albinosage

Being a relatively new technology, high powered LED lights are still very expensive compared to conventional light fixtures like T5 or MH. What's your budget if you are thinking of getting LED? I've looked into all the reviews of commercial LED products available online, but it seems that the cheap ones are more suited for FOWLR, or used together with additional T5. In other words, for your own viewing pleasure, cannot really sustain coral growth.

Actually I think pygmy gobies are okay wat... I always wonder what happens to those pygmy gobies at the LFS that are only 1cm or 1.5cm. I bought a 12 or 13mm panda goby early this year, so damn small in my nano tank that I don't know whether it is dead or alive now.

Two more pics showing the fixture:

Oh, to be fair, cannot compare like that, cos when I took out the canopy to pass Sherman, the tank went without lights for 2 hours. Photos were taken 1/2 hour after installing the LED, so the corals were reopening. Anyway to compare growth would take days and weeks. I was just taking photos to compare the light penetration.

Comparison, side by side. I cannot decide if I like the new effects better, maybe it is a matter of getting used to. The obvious advantage (visually speaking) is the "MH type" of light penetration, the shimmering reflection is a joy to watch. The concentrated light also brings about better contrast and sense of depth, giving the tank a more 3D feel to it and deeper colours (really nice!). With the untrained eye, it seems that the stock lights is brighter, which is kinda true cos the tubes and reflector will flood the whole tank (just compare the wavemaker at the back of the tank in the shots above, the corners of the tank are much darker than seen in the pics). This is the only thing that bugs me, but according to the LUX meter readings by Sherman in his thread, theoretically, the LED lights are stronger. My LED configuration will be 12 white, 6 royal blue, instead of the 9 white 9 blue combination of the light set, so I hope it will look brighter than this

Stock lighting: LED fixture: Stock lighting: LED fixture: Stock lighting: LED fixture:

Tank canopy is in Sherman's good hands to mod the lights now Sherman was kind enough to loan me a temporary light fixture for the time my canopy will be with him, here are some comparison pics of his 18 LED fixture (9 white, 9 royal blue) vs. the stock JBJ compact florescent lights. Pictures taken at the same time at night, with the exact same camera settings. Here's the FTS taken at 32mm, 1/160, f2.8, ISO 800 with the living room lights off. Stock lighting: LED Fixture:

Can find it in Iwarna's sponsor forum here.

Now I'm very inspired to go and find these at the nearest Sheng Siong too __________________________________ Imaginary scenario next month... Sheng Siong management: Latest sales figures indicate that our live abalone sales has spiked islandwide... Any idea why? Store supervisor: I think that they are mainly bought by hobbyists for their reef tanks. The same abalones can sell for up to $10 each. it's true! I saw it on teh interweb! Sheng Siong management: Huat ah! That's 85% more than what it's worth as food! Screw the rice, sugar and milk... Let's go into the aquarium trade!

If it is US tax, you are exempted cos you are not US citizen, not shipping to an address in whatever state that is being taxed. If it is Singapore, custom duty tax is GST, only applicable for value over S$400. As for Iwarna's stock, best to sms Victor for fastest response.

Then you better utilise them to the max, feed until fat fat, and worth $30 of abalone meat, kilo for kilo and eat them when they outlive their usefulness in the tank LOL.

Make sure the filter media is cycled properly for a start... for such a small volume, putting in a small amount of biohome or similar media will be useful as the ultra porous media can compensate for the lack of live rocks to house bacteria. I think keeping a damsel is a very good idea. The much detested fish will wreck havoc in a community tank, but kept alone, their tough nature will take care of itself. In fact I find it a bit wasted that some nice damsel fish are overlooked because of their feisty nature.

I thought Iwarna is the official regional distributor for the Berghia nudis? Maybe you can order through them instead of blowing a chunk of money on shipping a few Nudis If there is enough demand for it, it makes good business sense for them to bring in a shipment. http://www.sgreefclub.com/forum/index.php?showtopic=67782

Woot! Just as nice as before despite your bust schedule. The tank is really blooming, especially your LPS Edit: Just saw your elegance... DAMN BIG LAH! You finally have luck with the fragile coral

Bro, you are aware that AM's water is salt mix and not NSW right? Not true that NSW doesn't have bacteria, since the sea is the natural source of the water, it contains spieces/strains of bacteria that don't exist in packaged form. As for whether the LFS store it correctly or possess the water for how long, it is up to you to find out. Personally, I know when the LFS I go to "top up" their water from the supplier, so I buy close to those days. As long as they keep the water running and oxygenated, the water is considered "fresh" lah

Actually my understanding is that NSW has live organisms like plankton and micro algae in it, which is why you need to aerate the water if keeping for more than a day. It is the plankton and micro organisms that seem to "revitalise" the tank a little when you change.

Your tank is coming along nicely... The small purple/green hammer is very cute

More FTS:

Random pics of corals: I think this is a hitch hiker xenia, very small colony that grew out of nowhere. Sorry for the blur pic.

Yup, easier to take pics without over exposing too (see the first 2 fts) haha.

Will be nicer with your lights... Will visit you early this week, bringing along my tank canopy Hahaha... Like playing with Lego bricks. Actually not enough, but just enough for show haha. The yellow wrasse is now homeless after knocking his head on the glass bottom many times after lights out the last 2 days. Will be buying one more packet of sand when I get the chance, I think I need another 5kg to have enough depth for the livestocks that hide in the sand.

Not to pour scorn on your thread, but you use 3 moorish idol to cycle the tank ah? Tank was filled up with water on May 18, then on May 22 it was almost fully stocked liao. After the moorish idols died, you replaced them with 3 powder tangs 2 weeks after your tank set up. I thought you were experienced in keeping marine tank? Patience is the key to keeping marine pets alive bro.

Evolution of my nano reef over 6 months, just for fun

Nope, bad experience with epoxy. I tried a few combinations which looked nice but keep collapsing, then got fed up and threw everything in randomly and see what fits hahaha. Yah man, I have been in love with this fish since I first visited reefing sites. The black sand is nice right? Hahaha, I love it too!