LED lighting in my pico reef

[Chelsey]

Very awesome!

I have a slight update for tonight, and I don't think it's a good one. My water is cloudy. All I have in there is the live rock, the rock wall, and the sand. Could the cloudiness be from the silicon? I'm slightly concerned.

 

[fkbsar]

Could it be a bacterial bloom from the cycling? You did use 100% silicone - right? I don't think that would cloud the water if its 100% silicone.

 

[Chelsey]

I was thinking maybe something along the lines of the die-off from my live rock rubble that is on the eggcrate wall. The rock was out of water for around 2 days because the silicon had to dry. I am almost positive that I used 100% silicon, I know it wasn't caulk or anything like that.

 

[rams]

nice little big project :thumbsup: can't wait to see the LEDs in action.

 

[Chelsey]

Well, today's the last day of spring break and my white LEDs aren't in yet I'm not giving up (obviously), just being impatient :lol: I do have a tiny bit of good news though. When I woke up this morning my pico tank was clearer than it has been in a few days, so I think that whatever was in the water has been taken out by the carbon I was running.

 

[Chelsey]

Well gang, I have some bad news.

I was in GWA Sunday talking to Steve about my cloudy tank problem. Sunday morning I had found all kinds of dead pods and bristleworms in my tank and I wanted to find out the problem. Steve asked me what kind of silicon I used. As it turns out, the silicon that I used for the rock wall and to attach the hanger for my MJ400 has fungicide in it. So, now I'm going to have to wait for the silicon to cure before I can do anything. Also, as far as I know my LEDs STILL haven't come in

 

[chadscamaro]

That sucks ! I would always use the aquarium silicone if available !

 

[Chelsey]

The thing is, it wasn't available...I live in FARMington

 

[Nataku]

GE Silicone I and II is fine ( Windows and Door ) . Just don't use the one for Kitchen and Bath. It has mildew resistance chemical.

Nice Setup. I am thinking about setting up a nano at work for a softie tank. Might have to steal your rock wall idea to hide the equipment

 

[Letmegrow]

Dap II is the only silicone with out fungicide in it.....
That I know of, I could be wrong, but I have used it alot with out problems.

 

[fkbsar]

I also use Dap II. They say the kitchen and bath stuff isn't good for the tank.

 

[rams]

LEDs in yet ??????

 

[Chelsey]

No I don't even know if they've arrived from Hong Kong

 

[Chelsey]

My LEDS are here! All 500 million of them! :lol: Now I just have to figure out what I'm doing...

 

[DARKSILENTTYPE]

Did you go with just white LED s ?

 

[Chelsey]

Nope, ratio of 3 white to 1 blue.

Blue (100 per bag, 2 bags)

White (500)

I'll have plenty to mess with now

BTW
My tank is clear again, I should probably do a water change this weekend.

 

[Chelsey]

I set a few LEDs in the acrylic. I have read that some people silicon them into place, but I'm wondering if maybe I won't have to do that. They fit PERFECTLY! The bulb part goes all the way through and then the little ledge right before the end of the LED sits on the acrylic! Here's a pic:

The cool part about this is that I guessed about the drill bit size when i did all of these holes...I had none of the LEDs yet! I guess I got lucky :lol:

 

[Im Lon 2]

Cant wait to see it filled and lit up? Keep the Pics coming..

 

[Chelsey]

The tank itself is filled and lit, I posted pics of that a little while ago. As far as the LEDs go, that may be a while, I'll have to see what I can figure out myself. I found a wiring diagram for a smaller LED board, but this one is pretty big. Who knows, I may end up blowing myself up or at the very least electrocuting myself! :lol:

 

[chadfarmer]

are you running in series or parallel


what ballast


they had a tank lit by LEDs at imac last year