CADlights 39g Pro build thread

ArtC, I have been following this thread for about a week or so. I just picked up my CADlights 39 Pro from a local reefer. This is an awesome thread and now that I am the proud new owner, I will be tagging along for good!
 
I search this thread and maybe missed it but several people asked what water level was best for the stock CAD skimmer.

What water level have you folks found to be ideal?

Da Bee!!
 
Finally got tank and stand set up in their permanent location this afternoon. I checked my light fixture, and the fans definitely keep running indefinitely when the MH is switched off.

CC
 
when i turn off my MH light manually (buttons) the fan stays on but after i hooked it up to a timer, it shuts off when the timer shuts off the light. i figured that the fan is probably wired directly to the wire and not to the MH ballast.

yeah i tried to find this thread but couldnt find it under the "Nano forums" but had to go to search to find it. it would be great if the moderators can put it back on "nano reefs" like it was before.

Hey Dr.Martin i got the 39G Signature series too, sweet tank!
 
Fan is definitely not wired into the switches.

My fan is starting to make some erratic noise - either out of balance due to dust or bearings starting to go. It makes noise until the lights have been off for a while ... maybe the fan isn't turning off but the noise chills when the fixture does?? I'll have to look closer.
 
Hi Artc I love your thread and am going to use it to set up my tank which is being built by Eddie now. I was wondering if you could tell me the size of the return line hose i.d. I am planning on running some hose out one of the vent holes to install a UV sterilizer on my tank. I wanted to get a head start on shopping to plumb my uv but can't find the size of the hose anywhere. I am going to use a "Y" to run the hose through the vent hole, into the UV and return to the tank through a flow meter. I will post a thread when I get my tank started, just don't know how to add pics.

Thanks,
 
sometimes it's just something stupid

sometimes it's just something stupid

Not a problem with the light fan after all. I had a brass crab sitting on top of the fixture to cover the unused suspension nuts.

He sat still when the fixture was cold, but when it heated up something expanded so that one of his legs barely touched the fixture and the crab vibrated with a beat frequency of about 1 Hz. A couple minutes after the lights went out, everything cooled down and the noise stopped - even though the fixture fan continues to run. :rolleyes:
 
<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=14139199#post14139199 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by BillyBee
I have the Pro, just received it last week. The return is 1/2" tube on mine.

Hmmm...
I'm at work right now, so I can't check and confirm, but I'm pretty sure my 39g Pro came with green 5/8"ID vinyl hose. (which I plan on replacing with braided tubing)

CC
 
<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=14145230#post14145230 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by California Crow
Hmmm...
I'm at work right now, so I can't check and confirm, but I'm pretty sure my 39g Pro came with green 5/8"ID vinyl hose. (which I plan on replacing with braided tubing)

CC

I just check mine I stand corrected its 5/8" ID green vinyl. I was thinking about the bulbhead.
 
Unbelievable! After all these weeks I'm finally able to test fit the plumbing, and I find to my dismay that I have exactly the same problem as described in coolcoral's post back in November... my durso and return PVC fittings are waaaay too short. That's it for me. I've been really patient with the problems I've had with quality control on this purchase, but this is the last straw. I've had to deal with:

1. chipped tank rim
2. broken skimmer leg
3. cracked stand back
4. missing glass top hanger
5. broken glass top hinge, and now
6. wrong Durso and return fittings

I'll not bother sending yet another email to CAD, as it'll be a lot easier just to pick up a couple lengths of PVC at HD and cut to the proper fit. Can someone please confirm the correct dimensions for the length from bulkhead to top of Durso and from bulkhead to top of return fitting (the tee... not including barb)

Thanks,

CC



<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=13791247#post13791247 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by coolcorals
Art:

I want to thank you for a great and detailed thread on setting up the CAD 39g Pro! Since documentation from CADLights is nonexistent, this is a lifesaver!

I've had mine for a couple months and am just now starting to set it up - I've never done a reef ready tank with overflow, so have a couple basic questions.

1. How tall should each of these pipes be in the overflow - how near the top? The Durso I have, the top of the cap with hole is 5" from the top edge of the overflow, while the top of the "T" on the return would be almost 12". From your photos, it looks like yours are much closer to the top. Anyone have correct length of each? My main return PVC (long) is a little over 4.5" and the durso PVC (long) is 10".

2. How snug should the PVC for Durso and return fit into the tops of the bulkheads inside overflow? I expected a fairly snug fit, like when you hand fit PVC pipe into connectors. But each is fairly loose, with Durso very loose. I'm afraid that water would leak around that fitting. Had planned to just pressure fit PVC into the bulkheads, but maybe not. Is this something to worry about? I think you recommended gluing the return.

Thanks again for any help and please post some updated pictures of your tank.
 
What's the old saying....measure twice, cut once...sorry to hear about it CC. At least out of all the things, this one is easy to resolve yourself.
 
The point is you shouldn't have to be resolving issues with a brand new tank that is supposed to come perfect as is. From following this thread, they really need to do something about quaility control.
 
<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=14150355#post14150355 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by Brad Villeggiante
The point is you shouldn't have to be resolving issues with a brand new tank that is supposed to come perfect as is. From following this thread, they really need to do something about quaility control.

BINGO!
 
Well, I guess I must be in the minority. I received my Pro last week (with stand) and everything worked out fine. I changed the durso and put in a Hofer Gurgle Buster as I feel they are too noisy and I also changed the return (what a mess) in the overflow. I like things to look a little neater.
Thats not because of anything they did, I decided I wanted something else.
The skimmer discharge was a bit low, but an easy fix. AND no need to change, it does the job.

So far they have been excellent. Eddie's done everything he said he would.

I wanted something compact, functional, with a sump/refuge, attractive and reasonably priced. It's also, almost, an AIO but it doesn't have a/any heaters, internal pumps for 30x flow but all in all a good value.

No directions or manual, which a newbie would find helpful but truthfully too much a system for a newbie. He would be better of with the Signature.

IMHO, it has it all.
 
BillyBee, could you post pics of the mods that you did? You say that you changed the return and I would like to see what you did, among your other changes.

Thanks!
 
<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=14151950#post14151950 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by BillyBee
Well, I guess I must be in the minority. I received my Pro last week (with stand) and everything worked out fine. I wanted something compact, functional, with a sump/refuge, attractive and reasonably priced. It's also, almost, an AIO but it doesn't have a/any heaters, internal pumps for 30x flow but all in all a good value.

No directions or manual, which a newbie would find helpful but truthfully too much a system for a newbie. He would be better of with the Signature.

IMHO, it has it all.

Hopefully, the end of DHL delivery will reduce the damaged deliveries. But if the same damage is happening to the same parts (e.g., skimmer legs) then the packing should be reconsidered. Probably best if Eddie made it a four box shipment, and put the small and fragile components in the fourth box instead of in with the tank! I suggested to Eddie that he start using (and including) an inventory list for shipments. Guess that hasn't happened yet

Some items maybe shouldn't be picked by Eddie. The amount of flow and heat desired will depend on the animals, environment, and owner. And most CADlights buyers are experienced enough to have opinions :)

And I'd suggest just using a Tunze skimmer or (after field testing) the new Euro-Reef instead of the CADlights. Good performance, saves space in the sump, doesn't break easy during shipment, and he can redirect complaints to the manufacturer!

On the other hand, I'm no newbie. I've had three 'normal' reef tanks before, I'm a systems engineer with a degree in physical oceanography. And I was looking at some of the parts and thinking '***' :confused:
 
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