AGA92 Corner Reef Tank Build

I would like to add two 24" bulbs (T5, VHO T8, whatever), one on each side of the tank.

The LFS I frequent has the Hagen GLO T5 High Output system but they don't seem to come with individual reflectors, only dual reflectors which will not meet my needs.

Now I could run those bulbs without reflectors but I would prefer not to "waste" that much light.

Anyone have any suggestions on a solution that would meet my design requirements? :)
 
Look what arrived today:
<a href="http://www.omnipresence.ca/images/blog/AGA92/canopy/P4070002-1.JPG" target=_blank><img src="http://www.omnipresence.ca/images/blog/AGA92/canopy/P4070002.JPG" border=0></a>

This is my first metal halide and I'm feeling a bit overwhelmed. :confused:

I had to go to Home Depot to find the connectors to connect the receptacle to the ballast and the shrink wrapper to make the splice waterproof. Also, trying to find the right sized stainless steel bolt was a bit of a challenge.

I'm going to have to play with where to orientate the receptacle so that I can easily change the bulb without having to remove the entire reflector assembly from the canopy.

I've been trying to find an acclimation procedure. We don't have any coral yet but I also don't want to blind the fish. :cool:

I noticed that the receptacle can slide forward and backward, I'm assuming this is to position the filament in the center of the reflector, is that correct?

Any tips/tricks would be greatly appreciated.
 
Update

Update

So here is the finished product...
<a href="http://www.omnipresence.ca/images/blog/AGA92/canopy/P4150002-1.JPG" target=_blank><img src="http://www.omnipresence.ca/images/blog/AGA92/canopy/P4150002.JPG" border=0></a>

We will eventually add two 24" T5 Actinic Bulbs with Single Bulb Reflectors off a Hagen GLO T5 along the side braces (just below the fans) and maybe a couple of moon lights for at night.

I have to say that I love the shimmer effect.

I didn't post a FTS as we are still plagued by bubble algae. The good news is that it doesn't seem to be getting any worse. I have my eye out for a Foxface.

Speaking of fish, look what followed me home from the LFS yesterday...
<a href="http://www.omnipresence.ca/images/blog/AGA92/canopy/P4140002-1.JPG" target=_blank><img src="http://www.omnipresence.ca/images/blog/AGA92/canopy/P4140002.JPG" border=0></a>

They had just received an order and they weren't even landed yet so I told the owner I would take it still in the shipping bag. I drip acclimated it for two hours then added it to the tank.

I was a little worried as I couldn't find it after the light came on this morning. I had seen it before the light came on so I knew it had survived the night. So I got a mirror and a flashlight and began searching for it (or signs of it). I couldn't find it. There is nothing that could eat it whole so I assumed it was still somewhere in the tank.

I did some searching and found that this is very common for Royal Grammas and that most hide for a few days or more before venturing out.

While I was doing some cable management after dinner I saw it peeking out from behind one of the rocks at the front of the tank before it went back into whatever hole it was hiding in. Now that I know where it is, I see its head poking out every once in a while.
 
Thanks...ya, me too and coral now that we have a proper light.

The stock list is now:
Green Mandarin
Blue Spotted Watchman Goby
Royal Gramma Basslet

The next fish will be a Foxface if we can find one to get rid of the bubble algae. Not sure if we will just "rent" it or make it a permanent resident as I've read that they will nip at coral. Anyone have any experience with them and coral?

After that, we'll be looking to add a pair of Black and White Ocellaris hopefully hosted in an anemone.

Finally we'll add a Whitecheek Tang and a Kole Yellow Eye Tang.

For coral we're going to start with a few "cheaper" frags before getting into the expensive one from places like <a href="http://www.wickedfrags.com" target=_blank>wickedfrags.com</a>.

Some time in there we'll be looking for a clam or two; Crocea for sure and maybe a Squamosa or Maxima, a Derasa will be too big for our tank.
 
<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=14835035#post14835035 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by naprestsleep
How high do you have the pendant from the water?
Click to expand...
~16" from the glass shield to the water surface and ~19" from the bulb to the water surface.

I'll have to see if someone I know has a PAR meter that I can borrow to take some readings. :)
 
I'm glad we didn't go with the Large Lumen Bright; they need to be a minimum of 22" from the water. That would have made the canopy REALLY tall. :)

I'm very happy with the light so far.

I cleaned off all the coraline that was growing on the front glass and it just shines.

Can't wait to get rid of the bubble algae...might have to do another scrub session on the rock but I really don't want to take all the rock out again...
 
I have the large LB and its only 18" from the water, when I move I am thinking of lowering it a bit as at 18" I get get a lot of light spillage over the sides of the tank.

You like the 20000k bulb, or it it very blue? I need to order a new bulb soon and debating the 12000k or 20000k. When I got the original 12000k I thought it was to blue, but now I think there not enough blue to bring out the colors in the corals.

Joe
 
<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=14836421#post14836421 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by naprestsleep
I have the large LB and its only 18" from the water, when I move I am thinking of lowering it a bit as at 18" I get get a lot of light spillage over the sides of the tank.

You like the 20000k bulb, or it it very blue? I need to order a new bulb soon and debating the 12000k or 20000k. When I got the original 12000k I thought it was to blue, but now I think there not enough blue to bring out the colors in the corals.

Joe
Click to expand...
Light spillage was our major concern as the aquarium is behind us when watching TV...watch Lost and the fishies at the same time! :) We can still see the aquarium in the TV but it's not as bad as I thought it would be.

Yes, the 20,000k bulb looks great. I was going to go with the 12,000k as I was worried that the 20,000k would be too blue but Mike @ ReefSpecialty told me that the ReefLux 20,000k was much better than other 20,000k bulbs. Unfortunately, we don't have any coral at the moment so I can't tell how well they will shine under the 20,000k...
 
Over the last few days I've been recording the amount of water I've had to add to top off the tank.

Without the glass lid and having the two 120mm (4") fans blowing over the water surface 24 hours a day the evaporation rate is approximately 2.5 gallons a day.

I've been topping up when I feed in the morning and in the evening so ~1.25 gallons at a time.

Unfortunately, we have to store the RO/DI water in 5 gallon jugs and only have three of them currently, so enough for about 6 days.

I'm going to buy 4 more so that we have enough for 2 weeks.

I'm also going to order the JBJ ATO Unit and the Aqualifter pump and setup the ATO as my next project. The reservoir is only 6 gallons but at least this way if we miss a day, it won't run the sump dry. Our tank sitter will appreciate not having to come twice a day if we go on vacation as well.

Good thing we have a storage locker because there isn't enough room in the apartment for 4 more 5 gallon jugs and Kara (and I'm sure the landlord too) won't let me plumb things so that the RO Unit automatically fills the ATO reservoir.
 
<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=14836421#post14836421 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by naprestsleep
I have the large LB and its only 18" from the water, when I move I am thinking of lowering it a bit as at 18" I get get a lot of light spillage over the sides of the tank.

You like the 20000k bulb, or it it very blue? I need to order a new bulb soon and debating the 12000k or 20000k. When I got the original 12000k I thought it was to blue, but now I think there not enough blue to bring out the colors in the corals.

Joe
Click to expand...
You should use PAR readings to make your adjustments. Otherwise you'll just be guessing about what you're adjustments are actually doing, and waiting for the livestock to respond.

A lot of experienced hobbyists have them, someone in your local reef club should have on... I would recommend asking around to see if you can borrow one.

After my lighting fiasco, I'm all about data backing up decisions. Otherwise you'll find yourself in a reactive mode, instead of controlling the outcome from the start.
 
<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=14854067#post14854067 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by HumanIMDB
Over the last few days I've been recording the amount of water I've had to add to top off the tank.

Without the glass lid and having the two 120mm (4") fans blowing over the water surface 24 hours a day the evaporation rate is approximately 2.5 gallons a day.

I've been topping up when I feed in the morning and in the evening so ~1.25 gallons at a time.

Unfortunately, we have to store the RO/DI water in 5 gallon jugs and only have three of them currently, so enough for about 6 days.

I'm going to buy 4 more so that we have enough for 2 weeks.

I'm also going to order the JBJ ATO Unit and the Aqualifter pump and setup the ATO as my next project. The reservoir is only 6 gallons but at least this way if we miss a day, it won't run the sump dry. Our tank sitter will appreciate not having to come twice a day if we go on vacation as well.

Good thing we have a storage locker because there isn't enough room in the apartment for 4 more 5 gallon jugs and Kara (and I'm sure the landlord too) won't let me plumb things so that the RO Unit automatically fills the ATO reservoir.
Click to expand...
I'm not entirely surprised considering the shape of the lumen brights... I know they are great reflectors, but imagine they would direct a good amount of heat down towards the tank.
 
Actually the temperature doesn't change with the light on or off...the heaters are now on 24 hours a day though. :)

The fans will (hopefully) eliminate the temperature spike we had last year. The small air conditioner can't always keep up and some times we don't have it on in the morning and by the afternoon when we get home from work, it is really warm in the apartment.
 
Another addition to the project list

Another addition to the project list

I'm tired of unplugging the return pump and skimmer when feeding so I think one of the next projects I do will be to make a couple of these - http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?s=&threadid=939039

I'll probably make two, one for the return pump and another for the skimmer as I often leave the skimmer off for 2 hours after adding the phytoplankton but only leave the return pump off for around 15 minutes (i.e. for the fish to eat the food).
 
Might have to pick up one of these in the near future:

<a href="http://reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?s=&threadid=1550464&highlight=AquaDriver+SkimClean" target=_blank>AquaDriver SkimClean</a>

Cleaning the skimmer is one of my least favourite jobs and I know that it's Kara's least favourite as well.

Now if only we had a drain near the tank that we could pipe the skimmate to... :)
 
Ya, I've been reading up on it. Though it was initially developed for the Bubblekings, they do work on pretty much any skimmer...haven't been able to find a Canadian supplier yet though.
 
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