Got a new light fixture :)

[rickztahone]

Unfortunately it isn't for the discus tank haha!

It is actually for my 22g SW build. HOWEVER, it will go on the discus tank in the meantime in place of my current LED fixture. I tried it momentarily and it was so bright it was ridiculous, but the colors really popped on the discus. Hopefully I can get the fixture in next week, but I actually have to move the tank during a WC which I am not looking forward to. Especially since I injured my back this week.

Anyways, enough talk, here is the already drilled 22g Mr. Aqua low iron tank with the Maxspect 420R 160w 16k fixture:

https://farm2.staticflickr.com/1516/24960786252_5c86d2cc54_b.jpg (https://flic.kr/p/E2Gy8E)DSC06790 (https://flic.kr/p/E2Gy8E) by Rick Vasquez (https://www.flickr.com/photos/138339753@N07/), on Flickr
https://farm2.staticflickr.com/1705/24985619261_63dfb6348c_b.jpg (https://flic.kr/p/E4TQ7Z)DSC06792 (https://flic.kr/p/E4TQ7Z) by Rick Vasquez (https://www.flickr.com/photos/138339753@N07/), on Flickr
Sorry, tank has the horrible water marks but I forgot to clean them out :(

Here is a shot of the box:
https://farm2.staticflickr.com/1595/24448264494_d6b9361cdd_b.jpg (https://flic.kr/p/DfpKgC)DSC06794 (https://flic.kr/p/DfpKgC) by Rick Vasquez (https://www.flickr.com/photos/138339753@N07/), on Flickr
https://farm2.staticflickr.com/1494/24711270879_92fb98fa2b_b.jpg (https://flic.kr/p/DDDHUt)DSC06793 (https://flic.kr/p/DDDHUt) by Rick Vasquez (https://www.flickr.com/photos/138339753@N07/), on Flickr

and a bonus shot(s). A local Scape member (who bought my discus) came over to help me drill the tank:

https://farm2.staticflickr.com/1458/24448291994_17e47a168f_b.jpg (https://flic.kr/p/DfpTrL)DSC06784 (https://flic.kr/p/DfpTrL) by Rick Vasquez (https://www.flickr.com/photos/138339753@N07/), on Flickr
https://farm2.staticflickr.com/1504/24452096573_7a93ac7bcb_b.jpg (https://flic.kr/p/DfKopX)DSC06786 (https://flic.kr/p/DfKopX) by Rick Vasquez (https://www.flickr.com/photos/138339753@N07/), on Flickr
https://farm2.staticflickr.com/1521/24711299409_e454f939fa_b.jpg (https://flic.kr/p/DDDSon)DSC06787 (https://flic.kr/p/DDDSon) by Rick Vasquez (https://www.flickr.com/photos/138339753@N07/), on Flickr
Voila!
https://farm2.staticflickr.com/1551/24711299289_b27fefa269_b.jpg (https://flic.kr/p/DDDSmi)DSC06788 (https://flic.kr/p/DDDSmi) by Rick Vasquez (https://www.flickr.com/photos/138339753@N07/), on Flickr
Done product. This will have a side mount Bean Animal overflow system in place with a custom AIO that I will make. Wish me luck ;)

[Discus-n00b]

This is sick! Can't wait to see it progress.

[brewmaster15]

Very very cool! Any idea on what will be in the SW tank?

al

[rickztahone]

This is sick! Can't wait to see it progress.
Thanks Matt. I am pretty stoked about it myself


Very very cool! Any idea on what will be in the SW tank?

al

Yup, My goal is to have high end Bubble tip anemone's as well as some corals from the Euphyllia family; hammers, torch, frogspawn. More than likely only 2 of these type on a separate rock structure on the other side as these can sting other coral and are pretty aggressive. The BTA's would have to establish in the tank first as they are wanderers and I need them to get settled in.

That would be it though as far as corals and only clowns as fish :). More than likely some high end ones too.

[Discus-n00b]

A Lightning Maroon Clown pair perhaps? ;) haha Hey you said high end!

You might also consider something like some Cinnamon or Tomato type clowns. Just something different than what everyone else may have. It's really tough to go wrong with a lot of the clowns though. Such a common fish but really underrated.

[rickztahone]

A Lightning Maroon Clown pair perhaps? ;) haha Hey you said high end!

You might also consider something like some Cinnamon or Tomato type clowns. Just something different than what everyone else may have. It's really tough to go wrong with a lot of the clowns though. Such a common fish but really underrated.

Those look really nice! I was thinking more in the range of $100-$150 per clown, so that may be just out of my price range, but you never know!

I actually really liked these:
http://www.sharkandreef.com/midnight-clownfish-amphiprion-ocellaris/

Don't personally like the orange mouth, but haven't seen an all black one. How would I tell if it was sick?!? (Discus joke!)

I have to do more research though to see which clowns are most compatible with BTA's as from what I am reading, not all of them get hosted by certain nems.

[Discus-n00b]

Here you go!
http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?t=2375473

As far as I know the orange mouth is the last portion to turn black. That could happen late in life or never. Hard to say. But its part of that Midnight line. I don't know how crazy you are about white on the clownfish (I love black and whites myself it was my second choice behind my Onyx pair). But a simple Darwin variety or the Phantoms might be cool. Love me some plain Darwins.
http://www.seaandreef.com/marine-ornamental-fish/clownfish/phantom

That site above is cool to look at all the different lines. Usually most LFS can order them in, that's what I did with my Onyx.

[rickztahone]

Here you go!
http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?t=2375473

As far as I know the orange mouth is the last portion to turn black. That could happen late in life or never. Hard to say. But its part of that Midnight line. I don't know how crazy you are about white on the clownfish (I love black and whites myself it was my second choice behind my Onyx pair). But a simple Darwin variety or the Phantoms might be cool. Love me some plain Darwins.
http://www.seaandreef.com/marine-ornamental-fish/clownfish/phantom

That site above is cool to look at all the different lines. Usually most LFS can order them in, that's what I did with my Onyx.

As I was looking through the link you provided, I was googling the names of some. I came across this:
http://www.nano-reef.com/topic/307666-clownfish-species-variants-and-classification/

I found myself liking the black and white ones as well such as the Darwins you mention.

I'm willing to drop max $300 on a pair of clowns but I have to factor in shipping as well. Hopefully and LFS can get this done for me and get the fish before they even hit their systems.

[Jack L]

Is that tank glass?

[rickztahone]

Is that tank glass?

yup, low iron Mr. Aqua

[Jack L]

Ah. So extra clear glass...

Thanks

Looks cool enjoy

[rickztahone]

Ah. So extra clear glass...

Thanks

Looks cool enjoy

Thanks. It is Mr. Aqua's "exquisite" line which someone told me is basically their brand of starphire glass. I will tell you, the glass is super clear in real life and I can't wait to take pictures with something in there. My hope is that you will not be able to even see the glass in the pics :)

[ericNH]

Unfortunately it isn't for the discus tank haha!

It is actually for my 22g SW build....Wish me luck ;)

Do you actually need luck when you create and maintain immaculate aquatic systems? I wish you luck anyway :) I am really looking forward to seeing what you do with a rimless nano-reef.

[rickztahone]

Do you actually need luck when you create and maintain immaculate aquatic systems? I wish you luck anyway :) I am really looking forward to seeing what you do with a rimless nano-reef.

I will need the luck Eric! This is my first SW build and I seem to be going in with the pedal to the metal, lol. I am doing what I do with every other hobby, over-research, over-spend and customize to only MY likes apparently, because when I try to sell stuff, it never does sell for anywhere near what I paid to buy/make lol. Such is life I suppose. I already have a big plan in mind for this build.

I may just use this thread for the build. Here was the first planning stage for this build:
https://farm2.staticflickr.com/1550/24731483229_3ca18e2cfc_b.jpg (https://flic.kr/p/DFrjkg)12g Graphing (https://flic.kr/p/DFrjkg) by Rick Vasquez (https://www.flickr.com/photos/138339753@N07/), on Flickr

I should still be able to do everything that is on there as I have already drilled the tank and there is no turning back.

[brewmaster15]

Its been a real long time since I kept Marine. I've kept sebae, tomato and percula clowns.. never any high tech corals... just live rock and anemones. I really enjoyed keeping tangs as well and I had several Lionfish. . My son keeps twisting my arm to set up another tank.. We will see. I will be watching your journey closely Ricardo!

al

[rickztahone]

Its been a real long time since I kept Marine. I've kept sebae, tomato and percula clowns.. never any high tech corals... just live rock and anemones. I really enjoyed keeping tangs as well and I had several Lionfish. . My son keeps twisting my arm to set up another tank.. We will see. I will be watching your journey closely Ricardo!

al

Cool Al. I've been reading so much about anemone's lately but my concern is so many people saying that you need a very well established tank to introduce them. I've asked specifically how long, and almost all come back with at least 6 months to a year! That sounds so crazy to me but so many people are saying it that I'm thinking it may be true. Luckily I have the bulk of the expensive stuff bought, tank and light, lol. I have a skimmer lined up from a local reefer. I will be doing a shoot for him and his GT-R soon so he's giving me a great deal on that lol. I will make my own sump and I already have a return. The next most expensive thing will be my stand. I so over complicate stands that I am scared to even assign a budget to the build.

[david p.]

Nice fixture, i am currently using the MAxspect for freshwater, the one at 8k. Incredebible quality.

[rickztahone]

Nice fixture, i am currently using the MAxspect for freshwater, the one at 8k. Incredebible quality.

I agree. I was hesitant about the 16k but knew I was going to use it for SW and not FW. However, I ramped up the white LED's and I don't think it is too blue. I will install them soon on my discus tank just to see how I feel about them.

[rickztahone]

Build may be delayed a while. Not sure how long but family vacation money is a priority right now. Will try to get stuff here and there but this will definitely push it back some.

[ericNH]

Build may be delayed a while. Not sure how long but family vacation money is a priority right now. Will try to get stuff here and there but this will definitely push it back some.

Rick, you need to get your priorities straight. Feeding your family? Mortgage? Vacation? Pshawww! All these are secondary to your aquarium hobby. Just remember that your children will take stale bread more easily than your fish. You owe it to your readership to regularly blow all your cash and post your latest builds online!

[rickztahone]

Rick, you need to get your priorities straight. Feeding your family? Mortgage? Vacation? Pshawww! All these are secondary to your aquarium hobby. Just remember that your children will take stale bread more easily than your fish. You owe it to your readership to regularly blow all your cash and post your latest builds online!

Let me print this out and show it to my wife....lol

[rickztahone]

So, got around to temporarily installing this light on the discus tank. Still have my reservations, but it is brighter. I compared both simply by seeing how much I would be able to stop down before/after. Its about a 3 stop difference roughly.

Here are pics:

This is with the Aquatic Life LED light:
ƒ/7.1
ISO 400
1/10 SS

https://farm2.staticflickr.com/1619/25059068850_1dc1a02bf2_b.jpg (https://flic.kr/p/Eboh8d)DSC06805 (https://flic.kr/p/Eboh8d) by Rick Vasquez (https://www.flickr.com/photos/138339753@N07/), on Flickr


With Maxspect:
https://farm2.staticflickr.com/1652/25354679485_9e67779025_b.jpg (https://flic.kr/p/ECvmSi)DSC06809 (https://flic.kr/p/ECvmSi) by Rick Vasquez (https://www.flickr.com/photos/138339753@N07/), on Flickr

ƒ/10.0
ISO 400
1/10 SS

It allows me to take better pics without the flash, but still not the greatest. I didn't try shooting with wider aperture, but I figure it will be better since it will allow me to increase my SS

This is with the blue channel at 100% as well. Super, super bright, but not the type of lighting I am looking for in FW:
https://farm2.staticflickr.com/1463/24724060944_9d0d59358a_b.jpg (https://flic.kr/p/DEMgWQ)DSC06812 (https://flic.kr/p/DEMgWQ) by Rick Vasquez (https://www.flickr.com/photos/138339753@N07/), on Flickr


And random shots taken with the new light:
https://farm2.staticflickr.com/1494/24724060474_6c70106a47_b.jpg (https://flic.kr/p/DEMgNJ)DSC06813 (https://flic.kr/p/DEMgNJ) by Rick Vasquez (https://www.flickr.com/photos/138339753@N07/), on Flickr
https://farm2.staticflickr.com/1702/25261590471_8a803e8f5a_b.jpg (https://flic.kr/p/EuhfKi)DSC06814 (https://flic.kr/p/EuhfKi) by Rick Vasquez (https://www.flickr.com/photos/138339753@N07/), on Flickr
https://farm2.staticflickr.com/1617/25328481786_d7ca6a6158_b.jpg (https://flic.kr/p/EAc6cQ)DSC06815 (https://flic.kr/p/EAc6cQ) by Rick Vasquez (https://www.flickr.com/photos/138339753@N07/), on Flickr
https://farm2.staticflickr.com/1480/24724059684_83a176a881_b.jpg (https://flic.kr/p/DEMgz7)DSC06821 (https://flic.kr/p/DEMgz7) by Rick Vasquez (https://www.flickr.com/photos/138339753@N07/), on Flickrhttps://farm2.staticflickr.com/1635/25059068240_c3d842cd7d_b.jpg (https://flic.kr/p/EbogWG)DSC06824 (https://flic.kr/p/EbogWG) by Rick Vasquez (https://www.flickr.com/photos/138339753@N07/), on Flickr