I picked up the Kessil on Wednesday and immediately went home and started to play with it. The spread on the light is crazy! Interestingly enough, I couldn't find anything online when I searched to see if it was controllable by a Reefkeeper, but the setup brochure states that it can be. Initially the only thing I could find on controlability was through an Apex. That made up my husband's mind on what controller we were going to purchase although now we have an option of either controller. I've always leaned more towards the Reefkeeper, but he likes the Apex. The jury is still out on that one. As funds become available, we'll pick up two more of the 360's.
Tim has started working on laying out the sump design, and I'll be purchasing the ATO holding tank that will fit in the stand. I found a great 25 gallon circular tank online for a really good price. That will be my next purchase.
We've been back and forth on a canopy design, but I think that we've managed to come up with a game plan for it. He's using a much smaller wood for the frame, which will make it more difficult to keep stable. He'll have to brace it in various places across the frame to keep it from falling apart under the weight of the trim and the oak skin we're using. There will be two working doors in the middle of the front of the canopy for access to feed, and the rest of the canopy will have false doors (just trim to mimic the existing doors in the stand) to keep with a uniform appearance. A third of the canopy will be hinged using piano type hinges to flip up in the front for maintenance. That's where the framing and braces will be critical to make sure the canopy remains stable.
One question we've been pondering is whether to paint the inside of the canopy white (water proof it) like we did the stand. My concern is that the Kessil's will bounce off the white and amplify the light intensity. I'm not worried about the tank really. I'm afraid it will be TOO much thought and I certainly don't want to be blinded every time I open the doors. He's convinced it will be ok. Thoughts?
Next on the to do list is to finish framing the canopy and start work on skinning it as well as finalizing the design for the sump. I'll be working more with the rock work to get a few more decorative peices for the tank. Since I'll be using all of the existing rock in the 75 gal, it will be hard to have a final 'scape' for the 180. Not only that but we have a lot of little corals and such attached to numerous peices in the 75 gal. Those peices are going to have to be placed stategically in the new 180, but I'm concerned that I'm going to be unhappy with the layout. I won't know until it's time to transfer it over. That is a bit frustrating. But it can't be helped. Otherwise, we're moving along at a pretty steady clip. I'm hoping to have it up and running by mid May or end of May. Fingers crossed!
