150 Redux
- Thread starter Ah64av8tor
- Start date
Ah64av8tor
Premium Member
Today I cleaned up some of the mess and made some more, moved a few corals around and looked for just the right spot for them, then moved them around some more.
This after noon I sent the HQI pendants and 2 660s back to Icecap for repair. There was no way that I could get the hood off by myself, and it was a bear getting them out of the hood with it on the tank. I'll put some old Iwasaki 65k SE MH up there for the time being. It will be old school but I know they grow corals and we'll see if I still like the look compared to the XM 10k DE that were in there. (the few times they both worked)
While I was out, I picked up a Coralife Power Center wave maker. It has a timer that can alternate between plugs every 15 minutes. I hooked it up to the MJ mod in the prop tank and a small Rio pump in the prop tank( the Rio will be replaced with another MJ mod) The MJ is on top of the rack going against the flow and the Rio is under the rack going with the flow. The Rio kicks up the detritus and the return from the 150 caries it away then the MJ blows it all around again. It does a good job of getting the detritus suspended and passed the overflow, and makes for real turbulent flow which should make the frags happy.
I still have about 6 corals on the sand I need to cram in somewhere. When viewing from the side the 4 foot depth is pretty spectacular, but I have some spots on the back of the 2 islands that need some color. I cant see from the front and getting in under the side of the hood is tough.
Here is what is in the prop tank now; Several different Monti caps, a few different orange ones all sizes some very large, green with purple rim all sizes. Beige with purple polyps, neon green with purple/brown polyps, green with beige rim and a green with purple(Leng Sy).
I also have a lot of Montipora digitata, Green, Purple and German Blue.
Lots of different Acros, I mean lots, Pocillopora green, pink and tricolored, Green Birds nest, Hydnopora, Pavona.
Sorry for the quality of the picks I do much better at reefkeeping than photography
This after noon I sent the HQI pendants and 2 660s back to Icecap for repair. There was no way that I could get the hood off by myself, and it was a bear getting them out of the hood with it on the tank. I'll put some old Iwasaki 65k SE MH up there for the time being. It will be old school but I know they grow corals and we'll see if I still like the look compared to the XM 10k DE that were in there. (the few times they both worked)
While I was out, I picked up a Coralife Power Center wave maker. It has a timer that can alternate between plugs every 15 minutes. I hooked it up to the MJ mod in the prop tank and a small Rio pump in the prop tank( the Rio will be replaced with another MJ mod) The MJ is on top of the rack going against the flow and the Rio is under the rack going with the flow. The Rio kicks up the detritus and the return from the 150 caries it away then the MJ blows it all around again. It does a good job of getting the detritus suspended and passed the overflow, and makes for real turbulent flow which should make the frags happy.
I still have about 6 corals on the sand I need to cram in somewhere. When viewing from the side the 4 foot depth is pretty spectacular, but I have some spots on the back of the 2 islands that need some color. I cant see from the front and getting in under the side of the hood is tough.
Here is what is in the prop tank now; Several different Monti caps, a few different orange ones all sizes some very large, green with purple rim all sizes. Beige with purple polyps, neon green with purple/brown polyps, green with beige rim and a green with purple(Leng Sy).
I also have a lot of Montipora digitata, Green, Purple and German Blue.
Lots of different Acros, I mean lots, Pocillopora green, pink and tricolored, Green Birds nest, Hydnopora, Pavona.
Sorry for the quality of the picks I do much better at reefkeeping than photography
Ah64av8tor
Premium Member
It’s Sunday and all the normal stuff on the 150 is done. It was late but I got it all finished before the lights went out.
The water tests are in the recommended ranges but not quite where I like them, the #s were:
Sg 1.025
Ca 440
Alk 3.66 meq/l 10.2Dkh
Mg 1350
The skimmer parts from ER came in on Friday, I went and picked up some 1' and 3/4" schedual 80 pipe and unions, now I can to do the recirc mod. I sent the unions off to be milled so the venturi on the Sedra 5000s will fit (thanks checkinhawk) Ill pick them up tomorrow night and do the mod on Tuesday. I still need to get the acrylic for the platform that it will sit on in the sump. But that can wait until I build the fuge.
The pendants arrived back at Icecap on Thursday and I hope that they are fixed and back by the weekend. If they are not as dependable as I’m hoping Ill build a new light rack to fit 2 Luminarc 3s and get rid of the DEs.
I picked up a new tan W/ purple rim and purple polyp cap, and traded a few frags for an ORA blue green polyp tort, ORA tricolor acro, and a teal and tan acro this weekend. The count is around 90 different SPS I should get working on a new list.
The water tests are in the recommended ranges but not quite where I like them, the #s were:
Sg 1.025
Ca 440
Alk 3.66 meq/l 10.2Dkh
Mg 1350
The skimmer parts from ER came in on Friday, I went and picked up some 1' and 3/4" schedual 80 pipe and unions, now I can to do the recirc mod. I sent the unions off to be milled so the venturi on the Sedra 5000s will fit (thanks checkinhawk) Ill pick them up tomorrow night and do the mod on Tuesday. I still need to get the acrylic for the platform that it will sit on in the sump. But that can wait until I build the fuge.
The pendants arrived back at Icecap on Thursday and I hope that they are fixed and back by the weekend. If they are not as dependable as I’m hoping Ill build a new light rack to fit 2 Luminarc 3s and get rid of the DEs.
I picked up a new tan W/ purple rim and purple polyp cap, and traded a few frags for an ORA blue green polyp tort, ORA tricolor acro, and a teal and tan acro this weekend. The count is around 90 different SPS I should get working on a new list.
. Get some pics up of the newest acquisitions.
Ah64av8tor
Premium Member
Andrew,
I have tried to get a decent pic, but you know the problem I have with photography.
Ill give it another try.
I have tried to get a decent pic, but you know the problem I have with photography.
Ill give it another try.
Ah64av8tor
Premium Member
I’m not to happy with my 2 most favorite companies, the first choices I made in designing this build were Icecap and Euroreef and they have been my biggest challenges so far.
I just got off the phone with Dave at Icecap and he said nothing was the matter with the pendants that I needed to use a different bulb. I really don’t understand why there should be that much difference in bulbs, that their pendant can’t run a XM DE bulb. Dave recommended an Aqualine Buschke for best fit, Ill have to do some research on bulbs again.
I sent the unions off to be milled so the venturi on the Sedra 5000s will fit (thanks checkinhawk you do such great work) and picked them up this afternoon. I cut the pipe and dry fit every thing.
I laid every thing out to get an idea of the foot print, the sump section it will go into is 23†5/8th X 22†7/8th . You can see from the 12†X 12†tiles it will be close.
I put the skimmer body and pumps in the sump and it just fits Im a little afraid it might be too tight and cause some vibration noise. I will have to move some plumbing to make room for the cup but it should be easy.
I just got off the phone with Dave at Icecap and he said nothing was the matter with the pendants that I needed to use a different bulb. I really don’t understand why there should be that much difference in bulbs, that their pendant can’t run a XM DE bulb. Dave recommended an Aqualine Buschke for best fit, Ill have to do some research on bulbs again.
I sent the unions off to be milled so the venturi on the Sedra 5000s will fit (thanks checkinhawk you do such great work) and picked them up this afternoon. I cut the pipe and dry fit every thing.
I laid every thing out to get an idea of the foot print, the sump section it will go into is 23†5/8th X 22†7/8th . You can see from the 12†X 12†tiles it will be close.
I put the skimmer body and pumps in the sump and it just fits Im a little afraid it might be too tight and cause some vibration noise. I will have to move some plumbing to make room for the cup but it should be easy.
jeffbrig
Premium Member
Wow Greg, I didn't know those were XM DEs you were trying to run. I remember now there being some stuff a few years ago about the XM DE being an oddball and not meeting established specs for DE halides.
I'm a little surprised you mounted the pumps outwards like that, instead of standing them on end. Were you trying to simplify things by reusing the existing holes, or was it because of the height of the skimmer?
I'm a little surprised you mounted the pumps outwards like that, instead of standing them on end. Were you trying to simplify things by reusing the existing holes, or was it because of the height of the skimmer?
Ah64av8tor
Premium Member
Jeff,
After talking to Chip at ER I decided it would be the easiest way to do the mod, with out having an extra hole and if I stood them on end it didn't make much difference in the foot print.
Can you recommend a 10K DE bulb?
After talking to Chip at ER I decided it would be the easiest way to do the mod, with out having an extra hole and if I stood them on end it didn't make much difference in the foot print.
Can you recommend a 10K DE bulb?
Ah64av8tor
Premium Member
Stephen,
Thanks, Icecap recommended Ushio, Giesemann or Aqualine Buschke for best fit. I'm partial to the German stuff but the Giesemanns are $110
Ah64av8tor
Premium Member
I manned up and got a beer and the hole saw.....it cut like butter.
I have it all finished, all but 1 hole left to drill for the feed and have the skimmer back in the sump trying to decide the best location for the input. I really want to feed it with the water from the proptank, but the skimmer is slammed up against that side of the sump.
I am flowing about 800 gph through the prop tank and need a T and ball valve to cut it in half to feed the skimmer from that. I don't have a lot of room for all those fittings before the skimmer.
The final shot with the plumbing installed for the pumps and drain.
In the sump with no room to spare.
This is what I am up against.
The 1" line on the bottom is what I want to feed the skimmer with.
I have it all finished, all but 1 hole left to drill for the feed and have the skimmer back in the sump trying to decide the best location for the input. I really want to feed it with the water from the proptank, but the skimmer is slammed up against that side of the sump.
I am flowing about 800 gph through the prop tank and need a T and ball valve to cut it in half to feed the skimmer from that. I don't have a lot of room for all those fittings before the skimmer.
The final shot with the plumbing installed for the pumps and drain.
In the sump with no room to spare.
This is what I am up against.
The 1" line on the bottom is what I want to feed the skimmer with.
Ah64av8tor
Premium Member
As I was looking at the mountain of pipes in the corner where the prop tank drain dumps into the sock, I'm thinking that I should go around to the other side of the skimmer where there is nothing.
So I unscrewed the union from the drain from the 150, and ran it around the other side of the skimmer. It will be an easy T off the 150 drain to feed the skimmer or I can T off the drain from the prop tank and run it around to the other side.
I pulled the skimmer and drilled a hole directly above the skimmer drain and put in a uniseal and 1†pipe, and put the skimmer back in the sump and connected the pumps and gatevalve. I then attached a MJ 1200 to the 1" pipe (for the time being), and fired it up.
The silence is defining no more noise from the skimmer splashing in the sump and I can only hear the hum of the Dart.
So I unscrewed the union from the drain from the 150, and ran it around the other side of the skimmer. It will be an easy T off the 150 drain to feed the skimmer or I can T off the drain from the prop tank and run it around to the other side.
I pulled the skimmer and drilled a hole directly above the skimmer drain and put in a uniseal and 1†pipe, and put the skimmer back in the sump and connected the pumps and gatevalve. I then attached a MJ 1200 to the 1" pipe (for the time being), and fired it up.
The silence is defining no more noise from the skimmer splashing in the sump and I can only hear the hum of the Dart.
Ah64av8tor
Premium Member
Thanks, I got that just after I took the pic, The MJ is just to small, and when I get more flow through it it will disperse the bubbles more also
Chris, how you find the color? The XM seemed a little yellow and from what I heard the AB 10 K look like 13K with a big spike in the 420-460 range.
Ah64av8tor
Premium Member
Chris,
Ill have to stop by one night this week to see for my self. Ill be helping Boydx6 swap the 55 to the 90 one of these evenings, maybe I can do it then.
Ill have to stop by one night this week to see for my self. Ill be helping Boydx6 swap the 55 to the 90 one of these evenings, maybe I can do it then.
jeffbrig
Premium Member
I used the Ushio 10k over my tank as well Greg, but I don't think the halides were on when you saw my tank in February. I like the bulbs a lot when I started using them, but found that as the bulb ages, the color tends to yellow. I recently swapped mine out for Phoenix 14k, which I'm very happy with. I run iceacp ballasts, just like you are.
Ah64av8tor
Premium Member
It’s Sunday and time for an update.
The 65 was sold and picked up yesterday, I wanted to keep the fish at 1.009 for another week but I had to make the sale.
Friday around noon I started to drip acclimate the fish in a 5 gal bucket with an airstone at about 1 drop per second and let it drip for about 24 hours Saturday around noon the Sg was 1.024 so I increased the flow a little and by 1:00 it was 1.025.
I lost the Gramma Loretta in the first few hours of acclimation attribute it to an extended period of stres,the fact that he had a very hard time kicking the Ich and was several weeks past the other fish to stop showing signs of infestation. Also that he slept in the very same hole in the rock every night. Tomont cysts are released and settle in the sleeping spot, the cysts that rupture (releasing hundreds of new free-swimming tomites) in the close proximity to the sleeping fish (they tend to do this in the early evening aiding in their survival) and starting the vicious cycle over. All the other fish seem to be doing fine and eating in the 150.
I have the plumbing done on the skimmer but since raising the skimmer 4 inches there is not enough fall to create a cyphon and draw water from the prop tank overflow. I had to crank down the flow to the prop tank to keep it from overflowing. (I had a few big messes figuring this out) after I get the closet and fuge finished I’ll raise the prop tank 4 inches and crank the flow back up.
The pendants and ballasts are back from IceCap and the XM bulbs are still intermittent at best. After spending a few on Sanjays lighting page I am going to go with the AB or Gmann bulb depending on the best price I can get.
I have most of the wood cut for the closet and need to start gluing it together.
The water tests are getting closer to where I like them, I am dosing 200ml of 2 part a day to keep them up, I need to get the Kalk reactor running so I dont have to dose so much.
the #s were:
Sg 1.025
Ca 460
Alk 4.34meq/l 12.2Dkh
Mg 1350
The 65 was sold and picked up yesterday, I wanted to keep the fish at 1.009 for another week but I had to make the sale.
Friday around noon I started to drip acclimate the fish in a 5 gal bucket with an airstone at about 1 drop per second and let it drip for about 24 hours Saturday around noon the Sg was 1.024 so I increased the flow a little and by 1:00 it was 1.025.
I lost the Gramma Loretta in the first few hours of acclimation attribute it to an extended period of stres,the fact that he had a very hard time kicking the Ich and was several weeks past the other fish to stop showing signs of infestation. Also that he slept in the very same hole in the rock every night. Tomont cysts are released and settle in the sleeping spot, the cysts that rupture (releasing hundreds of new free-swimming tomites) in the close proximity to the sleeping fish (they tend to do this in the early evening aiding in their survival) and starting the vicious cycle over. All the other fish seem to be doing fine and eating in the 150.
I have the plumbing done on the skimmer but since raising the skimmer 4 inches there is not enough fall to create a cyphon and draw water from the prop tank overflow. I had to crank down the flow to the prop tank to keep it from overflowing. (I had a few big messes figuring this out) after I get the closet and fuge finished I’ll raise the prop tank 4 inches and crank the flow back up.
The pendants and ballasts are back from IceCap and the XM bulbs are still intermittent at best. After spending a few on Sanjays lighting page I am going to go with the AB or Gmann bulb depending on the best price I can get.
I have most of the wood cut for the closet and need to start gluing it together.
The water tests are getting closer to where I like them, I am dosing 200ml of 2 part a day to keep them up, I need to get the Kalk reactor running so I dont have to dose so much.
the #s were:
Sg 1.025
Ca 460
Alk 4.34meq/l 12.2Dkh
Mg 1350
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