MarineMark
In Memoriam
What do you think of 20k vs 10K for the MH i nede to order some replacement bulbs
Finally Upgraded-Pics Included!!!
- Thread starter Leviathan
- Start date
Leviathan
New member
MarineMark said:
Honestly this will be my first time using 20k lamps. For almost 5 years I have used 10k exclusively, 175watt versions. I found that the ones I liked the best were the AB10K's run on e-ballasts.
I did a lot of research up untill I ordered this upgrade the other day, and finally decided to run Xm 20k's
At the moment I have dual 95 watt actinic vho's supplimenting the 10k's and if the 20k's are too blue after the burn in my plan is to use 10k' vho's instead. Plus I plan to add 2 more 95 watt vho's soon and will adjust my bulb selection to fit the current setup.
Most people I have talked to get great coloration of SPS under 20k's and good growth rates. But I read a section in Eric's book the other day talking about how even slower general growth rates in a captive system are still accelerated compared to wild colonies. My main concern is to have them thrive.
I have on the other hand heard some bad reviews of the 20k's but 9 times out of 10 it is either the 175 watt version or they are being run on magnetic ballasts. There PAR is lower than some other lamps on the market, but I have seen first hand the color and growth and was pleased with what I saw.
I am looking forward to Tue when I get them, and will post some pics ASAP
Leviathan
New member
New lights are installed.
New lights are installed.
Well yesterday my new retro system arrived from Hellolights.com
It consists of 2-250watt ARO E-ballasts and I decided on 20K XM's for my bulb selection. I also remounted my dual 95watt VHO's in the the new setup to give it that added touch.
Here is a picture of the newly mounted system, which has already been test fired and ran smoothly for the entire evening lastnight.
I am VERY pleased with the visual appearence of the 20K XM's and glad that I made them my choice. Unlike some reports I had heard about them being dark blue/almost purple, theses bulbs fired and burnt into a nice blue/white light. They remind me very much of how radiums look, which was exactly what I wanted.
New lights are installed.
Well yesterday my new retro system arrived from Hellolights.com
It consists of 2-250watt ARO E-ballasts and I decided on 20K XM's for my bulb selection. I also remounted my dual 95watt VHO's in the the new setup to give it that added touch.
Here is a picture of the newly mounted system, which has already been test fired and ran smoothly for the entire evening lastnight.
I am VERY pleased with the visual appearence of the 20K XM's and glad that I made them my choice. Unlike some reports I had heard about them being dark blue/almost purple, theses bulbs fired and burnt into a nice blue/white light. They remind me very much of how radiums look, which was exactly what I wanted.
Leviathan
New member
Another semi problem I had run into within the last few weeks was micro bubbles in my return.
I had determined that the cause was the drain line. There was so much force that it was stirring the water up and the Mag12 was pumping back up through the return before the bubbles in the sump had a chance to dissipate. I installed onto the drain line a 100 micron filter bag, which instantly stopped ALL bubbles and to my supprise stopped the slushing sound in the sump as well.
I will try to update with a full shot with the new lights in a day or two.
I had determined that the cause was the drain line. There was so much force that it was stirring the water up and the Mag12 was pumping back up through the return before the bubbles in the sump had a chance to dissipate. I installed onto the drain line a 100 micron filter bag, which instantly stopped ALL bubbles and to my supprise stopped the slushing sound in the sump as well.
I will try to update with a full shot with the new lights in a day or two.
MarineMark
In Memoriam
Ok i think i might order 20K's to replace my 10's when i start working for the summer, and get 50/50 bulbs to replace my actinic 03's
Leviathan
New member
Thanks melev,
Thats about what I had planned on.
I am happy Mark with the visual appearence ( only time will tell if my present few corals and thoses to come will enjoy them as much as I ). I just have to relearn to take pictures under this different lighting, but thats not gonna be a problem.
Thats about what I had planned on.
I am happy Mark with the visual appearence ( only time will tell if my present few corals and thoses to come will enjoy them as much as I ). I just have to relearn to take pictures under this different lighting, but thats not gonna be a problem.
MarineMark
In Memoriam
I'm can't wait to buy my new tank and stand for the upgrade, i really like the looks of the oceanic 50 g tank and stand ( all black ) but i want to order replacement bulbs and have everything like new when i change over.
I'm allmost positive i'm going with 20k now and the 50/50 PC's to compliment it
I'm allmost positive i'm going with 20k now and the 50/50 PC's to compliment it
Leviathan
New member
First picture with new lighting!!!
First picture with new lighting!!!
Well I am still having to re-learn how to take good photos with theses new lights, but I finally snapped a decent full tank shot last night and thought I would share.
Also:
I also was able to sneak up on my sixline and evict him this morning. Luckly he was sleeping in his usuall place ( a small rock near the top ) and I simply pulled the rock out dumped him into the sump, and replaced the rock before he knew what hit him. I have had him for close to a year and for the majority of that time he was docile. Since the switch over to the new tank he has been a 1 1/2" nightmare. He would not leave my zebra gobies alone and one was beginning to get close to the verge of starvation ( being to scared to come out of its cave to eat, for fear of being attacked ) I am confident now that with the sixline gone I will be able to slowly put some weight back on the goby and it should be fine. The sixline will not be staying in the sump, this is a temp. lay-over for him untill I can take him to the LFS and trade him in and hopefully find him a more suitable home, most likely tue. or wed.
Aside from the above, everything has been running great, the mild green algae bloom that I was having solely on the glass is all but gone, all other inhabitants have adapted to the new surroundings and lighting and begun to color up very nice. I am very satisfied with how things are shaping up. The picture is a bit more on the blue side then in person, this is one of the things I am working on when photographing it. However you will get a general idea of the layout now.
I also added the first set of frags this past weeked:
Pink Catspaw
Pink Birdsnest
Green Acro
Green/purple rim Monti Cap.
I will have some photos of theses new arrivals in the near to come
First picture with new lighting!!!
Well I am still having to re-learn how to take good photos with theses new lights, but I finally snapped a decent full tank shot last night and thought I would share.
Also:
I also was able to sneak up on my sixline and evict him this morning. Luckly he was sleeping in his usuall place ( a small rock near the top ) and I simply pulled the rock out dumped him into the sump, and replaced the rock before he knew what hit him. I have had him for close to a year and for the majority of that time he was docile. Since the switch over to the new tank he has been a 1 1/2" nightmare. He would not leave my zebra gobies alone and one was beginning to get close to the verge of starvation ( being to scared to come out of its cave to eat, for fear of being attacked ) I am confident now that with the sixline gone I will be able to slowly put some weight back on the goby and it should be fine. The sixline will not be staying in the sump, this is a temp. lay-over for him untill I can take him to the LFS and trade him in and hopefully find him a more suitable home, most likely tue. or wed.
Aside from the above, everything has been running great, the mild green algae bloom that I was having solely on the glass is all but gone, all other inhabitants have adapted to the new surroundings and lighting and begun to color up very nice. I am very satisfied with how things are shaping up. The picture is a bit more on the blue side then in person, this is one of the things I am working on when photographing it. However you will get a general idea of the layout now.
I also added the first set of frags this past weeked:
Pink Catspaw
Pink Birdsnest
Green Acro
Green/purple rim Monti Cap.
I will have some photos of theses new arrivals in the near to come
Leviathan
New member
Newest resident!
Newest resident!
Hey everyone,
Thought I would give a small update, everything is going great with the new setup, I am very happy with how its all come together. I was having some problems with my sixline wrasse, who went on a rampage after the move. I tried to wait it out and give him some adjusting time, but he kept getting worse, so I ended up having to evict him. However when I took him up to the LFS to trade him in, I found a jewel! This has got to be the biggest most colorful Purple Firefish i have ever seen. It had been special ordered for a customer who at the last minute ( while I was in the store ) decided againt getting him. I would like to introduce my newest fish inhabitant, and hopefully long term resident.
Newest resident!
Hey everyone,
Thought I would give a small update, everything is going great with the new setup, I am very happy with how its all come together. I was having some problems with my sixline wrasse, who went on a rampage after the move. I tried to wait it out and give him some adjusting time, but he kept getting worse, so I ended up having to evict him. However when I took him up to the LFS to trade him in, I found a jewel! This has got to be the biggest most colorful Purple Firefish i have ever seen. It had been special ordered for a customer who at the last minute ( while I was in the store ) decided againt getting him. I would like to introduce my newest fish inhabitant, and hopefully long term resident.
Leviathan
New member
Also added in the last couple weeks.
Also added in the last couple weeks.
I got a small frag order through Reefstuff.com
I ended up getting three:
Green Purple rim Monti cap.
Pink Stylophora pistillata
Pink/Red Porcillopora sp.
and they sent a FREE green Acro. bushyensis.
They have all acclimated well to the lighting and are starting to grow. Especially the pistillata and cap.
I wont post them all but wanted to share the pinks!
Stylophora:
Also added in the last couple weeks.
I got a small frag order through Reefstuff.com
I ended up getting three:
Green Purple rim Monti cap.
Pink Stylophora pistillata
Pink/Red Porcillopora sp.
and they sent a FREE green Acro. bushyensis.
They have all acclimated well to the lighting and are starting to grow. Especially the pistillata and cap.
I wont post them all but wanted to share the pinks!
Stylophora:
Leviathan
New member
Porcillopora
Porcillopora
And yes I went a bit crazy with the super glue on this one accidently. I had to take it off its plug to get it where I wanted, and squeezed the glue a bit to hard when attaching it.
Not to worry though, it has already begun to encrust over the glue at the base, this picture is from 2 days after I got the frags, as is the picture above.
Porcillopora
And yes I went a bit crazy with the super glue on this one accidently. I had to take it off its plug to get it where I wanted, and squeezed the glue a bit to hard when attaching it.
Not to worry though, it has already begun to encrust over the glue at the base, this picture is from 2 days after I got the frags, as is the picture above.
Leviathan
New member
Powerheads back in the display
Powerheads back in the display
Well.........
The mag12 just wasnt giving me the kind of flow that I was hoping for. I was going to add an additional magdrive of a smaller size to the sump and hard plumb another return over in the far right corner. However I believe that my drain will not be able to compensate for the extra flow, and I will be just asking for a flood.
I decided to go ahead and add 2-Maxijet1200's to the display.
Thankfully I was able to hide them behind the aquascape and up close to the overflow, so for the most part they are not very noticable.
Now with them installed, I have right at 16x's turnover of the total water volume ( sump included ) or 20x's turnover sump not included ( display volume only )and feel much better about the increased current throughout the system.
All in all I was not as dissapointed with having to have them in there as I had thought I would be.
Powerheads back in the display
Well.........
The mag12 just wasnt giving me the kind of flow that I was hoping for. I was going to add an additional magdrive of a smaller size to the sump and hard plumb another return over in the far right corner. However I believe that my drain will not be able to compensate for the extra flow, and I will be just asking for a flood.
I decided to go ahead and add 2-Maxijet1200's to the display.
Thankfully I was able to hide them behind the aquascape and up close to the overflow, so for the most part they are not very noticable.
Now with them installed, I have right at 16x's turnover of the total water volume ( sump included ) or 20x's turnover sump not included ( display volume only )and feel much better about the increased current throughout the system.
All in all I was not as dissapointed with having to have them in there as I had thought I would be.
Leviathan
New member
Well this morning was a un-welcomed suprise.
I got up to the most horrible sound coming from the living room ( where the tank is located ) and before I could even get my eyes fully adjusted I realized I had what i thought was a major problem.
For the last 2 weeks I have had a VERY sick puppy and have pretty much focused all of my attention on his health and care. With the exception of toping off and cleaning the glass I had neglected my normal equipment check ( understandably considering the gravity of my pups health )
Anyhow,
During this time, the 100 micron bag I use to counter micro bubbles ( which is installed on my drain ) became filled with gunk for lack of a more appropiate word. At some point in the night water stopped passing through it and the sump slowly started filling up the display past the point of capacity. Luckily I have it setup so that if this ever happens flooding is minimal. Id say about 2-3 gallons ended up on the floor. No equipment was damaged and there was just enough water in the bottom of the sump to not let the magdrive burn up.
SO!
I advise anyone using micron filter bags ( Make sure you keep an eye on them, and keep them clean!!!!! )
I got up to the most horrible sound coming from the living room ( where the tank is located ) and before I could even get my eyes fully adjusted I realized I had what i thought was a major problem.
For the last 2 weeks I have had a VERY sick puppy and have pretty much focused all of my attention on his health and care. With the exception of toping off and cleaning the glass I had neglected my normal equipment check ( understandably considering the gravity of my pups health )
Anyhow,
During this time, the 100 micron bag I use to counter micro bubbles ( which is installed on my drain ) became filled with gunk for lack of a more appropiate word. At some point in the night water stopped passing through it and the sump slowly started filling up the display past the point of capacity. Luckily I have it setup so that if this ever happens flooding is minimal. Id say about 2-3 gallons ended up on the floor. No equipment was damaged and there was just enough water in the bottom of the sump to not let the magdrive burn up.
SO!
I advise anyone using micron filter bags ( Make sure you keep an eye on them, and keep them clean!!!!! )
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