My 55 gallon reef project

I went ahead and paid for my 125 gallon last night. I couldn't pass it up for $125. It's a 125 long, so the measurements are 6' x 1.5' x 1.5' I believe.

I just have to decide how to implement this thing and decide what I need for it. I think I already have the lighting. I have dual 250 watt MHs already, and a dual 175 watt ballast that I currently am not using. I'm actually considering building a small room with a bar in front of it in my basement and putting the tank behind the bar, but I'm not sure yet. I'll have to build a stand and canopy when the time comes, along with upgrade my pumps and turn my current tank into a sump. I'm excited, but there's lots of work in store before this thing will be up and going. I'll be counting on you guys for lots of help along the way.

Some of the other things that I'd like to complete during this construction are as follows:

Finish building my mixing station out of 2 brute cans
Setup a permanent frag growout tank
Setup a permanent quarantine tank for emergencies
Make my sump and refugium more functional and accessible
Treat all my live rock for red flat worms
Setup a station to sustain captive bred clowns at well as the food needed to support them.
Make my fish room spill resistant and carpet free
Have room for all of my fish "junk" in one area of my house
........and much much more. Good thing I'm getting a raise in a month or so.
 
I built a 55g and have it hovering in front of my bar at my house, and I get more compliments on the tank (and its not even all that impressive!) than I do the bar!!
 
This will extend my current 55 gallon by 2 feet in length and 6 inches front to back. I hope that will make for easier aquascaping. I love long tanks, and hopefully that'll really pop over a nice new bar.
 
Picture-021.jpg
 
I know I haven't posted in a while, but I took a shot today that I wanted to share. Still trying to improve my skills, but I liked this one a bunch. Hope you enjoy.

DSC_0057.jpg
 
Thanks, Of all the coral in my tank to photograph, it had to be the mushrooms that spread all over the place to give me the best photo. I think it was the blend of color that made it stand out to me.

Marc,

The 125 is currently setting empty in the basement. I've got some other house projects to finish over the winter and spring, and then I'm going to get to work on the stand. Of course, I've got to get two walls up to house this thing in too:eek2: :eek2:

My goal is by the end of next summer to be up and partially running.
 
Hey all,

Here's a link to are new quarterly article over at SDIRB. Bear with us, as this is the first issue, and we're having a few problems with some of the links in the document. All of the links had to be typed out, and even some of them do not work. Hopefully next month will be fully functional, and will be linking to pictures and tags.

Take a look.........



SDIRB Quarterly: Q3 2008
 
Well, I picked up about 10 small sps frags from a fellow club member today at lunch.

I got a number of monti frags, including a purple plating monti, purple, pink, and tan digis, a pink and blue mille frag, as well as a few others.

I'll get some pics in the next few days.
 
Melev, I'm finally going to get a floodlight setup over my fuge.

I read on your site that you just wire the socket to an extension cord and plug in.

Why do these bulbs not need any type of transformer to fire them? I noticed that the ballast type is Normal Power Factor. Does that mean that the bulb needs output voltage of 120VAC, and needs no transformer to change the voltage?


My lack of electrical knowledge is shining through here.
 
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This is a standard screw in bulb, and has its one ceramic ballast. You can buy a clamp-light socket setup at Home Depot for $5. Just remove the aluminum reflector (and clamp section possibly) and use the cord & socket. A plastic clip to secure the wire above your refugium will avoid any rust issues. I like the bulb 4" off the water, assuming that when the power is out, the bulb is not submerged in water.
 
Got it. I got an electricity lesson from a club member today. I didn't realize that CF bulbs have ballasts built into the bases of the bulbs.

If I understand correctly, if this was a normal incandescent bulb, it could run off of standard 120VAC without a ballast.
 
Actually CF's are available with or without ballast. The screw base type have the ballast attached and use a standard 120V socket. The pin base type need a separate ballast to drive them.

Power Factor is deals with how much the current lags behind the voltage. It's not a factor unless you're getting close to the maximum capacity of your circuit. AC power is actually calculated as Watts = power factor*volts*amps A normal power factor ballast is about 0.8 a high power factor ballast is 0.9 to 0.95.

For example if you have four 400W metal halides, with Normal power factor (PF) ballasts, with ballast losses you'll have about 430W each. Now throw in a 0.8 PF and your current is 4*(430)/120*0.8 = 18 amps instead of the 14.3 amps you would expect.

Sorry, long answer to a simple question.

Phil (aka gEEk)
 
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Nice detail. I did realize that the PCs that we use in the hobby (long bulbs) had external ballasts, but I was talking particularly about the screw in bulbs.

Good info. Thanks!
 
Hey Marc,

Would you mind to explain how DFWMAS incorporated? What type of tax status do you fall under? Did you register as a 501c3 or c7, or something different? Our club is trying to stay exempt, but we don't know if it's a possibility.
 
DFWMAS is a Social Club, 501-c7. We are not-for-profit, not non-profit. That status makes it hard for companies to donate to, as we are not a true write-off.
 
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