Showpiece suggestions for my 55gal?

+1 on that MH being great for a birdsnest
congrats on the Torch by the way, great looking corals IMO


one lesson with birdsnest that I am learning the hard way (along with many others before and after me) is flow , some of them are so complex in terms of branches (hence the common name) its very difficult to get enough flow across all the coral and they can become victims of nuisance algaes due to this

if your not testing PO4 and using GFO - I would definitely incorporate that into your system 1st and then have a look at your flow generation for the area you intend to place the birdsnest

Steve

 

That's very interesting Steve.
I had a Birdnest frag that was placed up very high and was growing rapidly and then for no reason seemed to start bleaching out and eventually died.Now it's full of the algae.
I'm assuming the Birdsnest should be in a high flow area, yes?

I've only got a Koralia 1 & 2 in the tank right now, which i know isn't enough flow.I am going to upgrade the 1 to a 4. I think this should be enough flow.
Opinions?

The GFO you are talking about, is that different then a Phosband reactor?

 

Evojoe - placement will be key - not saying point the K4 at it but if you can place the birdsnest in an area of random flow/ turbulance so that water can get to all areas of the coral and nothing lands on it and stays there , trapped in any of the branches - then you should be good to go IMO

Steve

 

Ok, i just ordered the Deluxe GFO & Carbon Reactor from BRS!
I plan on adding this along with the skimmer to a 20 gallon sump with an overflow box added to the back of the tank.
My question is, i've got a PhosBan 150 Reactor that was on another tank. Do you think i should add this to the system also?

 

one reactor is enough, but with the bird's nest start it low and move it up. They are a lower light sps and even though you dont think you have a ton of light, 4 T5's and a MH might shock it and cause it to bleach a bit. As for a korilia 4 it mght be too much, depending on what you do with your returns. I have a 55 thats running 800-900 gph out two 3/4" flow accelceratios and its enough to blow tissue off my acro (staghorn acro more than half way down under a 4 bulb T5 if that puts the light issue in perspective) I am getting two of the bigger kroillia nanos to pupplement flow and as I have grow out on SPS ill upgrade or turn up my pump a bit, but too much flow can be as bad as too little, specially for your LPS corals.

 

Thanks ingtar,
Maybe i will reconsider upgrading the Koralia until i see how the flow is when the sump gets up and running.
I'm heading to the LFS now for the Birdsnest. I will do as you say and set it at midlevel under the PC's. The MH will be set up on friday. I'm just waiting on the stain to dry on the cover i made and then will retrofit the 150 MH.
I will be posting pics later so be sure and check back!

Hey, can anyone tell me how to post pics/video from my Blackberry directly on this site?

 

i misread i though you had the halides on already! Place him higher until you get the halides set up!!

 

I didn't go with the Birdsnest as i wasn't that happy with the look of it. I instead went with a beautiful Colt coral.
I was told to put the Colt down low with moderate current. I will get the pics up as soon as i find out how to post from my Blackberry.