My SPS 2.5g Mini-Bow build

[goofball310]

Well, after lurking in the shadows for many years I'm finally back. I did my research, and then I did somemore research and now here's the results.


Equipment
AGA 2.5g Mini-Bow
Aquaclear 70 refugium mod
Hydor Multi Light (refugium light)
25w Visi Stealth heater
Zoo Med micro pump
SMGS, LLC 55w LED fixture (special thanks to Rob @ Southwest Reef Co., LLC for the great deal)

Filtration
Chaeto
3lbs Live Sand
2lbs Tonga Live Rock

I just finished rockscaping so the tank is a little cloudy.
I'm still waiting on the LED fixture & pump to come in.

What sold me on a SMGS fixture
I walked into Southwest Reef Co yesterday and was discussing with Rob the owner my plans for a DIY LED fixture. After a few minutes of discussing my ideas, Rob walks me over to his 200g Marineland Deep Series tank and opens his hood to reveal two 144w SMGS fixtures. Each fixture is only 13 1/2"x5 3/8" with only 12 LED's and was lighting a tank 48"x36"x27" sitting only 3" over the water. The shimmering effect was 100x better than any shimmer effect I've ever seen from halides. SMGS not only sells the fixtures, but sells all the individual parts for DIYer's and repairs.

 

[goofball310]

Stopped by the LFS and picked up 5 astrea snails and carbon filter pads to polish the water.

Here's a pic with the water starting to clear up.

 

[nate82]

wow it's gonna be sweet good luck

 

[goofball310]

Thanks for the words of support. There really won't be any new updates until I pick up the lights this weekend. I put a black clothe on the back to see what it would look like. I really like the way it looks so I'm gonna pick up something more permanant to use.

Here's a pic of the 144w LED fixture to give you an idea of what it looks like. My fixture will only have 4 stars and will only measure 5 3/8"x5 3/8"x4"

 

[jhuynh]

very cool idea with the led lights. keep us posted how it goes.

 

[mstrpoz]

how much does that light run? the set up looks awesome

 

[goofball310]

Prices are quoted on www.SMGSLLC.com and can be ordered from www.SWReefCo.com. The parts can be ordered from SMGS for a fraction of the price for DIYer's.

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=14867407#post14867407 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by mstrpoz
how much does that light run? the set up looks awesome

 

[Penguintheory]

Going to watching this build. Nice info on the LED light!

 

[Sugar Magnolia]

Nice! I use black foam board on the back of my cube.

 

[goofball310]

where can you get black foam board?

 

[goofball310]

I added a little more to my CUC. Here's a pic of the three new additions.

two scarlets & a sexy shrimp


Also did my first water change. The LFS I go to doesn't sell premade SW. They only supply RO/DI water and salt or NSW. I opted to go the NSW route. Here's a pic of the brand I'm using.

 

[letik]

Goofball I'm 100% with you on LEDs. MH and tungsten bulbs is the past. LEDs is the future.
Some of you doubt that LEDs are bright enough. Let me tell you a story....
6 month ago I went to Paragon Sports in New York. It is huge store where they sell professional sports equipment which indecently includes those bad *** modified military flash lights. Those flashlights use LEDs. I asked to check one that was rated at 950 lumen. When I turned it on, it looked like somebody dimmed main lights at that department.
A single LED like that is probably equal in the light output of those nasty halogen car headlights.
Now imagine if you take 5 of these 5-10W LEDs and light your tank. Your coral will just go blind. And it's not that expensive to buy them. And the "mysterious" shimmer effect is produced when the light comes from a relatively small area. The smaller the better.

I use LEDs

 

[Pablo777]

This will look cool with the sps in it.

 

[goofball310]

LED's are nice but the start up price really isn't in everyone's budget. Small fixtures aren't too expensive to build, but setting up a tank over 3 feet long can cost well over $700 for a DIY and well over a $1000 for a fixture. LED's might be the future, but without any real support from manufactures it will turn out to be just a fad.

 

[goofball310]

Well I finally picked up the fixture today, and I can say that I am very pleased with it. One thing I was really worried about was heat generated by the fixture since it will be sitting on a lid I made on top of the tank, but much to my surprise my tank actually runs cooler. The fan that forces air onto the heatsink exits toward my AC70 making the tank run a few degrees cooler. My only worry now is evaporation caused by this, but I just placed an order for a RKL from my LFS so that won't be a problem for long. So here is my initial review:

Pro's
Very solid unit
All high quality parts
Nice solder joints
Perfect fit for a pico, but enough light for a nano

Con's
Finish isn't the best (slight scratches on the black acrylic and micro bubble in the acrylic welds)
Not the most aesthetically appealling fixture

Enough talk now here are the pictures:

 

[Reefer08]

very cool tank. But id reconsider keeping sps in that tank if I was you. Sps is hard to keep happy in such a small water volume unless you like brown sticks? Some colorful lps would be a lot easier and more colorful.

 

[goofball310]

I'm pretty determined to make this a truely functional SPS tank and willing to make the necessary sacrifices. This isn't my first SPS tank, but my first attempt at a SPS pico. I'm already drawing up plans though to build another SPS pico but using a JBJ or Finnex tank. I already have scratches on both the inside and outside of the tank and it's really bugging the crap out of the OCD in me. I'll never go acrylic on a pico again!

 

[nate82]

yes sps is hard to do in a pico but not impossible you're making it seem like it can't be done when in reality many people do it very successfully and with a lot more colors than brown

 

[Moonstream]

I've wanted to see an SPS nano for awhile! IMO, there is no reasonw hy they cant do great in a small tank, you just need to be dedicated enough to maintain calk, mag, alk, ect, and keep a very low bioload. cant wait to see this with more in it!

 

[goofball310]

I GOT A NEW TOY TODAY! omgomgomg

It's a skimmer for my pico, I mean a skimmer that's a pico....

Drum Roll Please!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

:rollface:
Bubble King 300 Deluxe Ext V.2009
I think I can use the collection cup as a pico, or maybe it's too big and it would be classified as a nano. Either way, I'm super impressed with the build quality. Unfortunately this has motivated me to finish up my larger tank build and put the pico on the sideline. NOT..... I'm determined to make this little tank work out so stay tuned.