Reeferhead's 150DD Build
- Thread starter Reeferhead
- Start date
chadfarmer
Premium Member
the reflector that close to the water and your not going to get the spread you want
thats why i got rid of mine
thats why i got rid of mine
Pictures can be deceiving though its true I'm not quiet getting the spread I was shooting for. However, I have a couple ideas on how to fix this issue. I'm going to play around with it a bit when I get home tonight.
I don't need more MH's. The PAR I'm getting off the 400 watt Radium is ridiculous, the spread is just poor at the low height. I have an idea in my head for a mod to the reflector that I think might work. If it doesn't then I may just use the 250 Radium and add 2-4 36" T-5s.
I appreciate everyone's comments. I know I've done a few things on this build completely opposite of what others have suggested. Its not that I'm ignoring anyone, I just like to tinker, experiment, and I'm a glutton for punishment.
I don't need more MH's. The PAR I'm getting off the 400 watt Radium is ridiculous, the spread is just poor at the low height. I have an idea in my head for a mod to the reflector that I think might work. If it doesn't then I may just use the 250 Radium and add 2-4 36" T-5s.
I appreciate everyone's comments. I know I've done a few things on this build completely opposite of what others have suggested. Its not that I'm ignoring anyone, I just like to tinker, experiment, and I'm a glutton for punishment.
I took some PAR readings last night when the tank was full. At the top of the rockwork level (about 8-12" from the bottom) I'm looking at 1200 in the center down to the low 200s on the outer edges of the rocks furthest from the center. I'm getting a minimum of 150-200 everywhere on the sand as well. This is with the 400w Radium and actinics. The think this will work for the time being. Its similiar to what I see in my 60 gallon. This diversity of intensity should give me plenty of options for coral placement.
If I find that the light intensity proves too high in the center and/or the outer perimeter corals need more light, than I'll likely switch to the 250 Radium and take a targeted approach using 3-5 LED Par38 spotlights. To be honest, I may just do this regardless. We'll see how it goes. I know its not for everyone but I'm falling in love with the spotlight look. It looks cool and puts light right where you need it.
If I find that the light intensity proves too high in the center and/or the outer perimeter corals need more light, than I'll likely switch to the 250 Radium and take a targeted approach using 3-5 LED Par38 spotlights. To be honest, I may just do this regardless. We'll see how it goes. I know its not for everyone but I'm falling in love with the spotlight look. It looks cool and puts light right where you need it.
chadfarmer
Premium Member
thats all that matters that you are happy with it
why did you not go with t5s (space problems with the hood)
why did you not go with t5s (space problems with the hood)
I highly considered T5s at the begining but decided on MH for a few reasons:
1. I can't do without the shimmer
2. Bulb replacment cost would be a bit higher
3. Light would be spread evenly across the tank rather than targeted at the center where I actually plan on actually keeping corals
4. All the best tanks use MH :fun5:
I plan on keeping all the corals in this tank pruned neatly in the 2' x 2' center of the tank. I'm really trying for that isolated bommie look I've spent countless hours looking at on my dives. The reason for the targeted spotlight look is two fold:
1. No wasted light
2. An attempt to great an illusion to focus the eye towards the bommie rather than the rest of the tank.
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Starr,
PAR is photosynthetically active radiation. I measurement of light available for use by plants. In VERY general terms:
50-100 is good for softies
100-200 LPS
200-500 most SPS, clams, etc
500+ some more light demanding SPS
The club has a PAR meter available for loan to its members.
http://www.slashclub.org/forums/showthread.php?t=1113&page=5
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It wasn't in that last pic but it is now!. Also, I just added about 20 lbs of live rock and the rest of the Marco rock (~65 lbs) to the sump last night. Let the cycling begin! :lol2:
I also fired up the skimmer for a bit to test it out. Its pretty BA. I wish I had enough clearance for one of those self cleaning heads but there's less than 2" left
Any ideas?
That would give me another 3/4". I'm not sure if that's enough but I would be so nervous trying to route a hole into the stand from underneath with glass and 150 gallons of saltwater just waiting for me to slip up...
Still, it could be done I just wish I would have thought about it before I put water in the tank.
Still, it could be done I just wish I would have thought about it before I put water in the tank.
logiktest
New member
If the tank has a lower trim(I thought it did) that would give you another 1/4". Setting the depth on a trim saw or router to 3/4" should be safe(relatively), but you wouldn't be the only one nervous about it. If you wanted to empty the tank, it would really only cost you one busket o' salt.
Just depends how much clearance you would truly need for the new head, I suppose.
Just depends how much clearance you would truly need for the new head, I suppose.
Yeah, your right it has trim.
I guess I need to take some exact measurements and research some heads to see if it even possible
I guess I need to take some exact measurements and research some heads to see if it even possible
I just ordered several of the 20K versions of these:
https://www.nanotuners.com/product_info.php?cPath=74&products_id=623
I think I only need 3 but if you order 4 you basically get the 5th one free so I have 5 coming. If anyone is interested I may not need 1-2 of them, we'll see.
https://www.nanotuners.com/product_info.php?cPath=74&products_id=623
I think I only need 3 but if you order 4 you basically get the 5th one free so I have 5 coming. If anyone is interested I may not need 1-2 of them, we'll see.
More Iphone pics ahead. Beth's out of town and took our good camera with her.
I spent some time in the crawl space running 60' of this. Four 1/4" lines and two 3/8" lines. The 3/8" is for the continuous water change system. The 1/4" is for Ca, Mg, and Alk plus one extra in case I need it in the future, maybe for vodka or something. All of it runs from the 150 to my laundry room. I T'd off the topoff line from the 60 gallon and hooked up the Levelloc, works like a charm.
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/21479988@N04/5152966982/" title="tubing by nickgrant79, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4042/5152966982_6eb3c44cf6.jpg" width="375" height="500" alt="tubing" /></a>
The dual head Reefiller for my continuos water change system came in on Friday. Its a lot big than I expected.
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/21479988@N04/5152967866/" title="reefiller by nickgrant79, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1412/5152967866_34eacda563.jpg" width="500" height="375" alt="reefiller" /></a>
I pulled a bit more LR out of my 60. Its just in there to help seed right now. This is by no means my final aquascaping. I put a Nano in there just to provide a little circulation until I'm ready to transfer the Vortechs
Left:
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/21479988@N04/5152358197/" title="left by nickgrant79, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1397/5152358197_6a46046655.jpg" width="500" height="375" alt="left" /></a>
Front:
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/21479988@N04/5152358607/" title="front by nickgrant79, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1353/5152358607_1e41723e20.jpg" width="500" height="375" alt="front" /></a>
Right:
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/21479988@N04/5152967362/" title="right by nickgrant79, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4041/5152967362_10535a110d.jpg" width="500" height="375" alt="right" /></a>
Here's the final version of my overflow. There is a full siphon "durso" and a standard Durso. The full siphon receives the majority of the flow and has a ball valve on it cranked down just enough to allow a trickle through the standard durso. The result is nearly dead silent and microbubbles are nonexistent. They also back each other up. I can put my hand over the intake of either one and the other handles the flow perfectly. The couplings (about midway down the picture) are dry fit, not glued, so I can clean out the pipes or change up the plumbing if needed in the future.
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/21479988@N04/5152357467/" title="overflow by nickgrant79, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1085/5152357467_b0b867c08b.jpg" width="375" height="500" alt="overflow" /></a>
I hooked up a DJ strip and put a few essentials on it. I'm waiting on a 25' USB cable to come in before I can connect to my Apex in the other room. So I have at least one trip back into the crawl space before this thing is done
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/21479988@N04/5152966096/" title="djstrip by nickgrant79, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1097/5152966096_6a1c1bb980.jpg" width="500" height="375" alt="djstrip" /></a>
And last but not least, everyone needs to mark the water level for their sump. This is how I marked mine.
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/21479988@N04/5152357725/" title="sumplevel by nickgrant79, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1355/5152357725_9089070d3f.jpg" width="375" height="500" alt="sumplevel" /></a>
I spent some time in the crawl space running 60' of this. Four 1/4" lines and two 3/8" lines. The 3/8" is for the continuous water change system. The 1/4" is for Ca, Mg, and Alk plus one extra in case I need it in the future, maybe for vodka or something. All of it runs from the 150 to my laundry room. I T'd off the topoff line from the 60 gallon and hooked up the Levelloc, works like a charm.
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/21479988@N04/5152966982/" title="tubing by nickgrant79, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4042/5152966982_6eb3c44cf6.jpg" width="375" height="500" alt="tubing" /></a>
The dual head Reefiller for my continuos water change system came in on Friday. Its a lot big than I expected.
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/21479988@N04/5152967866/" title="reefiller by nickgrant79, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1412/5152967866_34eacda563.jpg" width="500" height="375" alt="reefiller" /></a>
I pulled a bit more LR out of my 60. Its just in there to help seed right now. This is by no means my final aquascaping. I put a Nano in there just to provide a little circulation until I'm ready to transfer the Vortechs
Left:
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/21479988@N04/5152358197/" title="left by nickgrant79, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1397/5152358197_6a46046655.jpg" width="500" height="375" alt="left" /></a>
Front:
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/21479988@N04/5152358607/" title="front by nickgrant79, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1353/5152358607_1e41723e20.jpg" width="500" height="375" alt="front" /></a>
Right:
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/21479988@N04/5152967362/" title="right by nickgrant79, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4041/5152967362_10535a110d.jpg" width="500" height="375" alt="right" /></a>
Here's the final version of my overflow. There is a full siphon "durso" and a standard Durso. The full siphon receives the majority of the flow and has a ball valve on it cranked down just enough to allow a trickle through the standard durso. The result is nearly dead silent and microbubbles are nonexistent. They also back each other up. I can put my hand over the intake of either one and the other handles the flow perfectly. The couplings (about midway down the picture) are dry fit, not glued, so I can clean out the pipes or change up the plumbing if needed in the future.
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/21479988@N04/5152357467/" title="overflow by nickgrant79, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1085/5152357467_b0b867c08b.jpg" width="375" height="500" alt="overflow" /></a>
I hooked up a DJ strip and put a few essentials on it. I'm waiting on a 25' USB cable to come in before I can connect to my Apex in the other room. So I have at least one trip back into the crawl space before this thing is done
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/21479988@N04/5152966096/" title="djstrip by nickgrant79, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1097/5152966096_6a1c1bb980.jpg" width="500" height="375" alt="djstrip" /></a>
And last but not least, everyone needs to mark the water level for their sump. This is how I marked mine.
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/21479988@N04/5152357725/" title="sumplevel by nickgrant79, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1355/5152357725_9089070d3f.jpg" width="375" height="500" alt="sumplevel" /></a>
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