My 500 + gallon system. Last 13 years to now. Build, Aquascaping & more. Lots of pics
- Thread starter slief
- Start date
slief
RC Sponsor
I have a bit of an update.. If you have read through the thread, you would have seen my light rack. I built it when the tank was setup some 13+ years ago. Its served me well but a bit outdated and tired. I decided a long time ago that I would be replacing it with a new one. I read a number of threads here on RC which gave me lots of new ideas. At some point in the future, I will probably make the leap to LED lighting. I have been debating on building my own fixtures tailored to my needs and tank size but in the short term, I will use my 400 watt halides which will drop right in to my new light rack. When its time for the LED's, they will be setup to drop right in to this rack as well. If I use an off the shelf LED fixture, I will make a mount that will allow them to drop in to the new rack.
Its not complete yet, but everything is cut and half of it is assembled. It will have to go in to the canopy (more like a sofet) in two pieces.
For reference, here is my old light rack. It raises and lowers via an electric winch. The winch will be replaced with a linear or track actuator which will be much more quiet and practical.
Here is the new rack coming together. The wheels on the lower edge of the rack will slide up and down in a track on the wall. They swivel and are not facing the correct orientation in these photos. They will keep the light rack centered so it doesnt swing foward or back when its being raised or lowered. There will be a matching set of wheels at the other end as well. I will add a spring to the shaft on that wheel mount so it stays extended keeping constant contact with the track but allows for some forgivness while moving. My plan is to have the rack pretty much completed this weekend and get it installed in the next week or so.
Its not complete yet, but everything is cut and half of it is assembled. It will have to go in to the canopy (more like a sofet) in two pieces.
For reference, here is my old light rack. It raises and lowers via an electric winch. The winch will be replaced with a linear or track actuator which will be much more quiet and practical.
Here is the new rack coming together. The wheels on the lower edge of the rack will slide up and down in a track on the wall. They swivel and are not facing the correct orientation in these photos. They will keep the light rack centered so it doesnt swing foward or back when its being raised or lowered. There will be a matching set of wheels at the other end as well. I will add a spring to the shaft on that wheel mount so it stays extended keeping constant contact with the track but allows for some forgivness while moving. My plan is to have the rack pretty much completed this weekend and get it installed in the next week or so.
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slief
RC Sponsor
Im still not set on the reefkoi's. They are a great deal but I am still thinking about building my own. I will make that decision in the next couple weeks. Maybe sooner.
In the mean time, the light rack framing is done. I made it so it can come apart in the center with the 4 shorter aluminum channels being removable. This will allow me to get it in above the tank through the doors. It'll also make it so I can get it out if I need to make changes. I had to grind down the little plastic connectors so the fit wasnt so snug. Stainless nuts and bolts will insure thats its sturdy at those points.
I also need to add little aluminum triangles in four locations for my lift cable mount points. I will have those pieces monday.
I got some springs today for the little wheels that will keep the rack aligned. I need to get shorter springs but with the right springs, it will work better than using nuts (my original plan) to lock the wheels into place.
coralreefdoc
New member
It's a beast. Its the Royal Exlusiv Vertex 300 cone skimmer. AKA Royal Exclusiv Yorki Carrier.
** The dog was not harmed and didn't seem to mind one bit. I couldn't think
Reminds me of the Jetsons lol, nice skimmer !
** The dog was not harmed and didn't seem to mind one bit. I couldn't think
Reminds me of the Jetsons lol, nice skimmer !
Jason F
New member
Hey there !
It´s been too long, sorry about that. It´s nice to see some new things in the tank. Also it´s looking better now. The bubble algae is only thing which i am worried, I hope it doesn´t grow. I had it full tank when we arrived back home last summer. New rocks and start from beginning...2-3 months, it´s getting again.
It´s been too long, sorry about that. It´s nice to see some new things in the tank. Also it´s looking better now. The bubble algae is only thing which i am worried, I hope it doesn´t grow. I had it full tank when we arrived back home last summer. New rocks and start from beginning...2-3 months, it´s getting again.
bullitr
broke but happy
slief
RC Sponsor
Jason,
Good to hear from you! I hope you guys are doing well! Things are progressing my tank. The next big thing will be a switch to LED's. I have my choice narrowed down and with a little bit of luck I will be ready to make a swap in the next few weeks.
Bubble algae can be a real pain. I have had my run ins with it over the years. I have a tiny bit of it in my tank and I just pick them out. They really have not grown or spread fortunately. Some tangs will eat the stuff and if memory serves me, I have used certain crabs to help control them in the past. Its been a long time though so I question my memory.
Lets see some pics of your tank!
Jason F
New member
I have to admit that i don´t have any pictures of my tank,but today I might take some. Sorry, but big tank is other side of my country...so far far away 
So I can´t take pictures of it.
Here is some pics...anyone recognize ?
https://sites.google.com/site/jasonfriman/gallery
So I can´t take pictures of it.Here is some pics...anyone recognize ?
https://sites.google.com/site/jasonfriman/gallery
Jason F
New member
Here is some pics my older set up. Before we was in State.
upper pic: both led lamps are used
next: front led is on
next: both front and rear
next: rear led is on
last one: front led is on
Now I have same tank but rocks only half from first start, about 30 to 35 kg. And led lights gone away and hqi 2x150w is back again with 2x54w T-5.
upper pic: both led lamps are used
next: front led is on
next: both front and rear
next: rear led is on
last one: front led is on
Now I have same tank but rocks only half from first start, about 30 to 35 kg. And led lights gone away and hqi 2x150w is back again with 2x54w T-5.
Attachments
Jason F
New member
Btw I haven´t done any retouch for those pics. Just push the camera button and load it to internet.
Here is one place to buy led light for bigger tank.
http://reefrepublic.com/
Friend of mine order one of these. They make any size you want and any colours set you want. It came for same size tank like mine ~400 gallon, 2.2 meter lenght. Really expensive...
Here is one place to buy led light for bigger tank.
http://reefrepublic.com/
Friend of mine order one of these. They make any size you want and any colours set you want. It came for same size tank like mine ~400 gallon, 2.2 meter lenght. Really expensive...
slief
RC Sponsor
Tank's looking good Jason! What LED's did you have before you swithced back to the MH's?
I looked at those Reef Republic lights. They are pretty nice. I have narrowed my choice down to Vertex Illumina's or ReefTech Promithius lights. Both have really good spread and are fully dimmable. They offer higher wattage in a smaller form factor. Neither use any optics and a 12"-14" fixture can easily cover a 36"x36" + footprint. I will disclose my choice in the coming week.
Since I dont plan on any SPS's and intend to stick primarely with softies and LPS, I dont need to get carried away with PAR levels. With the way my light rack is setup, I can raise it as much as 27" from the water so light spread wont be an issue as I can raise and lower my lights as needed to get good spread. The LED's will be mounted on tracks that will allow each fixture to slide back or forth independantly within my light rack to find the best location. I will have them suspended from the track on articulating Ram Mounts so I can tilt them too if needed to get better coverage or eliminate light wash on the glass. I will likely end up with 4 fitures..
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Jason F
New member
Those pics were before winter, today I took some new pics. And what comes to my led lights... those were first generation led lights. There is too big difference for these days led lights. It takes only one and half year when the light intensity drops down dramatically.
I don´t know those other light systems (too much text to read), but reefrepublic light system you can program everything with profilux, they send also control panel (or what you call it).
I forgot to tell, those are really f*@ing heavy. So be sure that rack will hold whole system.
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slief
RC Sponsor
Minor update today. I just finished up my slider mounts for the LED lights. These mounts use thumb screws to lock them in place on the tracks of the new light rack. They will allow me to adjust the new lights forward and back. Each slider will hold one light. There will be a ram mount attacked to the center of the slider which will allow me to tilt the lights to maximize coverage. I will make a bracket for each light that the other end of the ram mount will attach to in order to suspend the light below the slider.
I need to make a set of smaller sliders next for the smaller LED fixtures that will light up either side of my overflow. My plan is for a total of 4 lights. 2 on either end of the tank and 2 in the middle along each side of the overflow.
Here is the new slider.
A look at the thumb screw that will lock the channel in place on the light rack.
Slider in place on the light rack.
And an out of focus shot of the rack with both sliders in place.
I need to make a set of smaller sliders next for the smaller LED fixtures that will light up either side of my overflow. My plan is for a total of 4 lights. 2 on either end of the tank and 2 in the middle along each side of the overflow.
Here is the new slider.
A look at the thumb screw that will lock the channel in place on the light rack.
Slider in place on the light rack.
And an out of focus shot of the rack with both sliders in place.
Jason F
New member
I hope my concern isn´t real.
Did i understand correct. Those wheels you can remove the rack ? What kind of springs you have. You should test with some weight before you instal. Be aware that those wheels doesn´t carry so much weight. I use same kind of wheels in my work and they carry about 8 kg per pair and they look little bit heavier. I know You do best choice. I´m just little worried.
Anyway the rack seems to be fine.
Did i understand correct. Those wheels you can remove the rack ? What kind of springs you have. You should test with some weight before you instal. Be aware that those wheels doesn´t carry so much weight. I use same kind of wheels in my work and they carry about 8 kg per pair and they look little bit heavier. I know You do best choice. I´m just little worried.
Anyway the rack seems to be fine.
slief
RC Sponsor
Let me see if I can explain.
There is no weight on the wheels. There are there to keep the rack centered in the space above the tank. They will role in a track that will be mouted to the walls vertically. They will also keep the rack from swinging forward and back or hitting the walls when being raised or lowered as well as to keep the rack from banging around in an earthquake. The spings will keep the wheels extened and in contact with the tracks while providing a bit of "forgiveness" like shock absorbers compared to having the wheels fixed in place with a nut. This will help insure that the rack doesn't bind up between the walls when being raised or lowered.
In this picture of my original light rack, if you look closely at the corners of the light rack, you can see wheels. You can also see a line on the wall from the wheels rolling up or down when the rack goes up or down. The spring loaded wheels will be a similar concept except that they will run in a track and never contact the wall directly.
The empty rack weighs less than 20 pounds which almost 1/3 of my existing rack which was made from 2"x2" wood as well as some plywood. When I get done installing the LED fixtures and my neptune moon lights, I figure it will weigh around 50 pounds fully loaded. The rack is suspended from 4 stainless steel cables (one at each corner) which run through pullies to my electric winch in the closet next to the tank. The new rack will be hung the same way. See pictures above and below.
In the picture below, you can see the winch. The current winch is capable of 2000 pounds but is very noisy and way overkill. It will be replaced in the near future with an electric slide actuator with a 400 pound capacity. The slide actuator will be much more quiet, slower and more precise as I will be able to limit its travel with limit switches. It will automatically stop before the light rack reaches the ceiling where as the current winch stops when I release the button. If I am not paying attention, I could go to far and rip the rack apart. That hasn't happened thank God!
As far as the rack coming apart. I made it so the center pieces can be removed in order to get the rack in through the door opening above the tank. Essentially, I ground down the center fittings that join the aluminum channels together. They are still tight but loose enough that they can be pulled apart or put together above the tank. Without grinding them a bit, it would have been nearly impossible assemble or dissasemble in the confines of the space above the tank as it takes some real force with a mallet to get the fittings that hold the rack together inside the aluminum channel.
Here is how the new aluminum rack comes apart. The larger sections are small enough to fit through my 36"x36" doors above the tank.
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Have you seen any results from the UV sterilizers you installed? It seems there's alot of speculation on there actual value. You seem very objective in your LA Fish Guy vids so I'd really like to hear your thoughts. It's very rare to find a hobbyist that shares his unbiased honest opinion. So thanks.
Matt:thumbsup:
Matt:thumbsup:
slief
RC Sponsor
The one thing I really noticed was water clarity. It really did make a noticable difference and was very noticable within days. That was confirmed when I added one to a tank at my office and saw similar results. As for anything else, I am not sure. I have used them on and off for years and never even questioned their value. I know my UV isn't running at optimal flow for sterilization. I'm running on the higher side of the flow rating for my unit (the slower the better for sterilization) but I am still at a good rate for water polishing.
My tank and the inhabitants is happier than they have ever been but I can only attribute that to a number of different things including the UV. In my opinion, the UV sterilizer is just one of the many valuable tools in maintaining water quality. Its not needed but it does help.
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Jason F
New member
Okay, now it sounds reasonable. Thanks for: "repeat for dummies" section 
LED lights weight was big suprise for me. Mine Hqi and my friends Led are almost same size (lenght and width), but Led is much more heavier (not like mine first gen).
I´m also gonna buy couple UV sterilizer. It give you more time to do something else, I´m just too lazy to do water change often enough. Like Scott say: "Its not needed but it does help".
LED lights weight was big suprise for me. Mine Hqi and my friends Led are almost same size (lenght and width), but Led is much more heavier (not like mine first gen).
I´m also gonna buy couple UV sterilizer. It give you more time to do something else, I´m just too lazy to do water change often enough. Like Scott say: "Its not needed but it does help".
