Chartwell's 50 gallon CAD cube
- Thread starter chartwell
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chartwell
New member
Cool, thanks Clay - that helps me decide where to go there. I thought true actinics were more purple but I've never really seen many bulbs in person and never knew what I was looking at. You don't happen to know what brand they are do you? Or are they a "house" brand for Cadlights?
CalmSeasQuest
Active member
Prior to installing AI's, I replaced the stock Cadlight Actinics with Blue+s - They were much brighter and provided much more pop without the purple look of the pure actinics.
I also swapped out the stock Prism with a Phoenix 14K. By itself, it was perfect - but combined with the Blue+s - it was a but too blue for my taste. There are pics in the 39GPro build thread.
Less flow on the overflow is not a problem, in fact it will be quieter. I push about 1000 GPH through the Cadlights overflow using a Rio 20HF and with my Ziplock mod, its completely silent.
I also swapped out the stock Prism with a Phoenix 14K. By itself, it was perfect - but combined with the Blue+s - it was a but too blue for my taste. There are pics in the 39GPro build thread.
Less flow on the overflow is not a problem, in fact it will be quieter. I push about 1000 GPH through the Cadlights overflow using a Rio 20HF and with my Ziplock mod, its completely silent.
chartwell
New member
CalmSeasQuest - thanks- I have a 10K Ushio MH and it looks just right to me with the actinics on too. I thought the stock bulb (13K?) looked too blue. So I want to make sure I get something for the T5's that will look good with that 10K bulb, as well as look good on their own. Do you think Blue +s would work?
On the less flow thing, the only thing I'm worried about is my refugium section has kind of a stagnant look to it. I know it is supposed to be pretty low flow though, so I guess it is okay. The cheato is thriving and the live rock is covered with life and pods are everywhere, so I guess I'm good there. There's just not really any surface movement...
Edited to add- on the bulbs I am thinking of either the ATI Blue + or the Giesemann Actinic +
On the less flow thing, the only thing I'm worried about is my refugium section has kind of a stagnant look to it. I know it is supposed to be pretty low flow though, so I guess it is okay. The cheato is thriving and the live rock is covered with life and pods are everywhere, so I guess I'm good there. There's just not really any surface movement...
Edited to add- on the bulbs I am thinking of either the ATI Blue + or the Giesemann Actinic +
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the actinics that come in the fixture are our brand, but we make the size universal so that people who do want to change them out and use other combinations have the freedom to do so, that would suck if they were made for only the CAD bulbs, but those are our stock that we produce ourselves, fully capable of good growth, my tank and other are testiment to that, but a lot of people do change them out. As for your refugium which has somewhat low flow, thats totally normal and better for it. you dont need a ton of water movement through the fuge, if you look at stand alone, seperate from the sump fuges on other peoples tanks they are very "calm" thats to benefit all the micro organisms that live and reproduce and work in there.
-clay
ps. im tagging along, i like your build.
-clay
ps. im tagging along, i like your build.
CalmSeasQuest
Active member
The stock MH bulb was a Prizm 14K. I think ReeftTivo used the Ushio 13K with the pure actinics and liked it (pics in the 39Gpro build thread.) The stock Actinics arent bad, but there are better. I very much like the Actinic + bulbs, had I not gone LED, that's what I would have chosen (in fact I bought them for the stock fixture which I use as backup.)
Lower flow is typically preferred for a fuge. I increased my flow as I created a Frag tank in the center section of my sump. Increased surface agitation can help with gas exchange and help increase pH. You can always place a small MJ in the sump if desired.
chartwell
New member
So, Clay, are you with CADlights? I feel a little embarassed about the venting I've done here :worried: But what can I say, I've been happy with *most* of the kit. The tank is beautiful.
I like the stock T5's just fine - my main reason to not order them again is I worry that if they came broken or not working for any reason I would never get any help on a replacement. As far as I can tell you get help right away as long as it doesn't involve actually sending you anything or replacing anything that doesn't work, then you're SOL! I know it is a really hectic time right now, it probably isn't usually like this.
I like the stock T5's just fine - my main reason to not order them again is I worry that if they came broken or not working for any reason I would never get any help on a replacement. As far as I can tell you get help right away as long as it doesn't involve actually sending you anything or replacing anything that doesn't work, then you're SOL! I know it is a really hectic time right now, it probably isn't usually like this.
chartwell
New member
I love the MP-10! I have it set on Lagoon Mode and that seems good. I don't have any SPS yet but hope to get a couple for the top of my rocks. I am thinking about getting a second MP-10 to put on the other side of the overflow because I've noticed it seems a little still over there in the corner. The way my rock is set up it is hard to get flow back there. I think two would rock, too bad they're $200 a pop!!
chartwell
New member
Well, forget my plans for what to spend money on next. We have an ice storm in the forecast and after the one we had last year (some people had no power for 4-7 days) we went out and bought a generator. We actually got the LAST generator at Wal-Mart after finding them all sold out at four other stores! It is a good-sized one, can easily run the entire tank and quite a few other things. Not what I wanted to spend money on, but I'll sleep a lot easier tonight.
chartwell
New member
Everything's been going along pretty smoothly. I got the skimmer dialed in and it seems to work just fine. I switched back to the original 14K MH because once my 10K had run for a month or so it looked too yellow to me. My corals and fish are all doing well and I've gotten into a routine of doing a 4-5 gallon water change once a week. I went through a diatom bloom but it has subsided. I have a lot of coralline algae coming in.
I bought my first SPS a couple of weeks ago - a pink birdsnest. I have it up pretty high on the rock and near the center, so hopefully that will be enough light for it. It has good polyp extension but is tan colored, hopefully it will turn pink someday! It was tan when I bought it, hopefully I wasn't stupid to believe it was just that way from being shipped and would turn pink again!
I want to get a second Vortech MP10 for the other side of the tank, it is a little still over there. Been getting a lot of extra hours at work lately, so maybe I can get it soon!
I'll try to get some pictures up, been having some problems with my computer lately.
I bought my first SPS a couple of weeks ago - a pink birdsnest. I have it up pretty high on the rock and near the center, so hopefully that will be enough light for it. It has good polyp extension but is tan colored, hopefully it will turn pink someday! It was tan when I bought it, hopefully I wasn't stupid to believe it was just that way from being shipped and would turn pink again!
I want to get a second Vortech MP10 for the other side of the tank, it is a little still over there. Been getting a lot of extra hours at work lately, so maybe I can get it soon!
I'll try to get some pictures up, been having some problems with my computer lately.
dyer_maker
New member
I've got two MP10s in my 34g Solana and if I had to do it over again now I'd probably just pick up a couple of the new Koralia Nanos and run them in Wave mode with my Reefkeeper. Sometimes the water just seems chaotic and it's difficult to get the MP10s to function well together. Don't get me wrong, big fan of them but I guess if they had the same wireless function of the MP40 it would make a big difference. Perhaps someday Digital Aquatics will have a module that will work with the Vortechs.
chartwell
New member
Vortech MP10 Modes?
Vortech MP10 Modes?
So I finally got my second MP10 (tax refund time!) and I am wondering which modes I should put them in? I've been running the original one in lagoon mode. But what would be good when running two? I have them on the back glass on either side of the overflow.
Vortech MP10 Modes?
So I finally got my second MP10 (tax refund time!) and I am wondering which modes I should put them in? I've been running the original one in lagoon mode. But what would be good when running two? I have them on the back glass on either side of the overflow.
chartwell
New member
Update
Update
Things are going pretty well with the tank, although I had a sad day last Friday. I came home after a truly crazy day at work to find my black clownfish dried up on the floor :sad2: I got her as a tiny baby when I first set up my 30 gallon cube about 18 months ago and she was so pretty. I feel like a bad fish keeper for putting her in an open top tank that allowed her to jump to her death. We bought some stuff to build a screen lid for the tank, but I just feel like that will kind of defeat the clean, rimless look. Not an easy decision. We are going to hang the lights and make the lid fit just down in the tank and see how it looks.
In happier news I have two little Banggai Cardinals in quarantine right now, just got them yesterday. Needed something to cheer me up and I've been planning on the Cardinals. These two were hanging out together and appear to be a male and a female. One has a much longer second fin than the other. Hopefully one won't decide to kill the other as they grow up.
I got some cool frags last month while I was in Kansas City. I found them at Midwest Reefs. I got my first Acan Lord- a little green and purple/grey one. Love feeding it! I also got some blue Zoas that I love and anothe Zoa frag that is kind of a dark orange.
Everything seems happy with the second MP10 added. On the advice of Ecotech Marine I'm running one on Lagoon mode and one just full on all the time. Both go into night mode around 10 pm.
Here is the Acan:
And here is a shot of how much my green Zoas have grown in this tank - this frag started with 11 polyps!
And here is a shot of some other Zoas and Candy Canes that have grown like crazy, plus you can kind of see the new blue Zoas off to the left:
Update
Things are going pretty well with the tank, although I had a sad day last Friday. I came home after a truly crazy day at work to find my black clownfish dried up on the floor :sad2: I got her as a tiny baby when I first set up my 30 gallon cube about 18 months ago and she was so pretty. I feel like a bad fish keeper for putting her in an open top tank that allowed her to jump to her death. We bought some stuff to build a screen lid for the tank, but I just feel like that will kind of defeat the clean, rimless look. Not an easy decision. We are going to hang the lights and make the lid fit just down in the tank and see how it looks.
In happier news I have two little Banggai Cardinals in quarantine right now, just got them yesterday. Needed something to cheer me up and I've been planning on the Cardinals. These two were hanging out together and appear to be a male and a female. One has a much longer second fin than the other. Hopefully one won't decide to kill the other as they grow up.
I got some cool frags last month while I was in Kansas City. I found them at Midwest Reefs. I got my first Acan Lord- a little green and purple/grey one. Love feeding it! I also got some blue Zoas that I love and anothe Zoa frag that is kind of a dark orange.
Everything seems happy with the second MP10 added. On the advice of Ecotech Marine I'm running one on Lagoon mode and one just full on all the time. Both go into night mode around 10 pm.
Here is the Acan:
And here is a shot of how much my green Zoas have grown in this tank - this frag started with 11 polyps!
And here is a shot of some other Zoas and Candy Canes that have grown like crazy, plus you can kind of see the new blue Zoas off to the left:
