Corner tank setup help please.

leesst200

AC Members
Apr 9, 2007
228
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Notts, UK
Hi all,

Just wondering if anyone has their marine setup in a corner tank.
Can anyone post any pics of your corner tanks showing the placement of pumps, skimmers etc.

I am asking this because i have transferred mine to a corner tank (juewl trigon 190) but am having trouble.
I am really asking for help and advice on my setup and the best way forward. I also keep koi carp in a pond and cichlids in another tank and have had good success with these, but I am really struggling with marine.

I have about 8 blue leg crabs, 1 red leg crab, 1 peppermint shrimp, 1 cleaner shrimp, 1 dancer shrimp, 1 blood shrimp, 1 black and white clown, 1 blue damsel and 2 chromis.
I have no corals at the moment but intend to as i progress.

I seem to be getting red/velvet type algae in places (see pics).
I have just changed my lights from TMC aquaray led's to a metal halide with 2 x t5's (blue).
Can you also advise me of when to have the lights on? Should I have them on together or should i have the blues on all night???

Sorry for all the questions but any help to get me up and running would be fantastic.:help::help:
Thanks, Lee.

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I basically have the same setup as you. I don't run MH light tho, I have a 4x24 T5HO with two 10k, and two actinic (blue) bulbs. For right now, I run my lights 12 on 12 off. From 12 noon-3 pm actinics, from 3-6 all four, and from 6-12 actinics, I could probably run the day lights more, but I am trying to keep algea down. So far I have a nice clean up crew, and some zoa's and star polyps that are doing great. No fish yet, but coming soon. I think everyone will agree that you should only run the MH and the T5's both for at most a few hours a day simulating the middle of the day.
 
No, the MH acts as your daylight, but you are probably seeing a lot of algea because you are running it too much. Keep it to about 3-4 hours simulating noon time. That's what I've had success with. Your T5's should be a blue (actinic) tint. That's your sun up/sun down simulator.
 
Is the "red velvet" algae you are talking about the coraline algae??? Because that's good, not bad. It shouldn't be too hairy looking though, it should just make your rocks look purple.
 
I basically have the same setup as you. I don't run MH light tho, I have a 4x24 T5HO with two 10k, and two actinic (blue) bulbs. For right now, I run my lights 12 on 12 off. From 12 noon-3 pm actinics, from 3-6 all four, and from 6-12 actinics, I could probably run the day lights more, but I am trying to keep algea down. So far I have a nice clean up crew, and some zoa's and star polyps that are doing great. No fish yet, but coming soon. I think everyone will agree that you should only run the MH and the T5's both for at most a few hours a day simulating the middle of the day.

I always ran my MH's for 8 hours a day...actinics on for an hour before hand, and go off an hour or 2 after the halides go off...this wont produce algae issues...what is common for lights to cause algal issues is bad bulbs...

I am not seeing any red velvet algae in post one, only coraline algae which is fine...
 
Not sure about the t5's, they are a blue/purple colour when lit. Will have a look when I get chance, although they came as standard with the unit.

Im sure its not coraline that i am getting.
Try this pic and see what you make of it. The algae is the top left of the rock. The shell in the middle is on coraline algae i believe.

I have just changed to the MH and t5's.
I used to have t8's and tmc aquaray led's.
The leds are good but i dont think they penetrate the water enough.
The blues arent very bright when they are on. At night it looks like a glimmer of moon light (not as bright perhaps).

Cheers,
Lee.

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