Frank's 120 gallon upgrade build.

[itz frank]

So, I had some dry rock laying around. So I drained the tank, filled it half way with r/o, and mixed some salt this morning. I threw the dry rock in. Going to start cycling. Still need probably double what I had. So, I'll mix live rock and dry rock to get this going.

Tank is fully painted now. Bulbs arrived for my T5s. Plumbing is done.

I still have some things I need to get in order but I figure I'm probably about a month away from setting this up inside.


I'm going to be doing a fuller looking aquascape since I have so much height.

The retro fit T5 kit that I have has all 4 wired to one ballast. I think the ballast is only good for 2 but I need to look into it more. I set up the bulbs to see the color and it looks really dim.

I had other things that I wanted to write but I'm at work and have forgotten them. Oh well.

 

[rovster]

What bulbs? T5s are far from dim. Unless you're running all actinic

 

[itz frank]

2c+ and 1b+ right now. Just seems not as bright.

However, the ballast is jimmy rigged. 4 to 1 ballast diy. Cables all look like ****. So I want to replace them. Here's a photo of the ballast. Says up to 220w load. Should I replace this?

 

[jonnyu]

Don't think ballast problem make sure you have a good reflector. Makes a world of a difference. I just went through 3 light fixtures in 2 months. 6 bulb t5 will be more than enough for a 24" tall tank. Anything else except to cook all lps and some sps. I have 4 bulbs running in a 48" ATI fixture it's hanging at 12" off the water. I have 180 par on sand bottom. Tank is 48x18x20 with 6 bulbs I have 250 on sand bottom. Using a 60" 8 bulb I was getting 350 at sand bottom.

 

[itz frank]

This morning I realized that I think there's a reason that only 3 of the 4 are mounted. I don't think I have room in the canopy. There's two bulbs in the rear, the LED unit in the middle and one towards the front. I'm going to see about moving the front T5 backwards some but I don't think it'll fit once the reflector is on. That makes me a little sad.

 

[rovster]

This morning I realized that I think there's a reason that only 3 of the 4 are mounted. I don't think I have room in the canopy. There's two bulbs in the rear, the LED unit in the middle and one towards the front. I'm going to see about moving the front T5 backwards some but I don't think it'll fit once the reflector is on. That makes me a little sad.

Post some pics. You may also be able to mount in such a way that the reflector slightly overlaps the edge of the LED so you may cheat some room there.

 

[jonnyu]

Well I think if you have a decent led light and 2 80w t5 bulbs you should be to go.

 

[jonnyu]

Post some pics. You may also be able to mount in such a way that the reflector slightly overlaps the edge of the LED so you may cheat some room there.

I agree. 4 would be much better. Now I don't know how you have it wired with only 3 bulbs but again it's very important to have reflectors with t5

 

[itz frank]

Well I think if you have a decent led light and 2 80w t5 bulbs you should be to go.

Its three 54w now. If it doesn't fit, I'll have to figure out 2b+ and 1c+ or 2c+ and 1 b+

 

[rovster]

2B+ and 1C+ for sure, unless you like it really white, in which case rethink everything, LOL!

I'll try to get a pic of my rack. My reflector is just over the edge of my radion.

 

[jonnyu]

Its three 54w now. If it doesn't fit, I'll have to figure out 2b+ and 1c+ or 2c+ and 1 b+

I would just change them out for 80w as your tank 60" with three bulbs that would give you 4 watts per inch of tank vs 3.3 watts per gallon that's 240 watt of t5 vs 162w of t5

 

[itz frank]

My tank is 63" long. That's exterior dimensions of the stand and canopy with trim.

I don't think I'll be able to fit the 60" bulbs in my tank with the retro style end caps.

I'll take a shot of the canopy roof to show you guys the layout when I get home.

 

[itz frank]

Here's a terrible photo of the top of my canopy. Turned the t5s on.

This is my tank with rock cycling and 3 t5s on. I think it's one coral plus and two blue plus. It doesn't seem very bright compared to my radion.

 

[AquamanE]

60" wide tank? Get as many T-5 you can in there. Forget LED'S. You'll be able to keep anything you want if you do that as long as tank is <24" tall. This is my $0.02

 

[AquamanE]

Any shot of getting a photo of yours?

Yes. PM me your number I'll text to you. Not in mood to do the whole photobucket thing here. RC really needs to improve on this. Other sites allow pics out of those website thing (don't know the terminology)

 

[jonnyu]

Yes. PM me your number I'll text to you. Not in mood to do the whole photobucket thing here. RC really needs to improve on this. Other sites allow pics out of those website thing (don't know the terminology)

You should try tapatalk it always you to post photos using their server makes it real easy.

 

[jonnyu]

Here's a terrible photo of the top of my canopy. Turned the t5s on.

This is my tank with rock cycling and 3 t5s on. I think it's one coral plus and two blue plus. It doesn't seem very bright compared to my radion.

You will be able to fit the 80w bulbs no problem. They are 57.6" long

 

[itz frank]

Maybe I'll do it. I could run 2 80s and a 54w off this ballast. I'll consider it after getting the tank up and running.

Doesn't the 3 t5s seem dim or am I crazy?

Anyways, waiting for this cycle is killing me. I'm super annoyed.

Just be patient. Just be patient. Just be patient.

 

[itz frank]

Well, cycling in boring. 2ppm on ammonia.

 

[itz frank]

.5 ppm this morning. It's coming along. I doubt that I'll have a 0 reading when I get home tonight but it appears we're getting fairly close and this actually seems to be moving faster than I thought.

As soon as I pop 0ppm. I'll rerun the ammonia to 2ppm and see if I can get a 1 day drop to zero.

As of now, things that are still on my list to do:
-rewire t5
-gather sand
-create manifold for reactors and any items that may be added later.