My new 120

[tgunn]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=8266892#post8266892 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by Chrisrush
Yea, noise, heat, and flow. I don't plan on keeping the penductors, at least for now. I guess I'll see how the ehiem does at first, and then if I need some more flow, I might add them back.

That's the problem that I'm facing. I need more blue, but I don't want to sacrifice the PAR. I hear that Iwaski is coming out with a sweet 15k MH bulb around christmas that is going to rock in terms of color and PAR.

Sanjay was talking about the amount of PAR from those fluorescent bulbs, both T5s, T8s and T12s. The optimal temperature for most of them was between 20-25 C from what I can remember. I know that inside my canopy, which is very well ventilated, it gets above that. And if the only thing that I'm running the actinics for is aesthetics, then I might as well just buy some cheap 40w tubes instead of burning 220w with the VHOs. When I turned them off, I didn't notice much of a difference in terms of my eyes. I lengthened my photoperiod by an hr. for the MH, so that should help, from 5 to 6 hrs.

Probably the best bet to try without the penductors. I have to play around with the ones I've borrowed from LittleBlueGT some more but I think I may end up downgrading my return pump to a PCX55 or PCX40. The 70 is way too much flow and pulls microbubbles through the sump. Plus it eats up power...

My thought was to try the ReefFlux 10ks or the CoralVue 12ks in January when I need to halides. I'd also like to try swapping my T5s for a more "true actinic" rather than the Blue+ bulbs I have right now.

WOW, that's quite a low temperature to have to keep the bulbs at for optimal running! I honestly wouldn't have guessed it'd be that low... Despite my well vented canopy I can say for sure I'm not managing to attain that. I shall have to think some more about venting..

Tyler

 

[Chrisrush]

Probably the best bet to try without the penductors. I have to play around with the ones I've borrowed from LittleBlueGT some more but I think I may end up downgrading my return pump to a PCX55 or PCX40. The 70 is way too much flow and pulls microbubbles through the sump. Plus it eats up power...

My thought was to try the ReefFlux 10ks or the CoralVue 12ks in January when I need to halides. I'd also like to try swapping my T5s for a more "true actinic" rather than the Blue+ bulbs I have right now.

WOW, that's quite a low temperature to have to keep the bulbs at for optimal running! I honestly wouldn't have guessed it'd be that low... Despite my well vented canopy I can say for sure I'm not managing to attain that. I shall have to think some more about venting..

Tyler

I'll make you a sweet deal on the pcx-55 if you want.

I almost bought some of the Reeflux 12k bulbs at MACNA and I probably should have, since they were on sale for $50, but I wanted to see what the Iwaski's looked like first.

I would have to go back and look through my notes, but I thought the same thing. I'm sure that you could email Sanjay and get his exact quote. Not that turning off my actinics helped a lot in terms of electricity and heat, but every little bit helps. I may even have to run a heater this weekend. I'm dropping 80w when I switch out the pcx-55 pump, and maybe more if I drop the penductors (I'm not sure how they effect the power draw).

 

[tgunn]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=8267204#post8267204 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by Chrisrush
I'll make you a sweet deal on the pcx-55 if you want.

I almost bought some of the Reeflux 12k bulbs at MACNA and I probably should have, since they were on sale for $50, but I wanted to see what the Iwaski's looked like first.

I would have to go back and look through my notes, but I thought the same thing. I'm sure that you could email Sanjay and get his exact quote. Not that turning off my actinics helped a lot in terms of electricity and heat, but every little bit helps. I may even have to run a heater this weekend. I'm dropping 80w when I switch out the pcx-55 pump, and maybe more if I drop the penductors (I'm not sure how they effect the power draw).

Thanks for the offer, but there's a local reefer who's interested in possibly doing a swap. So I should be good. I'll keep you in mind though.

Interesting none the less. Believe it or not, the same pump will use LESS power with the penductors than if you weren't. My PCX-70 went from using 300w to about 280w with penductors. Still, not a big difference.

Yeah, I will have to see what's out for bulbs in January. I've heard a tiny bit about the new Iwaski's and they've kinda got my interest. I'd love to cut out the T5s if I could. I find the ripple effect is soooooo much more pronounced without them.

Tyler

 

[Chrisrush]

Not a problem. Just thought that I would throw it out there.

That is very interesting about the penductors, and frankly, I'm a bit surprised.

Your pcx-70 pulls 300w? Wow, that's quite a bit. My new ehiem 1262 is supposed to pull 80w, down from the 170w or so with the pcx-55.

I heard the 15k Iwaski 175w bulbs were great. I can't wait to see what the 250w bulbs look like.

Get ready for a huge update this weekend.

 

[tgunn]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=8282486#post8282486 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by Chrisrush
Not a problem. Just thought that I would throw it out there.

That is very interesting about the penductors, and frankly, I'm a bit surprised.

Your pcx-70 pulls 300w? Wow, that's quite a bit. My new ehiem 1262 is supposed to pull 80w, down from the 170w or so with the pcx-55.

I heard the 15k Iwaski 175w bulbs were great. I can't wait to see what the 250w bulbs look like.

Get ready for a huge update this weekend.

I can't remember the exact physics behind it, but MDM explained it in their forum way back when when someone asked about valving back pumps and it using less power. I was able to confirm this with my PCX-40 as well by kinking the hose in my water change pail and watching the power usage drop. Doesn't seem to make sense does it?

Yaeh, the PCX-70 is an absolute killer. My two PCX-70s are using over 600w, and then my Sequence 1000 is sucking in around 380w. So I'm dumping near 1000w into pumps alone, which translates into somewhere around $36/mo in power for the pumps alone. Needless to say I wish I had Tunzes!

I've heard great things about the Iwaski 175w bulb as well. I'll be very interestest to see the spectral plots that I'm sure Sanjay will do with them.

Great! Looking forward to seeing the updates!

Tyler

 

[Chrisrush]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=8282992#post8282992 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by tgunn
I can't remember the exact physics behind it, but MDM explained it in their forum way back when when someone asked about valving back pumps and it using less power. I was able to confirm this with my PCX-40 as well by kinking the hose in my water change pail and watching the power usage drop. Doesn't seem to make sense does it?

Yaeh, the PCX-70 is an absolute killer. My two PCX-70s are using over 600w, and then my Sequence 1000 is sucking in around 380w. So I'm dumping near 1000w into pumps alone, which translates into somewhere around $36/mo in power for the pumps alone. Needless to say I wish I had Tunzes!

I've heard great things about the Iwaski 175w bulb as well. I'll be very interestest to see the spectral plots that I'm sure Sanjay will do with them.

Great! Looking forward to seeing the updates!

Tyler

That's amazing that you are burning a kw/hr just on pumps alone. You could mod an mj or two if you need some extra flow. Those 900's work wonders.

Quick little update. Changed out my return pump for an ehiem 1262. What a great little pump. Quiet, effecient. I believe that it has dropped my tank water about a half degree, which is one of the other things that I was looking to accomplish. Since the kitchen and bedroom walls share a wall, the change in pumps has virtually eliminated the vibration noise. I'm sleeping much better now.:rollface:

I addded the sand and the reef ceramics yesterday. All the corals seemed to be liking the new digs. I've got a few pictures that I'll post a little later. Most of the frags are just thrown in the tank. Tomorrow I'll mount them how I like.

 

[tgunn]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=8299085#post8299085 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by Chrisrush
That's amazing that you are burning a kw/hr just on pumps alone. You could mod an mj or two if you need some extra flow. Those 900's work wonders.

Quick little update. Changed out my return pump for an ehiem 1262. What a great little pump. Quiet, effecient. I believe that it has dropped my tank water about a half degree, which is one of the other things that I was looking to accomplish. Since the kitchen and bedroom walls share a wall, the change in pumps has virtually eliminated the vibration noise. I'm sleeping much better now.:rollface:

I addded the sand and the reef ceramics yesterday. All the corals seemed to be liking the new digs. I've got a few pictures that I'll post a little later. Most of the frags are just thrown in the tank. Tomorrow I'll mount them how I like.

Yeah, you're telling me! I've been meaning to mod up a couple MJ 1200s for my tank. I think then I should be able to swap the PCX-70 return for a PCX-40 return and save a good couple hundred watts.

Down the road I'd like to get a couple Tunzes on a controller to replace the closed loop...


Hey, good news on the new pump! Anything to bring the temps and noise down is a bonus! Do you run it external or internal?

Post a before and after with the sand and ceramics; this should be quite a change!

Tyler

 

[Chrisrush]

Short update:
I picked up a 2nd false perc, 2 twinspot gobies and a powder brown tang in the last 2 weeks. Everything is doing good. Here are some pictures. I'm getting some brown diatoms on the reef ceramics, which I understand is normal. I soaked them for a week in fw and in sw but I still got the diatoms.

Powder Brown

1 twinspot

Pair of twinspots

Small perc with his lady

Those BTAs have split again, I now have 5!!!

Here's a quick angle shot

And one of my favorite acros, purple pillow. It's amazing how purple this is under ambient light. I'll try and snap a picture tomorrow if the sun is out.

 

[tgunn]

Nice shots! I really like the twinspot; what a cool looking fish! Were they one your motivations for the sand?

I like the look of the sand in there! The reef ceramics background is pretty cool too. How it is for mounting frags onto? What holds it onto the tank back?

Tyler

 

[Chrisrush]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=8406718#post8406718 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by tgunn
Nice shots! I really like the twinspot; what a cool looking fish! Were they one your motivations for the sand?

I like the look of the sand in there! The reef ceramics background is pretty cool too. How it is for mounting frags onto? What holds it onto the tank back?

Tyler

Thanks Tyler.

Motivation for the sand. Not really, but they are a nice perk. I've always like the sand sifting gobies. I was looking at a orange diamond goby, but I liked the pair of twinspots instead.

They are very good for mounting frags. Just a little epoxy to hold the frag to the ceramic and it's set.

The backwall plate is thicker at the bottom than it is at the top, so it stands by itself. I can't wait till it blends in a little better. The top part is a bit annoying.

I'll post some before and after pics later.

 

[Chrisrush]

Here are some before and after pictures.

 

[Chrisrush]

And after:

 

[tgunn]

Wow, I never realized how much your zoas had spread! I only wish mine would do something. They're VERY slow to spread.

You know, if you don't like the flat top of the reef ceramics on the back you could always glue or sit some live rock rubble out there to take away the sharp definition of the edge.

So what's your fastest growing coral?

Tyler

 

[burdundi]

Nice tank Chris. I really like the Reef Ceramics background. Once it blends in a little better at the top it will be really sweet. I'm suprised they don't make the tops a little more jagged to give it a more natureal look. Just out of curiousity, how hard would it be to break off a corner or something?

Andy

 

[Chrisrush]

Tyler,
Those zoas started to spread once I started to feed oyster eggs to the tank. I think that i cut off about a 100+ polyps of the mean greens and turned them in for store credit in the last 2 weeks and I've still got some large rocks full of them.

I think that once the corraline and corals grow up some, you won't notice the sharp contrast. The other nice this is that my lyretail and pep shrimps have a nice hiding place.

Fasting growing coral? SPS? Probably my pink birdsnest or tenius. Since I moved my purple digi up some, it's growing pretty quickly too. I got my reactor running better now, it's only on for 10 hrs. per day at 140 ml/min.

 

[Chrisrush]

Andy,
The guys at Captive Oceans told me that you can take a chop saw or a skil saw to the reef ceramics and it cuts very nicely.

I could have gone a size larger on the wall plate, but I figured that where I have the top corals, that's as high as I wanted them to be placed anyways.

 

[tgunn]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=8411663#post8411663 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by Chrisrush
Tyler,
Those zoas started to spread once I started to feed oyster eggs to the tank. I think that i cut off about a 100+ polyps of the mean greens and turned them in for store credit in the last 2 weeks and I've still got some large rocks full of them.

I think that once the corraline and corals grow up some, you won't notice the sharp contrast. The other nice this is that my lyretail and pep shrimps have a nice hiding place.

Fasting growing coral? SPS? Probably my pink birdsnest or tenius. Since I moved my purple digi up some, it's growing pretty quickly too. I got my reactor running better now, it's only on for 10 hrs. per day at 140 ml/min.

How big are the oyster eggs? I've never noticed my zoas eating cyclopeeze; not sure if it's too big. Mine just never have done much... They're spreading but VERY slowly...

So the Ca reactor works that well huh? Still gotta get one for myself.

Tyler

 

[Chrisrush]

I'm not sure of the micron size, but I think that they are smaller than cyclopeeze. I guess I need to clarify my statement above, ever since I started to feed my homemade food, the zoas have been growing very fast. I added some oyster eggs, cyclopeeze and other meaty foods.

 

[tgunn]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=8412078#post8412078 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by Chrisrush
I'm not sure of the micron size, but I think that they are smaller than cyclopeeze. I guess I need to clarify my statement above, ever since I started to feed my homemade food, the zoas have been growing very fast. I added some oyster eggs, cyclopeeze and other meaty foods.

Ahh, okay, so the oyster eggs are a component of the home made food.

I still have to give a shot at making some home made food. Although so far my fish and corals get a much wider variety of food than my dog does. :lol:

Tyler

 

[Chrisrush]

Yea, that's how our house is as well. The fish eat better than anyone else. Spoiled fish.

I only feed that homemade food 3-4x per week. Everyday the fish get mysis. The homemade stuff is very potent.

The ca reactor is working good again. I was having trouble getting it dialed in when it was running 24/7. The way that is it running now, it's keeping the alk right at 8.3. I'm going to run it like this for a while and then try and bump up the alk to 9-10 for a while to see if there is any difference.