it’s kind of a brownie. Shape and color are way off.

Loving seeing the full colonies, love the hawkins, as well as a perfect looking RP, simply amazing coloration!!!

 

[Bpb]

Loving seeing the full colonies, love the hawkins, as well as a perfect looking RP, simply amazing coloration!!!

Thank you very much I appreciate the comments. Upgrade still didn’t happen. Nobody ever accused me of being a good self starter ha ha

 

[RichtheReefer21]

Shoooo shrooms, dont bother meeee!

More real estate for sticks!