saltysupply: Thank you very much. Glad you like it.
bosworth: Wow. Three days? While that seems like a long time, I'm actually impressed you were able to get through this written saga so quickly.
Glad I was able to add to your list of DIY projects and thanks for the very kind words.
Here's a mini-update on the tank as it's been a while now. The VHO end-cap issue continues.
Although, with the one set still running and no visible means of degradation within the tank, losing 440-watts of power usage hasn't been too troublesome.
Anyway... it would appear that the dimmer was also taken out by this ordeal. I decided to purchase a new IC 660 ballast to expedite the return of all lighting systems. When I added this new ballast to the dimming system, one bank or side of its circuit wouldn't light. When the dimmer is connected to the ballast, it takes over any fault shut-down needed should there be a short of some kind. Apparently, the wiring has an issue that would trip such a shut-down but the dimmer didn't react as it should have. I am sure of this by the small puff of smoke emitting from the ballast.
So... end-cap three, ballasts/dimmer zero on the scorecard. Both ballasts went in to IC and were able to be repaired and should now be on their way home. I'll be removing the dimmer and finding the cause of the wiring issue. I do have another wiring harness so I may even rewire this circuit if need be. Or... I may even continue to simply run with one 440-watt system and get another dimmer for this system. Haven't decided as of yet. The continually rising cost of electricity here in CA is helping me to decide though. Grrr... PG&E.
We are experiencing an early Spring here and had a few upper 70's days already. I noticed a few days back that the tank temp had prematurely gone up a full degree and when I looked in on the tank, it appeared that the chiller had been put into service. This alone was frightening in itself (chiller on in February!!) but things got worse. It appeared that the chiller was not working as it should and remained on longer than the typical ~5-minute on cycle. When I checked the chiller outside, the compressor was only slightly warm and cool air was coming from the fan and condenser. Yep... another "chunk of change" going toward the tank.
The good news is that I was able to find this issue now and not when the temps really start to climb. I decided to take this "opportunity" to upgrade my chiller from the current 1/3HP to a 1/2HP, which I feel is better rated for my tank. Luckily... or is it smartly?
... I originally designed the acrylic chiller coil housing to fit the 1/2HP AquaLogic drop-in-coil chiller too, so it should be a relatively simple switch. I will probably have the 1/3rd looked at and see if it's as simple as a freon leak and have it repaired and recharged and kept as a back-up unit. When you think of how hot it gets here (days on end of +100-degree) and how vulnerable all these pretty sticks are to relatively small upward temp swings, the cost of a new chiller is cheap insurance. At this stage of the ref-keeping game, I can't imagine a total melt-down due to a hot tank. There... I've justified the cost in my mind. I feel better.
I guess this update wasn't as "mini" as I thought it would be.
Oh... and the tank is doing well. Corals continue to request a bigger tank but pruning is a far more economical path.
Joseph.
Looks amazing
