New pics of my 7g minibow

[stretch415]

New current usa 40w pc hood
New zoos and got rid of some of my mushrooms
Still need to get rid of the back right rock with all the shrooms for something more colorful,

http://i3.photobucket.com/albums/y62/stretch415/CIMG0779.jpg
http://i3.photobucket.com/albums/y62/stretch415/CIMG0778.jpg
http://i3.photobucket.com/albums/y62/stretch415/CIMG0777.jpg
http://i3.photobucket.com/albums/y62/stretch415/CIMG0776.jpg

[TCU Reefer]

Looks good.

[stretch415]

Thanks. Pretty neglected since I dont have alot of time but it has been absolutely bulletproof.

[Jolio99]

I like the zoanthid bridge. Cool tank

[stretch415]

Originally posted by Jolio99
I like the zoanthid bridge. Cool tank
I didnt know what else to do with it and it was kinda different. Looks really cool under the moonlights

[stretch415]

Just picked up a new zoo piece as well as another piece with 3 orange rics. Pretty cool stuff I will post up when I get everything moved around

[WendyMc]

how long has this been running? It is a great set up, you've done a fantastic job!

[vanmo92]

cool tank

[Brewen]

Looks Great

[stretch415]

Originally posted by WendyMc
how long has this been running? It is a great set up, you've done a fantastic job!

About 5 years or so now. Ive owned it for 3 and it was up 2 before that in a pet store as a show tank. It has done very well and seems to be hard to kill no matter how much I mistreat it. I lost my perc and have since started taking better care of it again. I kinda am getting back into it after letting it sit idle how it was for awhile. THanks for the comments and I will post the pics of the awesome rics and zoos soon.

[Pico1]

Your lighting setup looks pretty awesome, you should remove the bio-wheel though because it creates extra nitrates

[stretch415]

I will probably do away with the filter soon and do a small powerhead. Things grow like crazy in there so I dont want to change though haha.
New pics of all the zoos Im holding. Some are going to my mom and then Im going to get more and do some scaping but for now they are just scattered throughout.
http://i3.photobucket.com/albums/y62/stretch415/whole.jpg
http://i3.photobucket.com/albums/y62/stretch415/whole2.jpg
http://i3.photobucket.com/albums/y62/stretch415/whole3.jpg
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http://i3.photobucket.com/albums/y62/stretch415/whole5.jpg
http://i3.photobucket.com/albums/y62/stretch415/whole6.jpg

[ToUcHoFeLeGaNcE]

Looking good guy's....keep the pix comming!

[stretch415]

Originally posted by ToUcHoFeLeGaNcE
Looking good guy's....keep the pix comming!

Thats only my tank? Thanks though:D

[stretch415]

Took some new pics as of 10-24-05. Check em out. New candy coral, galaxia, rics, also I will try and snap a pic but the rock that has the 3 rics also has 3 or more built in clams. Anyways check it out. I also started up a 5.5 gallon to put shrooms and other frags that come off my tank. I will post up later-
http://i3.photobucket.com/albums/y62/stretch415/CIMG0942.jpg
http://i3.photobucket.com/albums/y62/stretch415/CIMG0941.jpg
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http://i3.photobucket.com/albums/y62/stretch415/CIMG0937.jpg
http://i3.photobucket.com/albums/y62/stretch415/CIMG0936.jpg

[stretch415]

http://i3.photobucket.com/albums/y62/stretch415/CIMG0935.jpg
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http://i3.photobucket.com/albums/y62/stretch415/CIMG0931.jpg

[vanmo92]

nice

[stretch415]

Thanks for the reply. Anyone else have any suggestions or anything? Could I just run a powerhead and no HOB filter?

[WendyMc]

Are you running any carbon/chemical filtration in that HOB filter? I think the suggestion was to remove the biowheel portion of the filter, maybe not the whole thing? Correct me if I'm wrong on that.

Here's my take: If it aint broke, don't go & fix it! Do you have a nitrate problem? I'm thinking not, by the appearance of your corals & the lack of algae in the system. Have you tested for nitrates? Also, you have a lot of softies & a few stonies in there. They don't like eachother, & they're going to be sending out nasty chemicals to make eachother unhappy. If you don't run carbon or some sort of chemical filtration, it's very hard to keep the alleopathy down to a tolerable level. Even w/more frequent water changes, it might affect polyp extension & overall health & appearance of the corals.

Back to the biowheel. They're sorta looked at like bioballs. They're an ideal environment for beneficial bacteria which are going to convert wastes into nitrates. So the theory is, if you remove that environment, you're going to end up w/a lower nitrate level. I can't tell you one way or the other if this is true, but this is why I think the suggestion wasn't to bag the whole unit. LMK what you guys think (I'm not trying to be like: this is how it is because I'm the EXPERT, hah! I'm just seeing perhaps a miscommunication?) :)

[stretch415]

Thanks for the reply. I have had alot of people tell me to ditch the biowheel. Im afraid to change anything because everything is doing very well and has been for 3+years. I dont know about the new stuff but the old stuff does great. As for a cleaner crew to keep algae under control. There is only 1 blue leg hermit. I need to get more cleaners but there really isnt much to clean. Anyways thanks for the comment and dont worry I dont see you as a snob and just as someone who is giving input:)

[Nednai]

If you have a well established system using only LR/LS and you later add a biowheel or bioballs, will the system start accumulating nitrates?

[WendyMc]

IME, it is hard to keep solids from collecting in bioballs, & yes, they lead to higher nitrates. I've never run a biowheel on a sw setup, so I don't know if the same holds true for it. I think a much better investment is a refugium or deep sand bed, or even a skimmer something that naturally removes the nitrates.

[stretch415]

Originally posted by WendyMc
IME, it is hard to keep solids from collecting in bioballs, & yes, they lead to higher nitrates. I've never run a biowheel on a sw setup, so I don't know if the same holds true for it. I think a much better investment is a refugium or deep sand bed, or even a skimmer something that naturally removes the nitrates.
I want to do a refugium but seems like alot of lights and jazz hanging off the back and takes away from the basic shape.

[WendyMc]

Yeah, when you have a nano established, it is sometimes hard to add a fuge. I just added an aquaclear 20 for a fuge on my 12g, here's the link that inspired it: http://archive.reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?s=&threadid=601201, I had to use a 20 because I had no extra space for anything bigger! I love fuges, ever since I had my 1st on the old 55g, I try to recommend them whenever possible. I'd much rather see 1 added to your system, instead of replacing the current filter w/it. 1 of the benefits is that I have mine on reverse lighting cycle, & the tank isn't totally dark at night anymore which simulates the natural enviro even more.
Reading my last post, it looks like I'm saying the fuge would be better than the biowheel, but what I meant was in a case like nednai brought up, I think the fuge, dsb, or skimmer would be a better addition than biowheel or bioballs. Sorry! :)

[stretch415]

Is there a low profile light for the auqaclear hobs? You are saying your moonlight is spillover from your fuge? I have seen that and it does look nice but i have some nice blue LEDs. Man I love those. Makes everything glow floresent(sp?). I would like to soon upgrade to a 20g all in one system as seen on ebay. Build in 3 stage/skimmer all in one package. I was going to do a nanocube but after all the bad media about cracking I desided to be content with mine. Its been a good little tank and extremely neglected at times. I will check around for a cheap fuge setup. Thanks for the input:)

[WendyMc]

No prob, I love the look of those blue LED moonlights! I haven't purchased any. It's on the list...But until I take that plunge, yes, I'm using my fuge light for nighttime irradiance. On this thread, (go to the last pg for this topic) http://archive.reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?s=&postid=5975086#post5975086. I haven't gotten my submersible light for the fuge yet, it's on the list ;) Right now I'm just using a desk lamp w/screw in pc bulb. But this isn't very low profile, & I have nightmares about dripping saltwater on the lamp.