150 Redux

Gabriel,

Thanks, there has been a lot of thinking as to how to do it and hard work; I have just got to get it finished. I still haven’t decided on the make of fans I'm going to use yet. I think Ill go with the Icecap just because I know they will last.

I still have to wire the rack and build the rack that will hold the 2 IC HQI ballasts, the 2 IC 660 ballasts and the transformers for the fans.
 
Greg, thanks for the good words, I am glad I could help out. I am usually the one that needs the help. It was good to finally meet you. I hope you have a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!
Stephen
 
Wow, that looks great! I've been thinking about re-doing my hanging chains with a rope and pulley system for easier raising and lowering. I think I'm going to steal your idea with the aluminum angle rods for the frame. Strong, lightweight and essentially corrosion free.

Are the MH pendants just resting on the frame? And if so, do you have any concern about them reducing the light footprint?
 
Jeff,

The HQI fixture is just sitting on the angle aluminum and I didn’t have any concern about them reducing the light footprint.
HQI.jpg


The 250 watt XM bulb is the smallest size it will accept and the frame only covers about ¼ inch beyond the fixture.
HQIfit.jpg


I am going to suspend the rack from the hood by threaded rod screwed into the HQI fixture. I should have about 4" of adjustment from the threaded rod.

When its finished the whole rack will be polished and I will spray it with this aluminum protectant I have for the tower and T Top on my boat. I'm not sure what it is but it has worked great on the boat.
 
I should have about 4" of adjustment from the threaded rod.
Click to expand...

Do you think that's going to be easy enough to raise/lower? You've seen how mine are suspended on chains, right? Historically I've kept my lights way off the water (8"+) so I had room to get in the tank for cleaning. Recently I've started lowering them closer to the water to get more intensity, but I'm finding that it's a serious PITA to change them around, mainly because you have to do it at both ends. That's where I'm looking to simplify things a bit.
 
I may have to go with eye bolts in the fixture with cable and pulleys but that is a ways out right now. I still need to finnish the stand and hood.
 
The mailman just dropped off the mail, and I don’t believe it my package from Euro Reef came, it shipped on the 21st and got here on the 23rd. It looks like the USPS is on the ball this holiday season.

I opened the box inventoried the contents and gave the new Sedra KSP 3500 a quick inspection, I pulled out the impeller looked it over, every thing was shinny and new.

I gave the pump a fresh RO rinse; I pored some 50/50 vinegar and RO in a bowl and gave it a 1 minute run then an other fresh RO rinse.

I installed the new uniseal in the skimmer body and the new O-ring in the union and dropped it back into the sump and installed the pump. When I plugged it in I had to look to see if it fired up, yes it was running and making a lot of bubbles but no noise. I guess that I had gotten used to the rattle the old pump made.

I'm still tweaking it to get the riser tube the right height, I would not have thought there would have been that much difference in the two pumps.
 
I raised the riser tube all the way up and still couldn’t get any foam in the cup. I pulled the pump and removed the venturi after closer inspection and comparison with the old one. I noticed that the new venturi had a smaller opening than the old one so I swapped the new for old and reinstalled the pump. As soon as I fired it up I noticed a substantial difference in the quantity of bubbles in the body of the skimmer, and the foam rose to the top of the cup, I lowered the riser tube and it settled in at about half way up the cup, and is now producing a nice head of foam.
 
Nice setup. I was at the BBQ at bgdiving's. I wish I could have met you. You seem to have it together on this reef stuff.
 
<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=8825883#post8825883 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by mflamb
Nice setup. I was at the BBQ at bgdiving's. I wish I could have met you. You seem to have it together on this reef stuff.
Click to expand...

Mflamb, Thanks, I have been doing this for a while but don’t profess to know it all. Brian has sure has some real nice stuff. :) We have been friends for about 5 years now, and I'm still amazed at how low tech his setups are. If any one wants to debate the DSB vs. BB, I would just take them to Brian’s so they can see for their self. The auction was great I got some nice stuff (that Brian wouldn’t otherwise sell) I was the one (with the brace on the leg) who brought the Nassarius snails for the auction. I'm sure we must have spoken at one point.

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=8826624#post8826624 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by wsurf4me
Just read the entire thread, looks good. Always seems to be more interesting when its somebody local to your area.
Click to expand...

wsurf4me, Thanks, I still have questions and the same troubles as every one else, and its nice to have local reefers there when you need help.

Well the ER is still giving me a little trouble, yesterday I had an over flowing skimmer and I couldn’t get it under control so I put the new venturi back on. This morning the skimate was dark and thick and only about ¼’ deep normally there is about an inch in the cup 12 hours after cleaning. That was until I fed this morning and then it blew the top off the cup again. I guess Ill keep playing with it and hopefully it will settle in to its happy place again.
 
I have been working on the hood for the 150 and the sheet metal is almost finished all that is left is finish cutting the holes for the fans and polishing the aluminum. I am at the point of no return with the fan placement I have cut the T3 aluminum for the fans and I just have to commit to riveting them place.
fixtureend.jpg

fixture.jpg


I started to wire up the the Light fixture and came across a few problems.

The plan is to have 2 IC 660s one for Actinic T5s and one for 10k T5s each on a separate ballasts and timer so that the Actinics come on first then 30minutes later the 10ks come on. I would have to split the harness having half of each one going to a different tank.

1.The distance between the display and propagation tank is to far to split the IC 660 wiring harness so that I can have the Actinics and 10k T5s on separate ballasts and timers.

2.If I mount the ballast in between the two tanks I would not be to remove the hood with out disconnecting the harness at the end caps.

If I get the 15' long wiring harness I will still have the problem of not being able disconnect the wiring in the hood for removal.

The solution I came up with was to have one harness for the display and one for the prop tank, with a separate harness extension with quick disconnects between the hood and ballast.

I have seen a few retailers that sell IC 6' extensions, I asked on the IC forum if I get 2 of the 6' wiring harness extensions split like this?
wireing.jpg
 
I got some new corals this weekend and I tried to snap a few pics. Still messing with the camera........ ARGGG......... I have been using the 100-4 method, that is take 100 and get 4......so here are the 4 not so good pics.
corals124.jpg

corals123.jpg

corals122.jpg

corals121.jpg
 
I was up in Tampa for a Dr s apt. this morning the knee is doing great. I got released to ride a bike and lift no more than 25lbs I guess I'm not lifting the 150 off the stand to re-drill the holes in the overflow box.:)

While I was up that way I had to stop in and see how much cash I could drop at Fish and Other Ichty Stuff, I got new Salifert Ca, Alk and Mg test klits a couple of 25 micron filter socks, 2 Ice Cap 6' extension harnesses and the new issue of Coral mag.

I have been using Randys 2 part for a month now, I have been adding about 60ml per day of the 2 part and a bout a gal of kalk a week in the 65, The hair is gone and the coraline is taking off like a rocket.

I just tested the water the #s in the 65 and the are:
Ca 470
Alk 4.4
Mg 1425

I might have to drop back to 45ml per day to get the Ca to 450 and the Alk to 4.0.

I have started the work on the wiring harness extensions, Ill try to get some pics up in the morning.
 
Glad to hear the knee-hab (knee rehab) is going so well, Greg. You even had another surgery since we last saw you, right?
 
Jeff,
The last one was 5 weeks ago on Monday. Actually I'm better now than wen I was at Brian's BBQ, no brace but still a noticeable limp. I should be back to normal in a year (so the Doc's say) I gotta get more mass back in the thigh before they let me do any real living (running hockey, sports etc) could be 3 to 6 months more of Phys therapy, I think a few dive trips with rockets should do the trick. You got any free time, I could drag the boat and gear down and dive for a week or so, :) that should give my thighs a good work out.
 
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