150 Gallon Build Thread

[inktomi]

It wasn't too bad - I've been spreading out the pain over a few months, slowly getting the things I need. As of right now, assuming ReefGeek ships my Powermodule in the next week or two, I'm planning on getting some rock into it in late August.

We'll see how it works out. I should (hopefully) be done with plumbing sometime this week.

 

[inktomi]

So I ordered my 8x80 ATI Powermodule back in July, and finally it was supposed to arrive today. Not so... Roadway had a delivery window that was from 2 till 5 this afternoon. 5 came and went, so I gave their office a call.

Now, keep in mind that this light is 58.1" x 17.5" x 2.3" - a large item for sure. Because of this, it's shipped on a pallet for protection. This means it needs a lift gate and/or forklift to get it out of the trailer that it's shipped in.

So, of course, today the trailer that came out didn't have a lift gate on it, and I don't own a forklift - so there was no good way of getting it down off the truck. So Roadway is going to try delivering it later in the week.

I just hope that the unit, and it's 8 eighty watt T5 bulbs, are in good working order when it gets here. I'm not sure how I'd return it for service

Almost here! Almost ready to go!

 

[tangtang clown]

I would pick that thing up and carry it inside with one hand. Congrats and good luck getting everything set.

 

[1fishkeeper]

Very nice I will be on this thread alot.

 

[inktomi]

Hah.. I would have clawed it off the truck if I had the chance. I actually had to call Roadway to find out what was up after not hearing anything all day and no delivery. Turns out at some point the driver decided that they needed the lift gate and didn't even attempt delivery.

At least I have some other goodies coming tomorrow for sure via UPS...

 

[goochesfish]

I have the exact same tank and ordered the same light. The light is not too heavy. My 13 y/o and i can move it around pretty easily. I have racks in my hood that the light slides in and out of. I have it sitting 6 inches above the surface. My returns from the oceans motions came up too high so I couldn't set the light any lower.

 

[inktomi]

I'm glad to hear that! I was wondering about how hard it'd be to hang the fixture using drywall anchors. I'm imagining this big, delicate, awkwardly heavy fixture and then trying to attach it to the hangers... I'll hope for the best =p

 

[goochesfish]

Are you gonna have a canopy? The light comes with hanging wires attached but i didn't use them. I wouldn't trust drywall anchors. You've gotta find a stud. It's too heavy for just drywall anchors.

 

[inktomi]

Do you think it'd be ok to use those metal anchors that you squeeze together and then put through the ceiling, where they pop open on a spring? That'd spread the weight over more space.

 

[wetWolger]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=15420186#post15420186 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by inktomi
And this is what I'd like to add once the 150g has been up and running for a good while.
....
Green Mandarin (Synchiropus splendidu
.....

My Purple Pseudochromis killed my mandarin (he constantly was picking on him)....And I don't think it is too uncommon ether. I intend to give mine away soon, because I want a mandarin a lot more.

 

[goochesfish]

It's not the anchor that is the weak point, it's the drywall it's going into. How many anchors do you plan on having? I think you should ask the reef geek guy.

 

[inktomi]

I lucked out - there was a stud that ran right through the area, so I used screws into the stud. Lucked out for sure - photos to come!

I upgraded the computer to OS X 10.6, and now I can't seem to upload to Flickr from iPhoto.

 

[inktomi]

So here's my new ATI Powermodule 8x80w fixture.

As you can see, it was well packed, and on a pallet.

<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/30998766@N03/3882961089/" title="DSC_0002 by inktomi, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2456/3882961089_46c5c941ba.jpg" width="500" height="334" alt="DSC_0002" /></a>

<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/30998766@N03/3883754206/" title="DSC_0007 by inktomi, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3424/3883754206_b6cf7a9a16.jpg" width="500" height="334" alt="DSC_0007" /></a>

<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/30998766@N03/3883754550/" title="DSC_0008 by inktomi, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2641/3883754550_37b00bc92c.jpg" width="500" height="334" alt="DSC_0008" /></a>

I really like the logo fans - it's a pity that I can't figure out how to get my fans working..

<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/30998766@N03/3882961969/" title="DSC_0011 by inktomi, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2658/3882961969_21356c30e1.jpg" width="500" height="334" alt="DSC_0011" /></a>

The fixture came with a rather cheap feeling DC transformer designed to charge a million different things. No matter how I set it up - the directions say to use the 4.5 volt setting - I can't seem to get the fans to spin. I've checked that the fans are not rubbing on the logos.. not sure what to check next =\

<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/30998766@N03/3882962325/" title="DSC_0014 by inktomi, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2565/3882962325_8c36ebb79f.jpg" width="500" height="334" alt="DSC_0014" /></a>

I was terrified of breaking the T5 bulbs. A really thin 58" long bulb just seemed like it'd be super easy to break.

When all the bulbs are on, the fixture is really quite bright:

<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/30998766@N03/3883755562/" title="DSC_0018 by inktomi, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2473/3883755562_ab3281296f.jpg" width="500" height="334" alt="DSC_0018" /></a>

..however, it also has a dusk/dawn mode...

<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/30998766@N03/3882963055/" title="DSC_0020 by inktomi, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2548/3882963055_0a7cb27ba4.jpg" width="500" height="334" alt="DSC_0020" /></a>

Hopefully I can figure out the issue with the fans. I'm sure it's something silly.

 

[thomasp123]

I would call them it should work correctly out of the box!

 

[tangtang clown]

Awesome light man.

 

[goochesfish]

the fans have a separate plug. Look for it in the box or maybe they forgot to pack it. Don't run lights without the fan running. You should have a total of 3 things to plug in.

 

[inktomi]

I haven't ran the lights beyond a few minutes without the fans running. The tank isn't ready to go just yet - still need to order the live rock - so there's not an immediate need for light.

I've put in an email to reef geek about the fans. I may swing my Fry's tonight and get another DC adaptor. When I get home I'll post some photos of what I've got. I'm reasonably sure that the Powermodule itself is in working order, and that there's something amiss with the DC transformer that came with the unit.

Worst case, I'll end up with a voltmeter so I can test the connections. I'd rather not open up the little black plastic box that all the wires go into - but the way it's acting it almost seems like there's something not connected somewhere. I'd think that...

- If it were the fans hitting the ATI logos, then the fans would at least move a bit when initially plugged in. There is /no movement/ whatsoever when I plug in the fans.

- If it were just a polarity issue then I'd be able to fix it by switching the polarity of the DC adaptor, or using different tips. There are only two tips on the adaptor that fit into the ATI powerbox. I've tried both. There's a polarity switch on the DC adaptor - I've tried both settings. I've tried different voltages. I've tried turning the plug for the adaptor around in the wall socket. I've tried a different outlet in case that one was bad.

There is a little red indicator light on the DC adaptor that /does/ light when it's plugged in, so I think that the DC adaptor is at least getting power. The way it acts, it seems like there might just be a loose wire somewhere =\

I'll take some photos this afternoon when I'm home. A photo is worth a thousand words.

The fans should turn on and run all the time right? They're not tied to a temperature sensor somewhere?

 

[luther1200]

If you try to spin the fans with your hand do they turn at all? With the power off I mean.

 

[inktomi]

With the power off I can spin all the fans manually. They seem to spin freely in this manner.

 

[kurtflys]

Do a search on the forms someone else had the same problem. I will try to Find it for you .