My system upgrade/build thread
- Thread starter DrBDC
- Start date
frenchie
New member
how is your mj mod doing i changed mine out to the smaller propellar i had 2 high flow mj mod 1200 but any resistance to prop and it would flow backwards making lots of noise on stopper but if you trim down or use small prop works awesome. so now i'm taking out my seio 2600 and letting it sit in case i need it or want to trade it for something.
frenchie
New member
i had to move mine around to much if it had to much current toward it it went in reverse cause prop for high flow is to big so switched them out with smaller prop now they work awesome never hit stopper at all or go in reverse. Lost a fish when it went in reverse and it was swimming by thats why i keep stopper in.
DrBDC
Active member
Did some kilz on the inside of the canopy and got the fan holes cut. I need to go get some hinges and oak filler for nail heads and joints then possibly stain it later today and def. 2nd coat the kilz. It's hot outside!! I know it's not really hot yet but it sure seems like it after a winter.
DrBDC
Active member
Well I bought a 3rd mh ballast and am just going to go ahead and incorporate that into the hood from the get-go. I think I'll run and XM20,000K to go with the 2 10,000k's.
I haven't progressed on the hood much though. Some wood filler to nail holes, trimmed out the openings where the doors go, etc. Which that leads me to an issue with the doors not wanting to fit right. I routered them all even with the backs of the trim to lessen the size of the part that insets. I want the trim around the openings to make it nicer when the door is open but if the fit doesn't go, it will just have a slightly ugly hole showing when the door is open.
I'm still constantly moving, moving back, etc. corals. I've added a hippo and a purple tang. Moved some more corals from the frag tank forward. I added a cotton candy blue looking encrusting monti and cream w/blue tips acro from the local frag swap. Still haven't seen that yasha haze goby but I've seen the pistols a time or two. Occationally one will be up in the rocks. For wanting a lookout in a goby, they sure see well anyway because as soon as I see them, they take off.
Ange took some pics this afternoon too.
I haven't progressed on the hood much though. Some wood filler to nail holes, trimmed out the openings where the doors go, etc. Which that leads me to an issue with the doors not wanting to fit right. I routered them all even with the backs of the trim to lessen the size of the part that insets. I want the trim around the openings to make it nicer when the door is open but if the fit doesn't go, it will just have a slightly ugly hole showing when the door is open.
I'm still constantly moving, moving back, etc. corals. I've added a hippo and a purple tang. Moved some more corals from the frag tank forward. I added a cotton candy blue looking encrusting monti and cream w/blue tips acro from the local frag swap. Still haven't seen that yasha haze goby but I've seen the pistols a time or two. Occationally one will be up in the rocks. For wanting a lookout in a goby, they sure see well anyway because as soon as I see them, they take off.
Ange took some pics this afternoon too.
DrBDC
Active member
Well I've been slacking but I have the canopy partially finished. I can't find my encap standoff's so I can mount the vho's. I'll look tomorrow and/or buy/order some. I'll order a couple more bulbs while I'm at it and some more endcap's too so I can run 4 bulbs.
I'm also not happy with the doors. I couldn't find a hing that will have a long enough throw(not sure if that's the correct terminology). So I have them as "set in's" for right now.
I also need to make/buy some grills for the fan's.
The light spread is so much better than that 48" canopy perched on top!
I'm also not happy with the doors. I couldn't find a hing that will have a long enough throw(not sure if that's the correct terminology). So I have them as "set in's" for right now.
I also need to make/buy some grills for the fan's.
The light spread is so much better than that 48" canopy perched on top!
Schplitter
New member
Looks Great.
You feel like wraping my stand and building me a canopy?
You feel like wraping my stand and building me a canopy?
DrBDC
Active member
Well some of the latest updates.
We're done with all freshwater tanks. The 75 rr is now over against the fish room wall around the corner from the main tank. I've collected some rock for it. I got some show rock from Planet reef and some base rock from saltyunderground. Thanks Lisa!
But here's the pics.
And some actinics of my display that came out so-so.
I'm putting 4 vho's, 2 actinic white and 2 actinic blue for now over the 75. 1 of the 2 lamp ballasts is coming from my display and I'm changing that to 3 5ft with 1 actinic white and 2 actinic blues. I have 2 of the bulbs on the 75 now but didn't get a pic.
We're done with all freshwater tanks. The 75 rr is now over against the fish room wall around the corner from the main tank. I've collected some rock for it. I got some show rock from Planet reef and some base rock from saltyunderground. Thanks Lisa!
But here's the pics.
And some actinics of my display that came out so-so.
I'm putting 4 vho's, 2 actinic white and 2 actinic blue for now over the 75. 1 of the 2 lamp ballasts is coming from my display and I'm changing that to 3 5ft with 1 actinic white and 2 actinic blues. I have 2 of the bulbs on the 75 now but didn't get a pic.
saltyshoe_nano
New member
lookin good roy! 
DrBDC
Active member
Thanks.
It has a weird look right now with actincs. But easier to get a pic. I have an aro as220 running on both tanks with an actinic white and an actinic blue on each(only 4 ft each). The aro ballast in my main will go over to the 75 but for now it gives a funny look. I do like that the actinic white brings out the reds, but it also makes the blues redish. When I move the aro from my display over to the 75 and install the icecap I'll have 2 blues and 1 white (5 ft each) which will shift it a little more to my color preference. Plus, a lot more watts.
Also, my display tank actinics were set up temporarily so I just bolted the encaps to the canopy on the front and back so they actually point at the opposite side of the canopy vs. down into the tank due to the internal reflectors in the bulbs. Just the oreintation of the bulbs will make a difference in look.
I've noticed that it looks whiter and brighter in the 75 than in the 180 even though they have the same ballast and bulbs so I can only guess it's that my 180 is getting the actinic light from reflectedd down vs. pointed down and it changes the spectrum that makes it to the tank.
It has a weird look right now with actincs. But easier to get a pic. I have an aro as220 running on both tanks with an actinic white and an actinic blue on each(only 4 ft each). The aro ballast in my main will go over to the 75 but for now it gives a funny look. I do like that the actinic white brings out the reds, but it also makes the blues redish. When I move the aro from my display over to the 75 and install the icecap I'll have 2 blues and 1 white (5 ft each) which will shift it a little more to my color preference. Plus, a lot more watts.
Also, my display tank actinics were set up temporarily so I just bolted the encaps to the canopy on the front and back so they actually point at the opposite side of the canopy vs. down into the tank due to the internal reflectors in the bulbs. Just the oreintation of the bulbs will make a difference in look.
I've noticed that it looks whiter and brighter in the 75 than in the 180 even though they have the same ballast and bulbs so I can only guess it's that my 180 is getting the actinic light from reflectedd down vs. pointed down and it changes the spectrum that makes it to the tank.
DrBDC
Active member
Well here's a few of the 75 settling in. We added a couple true percs and a sebae but the sebae didn't make it. It started to open a tiny bit and I squirted some mysis on it. It moved a bit then shriveled up and died. 
I moved some softies from the frag tank into it too.
And here is Jack's hammer which is for sale (hint hint)
A cool sponge we got at planet reef and a leather for Christmas from bigcasino
You can see a couple chalices' in the pics which we're not real hot on so if you like chalices' and want to trade a softy to her she'd be game.
I still haven't added the other 220w of vho but I should have that done by this weekend. I hope.
I moved some softies from the frag tank into it too.
And here is Jack's hammer which is for sale (hint hint)
A cool sponge we got at planet reef and a leather for Christmas from bigcasino
You can see a couple chalices' in the pics which we're not real hot on so if you like chalices' and want to trade a softy to her she'd be game.
I still haven't added the other 220w of vho but I should have that done by this weekend. I hope.
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