180 build from scratch!
- Thread starter michika
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michika
red headed step child
I can't help it, my first instinct is to laugh! I think my second instinct would be to avoid getting sprayed myself!
UPS just teased me. They delivered this huge box on my porch, which I thought was my lighting. I got all excited, I ran for the scissors to cut it open, and then it turned out it was for the lady upstairs.
My own package is supposedly still out for delivery.
UPS just teased me. They delivered this huge box on my porch, which I thought was my lighting. I got all excited, I ran for the scissors to cut it open, and then it turned out it was for the lady upstairs.
My own package is supposedly still out for delivery.
michika
red headed step child
So my real package with UPS is out for delivery.
This came with our morning mail. I freaked out, called the utility company and we had a nice long chat about their responsibility to their clients, and how maybe, just maybe they should read the notes on file before assuming that 1) I'm a non paying client, 2) that you need to talk to my husband to get the facts. Apparently women are now no longer able to make decisions, or be responsible for financial things... RC requires a head desk icon.
Anyways supposedly that little snafu has been fixed. They made an error on their part, and instead of just turning our electricity back on from last time, instead they gave us a 30 day trial period. Stupidity hurts my brain.
So the Ca. reactor build photos;
The reactor before plumbing,
Hi Mum, am I in your way?
Our supervisor
This came with our morning mail. I freaked out, called the utility company and we had a nice long chat about their responsibility to their clients, and how maybe, just maybe they should read the notes on file before assuming that 1) I'm a non paying client, 2) that you need to talk to my husband to get the facts. Apparently women are now no longer able to make decisions, or be responsible for financial things... RC requires a head desk icon.
Anyways supposedly that little snafu has been fixed. They made an error on their part, and instead of just turning our electricity back on from last time, instead they gave us a 30 day trial period. Stupidity hurts my brain.
So the Ca. reactor build photos;
The reactor before plumbing,
Hi Mum, am I in your way?
Our supervisor
michika
red headed step child
Try this link for a nice DIY Calcium Reactor. I'm sure you can adjust it to your needs. I've never actually seen a reactor made out of glass, I don't see why it wouldn't work though.
melev
Well-known member
Catherine, I'm not sure how that will work with the Mag pump up so high. I would suggest it be supported with something, as it will surely vibrate and that could tug on that fitting.
I'm not sure if a Calcium Reactor could be made out of glass and handle the pressure within. There is a PSI situation to consider. Maroun.c, be sure to ask in the DIY forum to see if anyone has thoughts on that. I doubt you'll want the media in a mesh bag.
I'm not sure if a Calcium Reactor could be made out of glass and handle the pressure within. There is a PSI situation to consider. Maroun.c, be sure to ask in the DIY forum to see if anyone has thoughts on that. I doubt you'll want the media in a mesh bag.
michika
red headed step child
Kevin says, since this is his project, that there is going to be a shelf with a rubber mat under it. My big concern is that the mag 3 is going to crack the top with its weight. I'm not at a level with my comprehension of Ca. reactors where I can build one, so I'm just along for this ride.
I'll pass on your comments to him and see what he says. I liked it when the pump was at the bottom of the reactor, by the base. Thanks for the pointers!
Just for the sake of photos & DIY, this is my old Ca. reactor that I ran on my 24g cube and 28g long nano. It was my first foray into building DIY, Kevin helped me with some of the logistics. In the end it was a good little reactor!
DIY kalk. reactor as well
I'll pass on your comments to him and see what he says. I liked it when the pump was at the bottom of the reactor, by the base. Thanks for the pointers!
Just for the sake of photos & DIY, this is my old Ca. reactor that I ran on my 24g cube and 28g long nano. It was my first foray into building DIY, Kevin helped me with some of the logistics. In the end it was a good little reactor!
DIY kalk. reactor as well
jnarowe
New member
It would probably be just as easy to make one out of a house water filter.
http://mysite.verizon.net/res1fl57/id20.html
michika
red headed step child
I'm not sure how to make the pictures bigger, I know its a photobucket thing that shrinks them, but don't know how to fix it. Anyone?
So the package arrived, at the very end of the day. It contained the following;
I got sucked into another XM bulb. I know Sanjays site doesn't say its great for par, but I love the colour.
All T5s, plue 1x250w on the right side of the tank.
Close up of the T5s
No MHs
The T5s are stupidly bright. I think 9 bulbs would have been overkill. I'll take tomorrow to figure out what we want for a schedule and then program the associate timer.
So the package arrived, at the very end of the day. It contained the following;
I got sucked into another XM bulb. I know Sanjays site doesn't say its great for par, but I love the colour.
All T5s, plue 1x250w on the right side of the tank.
Close up of the T5s
No MHs
The T5s are stupidly bright. I think 9 bulbs would have been overkill. I'll take tomorrow to figure out what we want for a schedule and then program the associate timer.
Slakker
Premium Member
I noticed that too 
I've got two for actinics over my tank and I think if I swapped them for 10k's I could darn near light my tank with them :lol:
Edit: Did you space out the endcaps with the bulbs in? If you did, make sure you can get them out...after I screwed them down the first time I realized that the endcaps have a little bit of spring in them, and mine were actually too close together.
I've got two for actinics over my tank and I think if I swapped them for 10k's I could darn near light my tank with them :lol:
Edit: Did you space out the endcaps with the bulbs in? If you did, make sure you can get them out...after I screwed them down the first time I realized that the endcaps have a little bit of spring in them, and mine were actually too close together.
michika
red headed step child
Kevin did all the lighting stuff, so I don't actually know. I leave all the electrical stuff up to the electrician. I'll ask him though when he gets home if he did!
So its 9am and I am turning on the T5s. They are so bright, so I do worry about having them online for so long today. Alright, well here it goes!
The downside to those little phosphate reactors is that you'll be replacing the media constantly on a larger system like yours. Try it though if you want to.
So its 9am and I am turning on the T5s. They are so bright, so I do worry about having them online for so long today. Alright, well here it goes!
The downside to those little phosphate reactors is that you'll be replacing the media constantly on a larger system like yours. Try it though if you want to.
michika
red headed step child
Alright so the tank is on indefinite hold for the next while, probably the rest of the summer. I have just been offered job, or as my mother terms it, an adult job. I'll try to keep up with photo updates when I can, but starting next week I will be working like crazy. I have a FT job, a PT job, a second PT job, a start up business, plus two highly competitive sports, and school to contend with. I am quite busy.
michika
red headed step child
So some initial impressions about having added the T5s onto the system.
- So bright! I'm not getting used to it yet.
- I'm seeing increased filamentous algae growth on my glass and on the sand on the right side of the tank.
- They approximate the colour I was looking for few well, overall I'm quite pleased with them.
Expectations over the rest of the summer
- Finalize all the electrical wiring on the tank, and fit the power center in place.
- Skinning the tank
- Growth, I want to see some SPS growth, and I just need to be patient.
- Sump online
- Getting the humidity under control, and keeping that "tank smell" from manifesting.
Plans for this weekend (its a 4 day long weekend for us up north)
- Another WC
- Finish dialing in the Ca reactor
- Stop creeping out my fish by staring at them constantly.
- So bright! I'm not getting used to it yet.
- I'm seeing increased filamentous algae growth on my glass and on the sand on the right side of the tank.
- They approximate the colour I was looking for few well, overall I'm quite pleased with them.
Expectations over the rest of the summer
- Finalize all the electrical wiring on the tank, and fit the power center in place.
- Skinning the tank
- Growth, I want to see some SPS growth, and I just need to be patient.
- Sump online
- Getting the humidity under control, and keeping that "tank smell" from manifesting.
Plans for this weekend (its a 4 day long weekend for us up north)
- Another WC
- Finish dialing in the Ca reactor
- Stop creeping out my fish by staring at them constantly.
michika
red headed step child
So our colonies have been enjoying tank life for about two weeks now. We've seen quite a bit of colour shifting in some colonies, and nothing in others. A little bit of comparison for all of you. Older photos are at the top. Apologies for the out of focus shots.
Yellow:
Cap:
Pink w/orange tips:
Yellow:
Cap:
Pink w/orange tips:
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