An addicted reefer chic's 40B franken tank w/ 2 30g display macro tanks...

[seminoleFLreef]

Pics.... pics....

Pics????

I almost ordered a Maxspect Razor r420r 120w 16,000k today... then almost ordered all the parts to make my own controller instead... then was going to build the LEDS...

Im so torn. $1200 is double my budget, but sure wish i could find something that would be on top for a few years! Im scared to make a decision.

Pics?!

 

[MeanGreenEyes]

Pics.... pics....

Pics????

I almost ordered a Maxspect Razor r420r 120w 16,000k today... then almost ordered all the parts to make my own controller instead... then was going to build the LEDS...

Im so torn. $1200 is double my budget, but sure wish i could find something that would be on top for a few years! Im scared to make a decision.

Pics?!

I'm telling you to hold off and do your research! lol You can't/shouldn't go off of one person's decisions considering the fixture has been over my tank for less than 24 hours. I can't take accurate pics with T5...so LED pics definitely won't work. Do not buy anything for at least a month...do your research. Hand the credit cards/cash to your wife and tell her to hold them until you've made a legitimate case for spending money on any light fixture. Got to get back to turkey day prep. Gave great advice in the earlier post on research, please go follow it. I don't want to be blamed for purchases you are unhappy with. GL

EDIT: YOU SHOULD NEVER BE TORN ON TANK RELATED PURCHASES! When you've done appropriate research and are satisfied with that and give it time to think about it (at least a month) you will be at peace with your decision.

 

[seminoleFLreef]

well... ive been researching and asking everyones opinions, and reading every thread since fathers day... yup mid june

As for pics, I know I cant afford $1200 for my 24 gallon tank, I was just hoping to see some coloration from the combo of LEDs used in your setup, but you are very correct... it may take some time to get good photos that represent true color :S I happen to have a bunch of pro photography and video equipment and think everyone can setup their tripod, adjust the manual settings on the DSLR or HD prosumer camea... and capture away.

I am going to take your advice though.. ill do more research. I shouldnt be torn, Ill wait till I can make a confident choice. Im a terrible impulse buyer. And no way im giving my cash to the wife on this one, she would come home with new heels, boots, and a few new "things to wear." haha. Ive been saying for 5 months, im ordering LEDS...

Sadly, still nothing.

I AM overly excited to see your tank with the lights over it... Thanks for the chill pill!

 

[TheKman]

Thank you! I'm really loving the lights and how sleek they are! I only played around with the settings for a few minutes before going to bed, so didn't really set it to where I'd like. Still have to do the software update. I am very happy with the purchase so far, over the moon actually. :bounce1:

Super awesome! My friend just switched from LED's back to T5's and He's going to let me test his AI's over my tank to see if I like them. I looked into some info on that site you linked and your lights seem like they are pretty awesome. Get some more pics up! :wave:

 

[MeanGreenEyes]

well... ive been researching and asking everyones opinions, and reading every thread since fathers day... yup mid june

As for pics, I know I cant afford $1200 for my 24 gallon tank, I was just hoping to see some coloration from the combo of LEDs used in your setup, but you are very correct... it may take some time to get good photos that represent true color :S I happen to have a bunch of pro photography and video equipment and think everyone can setup their tripod, adjust the manual settings on the DSLR or HD prosumer camea... and capture away.

I am going to take your advice though.. ill do more research. I shouldnt be torn, Ill wait till I can make a confident choice. Im a terrible impulse buyer. And no way im giving my cash to the wife on this one, she would come home with new heels, boots, and a few new "things to wear." haha. Ive been saying for 5 months, im ordering LEDS...

Sadly, still nothing.

I AM overly excited to see your tank with the lights over it... Thanks for the chill pill!

Good job! You won't regret waiting once you've made your final decision!

Super awesome! My friend just switched from LED's back to T5's and He's going to let me test his AI's over my tank to see if I like them. I looked into some info on that site you linked and your lights seem like they are pretty awesome. Get some more pics up! :wave:

Sounds like fun! Lucky you! :rollface: Maybe your friend will just gift you the AI's. They're great lights just not a fit for the my own personal preference/my idea of perfection. That's exactly why I didn't go with AI, I hear those stories too often.

 

[MeanGreenEyes]

In tank related news...

I'm having...ugh...issues with the firmware update on the new light. 100% user error, I'm sure. I think the Thanksgiving chaos isn't allowing my brain to function at 100%. I need some sleep and peace and quiet. So still running T5's at the moment over the tank...under the LEDS. Lmao. Going to work on it today and do a full system scrub down, water change, vinegar bath for the pumps/skimmer, etc. Then do FTS, if I'm able to figure out this d@mn update. I've followed the directions to a "T." Going to head over to the GHL forum and try to figure out the issue.

Also, I'm building a d.i.y. continuous feeder for chilled foods since I plan to keep NPS in the top display fuge. The part that I'm waiting on will arrive in a couple of days. This shall be interesting. Won't spill details til it's completed, plans are still being worked out. lol Looking into magnetic stirrers that can function in a chilled environment as well. I've heard of a few malfunction, so not going to jump in head first on that purchase.

Working on gathering supplies for my phyto/pod culturing venture.

I'm also sick of the effin' cord mess that I have going on...grrrrr. Clueless on where to begin on organizing that shizz. :grumpy:

Current wishlist:
Full apex
BM triple doser
3rd mp10 (this will go on the top 30g macro fuge/nps/gorg tank)

I've also decided that I will be throwing in the towel on FW...those tanks have gotta go. I just don't have the interest in them anymore...at all.

 

[MeanGreenEyes]

So...I'm using this cute little mini-fridge as my cooling apparatus for my d.i.y. continuous feeder project:

I still have to find small lab grade magnetic stirrers to fit inside to keep foods mixed...haven't looked yet...

I'll be using this enternal pump that I was originally planning to use for 2-part dosing:

Seen here:

http://reefdosingpumps.com/sentry.html

Scored mine refurbished for $50 v.s. the $350 it normally sells for.

This will all be mounted close to the tank so that the distance the food has to travel through the lines is VERY minimal. Since I will be programming to feed .4ml/hr the food won't be sitting in the lines long enough to clog. I have dual lines running on the enternal pump since oysterfeast can't be combined with phyto/rotifeast due to risk of spoiling.

Waiting on silicone to arrive in my BRS order on Friday, and have to pick up some drill bits to run the lines into the fridge. I'm so excited!!

Of course it will be connected on the RKL (eventually Apex/Profilux upgrade) as a backup safety measure should the pump try to overfeed.


Still working on the major re-scape...full system scrub down went down last weekend, as well as 2 separate 5g water changes. Not ready for pics with the new light but I have to say...I am VERY happy with the purchase. Also, went ahead and changed carbon/gfo and threw in a new bag of CPE. I swear I'm already seeing some new growth on the Aussie Yellow with pink tips
frag since the swap. Everything is still acclimating to the new light, running at 40%.

Also, trying to decide if I want to go with the Profilux controller and doser or Apex and Bubble Magus doser. I've been hearing a lot of crazy sh*t happening with the Bubble Magus doser, tanks crashing, etc. I'm thinking it might be better to save up for quality "toys" from the beginning. Any input from those already running Profilux on their systems would be greatly appreciated.

My little Nac3 "skimmer that could" lol:

 

[joeogio]

nice tank looks like you have a little bit of everything!

 

[joeogio]

I'm not hitting on you by any means, but chicks who dig reptiles or fish seem to be hard to find, but when you do, they are pretty cool.... I fix whatever needs to be fixed I'm our house as well..... Sound like a nice woman....

lmao! i feel the same way every chick i talk to about my reef tanks is like oh cool... and i usually don't hear from them again :C

 

[MeanGreenEyes]

nice tank looks like you have a little bit of everything!

Thanks! Yes...that was the plan with my crazy franken-system...to be able to keep everything that I want that's not compatible while all tied together for maximum stability/water volume.

lmao! i feel the same way every chick i talk to about my reef tanks is like oh cool... and i usually don't hear from them again :C

There are a few out there...just gotta look. A couple of my buddies actually got their wives/girlfriends into the hobby...then kicked themselves when they either took over their tanks/found out the true costs associated with the hobby & started b*tching at them/were using the hobby as an out/alone time and got smothered by them being associated with it. So be careful what you ask for lol. Luckily, my boyfriend couldn't give 2 sh*ts about my tanks, so he'll never know the true cost of the hobby. His only interest was wanting a pair of black clowns, which I found and am waiting for from a local reefer.

 

[joeogio]

Thanks! Yes...that was the plan with my crazy franken-system...to be able to keep everything that I want that's not compatible while all tied together for maximum stability/water volume.



There are a few out there...just gotta look. A couple of my buddies actually got their wives/girlfriends into the hobby...then kicked themselves when they either took over their tanks/found out the true costs associated with the hobby & started b*tching at them/were using the hobby as an out/alone time and got smothered by them being associated with it. So be careful what you ask for lol. Luckily, my boyfriend couldn't give 2 sh*ts about my tanks, so he'll never know the true cost of the hobby. His only interest was wanting a pair of black clowns, which I found and am waiting for from a local reefer.

yeah i see how it could be a double edge sword, yeah i try not to think about the cost i just go i want that and that and that,,, then my wallet hurts lol

 

[joeogio]

What a bunch of Hypocrites, if this wasn't a good looking woman, EVERY one of you would be attacking her for having a Yellow Tang in a 40B, but as it is, not 1 mention of it, unbelievable. I personally don't recommend or condemn people for this, but I am certainly in the minority. BTW OP, you do have a very nice DT & set up.

yeah i hate it when people give others a hard time over things like that, i mean if the fish is healthy i see it as no harm done.

 

[joeogio]

I've seen some go MP10 & MP40 and some go 2x MP10 on 40B's...what do you guys think? Already have my MP10wes and tunze 6025.

i have a single mp10 on my 40gb and it does well on its own another mp10 would be really handy to have to but on the back glass to really stir things up in nutrient transport mode

 

[MeanGreenEyes]

i have a single mp10 on my 40gb and it does well on its own another mp10 would be really handy to have to but on the back glass to really stir things up in nutrient transport mode

I already added a second mp10 last week. Needed more flow b/c my 40B is going SPS dominant.

 

[jgalvin]

Hi, if you don't mind me asking, what clip on light is that over the fuge in your sump?

Full system shots...sorry...DT tank lights off...go ahead and laugh lol...my plumbing job on this system is the laughing stock of a few local reefing buddies...lol

Return pump manifold...

Under DT drain/return lines...

Reactors plumbed into the reutrn...

Drain lines from DT and macro fuge into sump...

Drain/return in top 30g macro fuge...

My cluster eff of cords and plumbing ran from main system to macro system...

 

[wyattroa]

I already added a second mp10 last week. Needed more flow b/c my 40B is going SPS dominant.

I am in the process of setting up my 40B and have 2 mp10 also..I am just going to need to find the best placement for them.

You seem to be doing great on the tank

 

[MeanGreenEyes]

yeah i see how it could be a double edge sword, yeah i try not to think about the cost i just go i want that and that and that,,, then my wallet hurts lol

If my tank needs something...it's going to get it...it's like my child.

yeah i hate it when people give others a hard time over things like that, i mean if the fish is healthy i see it as no harm done.

Well, I mean he is right...I would never recommend it to someone that doesn't have a long history of fish keeping. Plus, with the extra feedings he requires, I have roughly 130g of water volume to cope...not your average 40B system...lots of macro algae that I grow to feed him...as well as nori sheets and frozen, pellets and flakes...all soaked in garlic and selcon. He doesn't have the swimming space that he requires long term, so I can see the concern. Long term there WOULD BE harm done b/c the fish wouldn't have optimal swimming space/environment, which would cause him stress at 5"+ and in turn he would become sick and die. So I don't want anyone new to the hobby to misconstrue my intentions with this fish. I've found 1 of possibly 2 long term homes for him locally. The 2 locals have a 155 and a 90. So as soon as I feel he's gotta get out of my system, he will be in 1 of theirs. Yellow tangs require LOTS of swimming space. He is also the only fish in my system that actually swims through the water column...clowns host nem...YWG stays in the cave with the pistol, red scooter scoots along the sand/rocks...so he has no competition in that sense. He's also fed nori sheets/macro feedings twice a day and I'm working on a continuous feeder even though they require more of the "greens" in their diet...it'll help sustain him. So I have every base covered that a newb wouldn't necessarily think of or have a clue about.

 

[MeanGreenEyes]

Hi, if you don't mind me asking, what clip on light is that over the fuge in your sump?

I bought that at a local asian lfs from my freshwater days...it was imported from china...I just have a spiral 6500k cfl in there. So I'm sure a search through that main auction site or similar large marketplace of sorts would turn one up in a search.

I am in the process of setting up my 40B and have 2 mp10 also..I am just going to need to find the best placement for them.

You seem to be doing great on the tank

I placed mine on the ends of the tank...I think it's senseless in a way to put them on the back of a tank this small just to have the flow shooting at the front glass. As soon as I get the wireless chip installed in the 2nd mp (es) which I got at a steal...I'm going to sync them. Just be sure to use the mounting bases/zip ties to mount them to your tanks or they won't be covered under the warranty should they drop and break. If you bought your mp's used you can buy the 1"x1" mounting bases at like Home Depot/other hardware store in the isle with zip ties and like 3" zip ties to mount them for all of $2 total for both.

I gave my system a full scrub down again last Sunday...working on cleaning up my cord mess, continuous feeder, acclimating tank to the new light, rescaping...need a better controller and I want BRS Pukani rock to rescape the left side of my tank...as well as my macro fuges.

So I still have A LOT of work to do on this system...so it still looks a d@mn mess...which frustrates me...but it's a work in progress. I also put my T5 fixture over my top 30g macro/nps/gorg tank b/c I plan to do a little contest of sorts with a few of the same frags of SPS under the Mitras and T5's.

 

[MeanGreenEyes]

Omg...drool...these is on my NPS wishlist once I'm ready...consider it documented. lol

West African Red Polyp Pink Sea Fan

Aussie Spider Sponge

 

[MeanGreenEyes]

Chalice that's been hiding out on the frag rack...