Lightsluvr's 340G Upgrade

[Lightsluvr]

Won't work

Won't work

Solatubes would have been a great idea if I had planned to use them from the start, before the construction was complete, with rafters and joists exposed. But now I have two vent fans and a 4' flourescent work light on the ceiling above the tank. No room for solatubes, so they're not in the plan.


LL

 

[Lightsluvr]

Ideas for a hydraulic lift?

Ideas for a hydraulic lift?

Does anyone have experience using some type of hydraulic lift to perform the final lift of a large tank onto the stand.

Here is my thread on our local club forum posing the question:

http://reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?s=&postid=15119247#post15119247

LL

 

[Lightsluvr]

Lighting decision

Lighting decision

We made our decision on lighting after observing several local large tank systems.

We purchased (4) 6x54W Icecap Retro kits with bulbs and ballasts. We found that RC sponsor ReefGeek gave us the best deal, and as a bonus they had in stock all of the bulbs that we want in our system.

The kits will be mounted two across and two deep on a 95" x 35" light rack. They will share space with a pair of 48" R2 Signature series Moonlights.

I followed along in RC's T5 Q & a Thread, and after consulting with the resident T5 guru, Grim Reefer, we are going with the following configuration:

Row # FRONT
1. ATI Blue Plus
2. UVL 75-25
3. ATI Blue Plus
4. GE 6500K
5. KZ Fiji Purple
6. ATI Blue Plus
R2 Signature Series Moonlight
7. GE 6500K
8. ATI Blue Plus
9. UVL Actinic White
10. ATI Blue Plus
11. UVL 75-25
12. ATI Blue Plus
BACK

The kits will be wired in four stages. First will be moonlight only, followed by an hour of dawn/dusk, 2 hours of mid-morning, 4 hours of max lighting, 2 hours mid-afternoon, another hour dawn/dusk and then back to moonlight. We'll see how the coral respond to this sequence and adjust our timing accordingly.

Dawn & Dusk will light rows 1, 6 & 12
Mid-morning & Mid-Afternnon will add rows 2,3,8,10,11
Max lighting will add 4,5,7,9 to light all 12 rows.

The kits should arrive next week. We'll start assembly and wiring as soon as we fabricate the light rack.

We'll start a photo log when construction starts.

LL

 

[Lytehouse]

Sounds like someone has done a ton of thinking.

Remember the good ole' biocube days, set it on a stand-- ad water, sand and rock and turn everything on :rollface:

 

[Dtking]

what kind of timers are you using for the lights?

 

[Pacific Reefs]

Incredible progress. That is going to be an amazing setup. I really like your other tanks but this one will be stunning!

 

[Lightsluvr]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=15121131#post15121131 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by Dtking
what kind of timers are you using for the lights?

Not exactly a timer...but sort of...

http://www.neptunesys.com/~clp/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=43&Itemid=40

LL

 

[Lightsluvr]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=15121317#post15121317 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by Pacific Reefs
Incredible progress. That is going to be an amazing setup. I really like your other tanks but this one will be stunning!

Thanks very much, Tom. I have been following your build thread for awhile - lots of good ideas in there... and especially enjoyed your helper Jason.

LL

 

[Lightsluvr]

The plumbing brag...

The plumbing brag...

I read a lot of large tank build threads as we prepared for this project...hours and hours of reading and taking notes.

It seems every thread has an obligatory photo of the plumbing hardware.

Not wanting to break this hallowed RC tradition, here is ours:

Gotta love that Schedule 80.

What the heck were we thinking???

LL

 

[melev]

That looks like a lot of money on the table, plus a big project ahead.

 

[peaceinusa]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=15122418#post15122418 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by melev
That looks like a lot of money on the table, plus a big project ahead.

Roger that....

Looks like about $150.00 more or less, probably more.

Build thread is awesome!

 

[Lightsluvr]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=15122605#post15122605 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by peaceinusa
Roger that....

Looks like about $150.00 more or less, probably more.

Build thread is awesome!

Priceless~

LL

 

[edandsandy]

I don't think you have enough plumbing hardware :lol:

 

[Lightsluvr]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=15125617#post15125617 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by edandsandy
I don't think you have enough plumbing hardware :lol:

It's all done with Photoshop...

LL

 

[CrazyCohiba]

What a progress. I just ran through your thread. INCREDIBLE!
can't wait to see when its done.

 

[skiformance]

who'd a thunk george was a human dynamo!!!lol

 

[ixouttheeyes]

Glad someone local is trying out AquaController. I'm crossing my fingers that it doesn't have the same issues as the RKE. I'll be expecting a review as comprehensive as this thread. Btw, congrats on a killer build!

 

[Lightsluvr]

Apex

Apex

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=15129903#post15129903 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by ixouttheeyes
Glad someone local is trying out AquaController. I'm crossing my fingers that it doesn't have the same issues as the RKE. I'll be expecting a review as comprehensive as this thread. Btw, congrats on a killer build!

The Apex is expected to ship around June 22. We'll see.

LL

 

[Lightsluvr]

AGE Tank Plan

AGE Tank Plan

Here is the shop drawing from AGE (Acrylic and Glass Exhibits)

A little better than my scribblings...

LL

 

[Black Mammoth]

Re: Ideas for a hydraulic lift?

Re: Ideas for a hydraulic lift?

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=15119351#post15119351 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by Lightsluvr
Does anyone have experience using some type of hydraulic lift to perform the final lift of a large tank onto the stand.

Here is my thread on our local club forum posing the question:

http://reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?s=&postid=15119247#post15119247

LL

As you probably saw in my build thread, we didn't use a lift. We had plenty of people and suction cups. The height of your stand is pretty close to what mine is. I would have to measure mine....you might be 4" taller which could be a big difference.

The trick is to get one end on the stand first. That takes a huge load off the rest of the people and tank. Then move those people to the other side and have someone guide the tank. The tank slides around pretty easy on the stand decking.

If you can get a lift that would be great, but make sure you check the weight limits first A lot of them that you can rent aren't strong enough....at least the ones at the rental places by me.