CADlights 39g Pro build thread
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CalmSeasQuest
Active member
39G Pro Build underway (sorta)
39G Pro Build underway (sorta)
Thanks for all the information in this thread, its been a huge help so far (especially since my tank came with no instructions.) I'm new to RC, I've been away from reefs for about 10 years and it's taking a bit to get back up to speed. I rec'd my tank yesterday, (love the tank) but the stand was damaged in shipping so I've got a few days before I get the replacement to complete the build.
I'm planning on this being primarily a SPS tank - A few observations/questions...
I fired up the lights, I noted only 1 (of three) fans lit - Are the other two fans on a thermostat?
I was disappointed that the single running fan was so loud (this tank is destined for a living room) It might disappear once I get it plumbed and water running, but it still seemed rather loud. Thoughts on options for a quieter setup that might provide more light output?
ATO - The tank will be too far from my RO source with no way to plumb it. I'd like to figure out how to hide a few gallons of top off water with kalk and the sump appears to take up all the available space in the stand.
I'm taking pics to document the build (once something good happens.) I should have the remaining pieces along with an Apex to play with in about a week.
Thanks for all the help.
-Tom
39G Pro Build underway (sorta)
Thanks for all the information in this thread, its been a huge help so far (especially since my tank came with no instructions.) I'm new to RC, I've been away from reefs for about 10 years and it's taking a bit to get back up to speed. I rec'd my tank yesterday, (love the tank) but the stand was damaged in shipping so I've got a few days before I get the replacement to complete the build.
I'm planning on this being primarily a SPS tank - A few observations/questions...
I fired up the lights, I noted only 1 (of three) fans lit - Are the other two fans on a thermostat?
I was disappointed that the single running fan was so loud (this tank is destined for a living room) It might disappear once I get it plumbed and water running, but it still seemed rather loud. Thoughts on options for a quieter setup that might provide more light output?
ATO - The tank will be too far from my RO source with no way to plumb it. I'd like to figure out how to hide a few gallons of top off water with kalk and the sump appears to take up all the available space in the stand.
I'm taking pics to document the build (once something good happens.) I should have the remaining pieces along with an Apex to play with in about a week.
Thanks for all the help.
-Tom
My stand too was damaged a little. Did you see Tivo's setup and how he hid stuff on the sides of his tank? You could do that with a top off vat, or if you didn't mind a small top-off that needed to be replaced every day, perhaps something would work on the shelf in the cabinet that is above the sump? That is how I plan to dose when the time comes. About the fan: mine too is entirely too loud and smells of hot plastic when I turn it on. I let them know, they are yet to replace it.
itsmee, eddie from cadlights had recommended placing the drain hose in the chamber in front of the skimmer as you look at it (not the chamber with the skimmer). is there a reason you decided to put it in the skimmer chamber?
i've found that i get less bubbles if i put it in the front chamber, but i haven't experimented that much.
i've found that i get less bubbles if i put it in the front chamber, but i haven't experimented that much.
Re: 39G Pro Build underway (sorta)
Re: 39G Pro Build underway (sorta)
re: the fans, i don't think there are 3 fans in the light fixture? there are 3 vents, for certain... i only have one fan on my light.
the single fan is very loud. it gets quieter in the stand if you put it over the sump. downside is that it results in more condensation that way. cadlights recently switched back to the single, louder fan based on the better air output to help with cooling.
re: ATO, i've been tossing around suggestions with people about using milkcrate-sized/cube baskets (e.g. from Target) and stacking a couple next to the tank with the tubes running out the back of them.
i'd love to see your build thread - do you have a link to it?
Re: 39G Pro Build underway (sorta)
re: the fans, i don't think there are 3 fans in the light fixture? there are 3 vents, for certain... i only have one fan on my light.
the single fan is very loud. it gets quieter in the stand if you put it over the sump. downside is that it results in more condensation that way. cadlights recently switched back to the single, louder fan based on the better air output to help with cooling.
re: ATO, i've been tossing around suggestions with people about using milkcrate-sized/cube baskets (e.g. from Target) and stacking a couple next to the tank with the tubes running out the back of them.
i'd love to see your build thread - do you have a link to it?
reeftivo
Skim junkie
The light fixture fan for the 39 pro IS entirely too loud for me as well! I have vowed to find a better fan for it and I will post my search results when I do. The single fan in the fixture is correct for the 150 watt. I believe the other vents are if the fixture came with either a 250 or 400 watt DE MH bulb/ballast combo which would require the extra fans.
I've heard a couple times on this thread of burning plastic odor coming from the cooling fan but I havn't had that problem. Just curious if that may be because the fixture is back too close to the fan itself and the MH bulb is heating it up too much. My front fixture legs are almost at the very front of my tank and the T5's are the only thing really reflecting against the fan so it really doesn't get hot at all.
The stock pump transfers alot of heat into the system so if you replace it with a lower wattage/gph equivalent pump then you will have much, much less heat transfer.
I've heard a couple times on this thread of burning plastic odor coming from the cooling fan but I havn't had that problem. Just curious if that may be because the fixture is back too close to the fan itself and the MH bulb is heating it up too much. My front fixture legs are almost at the very front of my tank and the T5's are the only thing really reflecting against the fan so it really doesn't get hot at all.
The stock pump transfers alot of heat into the system so if you replace it with a lower wattage/gph equivalent pump then you will have much, much less heat transfer.
as far as stock pump replacements (for heat/noise reduction), what does everyone recommend/not recommend? i've read threads (maybe this one?) where people switched it out for a oceanrunner 2500, mag 3 (i think 3?), etc. but I wasn't sure if they used that because it was convenient (or they had it lying around) or because it was a good replacement pump for the heat/noise issue.
again, i'm planning on "replacing" the stock return pump for a vortech mp10 or mp20, plus whatever a reasonable return pump ends up being.
again, i'm planning on "replacing" the stock return pump for a vortech mp10 or mp20, plus whatever a reasonable return pump ends up being.
Since that picture of the drain going to the skimmer compartment, I have changed it to the compartment in front. I did notice that the foam is now a lot thicker an the bubbles are at a constant level within the riser tube - when I had it in the compartment as in the above picture, the skimmer was harder to tune but still worked pretty well. My reasoning for putting it in the skimmer compartment was I thought that having it in the same compartment would mean that anything that goes through the drain would have more of a chance to make it to the skimmer pump.
I am one of the ones complaining of a hot burning smell from the singular cooling fan. This happened before I even started using my MH lights, and even if it hadn't I keep my lights as far up to the front of the tank as possible - so it was not from the heat of the lights. Thanks for researching a better fan, can't wait for your post!
I am one of the ones complaining of a hot burning smell from the singular cooling fan. This happened before I even started using my MH lights, and even if it hadn't I keep my lights as far up to the front of the tank as possible - so it was not from the heat of the lights. Thanks for researching a better fan, can't wait for your post!
reeftivo
Skim junkie
I have tried both my mags (3 & 7) on this along with a eheim 1262 and the Rio 20F has the lowest heat transfer and the lowest wattage. It is however 1200+ gph so you would need to get a small gate or ball valve and plumb it off the pump to tune (turn) it down a bit so you don't exceed 1000gph. I have not tried the oceanrunner but that may be an option. The rio is noisy if you let it touch the sides of the sump because of the vibration so you will need to put the suction cups on the bottom and place it in the chamber away from the walls and it should be silent.
I don't run the UV out of concern that the water doesn't get exposed to it long enough to make a difference because it doesn't flow through the UV like bigger, more expensive UV equipment does.
my algae may just be "cycle algae" -- it seems to have tapered off a fair amount. however, i am interested in what you're saying about flow. forgive my inexperience -- but, what's the thinking behind having 2 vortechs in a tank this size?
are you worried about dead spots created by LR formations? I am, though i'm not sure if that's a well-founded concern.
my tank has two LR pillars (as you can see in the pictures) -- there is kind of a "funnel" of (what i fear is) dead space between the two pillars, and i've noticed some dirty-looking build-up on top of the sand in that funnel area, as well as in spots around the pillars that may be shielded from flow.
i was thinking about the concept of maybe just putting a vortech on the back wall of the tank and letting it do its thing, based on the fact that the tank is a "cube," so there's hardly a "short side"/"long side" distinction like with a standard-sized tank. however, based on all this space, i was wondering if i might need something to eliminate extra dead spots.
thoughts?
reeftivo
Skim junkie
I will be checking out an alternate fan for the light fixture and see if I can get one that works. In the mean time if everyone is having problems with the big square cooling fan that you place over the overflow (or over the sump) then you can do a simple mod that will cut the noise in half. Take the old fan out of the housing (very simple) and take it to Radio Shack or best buy and match it up with a 4" computer fan that they sell. The computer fans are half the decibles Dba and will fit in the housing. The only mod you would have to do is to drill 2 of the 4 holes at the corners of the new fan. You will need to drill them a bit larger to accomodate the 2 pins that come through on the housing. After that, it will slip right in. If you have an old phone charger laying around, just cut the cord on it and splice in the transformer block and plug it in-WALLA! Works great!
reeftivo
Skim junkie
Hi timdanger,
One vortech is fine. I have two in there while I'm rescaping my 90. The MP10 will go in my 90 for flow behind the rockwork. Once I'm finished with the project I'm planning on putting my tunze nano in the Cad on the opposite side where the mp10 was.
The vortechs have the ability to eliminate those deadspots because they are constantly changing speeds which creates a variable reef like flow and that will constantly flush the surface areas. If you don't have a vortech then you would best be suited to having two stream pumps or powerheads at the upper levels on opposite sides of the tank pushing in towards the areas where
flow is needed(wave makers will help to alternate flow).
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looking good, reeftivo!
question for you re: open top -- i am still sporting the open top myself, but i've been getting nervous about it as i get closer to adding fish. i am currently planning on migrating over a yellow watchman goby from my 8g biocube, and i've also considered a pearly jawfish somwhere down the line.
i see it looks like you have a notorious-for-jumping firefish in there -- are you not concerned about the possibility of him "i believe i can fly"ing? do you take any preventative measures? if so, what?
question for you re: open top -- i am still sporting the open top myself, but i've been getting nervous about it as i get closer to adding fish. i am currently planning on migrating over a yellow watchman goby from my 8g biocube, and i've also considered a pearly jawfish somwhere down the line.
i see it looks like you have a notorious-for-jumping firefish in there -- are you not concerned about the possibility of him "i believe i can fly"ing? do you take any preventative measures? if so, what?
reeftivo
Skim junkie
Yep, I hear ya! I had her in the old jbj 28 and she was the first fish I purchased for it. Obviously with the jbj there wasn't an issue with jumping but I did notice that this particular little dude stayed at the bottom all the time with the occasional mid tank venture during feeding time. I think I got lucky with this one. The damsels just about fly out of the tank when I feed the spectrum. The only thing I've lost was an astrea who decided it would venture out and check out one of my plants.
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