My Reefing Journey/Build (Plenty of Pics) - Page 4

Von_Rahvin · 08/08/2008, 03:14 PM

very nice set up and a great job documenting the build!

IFbettas · 08/08/2008, 05:42 PM

I love your radiant wrasse! I just picked one up from my lfs today. How long did it take for it to stop hiding in the sand?

Really love the stand, by the way!

will16 · 08/08/2008, 06:03 PM

Von_Rahvin, Thank you.

IFbettas, The Radiant is one of my favorites. I have had 2. The first one mysteriously died. Just stopped eating one day and wasted away. The second one is doing great. Very active. Both of them adjusted to the tank pretty quickly. They both buried and hid the first day but very next morning out and about. Good luck with yours.

will16 · 08/08/2008, 08:03 PM

I recessed the floor so that I could line it with vinyl flooring and caulk all around the seems. This way, it can hold a little water in case of spills.

filippo · 08/08/2008, 08:09 PM

wwwwwwwooooooowwwwwwww

will16 · 08/08/2008, 08:15 PM

For cooling, I put 4 x 120mm pc fans in the canopy all blowing in. These are on a 4 channel fan controller. That way I can control the speed (hence noise) on each fan individually. I used both Vantec Stealth and SilenX fans. Very quiet and high flow. The SilenX's are quieter and higher flow.

In the stand I have 2 x 120mm AC fans that are set to blow across the sump/refugium. These are controlled by the rk2 and triggered by temp. If the water temp hits 80.5 deg, these kick in.

This fan combo with the T5's works quite well. I usually run the fans at minimum speed and it is plenty enough to keep the tank cool. The hottest I have seen the tank get was 81 deg and that was on a 90 deg day with no house a/c on. Very happy with this set up.

will16 · 08/09/2008, 12:59 PM

Another random shot...

will16 · 08/09/2008, 01:15 PM

For lighting I decided on T5's. My main concern was heat. I do not have room for a chiller so wanted to set up a system that would stay cool enough to not require one. I was also restricted by the eurobracing on top of the tank. I can only physically fit 5 bulbs. I went with the Icecap T5 retro kit with the icecap electronic ballasts to overdrive. Also with the individual slr reflectors.

My bulb set up is as follows:

Front
Blue Plus
Super Actinic
Aquasun
75/25
Blue Plus
Back

The front and rear Blue Plus bulbs are on an Icecap 430 ballast. The 3 middle bulbs are on the Icecap 660 ballast.

will16 · 08/09/2008, 01:17 PM

IFbettas · 08/09/2008, 03:45 PM

How many watts are the T5s?

My radiant is still buried in the sand today. I hope he comes out tomorrow.

filippo · 08/09/2008, 03:56 PM

is it 270W? (5x54W)

how do you like your light fixture? wish you would opt for more watts?

will16 · 08/09/2008, 05:25 PM

Well, overdriven is supposed to be 80w so should be 80 x 5 = 400w. If I could have fit more bulbs I would have. So far haven't noticed any problems with lack of light though. I have all of my sps mid and higher. LPS and zoa's lower. The light is actually too strong for some of the zoa's so have had to move some to the bed and some under shade. Ricordea's and mushrooms were miserable unless moved into shade.

It's normal for wrasses to bury for a while when introduced. Wouldn't worry about it for a while. Hope he comes out soon for you though.

filippo · 08/09/2008, 06:14 PM

2 more question

how high are your lights from the water? are you using a splash guard?

will16 · 08/09/2008, 06:18 PM

I have my lights around 4" off of the water. I do not have a splash guard. I actually just took a look at them the other day and should wipe them down. There has been some water splashed on them.

will16 · 08/09/2008, 06:32 PM

This is the mess of wires for the canopy. I don't think I even have the wires for the lights here.

will16 · 08/09/2008, 07:39 PM

Some sps...

Hitchhiker on a zoa colony

IFbettas · 08/09/2008, 08:47 PM

Nice corals! How has the growth been using those lights? How deep is your tank?

filippo · 08/09/2008, 09:07 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by will16
I have my lights around 4" off of the water. I do not have a splash guard. I actually just took a look at them the other day and should wipe them down. There has been some water splashed on them.

gotcha. i got mine (T5 6x54 overdriven to be 80W) at about 7" from the water level with no splash guard. there's rarely some water splashed on them, and my zoos and ricordeas are doing fine.

(24" deep)

impressive pictures!

will16 · 08/10/2008, 12:30 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by IFbettas
Nice corals! How has the growth been using those lights? How deep is your tank?

Thanks. The tank is 24" deep. Growth has been decent I think. Some pretty good, others like the blue tort seem very slow.

Birds Nest
start

3 months later

Pocillopora
Start

3 months later

Monti Cap
Start

2 months later

Acropora Secale?
Start

2 months later

Michael · 08/10/2008, 02:01 AM

ive only just caught up with this thread, but will i think its a beautiful healthy aquarium you have there

stevedola · 08/10/2008, 06:33 AM

why didnt you use all 4 slots on the 660? over drive 4 dayish bulbs-that way you have 6 total...and 6 is better than 5.

Also, In my opinion theres no purpose to overdriving actinic bulbs. It only decreases the life of the bulb and use more energy.

stevedola · 08/10/2008, 06:56 AM

btw you have some beautiful corals and a nice tank

will16 · 08/10/2008, 08:38 AM

Thanks guys.

I wish I could have done 6 bulbs but because of the eurobracing on top of the tank (that eliminates the center support), the top opening is reduced. I can only physically fit 5 bulbs with the individual reflectors. A 6th bulb would only light the top of the eurobracing

will16 · 08/10/2008, 08:59 AM

This is the sump/refugium. ADHI Model 45 Refugium

So clean and new

Current shot with cheato

will16 · 08/10/2008, 09:08 AM

For the skimmer I went with the msx 200

08/08/2008, 05:42 PM	#77
IFbettas Registered Member Join Date: Jun 2008 Location: Woodridge, IL Posts: 1,953	I love your radiant wrasse! I just picked one up from my lfs today. How long did it take for it to stop hiding in the sand? Really love the stand, by the way! __________________ Current Tank Info: 180G SPS Dominant, 75 Gallon Sump/Fuge, 3x250w Reeflux 12k in Lumenbrights, Octo Extreme 250 Skimmer, Lots of flow

08/09/2008, 03:45 PM	#85
IFbettas Registered Member Join Date: Jun 2008 Location: Woodridge, IL Posts: 1,953	How many watts are the T5s? My radiant is still buried in the sand today. I hope he comes out tomorrow. __________________ Current Tank Info: 180G SPS Dominant, 75 Gallon Sump/Fuge, 3x250w Reeflux 12k in Lumenbrights, Octo Extreme 250 Skimmer, Lots of flow

08/09/2008, 08:47 PM	#92
IFbettas Registered Member Join Date: Jun 2008 Location: Woodridge, IL Posts: 1,953	Nice corals! How has the growth been using those lights? How deep is your tank? __________________ Current Tank Info: 180G SPS Dominant, 75 Gallon Sump/Fuge, 3x250w Reeflux 12k in Lumenbrights, Octo Extreme 250 Skimmer, Lots of flow

08/10/2008, 02:01 AM	#95
Michael NTTH Rookie Help Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Gloucester, England,UK Posts: 7,808 Blog Entries: 6	ive only just caught up with this thread, but will i think its a beautiful healthy aquarium you have there __________________ Don't be afraid to ask questions, we in the new to the hobby are here to help you [For My Tank Spec,Photo Album,Articles and website, click on my name] MY Very Kindest and Warmest Regards , MIKE Current Tank Info: I have a 92 gal Corner Tank, and way too many pieces of equipment to list really, (proud member of the reef central corner club)

08/10/2008, 06:33 AM	#96
stevedola Master of my domain Join Date: Jun 2003 Location: Rhode Island Posts: 3,466	why didnt you use all 4 slots on the 660? over drive 4 dayish bulbs-that way you have 6 total...and 6 is better than 5. Also, In my opinion theres no purpose to overdriving actinic bulbs. It only decreases the life of the bulb and use more energy. __________________ Cool Club Current Tank Info: coming soon...

08/08/2008, 03:14 PM	#76
Von_Rahvin Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2002 Location: Ft. Lauderdale Fl Posts: 346	very nice set up and a great job documenting the build!

08/08/2008, 06:03 PM	#78
will16 Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Northern NJ Posts: 1,812	Von_Rahvin, Thank you. IFbettas, The Radiant is one of my favorites. I have had 2. The first one mysteriously died. Just stopped eating one day and wasted away. The second one is doing great. Very active. Both of them adjusted to the tank pretty quickly. They both buried and hid the first day but very next morning out and about. Good luck with yours.

08/08/2008, 08:03 PM	#79
will16 Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Northern NJ Posts: 1,812	I recessed the floor so that I could line it with vinyl flooring and caulk all around the seems. This way, it can hold a little water in case of spills.

08/08/2008, 08:09 PM	#80
filippo Moved On Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: Milano, Italy (Tempe, AZ) Posts: 623	wwwwwwwooooooowwwwwwww

08/08/2008, 08:15 PM	#81
will16 Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Northern NJ Posts: 1,812	For cooling, I put 4 x 120mm pc fans in the canopy all blowing in. These are on a 4 channel fan controller. That way I can control the speed (hence noise) on each fan individually. I used both Vantec Stealth and SilenX fans. Very quiet and high flow. The SilenX's are quieter and higher flow. In the stand I have 2 x 120mm AC fans that are set to blow across the sump/refugium. These are controlled by the rk2 and triggered by temp. If the water temp hits 80.5 deg, these kick in. This fan combo with the T5's works quite well. I usually run the fans at minimum speed and it is plenty enough to keep the tank cool. The hottest I have seen the tank get was 81 deg and that was on a 90 deg day with no house a/c on. Very happy with this set up.

08/09/2008, 12:59 PM	#82
will16 Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Northern NJ Posts: 1,812	Another random shot...

08/09/2008, 01:15 PM	#83
will16 Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Northern NJ Posts: 1,812	For lighting I decided on T5's. My main concern was heat. I do not have room for a chiller so wanted to set up a system that would stay cool enough to not require one. I was also restricted by the eurobracing on top of the tank. I can only physically fit 5 bulbs. I went with the Icecap T5 retro kit with the icecap electronic ballasts to overdrive. Also with the individual slr reflectors. My bulb set up is as follows: Front Blue Plus Super Actinic Aquasun 75/25 Blue Plus Back The front and rear Blue Plus bulbs are on an Icecap 430 ballast. The 3 middle bulbs are on the Icecap 660 ballast.

08/09/2008, 01:17 PM	#84
will16 Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Northern NJ Posts: 1,812

08/09/2008, 03:56 PM	#86
filippo Moved On Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: Milano, Italy (Tempe, AZ) Posts: 623	is it 270W? (5x54W) how do you like your light fixture? wish you would opt for more watts?

08/09/2008, 05:25 PM	#87
will16 Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Northern NJ Posts: 1,812	Well, overdriven is supposed to be 80w so should be 80 x 5 = 400w. If I could have fit more bulbs I would have. So far haven't noticed any problems with lack of light though. I have all of my sps mid and higher. LPS and zoa's lower. The light is actually too strong for some of the zoa's so have had to move some to the bed and some under shade. Ricordea's and mushrooms were miserable unless moved into shade. It's normal for wrasses to bury for a while when introduced. Wouldn't worry about it for a while. Hope he comes out soon for you though.

08/09/2008, 06:14 PM	#88
filippo Moved On Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: Milano, Italy (Tempe, AZ) Posts: 623	2 more question how high are your lights from the water? are you using a splash guard?

08/09/2008, 06:18 PM	#89
will16 Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Northern NJ Posts: 1,812	I have my lights around 4" off of the water. I do not have a splash guard. I actually just took a look at them the other day and should wipe them down. There has been some water splashed on them.

08/09/2008, 06:32 PM	#90
will16 Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Northern NJ Posts: 1,812	This is the mess of wires for the canopy. I don't think I even have the wires for the lights here.

08/09/2008, 07:39 PM	#91
will16 Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Northern NJ Posts: 1,812	Some sps... Hitchhiker on a zoa colony

08/10/2008, 06:56 AM	#97
stevedola Master of my domain Join Date: Jun 2003 Location: Rhode Island Posts: 3,466	btw you have some beautiful corals and a nice tank __________________ Cool Club Current Tank Info: coming soon...

08/10/2008, 08:38 AM	#98
will16 Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Northern NJ Posts: 1,812	Thanks guys. I wish I could have done 6 bulbs but because of the eurobracing on top of the tank (that eliminates the center support), the top opening is reduced. I can only physically fit 5 bulbs with the individual reflectors. A 6th bulb would only light the top of the eurobracing

08/10/2008, 08:59 AM	#99
will16 Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Northern NJ Posts: 1,812	This is the sump/refugium. ADHI Model 45 Refugium So clean and new Current shot with cheato

08/10/2008, 09:08 AM	#100
will16 Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Northern NJ Posts: 1,812	For the skimmer I went with the msx 200