Kim's 10g(pics)

[kimbertent]

I found this cheap DIY MH over at nano-reef.com

Basically you buy a 300w or 500w Halogen floodlight at Wal-mart or the HD. the halogen bulb is the same size as a 70 mh. all you do is buy a 70w Mh ballast, power cord, and a 70w mh bulb and wire it all to together. Im just waiting to get a power cord and figure out how to ground it.

it comes out less than $100. which i think is a good deal.
heres the link...
http://www.nano-reef.com/forums/index.php?showtopic=91165

 

[kimbertent]

Hi all..

the tank has been up and running for about 4 days. I have yet to see anything really spike. I tested on thursday and the ph was 8.6 everything else (nitrate, nitrite, ammonia) was 0ppm. I just tested it today ph was 8.0 and everything else was still at 0ppm.

when should i start to see a spike in ammonia?

is the reason why i havent seen anything becuase i only have one piece of live rock in it everything else is dead (i have LS but that is pretty much dead when you buy it anyways).

any ideas?

 

[tiburone9162003]

im in 4 day and still ammonia at .25 everything else looks fine.. No2 0,No3 2.5, Ph 8.2,gravity 1.025 ammonia .25.. i think i start having diatoms brown spots on sand and rocks, and i got alot of live in the rocks,all kinds of hitch hikers,brittle stars and this shrimp looking thing...

 

[LittlePuff]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=8712074#post8712074 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by chelskisw6
take out the bio rings and replace them with a fuge set-up. if you arent going to do that, dont rinse them. but if you do, do it with salt water, not fresh

The fuge is a great idea. Rinse them in fresh R/O, that's the point. You want to kill the bacteria.

 

[kimbertent]

Finally an update with pics!

Finally an update with pics!

tank finished cycling so i went ahead and got some inverts.

3 sexy shrimp
5 nassarius snails
and a feather duster

still waiting to order a bulb so i can add some colors. = )

 

[MrMexReefer]

looking good! Hows that DIY MH coming along???

 

[kimbertent]

still deciding on which bulb to get 20k?...14k?...10k? im new to MH so i dont know. i have everything ready and wired.

 

[danfrith]

I would go with the 14k for that nice inbetween blue and yellow color.

 

[AVALover5498]

Very nice start! Good luck!



-Chris-