Here we go again...500gallon build
- Thread starter ClosetFishGeek
- Start date
- Location
- Long Island, New York
Ty buddy.....Come on now you know how to make the mula.....:splitspin
It's not the distance, my RBTA and GBTA walks all over the island first, then dislodge it self from the rocks and gets carried to a new location by the flow in the tank. I think they will do that if they don't find a spot it likes. The GBTA has been on the front glass for over a months now.
- Location
- Long Island, New York
Wow...that sucks....well I will cross my fingers and hope they stay put....:splitspin
- Location
- Long Island, New York
It's been a couple of days and well its time for an update....:splitspin I recieved a lot of my lighting equipment so now its time to experiment. My reflector of choice is the Lumen Bright Large pendent. I have used the mini's in the past and got very good spread and par's and will continue to use their line. I had to use the large due to width of my tank....So 4 250watt Large Lumen Bright reflectors will be my main lighting. For dusk/Dawn effect and some actinic pop I decided to go with a bulb that has worked for over a decade. 4 48" URI VHO Super Actinics on an icecap 660 ballast. I will also be using 5 of neptunes moonlight led's on their lunar simulator.
This time around I decided to test a couple of bulbs/ballast combinations. I ordered a reeflux 20k, and a radium. I already had a brand new 12k from my previous setup so lets see how they all compared. I ordered 2 diferent type ballasts one a Blue Wave3 HQI to use with the radium bulb and an electronic ballast from vertex to drive the reeflux. It has an identical warranty to Icecap and has gotten great reviews at almost half the price...:splitspin
So here is what I did. I hung the reflectors 16" from bulb to water and took measurements at surface, 6inches below, 12, 18, & 30" below water level. Here are a couple of pics at 6" below surface.
Reeflux 12k Left hand side, Reeflux 20k Middle, Radium, Right hand Side
The interesting part of this was the Radium's par level. By looking at this bulb it was by far the bluest but not in a tiddy bowl way...:splitspin. I liked the 20k by reeflux but it was visually hard to dicipher the 12k from the 20k.
This time around I decided to test a couple of bulbs/ballast combinations. I ordered a reeflux 20k, and a radium. I already had a brand new 12k from my previous setup so lets see how they all compared. I ordered 2 diferent type ballasts one a Blue Wave3 HQI to use with the radium bulb and an electronic ballast from vertex to drive the reeflux. It has an identical warranty to Icecap and has gotten great reviews at almost half the price...:splitspin
So here is what I did. I hung the reflectors 16" from bulb to water and took measurements at surface, 6inches below, 12, 18, & 30" below water level. Here are a couple of pics at 6" below surface.
Reeflux 12k Left hand side, Reeflux 20k Middle, Radium, Right hand Side
The interesting part of this was the Radium's par level. By looking at this bulb it was by far the bluest but not in a tiddy bowl way...:splitspin. I liked the 20k by reeflux but it was visually hard to dicipher the 12k from the 20k.
- Location
- Long Island, New York
In the meantime I also added some more ledge work to the middle section of the tank. I felt it needed a little more...:splitspin
I probably will add a little more...but not much...
I also snapped a couple fo shots of some of my old crew...:splitspin
Tommorrow the hood will be started on.....see you then...:splitspin
I probably will add a little more...but not much...
I also snapped a couple fo shots of some of my old crew...:splitspin
Tommorrow the hood will be started on.....see you then...:splitspin
- Location
- Long Island, New York
Ty Juice....The radium was also over rock that was completely covered in coraline.... Sorry to hear about your female crosshatch...:irked:
- Location
- Long Island, New York
Well today was another good day for work on the tank....:splitspin My day started with a delivery from reefcleaners. I have never seen so many snails in one bag lol...
Next item on todays agenda was to start building a canopy. Now this might seem like an easy task but when I started thinking everything out...my head started to spin...:splitspin In my mind I wanted a clean, functional, and attractive build. I also have a couple of huge issues.
1) How was I going to get this 150lb 10ft canopy off once assembled ?
2) How was I going to controll all the heat in the canopy ?
3) The canopy was in an area where I couldnt lift it straight up(i would hit various things)
4) Moisture resistant
5) Hold all the lights & equipment and not look to bulky
Well the first step was to use a commercial grade Moisture resistant plywood in 5/8 as a frame. The face will be covered with a laminent and the inside will be painted with a product called Brite Coat. This is a highly reflective white paint. Then this will be sealed with 4 coats of poly. The next area to build would be a light rail. This will be mabe out of 4-5' aluminum L beams with one center brace for help with the weight. Using this aluminum L beam will allow me to move my Mh fixtures left or right enabling me any configuration I may need. In addition, they will not rust and will not be affected by the heat given off by the halides. Directly under the halides on the bottom side of the aluminum L beam the VHO's will be rivited to them spanning 10' in front and 10' in the rear. In between each metal halide lamp will be one moonlight LED connected to a lunar controller. Bolth the Lunar controller and Vho ballast will be attached on top of the canopy in moisture resistant box. There will be 2 4" variable speed fans one pushing(left side) and one pulling(right side) that exhausts out to an HRV. The front of the canopy will have three openings 26" X 14" to feed and do minor cleaning.
The next part is the pain in the A-- part. I also realized that I would need to get into the tank and have more accessability so this is where it got fun. My carpenter came up with a rail and winch system. You are probably scratching your head right now and I was too at first. Basically by using a winch and heavy duty rail system it enables me to lift the canopy 6 inches off the tank and slide the canopy over roughly a foot and a half and then have the ability to crank up the whole canopy three feet above the tank....:splitspin. Now this SHOULD work...key word being should...we will find out very soon. Or you may see a grown man cry. Here are some pics of the progress...
Testing to see if the frame fit correctly....
Later that evening.....
Next item on todays agenda was to start building a canopy. Now this might seem like an easy task but when I started thinking everything out...my head started to spin...:splitspin In my mind I wanted a clean, functional, and attractive build. I also have a couple of huge issues.
1) How was I going to get this 150lb 10ft canopy off once assembled ?
2) How was I going to controll all the heat in the canopy ?
3) The canopy was in an area where I couldnt lift it straight up(i would hit various things)
4) Moisture resistant
5) Hold all the lights & equipment and not look to bulky
Well the first step was to use a commercial grade Moisture resistant plywood in 5/8 as a frame. The face will be covered with a laminent and the inside will be painted with a product called Brite Coat. This is a highly reflective white paint. Then this will be sealed with 4 coats of poly. The next area to build would be a light rail. This will be mabe out of 4-5' aluminum L beams with one center brace for help with the weight. Using this aluminum L beam will allow me to move my Mh fixtures left or right enabling me any configuration I may need. In addition, they will not rust and will not be affected by the heat given off by the halides. Directly under the halides on the bottom side of the aluminum L beam the VHO's will be rivited to them spanning 10' in front and 10' in the rear. In between each metal halide lamp will be one moonlight LED connected to a lunar controller. Bolth the Lunar controller and Vho ballast will be attached on top of the canopy in moisture resistant box. There will be 2 4" variable speed fans one pushing(left side) and one pulling(right side) that exhausts out to an HRV. The front of the canopy will have three openings 26" X 14" to feed and do minor cleaning.
The next part is the pain in the A-- part. I also realized that I would need to get into the tank and have more accessability so this is where it got fun. My carpenter came up with a rail and winch system. You are probably scratching your head right now and I was too at first. Basically by using a winch and heavy duty rail system it enables me to lift the canopy 6 inches off the tank and slide the canopy over roughly a foot and a half and then have the ability to crank up the whole canopy three feet above the tank....:splitspin. Now this SHOULD work...key word being should...we will find out very soon. Or you may see a grown man cry. Here are some pics of the progress...
Testing to see if the frame fit correctly....
Later that evening.....
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What you want is a rock with a nice crevice in it that it will snuggle up in. What you want is a pocket a few inches across and a few inches deep.
- Location
- Long Island, New York
I definitely didnt even bother counting.....:splitspin But there is a rediculous amount. And the scary part is that john held back a 1/3 of the crew until I add more fish to the population.
- Location
- Long Island, New York
Thanks Sal....Its coming along ever so slowly. Hopefully everything works as planned....but you know how that goes....:splitspin
- Location
- Long Island, New York
Ty buddy.....Hope all is well..long time no see.
- Location
- Long Island, New York
Thanks juice...I could have done that but in the end the wood gave us more flexability. The reality is it is almost a complete aluminum frame minus 2 sections.....:splitspin. I will have more updates tonight.
- Location
- Long Island, New York
Ty buddy. I have been playing hooky from work....:splitspin And besides Macna is around the corner....:splitspin Your build is coming along nicely.
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