bennerkla's 5.5 AGA Nano Reef Diary (Lots of PICS!!!)

Just picked up this ballast from eBay...

100_1242.jpg


Hopefully that'll run a DE 70 watt MH. It was only 32 bucks shipped from eBay, and I saw it on illuming.com for 75+shipping, so I think I got a good deal.

Too bad I have to use glass to block the UV's, I enjoyed simply lifting up the lid to access my tank.

Cya guys,

Ben
 
I found this thread last night and spent about an hour reading it all--kind of bumbed out when I read the that it all crashed on ya

I was going to bid on that ballast last night but I missed the end of the auction cause I was reading this:)

If you need any help building a canopy let me know--I have been know to build a few

Good luck with your new set-up
 
Give a little get a little, right picocube? ;) :)

Thanks for the comment. I went to Phishy Business today, and I asked about a bulb to buy, hopefully the prices aren't too bad.

More to come,

Ben
 
Thanks for the link! That is a great price, definately, but I'm waiting to see what Phishy Business has; I like to support LFS's when I can. But if the price is too high, I really like that 10k bulb.

Not sure what I'm going to do yet, still looking for an actinic retrofit kit. Jordan let me know about hellolights.com, but I want to wait to make sure it'll all fit in my canopy.
 
Okay I got a little impatient.....

But before the order, here is the ballast I got today. Won on Friday night, and it was here by Monday afternoon! From Florida! Didn't expect that...

ballast.jpg


Secondly, I filled out an order with HelloLights.com, a company who has a great reputation and sounded awesome on the phone. Here it is...

13W Compact Fluorescent----- Bulb = 13W Actinic 03 #30-20003
Retrofit Kit------$23.00

13W 6,500K, 7" -GX23 Base 31-00003 $5.95

70W 10,000K HQI "Double 20-5000870 1 $55.95
Ended" -Ushio

70W / 150W HQI Socket 61-100732 1 $14.95
Pair -Deluxe

I really hope this'll all fit in my hood, it will definately be waaay too close for comfort. If not, I really don't know what I'm going to do, maybe just make the top one huge reflector, but would the actinic and MH shining at eachother harm the PC?

Here are some pictures of what I ordered...

lamps-now_1894_425842


This is the retrofit kit for my 13 watt Actinic 03 bulb. It will supplement the 10k MH and act as a dawn/dusk effect. Hopefully I can fit this on the top, next to my MH.

Ushio%2070w%2010k.jpg


Here is the bulb. I really hope I don't think it's yellow, if so, I'll have to find the 14,000k Astralux. I'm betting on the fact that the actinic will even it out a bit.

lamps-now_1894_9292622


These are the sockets I'm using, seem pretty straightforward.

6700.jpg


This will be my new 6700k refugium light, my old one was 10000k (I didn't know that) so this one will better serve the purpose.


Well, in the meantime I think I'm going to paint the inside of my canopy white to help reflect some of the light, and take out my power compacts. Do you think I could sell these things? Not sure...

Any thoughts about my setup?

Have a good day,

Bennerkla
 
Looks like you are on your way Ben!

Glad to see Hellolights could help you out. I know I have found them to help me with my lighting needs.

PS- Does your canopy have a fan? Are you getting a fan? I think I am going to pick up one of those small computer fans from a local Radio Shack and try and hook it up to my new canopy..... just seeing if you have done this so I don't kill myself or break something:)
 
Hey Jordan...

Yeah, Hellolights was awesome! Their 70 watt MH bulb was 79.99, but with their price match guarentee, it was only 55.00 since illuming.com was cheaper. I will definately do business with them again, I'm very pleased and very impressed they already shipped out my stuff the hour I bought it! It should be here by Friday.

Yeah, I have a large fan in my canopy. Check the earlier pages on the thread to see, it's like page 5 or 6. Really easy to wire too.

I moved my tank near my bed, I think I'll really like it there. I'll snap a picture later on tonight.

Cya guys,

Ben
 
Ben - Tank looks nice, sorry I couln't post pics last night because we had some DLS problems. I'll try again tonight hopefully the problem will be resolved.

Atram
 
Hey Ben.

New placement looks nice. Nanos by the bed are cool. You can watch it as you go to sleep.

I was looking at your fan setup. I just bought a computer fan at Radio Shack. Took off the back housing (looks like yours now). It has 3 wires, black, red, and yellow and they are hooked up to some sort of connecter that would go to something on the computer. I only see your red and black wires hooked up to your power unit though?

I am going to try and wire it to my lights directly, but I am not sure how well it work.
 
Jordan,

Normally the 3 wires are... red +12 volts, yellow +5 volts and the black is ground. Normal fans just have a red & black wire.
 
Thanks Jordan. How much would a baby Ocellaris Clownfish cost at Phishy?

I think you don't need to worry about the yellow one at all, just cut it off. Then wire the black and red wires.

I'm not sure, though, check with the DIY forum first.
 
Hey Ben.

Thanks both of you for the help.

I think they would go for like 20$. I am not sure on babies though. Usually fish are the same price no matter the age. But getting babies in may be hard to do. I would call and find out, or I can ask him this weekend.

I think you should just go for a shrimp/goby pair. They seem to be a big craze now.
 
Well I meant just like a small clown, not necessarily a baby. Does Phishy have a shrimp/goby pair for sale?

Thanks Jordan.
 
Re: Aquafuge on 5.5g

Re: Aquafuge on 5.5g

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=5188523#post5188523 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by jcm1229

Minuses
Had to remove HOB filter (or run it off the side of tank)
Less water movement
No water agitation = less oxygen exchange
Click to expand...

I had this same problem so I took an extra air pump that I had around and have bubble disturbing the surface of the water to keep film from forming.
Its cheap and doesn't take up any room inside the refugium
 
The nano is coming back to life!

I went ahead and added the water today, it is mixing with the salt right now in the tank. The fuge is set up with some chaeto.

Check out my sweet action shots.

ham1.jpg


ham3.jpg


ham2.jpg




I also bought this play sand for my SB, my last SB was a little too thick with the particles for my taste. Although it does say "do not use in aquariums," I learned that was just a saying so no one can sue them if something goes wrong.

IMG_3832.jpg



I should get all of my stuff in tomorrow from HelloLights.com, and I'll set it all up this weekend and hopefully have a working, running tank by the beginning of next week!

Hope you guys still enjoy,

Ben
 
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