A very large aquarium in a very small condo!
- Thread starter captngreg
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captngreg
New member
Mangrove refugium
The mangrove refugium is constructed out of 10mm glass, 1" of Styrofoam inside a 1/4" plywood box. The reason for the Styrofoam, this refugium is located outside on the porch and is subjected to a greater temperature range than the aquarium. Under the refugium is where the two compressors will be located for the titanium chillers that are inside the the aquarium stand.
Each Mangrove is planted in its own container. This facilitates the brake down of the refugium in the future for repairs, moving or upgrades. I try to make everything as modular as possible.
The mangrove refugium is constructed out of 10mm glass, 1" of Styrofoam inside a 1/4" plywood box. The reason for the Styrofoam, this refugium is located outside on the porch and is subjected to a greater temperature range than the aquarium. Under the refugium is where the two compressors will be located for the titanium chillers that are inside the the aquarium stand.
Each Mangrove is planted in its own container. This facilitates the brake down of the refugium in the future for repairs, moving or upgrades. I try to make everything as modular as possible.
Last edited:
captngreg
New member
Finally got some pictures of the refugium filter!
The trays you see in the refugium areas are to hold the Miracle Mud.
I had to modify the original plan because the tunze skimmers took up a lot more room than I expected. I lost a lot of the area I was going to use for my cryptic zone, so I ended up converting part of one of the refugiums into a cryptic area.
The trays you see in the refugium areas are to hold the Miracle Mud.
I had to modify the original plan because the tunze skimmers took up a lot more room than I expected. I lost a lot of the area I was going to use for my cryptic zone, so I ended up converting part of one of the refugiums into a cryptic area.
captngreg
New member
Lighting!!!!!!!!!
Just got done talking to the owner of Orphek about the lighting system for this tank.
I've ordered 8 PR156 PLUS XP - Dim these units are fitted with the proper connectors which will allow the LEDs to be controlled by my Neptune Apex; connectors will be installed to connect to the Neptune Variable Speed Dimming Module.
I believe Orphek has finally brought all the bells & whistles that we have been waiting for into one system! Great coverage when compared with the other system out there, UV and red LEDs, Dimmable and finally now to be able to control all the lights from your aquarium's controller with out having to program many different timers!!!!!!!!!
Just got done talking to the owner of Orphek about the lighting system for this tank.
I've ordered 8 PR156 PLUS XP - Dim these units are fitted with the proper connectors which will allow the LEDs to be controlled by my Neptune Apex; connectors will be installed to connect to the Neptune Variable Speed Dimming Module.
I believe Orphek has finally brought all the bells & whistles that we have been waiting for into one system! Great coverage when compared with the other system out there, UV and red LEDs, Dimmable and finally now to be able to control all the lights from your aquarium's controller with out having to program many different timers!!!!!!!!!
captngreg
New member
Refugium lighting
I run several refugiums on my aquarium. I have use T5s switched to Marineland Reef LED Light Fixture & even used DIF-30 18,000K LED Pendant, but not one lighting type has ever come close to the amount & pace of algae production that grows in the mangrove refugium on my back porch. The mangroves are shaded most of the day and usually only gets indirect sunlight but it easily out produces the much bigger dedicated algae refugiums inside, and this inside refugiums get 16 hr. of light! After reading the article about "œOrphek LED to Release Refugium Specific Light" I think I understand why this is.
http://www.reefs.com/blog/2012/04/17/orphek-led-to-release-refugium-specific-light/
I can't wait to try out this new light from Orphek, and compare it with the other lights as well as mother nature.
I run several refugiums on my aquarium. I have use T5s switched to Marineland Reef LED Light Fixture & even used DIF-30 18,000K LED Pendant, but not one lighting type has ever come close to the amount & pace of algae production that grows in the mangrove refugium on my back porch. The mangroves are shaded most of the day and usually only gets indirect sunlight but it easily out produces the much bigger dedicated algae refugiums inside, and this inside refugiums get 16 hr. of light! After reading the article about "œOrphek LED to Release Refugium Specific Light" I think I understand why this is.
http://www.reefs.com/blog/2012/04/17/orphek-led-to-release-refugium-specific-light/
I can't wait to try out this new light from Orphek, and compare it with the other lights as well as mother nature.
XTheMaxX
New member
Refugium lighting
I run several refugiums on my aquarium. I have use T5s switched to Marineland Reef LED Light Fixture & even used DIF-30 18,000K LED Pendant, but not one lighting type has ever come close to the amount & pace of algae production that grows in the mangrove refugium on my back porch. The mangroves are shaded most of the day and usually only gets indirect sunlight but it easily out produces the much bigger dedicated algae refugiums inside, and this inside refugiums get 16 hr. of light! After reading the article about "œOrphek LED to Release Refugium Specific Light" I think I understand why this is.
http://www.reefs.com/blog/2012/04/17/orphek-led-to-release-refugium-specific-light/
I can't wait to try out this new light from Orphek, and compare it with the other lights as well as mother nature.
I just change the orientation of the letters on the last pic...
captngreg
New member
Update Tank construction:
Update Tank construction:
There has been a delay in the tank construction. :facepalm:The original plan called for use of ¾" laminated glass with a stainless frame. Once we saw how green and distorted the laminated glass was, I had to make a change. The tank is now being made with a 1" three-ply laminated glass bottom, the sides & back will be made from ¾" tempered regular glass and the front panel will be constructed from ¾" low iron low lead tempered glass. This is the same type of glass that is sold under such names a Krystal Klear, Diamant, Optiwhite, Starphire, and Eurowhite glass. I will still be using the stainless steel frame for added strength. This change will put my time table back a week or two. If thing go as plan I should have some pictures of the tank being assembled in the living room in about two weeks! Hopefully by the end of July we'll have saltwater in the tank!!!!!:bounce2:
Update Tank construction:
There has been a delay in the tank construction. :facepalm:The original plan called for use of ¾" laminated glass with a stainless frame. Once we saw how green and distorted the laminated glass was, I had to make a change. The tank is now being made with a 1" three-ply laminated glass bottom, the sides & back will be made from ¾" tempered regular glass and the front panel will be constructed from ¾" low iron low lead tempered glass. This is the same type of glass that is sold under such names a Krystal Klear, Diamant, Optiwhite, Starphire, and Eurowhite glass. I will still be using the stainless steel frame for added strength. This change will put my time table back a week or two. If thing go as plan I should have some pictures of the tank being assembled in the living room in about two weeks! Hopefully by the end of July we'll have saltwater in the tank!!!!!:bounce2:
Newbie Aquarist
Reefing is my middle name
Everything is looking good especially the outside mangrove garden. I am particularly psyched about those Orphek light fixtures. They are my favorite next to the Radions. Bummer on the delay though.
captngreg
New member
Just got the news from Orphek that my lights are built and packed for the flight to Peru!
Orphek even sent me a picture of my lights all packed up and ready to ship.
I'd like to make a comment on the new LEDs coming to the market. As everyone knows I decide on Orphek. But before I chose them I went and looked at most of the LEDs aquarium fixtures on the market at the time. A lot of them had the ability to dim "œsimulate sunrise & sunset", I like this feature not for the novelty, but I can see a real advantage when it comes to skittish fish that tend to jump a lot especially when lights turn off or on abruptly. One of the huge selling points of a lot of LED lights, is you can customize the color of the light. This is an option I think you should think about carefully before spending your hard earned money. The way the manufactures allow you to change the light bluer or whiter is by dimming half of your lights. So if you spend $700 on a new fixture and it puts out X amount of light at full lamination and you decide you like a bluer light you dim the white and now instead of X amount of light you get less. This is why I went, and looked at the different fixture at full lamination before I bought, if the color at full lamination is not what you want find another option, why pay for light you are not going to use. The cool things about the Orphek lights are they are not a take it or leave it proposition. If you go and look at one of these lights and decide you would like a fixture with a little more blue light or little more white Orphek will custom build your lights for you. I don't want to sound like a commercial for Orphek but this is one aspect of this lighting system that seem to be glossed over in favor of all the bells & whistles.
Orphek even sent me a picture of my lights all packed up and ready to ship.
I'd like to make a comment on the new LEDs coming to the market. As everyone knows I decide on Orphek. But before I chose them I went and looked at most of the LEDs aquarium fixtures on the market at the time. A lot of them had the ability to dim "œsimulate sunrise & sunset", I like this feature not for the novelty, but I can see a real advantage when it comes to skittish fish that tend to jump a lot especially when lights turn off or on abruptly. One of the huge selling points of a lot of LED lights, is you can customize the color of the light. This is an option I think you should think about carefully before spending your hard earned money. The way the manufactures allow you to change the light bluer or whiter is by dimming half of your lights. So if you spend $700 on a new fixture and it puts out X amount of light at full lamination and you decide you like a bluer light you dim the white and now instead of X amount of light you get less. This is why I went, and looked at the different fixture at full lamination before I bought, if the color at full lamination is not what you want find another option, why pay for light you are not going to use. The cool things about the Orphek lights are they are not a take it or leave it proposition. If you go and look at one of these lights and decide you would like a fixture with a little more blue light or little more white Orphek will custom build your lights for you. I don't want to sound like a commercial for Orphek but this is one aspect of this lighting system that seem to be glossed over in favor of all the bells & whistles.
Newbie Aquarist
Reefing is my middle name
Yes I have. They are about equal but IMO the Orphek will give you more bang for the buck considering you are getting a longer fixture, more LEDs and color choice. Good decision on your part.
captngreg
New member
Quote: Newbie Aquarist
Quote: captngreg
Quote: Newbie Aquarist
I agree completely. One of the reasons I original went and bought two Orphek fixtures to try them out for myself was the grater coverage area. At the time they did not offer a dimmable fixture or red LEDs, like the ones that just landed in Peru !!!!
Can't wait to see the new lights up & running, which should be soon. "œ see next post"
Quote: captngreg
Quote: Newbie Aquarist
I agree completely. One of the reasons I original went and bought two Orphek fixtures to try them out for myself was the grater coverage area. At the time they did not offer a dimmable fixture or red LEDs, like the ones that just landed in Peru !!!!
Can't wait to see the new lights up & running, which should be soon. "œ see next post"
captngreg
New member
Things are starting to finally come together. Everything hear in Peru takes twice as long because I need to import almost all equipment for this aquarium. Saltwater tanks are not very common here and the ones I do come across use only the very basic equipment. It was only this year that the better of the two stores that stock coral started selling a metal halide light!
It took over a month to get my salt, sand, generator and new living room future cleared thou customs! I had to pay over a $1000 dollars US for storage while they had the salt & sand chemical tested, and of course they made me pay for that as well :headwally:
First shipment has arrived :bounce3:
The lights are in Peru :dance: Just waiting to find out how much customs is going to charge me to get them.
It took over a month to get my salt, sand, generator and new living room future cleared thou customs! I had to pay over a $1000 dollars US for storage while they had the salt & sand chemical tested, and of course they made me pay for that as well :headwally:
First shipment has arrived :bounce3:
The lights are in Peru :dance: Just waiting to find out how much customs is going to charge me to get them.
