Let's collaborate on a RSM-S 650 (138g new setup)!

[Goubli]

Ok, so as far as lighting I went Giesmann aurora 60" w ATI bulbs (2 aquablue special, coral plus, and purple plus) and plan on using the LED to essentially add more of the blue spectrum as I'll be leaning on the t5 as most of my PAR spectrum.

I also just got these goodies.

I think I may send the Hanna calcium checker back. What should I use for that? In the past I was all Salifert. Should I keep it? I did get the ultra low phosphate per BRS advice.

I guess I'll go outside and check how much ammonia I've got in my curing rock bin.

I'm kind of wishing I'd held of starting the cure so I could've dryscaped a bit first.

Any advice appreciated!

 

[2una]

I have had a painter come over to collaborate on painting the stand and trim as the red/merlot color just won't be tolerable in my living room long term.

Redsea sell kits to change it - just don't expect the price to be pretty.
Think its 2 - a cabinet kit & a trim kit

When you fit the sump into position:
Just remember with the apex if you going to use their magnetic probe holder that the more clearance you give yourself on one side will make it easier to put the outer magnet where you want it......also applies if you ever end up fitting a Tunze ATO with their magnet mounted sensor
Pushing the sump more to 1 side can give you a bit more hand room & clearance for the thickness of the magnets to fit into

 

[roli112]

Ok, so as far as lighting I went Giesmann aurora 60" w ATI bulbs (2 aquablue special, coral plus, and purple plus) and plan on using the LED to essentially add more of the blue spectrum as I'll be leaning on the t5 as most of my PAR spectrum.

I also just got these goodies.

I think I may send the Hanna calcium checker back. What should I use for that? In the past I was all Salifert. Should I keep it? I did get the ultra low phosphate per BRS advice.

I guess I'll go outside and check how much ammonia I've got in my curing rock bin.

I'm kind of wishing I'd held of starting the cure so I could've dryscaped a bit first.

Any advice appreciated!

Yes send the Hanna Calcium back, I regret buying mine, I use Red Sea for Calcium

 

[Goubli]

Ok cool, I'll send it back and get a different one.
2una-thanks for the tip about magnets! I'm dreading figuring out the Apex to be honest. Also, I'm not keen on the options from Red Sea. I want the stand custom colored. The painter is working on some samples and I'll take some pics and post them when I see them.

I kind of messed up that Pukani pic. I'm still learning this tapatalk app. Also, I played around w dry rock just to see how much it filled tank. I do have one really large piece and another medium piece curing now that will go into display. I may chisel them to work then in. Also, I plan on glueing some of the dead branch pieces to look like dead pieces for a naturalistic appearance.

So, to make a long story a bit longer--The left rocks will likely be increased in height and overall mass.

And last thing: ammonia was closer to 0.5-1 range. I didn't test prior to changing 50% water bc I didn't have kit. Changed it based purely on smell--haha!


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[Goubli]

Couple more pics this morning just for the record. [emoji3]

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[GoVols]

Couple more pics this morning just for the record. [emoji3]

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Goubli,
Looking Good!

My S 400 is the Merlot color too.

You did good on that Giesmann aurora.

If they made the Spectra in 36" I'd had it long ago.

Keep us updated.

Regards, GoVols

 

[Nobbygas]

I have just the one observation........have you left enough room behind the tank to be able to adjust the downflow valve, or take it out for a clean? The tank looks as though it's flush with the wall, which will cause you problems.

 

[GoVols]

I have just the one observation........have you left enough room behind the tank to be able to adjust the downflow valve, or take it out for a clean? The tank looks as though it's flush with the wall, which will cause you problems.

+1

The S Series must be 5.5" to 6" away from the wall to service the overflow turn knob gasket and pipework.

Nobbygas, You made a great observation for Goubli

lol,
I have just been drooling over his Giesmann hybird...

 

[Goubli]

Yes, I have left enough room to get to the valve. The previous owner gave me the heads up.

Today the 20amp dedicated circuit was run so I won't have to worry about overdrawing the setup. I hope the pic comes through as it's my first attempt from iPad.

Also, the painter will come by Wednesday to paint the stand. I like red, but my last tank stand and canopy was red. I'm going with a light to dark fade with some metallic sheen and possibly some water lines in the top third. I'll see if I can post a pic of the sample. The plan is to have it fade down to a deeper shade of blue as it nears bottom of stand.

Also, I found out today that there aren't any studs that go all the way up my wall so I'll have to mount the Giesemann into 1/2" drywall. I did see it's only about 40 pounds. I had a 50+ pound mirror on the wall previously without a problem so I'm not too concerned.

What thoughts do you guys have about attacking that project? I have a guy who can fabricate what ever I need.

 

[Goubli]

Also, I forgot to mention that I took the rock out of the tank and started the cure. I'm using a method described in another thread about using dry BRS pukani. Essentially, I'll dose the water with seaklear to help leech the phosphate out. I guess it's gonna take a couple months, so I need to get it going.

 

[GoVols]

Goubli,
Thank's for the update. I'm just thinking out loud... If my ceilings were low enough I'd mount that fixture from the ceiling like broadfield.

I'm dealing with 24 foot vaulted ceilings over here

You've got to show us that sick paint job

Also, Your doing your rock the right way. I'd rather get the phos. out now than it leaching in my display and dealing with hair algae right out of the shoot.

Goubli, You've got to keep this going as a build thread

Thanks, GoVols

 

[Goubli]

Vols, thanks for the encouragement! Part of the reason I labeled it as a "collaborate" instead of a "build" thread is because I've been out for close to a decade.

My ceilings are about 9.5' but I'm not too sure about where the crosses are etc. I guess I have time to investigate it. I sent the Hanna Ca checker back today. Once I get my credit, I'll get the Red Sea.

I'll keep it going, so long as people want me to. I just don't want to bore people

 

[SPR1968]

Vols, thanks for the encouragement! Part of the reason I labeled it as a "collaborate" instead of a "build" thread is because I've been out for close to a decade.

I sent the Hanna Ca checker back today. Once I get my credit, I'll get the Red Sea.

I'll keep it going, so long as people want me to. I just don't want to bore people

Hi following along with all this

I've just ordered some Hanna Ca Alk and phosphate. Just wondered why you sent the Ca one back ?

I've always used all Red Sea but fancy something digital rather than using eye sight for readings as I was about to need to re order them all.

 

[roli112]

i have something against testing only 0.1 ml of tank water. I don't find it very accurate.
(add reagent A, add 10ml or RO water, place in tester, remove, add 0.1 ml of tank water, add reagent B, shake, place in tester)

 

[deleau]

Under the premise of K.I.S.S., why not use the mounting legs for the lights?

I spent too much time trying to figure out how to hang my lights, wasted a lot of time and energy, bought a mounting kit as a "temporary" solution...2+ years later, it's still my solution.

I still use Salifert for my Ca & Mag measurements; Seachem & Hanna are PITAs for Ca. I use Hanna for Alk and Phosphate.

 

[roli112]

Under the premise of K.I.S.S., why not use the mounting legs for the lights?

I spent too much time trying to figure out how to hang my lights, wasted a lot of time and energy, bought a mounting kit as a "temporary" solution...2+ years later, it's still my solution.

I still use Salifert for my Ca & Mag measurements; Seachem & Hanna are PITAs for Ca. I use Hanna for Alk and Phosphate.

Yes Hanna for ALK and Phosphate work Great, I use Red Sea for Mag, and Salifert for Calcium but I want to try the Red Sea calcium when I run out

 

[Goubli]

Under the premise of K.I.S.S., why not use the mounting legs for the lights?



I spent too much time trying to figure out how to hang my lights, wasted a lot of time and energy, bought a mounting kit as a "temporary" solution...2+ years later, it's still my solution.



I still use Salifert for my Ca & Mag measurements; Seachem & Hanna are PITAs for Ca. I use Hanna for Alk and Phosphate.

I'd be ok with using mounting legs. My questions are-what would you recommend as far as brands/where to buy?

Do they mount to the side glass? Does it look clean? I think it would look more sleek for them to hang.

As far as the Ca tester goes, I read in another thread people really dislike the Hanna for calcium as they feel it's not as easy to use. People like the Red Sea.

As far as an update from today here it comes--primer has been applied to the stand and hopefully tomorrow some more progress is made while I'm at work.

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[GoVols]

I'd be ok with using mounting legs. My questions are-what would you recommend as far as brands/where to buy?

Do they mount to the side glass? Does it look clean? I think it would look more sleek for them to hang.

As far as the Ca tester goes, I read in another thread people really dislike the Hanna for calcium as they feel it's not as easy to use. People like the Red Sea.

As far as an update from today here it comes--primer has been applied to the stand and hopefully tomorrow some more progress is made while I'm at work.

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Goubli,

Looks like your moving into that new paint job.

These are the kits I'm using now but may get the Hanna alk checker.
Cal - Red Sea Pro
Alk - Red Sea pro
Mag - Salifert (quicker than RSP and easier to see the endpoint)
Phos - Hanna ULR Phosphorous checker - (Very accurate but must keep the vials spotless)
Nitrates - Salifert (Very accurate and easy to use)

Goubli, We love it. Keep updating. You've got our full attention at this point

The rock scape looks great in your earlier pictures.

 

[deleau]

I'd be ok with using mounting legs. My questions are-what would you recommend as far as brands/where to buy?

Do they mount to the side glass? Does it look clean? I think it would look more sleek for them to hang.

As far as the Ca tester goes, I read in another thread people really dislike the Hanna for calcium as they feel it's not as easy to use. People like the Red Sea.

BRS has mounting legs that Giesmann makes; you'd know those would fit.

I have Radions and use the RMS mounting kit; that just sits on the top edge of the tank. I do agree it will look "better" if yours (and mine) were hung. For my part, I've not been able to figure out a design that I like. I would also suggest that regardless of how you mount the lights, that you are able to move them fairly easily. Even though my setup isn't as sleek as I like, I can remove everything in a few minutes if needed.

IMO, Hanna & Seachem suck for Ca (too tedious). I use Salifert; I may try Red Sea soon. Here is my philosophy on testing: Initially, I want to know that a test kit is accurate. To that end, I will measure using multiple brands and make sure they are close to each other (5% is acceptable to me).

Once I trust the accuracy, precision becomes more important. To improve precision, I want a kit that I can use and know that I will use it the same way over and over, so that any bias of my methodology (watching drops, matching colors, etc.) is consistent between readings. That way as I take measurements and enter them into ApexFusion (logging your test results is vital and a hidden secret in the hobby), then I can see trends in those readings and act accordingly. I don't really care if my Ca is 440, 460 or 420...I care that over the course of any 30 day period, my Ca only swings 8 points or less.

Taking this further, I like to bundle tests together, so I don't have pull out instructions each time. I test Alk most often. The Hanna checker for Alk is perfect for that. Nothing about that test is subjective. Fill cuvette to the line, put in tester, add a set amount of reagent, put back in test, read value. Easy peasy, lemon squeezy.

When I test Ca, I also test Mg. Because of that, I use Salifert for both. I have a nice 3D printed tray that holds everything (syringes & scoops included) in order, so I fill two containers, and essentially do the same thing for both sets and get my readings. Simple.

I suspect Ca & Mg from Red Sea are similar.

Hanna has some great checkers; some are PITAs. Same with everyone.

 

[Goubli]

Painting update:

That's the painter, not me-ha!

I also just opened a box containing my seaklear to bind up the phosphates all that sweet pukani will be leeching out during the cure.

I'm not too sure if the pics show it well, but the stand will still have some of the metallic sheen that the original merlot color had.

I also picked up my repaired litermeter and add on pump from spectrapure today. Now this weekend the goal is to actually get my RO/DI unit plugged in and making water!


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