Mark's 180 Starfire upgrade

[mpoletti]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=12108326#post12108326 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by slojmn
Mark, I feel it getting close. Man, you have all the nice toys for this set-up. Super sweet. What lighting /reflector did you finally decide on??

I decided to go with the LAmini's with 250 radiums on Blue wave ballast. I will be supplementing it with two 72" 160 watts URI super actinic VHO's.

I saw your pics and they look great. Are you still going to pull the trigger on the spectra even though your stuff is doing well. I have no idea if my decision is correct as my corals look great right now, but oh well. I woke up one morning and said that I want to try something new

 

[eben]

mark the setup is looking awesome! Im inspired to make the switchover after reading through the thread

Make sure you let me know if you need some help during the big switch!

 

[eben]

mark the setup is looking awesome! Im inspired to make the switchover after reading through the thread

Make sure you let me know if you need some help during the big switch!

 

[eben]

mark the setup is looking awesome! Im inspired to make the switchover after reading through the thread

Make sure you let me know if you need some help during the big switch!

 

[tbone28]

Damn, Mark, you made some good progress today! I'm with Sang-need you to reorg my stand so I can fit more stuff in there.

Busy week for you = more pics for us

 

[gabe3d]

Great progress, you move really fast. What is your skimmer skimming, that is some funky looking color. That was a close call on your VHO, it looks like it barely fits in there.

 

[slojmn]

Mark, I am pretty committed to the new fixture, but there is some lingering doubt only because everything is so happy and colorful at the moment. Hate to mess things up. I am just going to make the call and order. I will hold onto the old light system for a few months just in case . OR maybe save the lights for a frag system in the garage...oh yea, like that is ever going to happen. I'd probably be living out in the streets if I even suggested it, lol.

Do you have enough room to mess around with things between the VHO bulbs and the water line/canopy/etc. They look like they are a tad close to the front edge of the tank and low as well. It could just be the angle of the picture but I thought I would ask. The only reason I mention it is because of having that be the case on my old tank. I couldn't get large colonies/larger rocks etc. out of the tank when I needed to re-aquascape, dropped something behind the rocks, or if there was a problem, My 2 front VHO bulbs were always in the way. All I had to do was take the VHO bulbs out and work without them in the tank but it was a pain. BTW, I think you made a good choice on the lighting...are the Radiums single ended bulbs? You are going to love the spread and light you are going to get from those Luminarc minis....just phenominal.

 

[mpoletti]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=12108840#post12108840 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by eben

Make sure you let me know if you need some help during the big switch!

What are you doing this week

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=12109581#post12109581 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by gabe3d
Great progress, you move really fast. What is your skimmer skimming, that is some funky looking color. That was a close call on your VHO, it looks like it barely fits in there.

Yeah Gabe, That is basically sediment that it is pulling out. After an hour and all the dust settled, it looked much better.

 

[mpoletti]

Alicia. I don't know if it matters or not, but if I did not have a canopy, I would of got the 250 watt version of the spectra. I did want to add VHO's to it anyways though. I just can't get the same visual pop with T5's, but that is another debate. I went radiums SE because of my helios that I currently run. I also want the option to run reflux's 12k and aquaconnect's 14k. I only found one DE bulb I liked. I went through 4. At first I like the pheonix, but the corals did not radiate like they should.

I have about 6 inches of clearance to work with when the canopy in on correctly. I always have the option to slide the canopy back towards the wall to gain an extra couple of inches. Tim believes that I will put a 3rd vho on this over time, who knows

 

[Ian]

Mark, is there a reason you went with the spectrapure ATO??

 

[AJPACINO23]

man just got caught up, left off on pg. 13, a lot has happend sence then , sorry about fri. Looks really good PO! I like it with out the hardware, matches the pottery barn deccor lol. was going to stop by this weekend but had scuba class, love the progress and like the new avatar too. your plumbing looks real clean, and I jock your sump and skimmer, return, and calk reactor, -K- I jock your whole setup, your making me itch, RESIST THE ITCH, NO.... NO.... DONT SCRATCH IT!, WIFE WILL KILL YOU,

 

[Bdimas]

Dang Mark you are working like a mad man! I love the stand and canopy.

 

[cbui2]

back on topic, finally we can all learn something

 

[mpoletti]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=12112459#post12112459 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by bigian
Mark, is there a reason you went with the spectrapure ATO??

I just like the fact that there are no lifters to fail. I will also have it on a timer throughout the day.

Anthony- Don't you feel a cold coming on for Wed

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=12112853#post12112853 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by Bdimas
Dang Mark you are working like a mad man! I love the stand and canopy.

Thanks Bryan.

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=12112877#post12112877 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by cbui2
back on topic, finally we can all learn something

Bart- why do you have to insult me like that :lol:

 

[Jim_S]

Dude, get back to work....

BTW, thanks for the hole saws.

They'll work reeaall niice.

 

[AJPACINO23]

WED, HOOKIE IT IS,

 

[mpoletti]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=12114064#post12114064 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by Jim_S
Dude, get back to work....

BTW, thanks for the hole saws.

No problem.

BTW everyone, Jim just ordered a new 180. I think he needed some inspiration to start his thread so I wanted to make him sociably accountable

 

[tbone28]

no wonder why he's been PM'ing me about my 180!!!

Help me out, Mark...

WE WANT PICS!
WE WANT PICS!
WE WANT PICS!



Edit: saw your new occupation. T-boneing sure is catchin on now-a-days!

 

[Maximus]

Jim, where is your thread, dude! We need another thread to post OT stuff in!

 

[paulthomas]

Awesome JimS! What tank maker did you go with?

Paul