reefman1977
In Memoriam
nice!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
600 gallon reef - Photos up....
- Thread starter GMFett
- Start date
jnarowe
New member
Love your tank! I particularly like the cutouts for equipment...no fear over there!! 
Tell me about your lights. I see they are way off the water and I am wondering why that is?
This looks like maybe 14" to 18" above the water. I am using 1000W MH lamps and they are set at 8" on light rails. Maybe mine are too close??
Tell me about your lights. I see they are way off the water and I am wondering why that is?
This looks like maybe 14" to 18" above the water. I am using 1000W MH lamps and they are set at 8" on light rails. Maybe mine are too close??
It is ideal to keep HQI's about 10 inches off the acrylic. Eventually, the acrylic will become clouded looking. However, if you are running a light rail, the acrylic will have more time to cool. That would somewhat bother me though because the clouding occurs because of the change in temperature. Is the bulb or the bottom of the reflector 8 inches from the acrylic? The reason that mine are so high is that i just added those 4 400 watt HQI's. I didnt want to bleach any corals so i am slowly lowering them. Every two weeks i take them down 1 inch and raise the time by 30 minutes. I haven't had any coral bleaching yet with this system. I was thinking about putting a 1000 watt 20k in the middle how is the heat off of that thing? I have a 1 hp chiller so it could handle it im just not sure if it is necesary. The light rail idea is really cool. Definitely a new application.
MF :bum:
MF :bum:
jnarowe
New member
OK good method!
Your point about the acrylic is a lesson already learned. I bought the tank used and it took hours to sand out the lamp damage. HOURS!
I decided before I shoot my mouth off any more I should actually measure what i have. I have my lamps so that they are not directly over any acrylic. My tank is 8' x 5' and there are 3 sections. Each section has a 1000W MH 20K lamp over it. The 2 ends are on light movers and about the bulb is 10" above the water and the center lamp is mounted in a dish and the bulb is about 13-14" above the water.
Here is a shot showing the lamps in their final position although the center one is not tilted like you see here.
Your point about the acrylic is a lesson already learned. I bought the tank used and it took hours to sand out the lamp damage. HOURS!
I decided before I shoot my mouth off any more I should actually measure what i have. I have my lamps so that they are not directly over any acrylic. My tank is 8' x 5' and there are 3 sections. Each section has a 1000W MH 20K lamp over it. The 2 ends are on light movers and about the bulb is 10" above the water and the center lamp is mounted in a dish and the bulb is about 13-14" above the water.
Here is a shot showing the lamps in their final position although the center one is not tilted like you see here.
Dudester
Premium Member
I've had the good fortune of seeing this monster tank twice in the past few weeks, most recently today. The first time I saw it, I was simply awestruck and could barely see straight. I did not know the tank's dimensions when I entered the front door of the house. Immediately you see the "living room" view and you feel as though you have an oxygen tank on your back. The tank looks deep, but I was completely floored when I walked to the side and looked at it end-on. The gorge through the center of the 2 main rock structures is peppered with very well-placed corals. The view from the "kitchen side" is, as expected, completely different, and you get the feeling as though you are looking at 2 distinctly different reefs. This tank is huge and there's a lot of coral in there, but it's well spaced with plenty of room for growth. For a young tank this thing is spectacular, and in another year it will be TOTM caliber. The equipment is top-notch and Marcus et. al take excellent care of the system. This tank is the inspiration for a 450 gallon tank that I'm planning to set up in my new office (ETA 1/07). Just wanted to give my 0.02, and I'm looking forward to my next visit to see it again. Kudos, guys!
longhornreefer
New member
Marcus & Dallis,
Everytime I see the tank it looks better and better. I think everything is finally dialed in just right. Sometimes I feel like you "grasshoppers" have exceeded the master. But beware, the dudster and I are going to give you a serious run for your money. After today, he is already mentioning going up to 48"wide. By the time we actually start working I think the dude is going to talk himself into a tank that S. Weast may be jealous of.
Everytime I see the tank it looks better and better. I think everything is finally dialed in just right. Sometimes I feel like you "grasshoppers" have exceeded the master. But beware, the dudster and I are going to give you a serious run for your money. After today, he is already mentioning going up to 48"wide. By the time we actually start working I think the dude is going to talk himself into a tank that S. Weast may be jealous of.
sleevasteve
New member
Beautiful!! I like how its viewable from 3 sides. Your link is in my favorites 
