Atram 5.5 tank diary

[atram]

I started this tank at the end of May. It consists of a 5.5 gallon
AGA tank.

I built a custom hood and base with 70 watt 14k MH and and two 80 mm computer case fans to keep the temp down



Aromat Ballast

Astralux 14k mh bulb

80 mm computer case fan

Reflector

Tank with hood and base

Lit up

it also has an Aquaclear 30 filter for flow, 50 watt titanium heater and a mini-jet power head. Water went in June 30th, it currently has 5 lbs of live sand and 3 lbs Marshall Island live rock, I need to add more rock but my LFS is out of MI rock at this time.

I plan adding a fuge and close loop so I can get the equipment out of the tank.

Al

 

[Sugar Magnolia]

Looks really nice so far. Where'd you get your 70 watt MH retro kit?

 

[Travis Savant]

Great start, you may want to get another one of those fans though, those bulbs get HOT!

 

[atram]

Sugar Magnolia

Thanks! I bought the bulb from a guy at nr who bought several as a group buy sort of thing ($45.00). I bought the ballast from illuming at nr, he has a website and sells kits I think it was ($70.00) www.illuming.com. I was following your thread on the Aquaclear refugium, I might give that a go. Thanks for posting that information.

Travis

Thanks! I have two fans in there when they are on the temp stays stable at 80, one blows on the reflector and it acts as a heat sink, the other draws warm air out. When I turn them off the temp jumps up to 84/85 and stays there. I tested it out when I first put water in, they both run off of the same timer no temp probs so far.

 

[atram]

I have some rics and zoos that I bought a couple of months ago that will be going in, I also have an abundance of red sea pumping xenia and kenya tree as well. I'm not sure if I want to infest the 5.5 with the xenia and kenya tree, I was planning on trying out some SPS and a clam.

 

[coker98]

if the hood is open you could have the fans both blowing air in and the hot air would get pushed out anyways

 

[bennerkla]

Hey man, nice tank! I regret not getting the MH for my tank, I think you'll love that light. Check out my thread, you might get some ideas for filtration because I have both the AC's that you do, one with carbon and the other is a refugium. Be sure to keep us updated.

 

[atram]

Coker98

Thanks for the info. That would work if things get to hot, but the temp has been stable for the past 3 weeks. I'm going to get a digital thermometer and run a lead into the hood and see what impact the fans are having on the temp inside of the hood. I have a peice of glass mounted in the hood that sheild's the tank from UV, the hood is pretty much enclosed so the fan's are doing their job.

bennerkla

Thank's Ben. I've been watching your thread for some time now. I've got a lot of ideas from it. Your tank's looking great.

 

[bennerkla]

Thanks, I appreciate it. What GPH is that powerhead?

 

[coker98]

other than that the tank looks great keep us updated on the progress

 

[atram]

Bennerkla

The powerhead is a micro-jet 404 it's flow can be adjusted between 18 and 108 gph.

coker98

Thanks, it's a work in progress. I hope to get most of the equipment out of the tank, I'm working on a few ideas.

 

[atram]

New Coral's added

New Coral's added

I added some ricordia florida and a sweet little orange open brain, I've got pics but my camera is not recognizing my USB connection so I'm going to swap cables and if that doesn't work I'll get a card reader. I have some cool zoo's in my main tank that I'm going to frag for the 5.5

 

[atram]

Some new coral

Blue Fla ricordia

Red Brain

 

[bennerkla]

How much was the brain? Do they require MH lighting?

 

[atram]

Ben, I bought it locally. It's been in my 15 gallon under 130 watt pc lighting and seems to be doing well. It cost $40 at my favorite LFS. I'm going to see how it progresses and if it grows slowly I'm planning on putting it in my 5.5 once it mature's a bit more. I put the rics in the 5.5 and they seem to be doing well.

 

[RoBo2002]

What are you using to filter the DE bulb? They need a glass shield, but the way you have it set up, I cant see how it would filter.

 

[atram]

What are you using to filter the DE bulb? They need a glass shield, but the way you have it set up, I cant see how it would filter.

I have a plate of glass about 5 inches under the light. The bulb is suppose to be UV sheilded, but this is a precaution and it prevents water from splashing on the bulb.

 

[Daemonfly]

Usually DE bulbs aren't UV shielded. SE bulbs are, as they're basically DE bulb fit inside an outer glass casing. Either way, that glass thats in there should do the job well enough, the 70w MHs don't put out anywhere near the UV corals would get from the sun anyway.

 

[atram]

Usually DE bulbs aren't UV shielded

This is true, but the astralux manufacturer say's that these bulbs have some type of UV shielding abilities. On the ends of the box it indicates "UV Stop". When I went in on the group buy at nr.com there was some discussion about these bulb UV shielding abilities. There was some skepticism, not an issue because you need glass to protect the bulbs from splash anyway.

 

[atram]

An old "Calling all 5.5's" link from NR.com. Alot of different configurations, a few pretty cool aquariums

http://www.nano-reef.com/forums/showthread.php?s=&threadid=20972&perpage=20&pagenumber=1