jaggedfire

Thank you Tim for the welcome and links. I have tried to stay up with all the research, watched a million videos and did managed to keep my 20L tank with some livestock running since 2014....up until this freeze wiped me out. It is nice to see the acceptance of important bacteria is and not just 'you have to change 10% water/week' gaining ground. 

It has been some time since I saw the faces or spoke with some of you guys. Lots of new faces and site has changed a bit! Few years out of keeping a real tank, I started a 200gal build last year (not posted) but Covid/House move and other things caused delay after delay. But things are settling in and I am starting this back in earnest.

I have tried to catch up in the last 2 or so years of posts/videos and new with quite a bit of accepted knowledge has changed. Hope to hear some good news from you guys and start stocking tanks soon.

I also saved all the extra baby medication syringes for dosing/filing test vials.

Bamboo skewers for temp hold downs and props when mounting corals. I glued two end to end (cut at angle) for a thin tool to get into small areas and keep my hands dry.

I reuse the kids jello cups for salt measuring cups, thawing frozen foods and holding dishes for frags. 1/2 cup measuring at the ready.

When acclimating several species at the same time on a drip, I use a plastic air manifold to drip into different holding containers. Let's me control the flow on each.

Laser pointer!

An unraveled plastic loufa washing scrubber is a great netting for holding softies until they mount to crushed coral. Just cut the center tie holding everything together and cut to length. Not as fine as toile, but let's the water flow better.

I use small plastic harbor freight clamps for holding power heads in places and when mixing small buckets of new water.

I've used the cheap $.50 leggings you find on the women's hosiery isle for awhile. Come two to a bubble pack and can be loaded as needed, tied off twice with two knots. Then cut in between the knots and the next is ready later. They don't leave fibers floating everywhere!

Bump

Nice build. Are the drivers disassembled Mean Wells? GLWS

Pmed. Could definitely use some of these parts.

My build is focused around 3W Crees xp-g's and xpe for blues.

The eBay fixture seems to use 3w leds with lower current for 2w each. They aren't name brand units but at $160 and 120w output, it might be worn a shot. Concerned though about the bin of the actual light though.

I am planning on and designing an LED pendant for one of my tanks. As most know even DIY can get pricy. For a bit for less than the cost of materials there are decently spec'ed fully built pendants on eBay from Hong Kong.

Anyone have any experience with these? Actual output and coloration? Modifications are not out of the question either.

Thanks for any and all input.

Wish we were in town Derrick, I'd give ya a hand. If you don't find someone by Sunday afternoon/evening, I be able to. Best of luck.

PM'ed

I'd like it if Juiceman declines.

I'll take the other two. Pm sent.

Thanks for the reply subsea. I dont plan to take it out right now if at all (depending on how invasive). I like seeing what pops up, but was wanting to see if anyone else had experience with it. I was just wanting to head off anything bad if it were. The links dont look like this though. What I have is more 'puffy' with bright rounded tips that glow.

Second that, thanks Warlock for the update on who carries this locally. I had to purchase online as I couldn't find it anywhere.

I have a rather neat looking red algae growing in my tank as I try to cut down my phosphates. I have had issues confirming ID on this. The tips are iridescent under actinic and it layers up. I was wondering if this would be a good candidate for macro in the fuge?

Thanks

I'm in for one.

This can be in-sump too....anyone?

My scratches were inside as well. I did quite a bit of research before jumping into this project. With a quick Google search (Acrylic Repair 250Gal),

you can find a guy who repaired a large 250Gal with the same process of wet sanding and buffing. Novus is a well known polishing system for acrylic and has produced excellent results in my repairs.

Depending on how much of the tank and where the scratches are, I have found that the automotive lens restore kits (Mothers brand includes 800, 1000, 1500 and 2000 grit) work well. Careful use of the polishing wheel renders good results. I too am working on a crack repair and refinsh of a 55 acrylic tank. The Novus works great and is preferable, but the Mothers kit works in a pinch. YMMV

I'm in the market for a better skimmer to go on my 25 gal. The backpack has been recommended for this size as well as a remora. I have electronic goodies to trade as well if interested. PM recommendations or what you have for sale.

Thanks!

Gorgeous tanks guys! Thanks for the great frags and really nice to meet another great member!

Epoxy worked well. He is already standing back up with full polyp extention after 2hrs.

@ Kim, I think you are right about the id. After setting up straight and seeing better out of the tank, the green ribbon fits the description.

Thanks everyone!

Thanks Kim. It could be. It is less flattened than the ribbon though. It may be just because of it's small size. Thanks everyone for you help!

Thanks James and Kim. I will try the epoxy.

Anyone wanna take a try at ID? I am having trouble as this guy only has polyps on a planar, no other. It has started to turn direction at the tips since it has been laying at an angle. Color is not shown well here, but it is a dark mustard-y color. Not super bright, but fun no less.