Reeferhead's 150DD Build

[Reeferhead]

Plenty of updates

Plenty of updates

I actually accomplished quite a bit in the last couple weeks. I installed the LED spotlights and hood fans. I'm very happy with the PAR38 LED bulbs. I used four of them on cheap adjustable fixtures from Lowes. I was able to target the far corners of my rock work and boost the PAR an extra 100-200 in a 10" diameter areas about 20" deep. I'm now getting what I was shooting for. With the MH, Actinic and LEDs I'm seeing 300-600 PAR on all areas of the rocks and increasing dramatically going up in the tank

<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/21479988@N04/5232223552/" title="IMG_5274 by nickgrant79, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5005/5232223552_5b1b019186.jpg" width="500" height="375" alt="IMG_5274" /></a>

LEDs only:
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/21479988@N04/5232214194/" title="IMG_5264 by nickgrant79, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5168/5232214194_d695a56e21.jpg" width="500" height="375" alt="IMG_5264" /></a>

LEDs and Actinics:
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/21479988@N04/5232215394/" title="IMG_5265 by nickgrant79, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5202/5232215394_bbdcfc8cd5.jpg" width="500" height="375" alt="IMG_5265" /></a>

LEDs, Actinics, and Overdriven 250 watt Radium:
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/21479988@N04/5231624241/" title="IMG_5266 by nickgrant79, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5250/5231624241_3aac186827.jpg" width="500" height="375" alt="IMG_5266" /></a>

I installed a Azoo four fan unit to cool the hood and hooked it up to my controller but it hasn't even needed to turn on yet. Its nice to be able to get away with less light wattage on this 150 gallon than I have on my 60. I have a 2nd one of these units for my sump as well. We'll see if I need it in the summer.

http://premiumaquatics.com/store/me...de=PA&Product_Code=SPI-AZ71023&Category_Code=

<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/21479988@N04/5231632441/" title="IMG_5275 by nickgrant79, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5127/5231632441_962202192c.jpg" width="500" height="375" alt="IMG_5275" /></a>

 

[Reeferhead]

Mike (mpcart) came by yesterday with his PC laptop to help me upgrade the the firmware for my APEX. I bought the APEX when it first came out and never upgraded the firmware so I was unable to use the PM1 ( add on pH and temp module), PM2 (conductivity module), or WXM (wireless module to control Vortech pumps). Neptune will tell you its possible to do it with a Mac. IMO, don't even bother trying. Every time I thought I had it figured out I ran into another problem. I messed with it for almost a week because I'm stubborn when it comes to $H!T like that. It took 5 minutes with the PC

I got the conductivity probe calibrated and working. It will prove very useful when I get the water change system up and running. I'm waiting on some tubing and fittings to come in before I can finish that project. It turns out that the 3/8" tubing I ran on under the crawlspace will be fine for pushing new saltwater to the tank but the intake for the reefiller requires 1/2" = one more time back on my stomach in the "low crawl space"

The 3-part is all installed and running. Though I'm currently not dosing any Mg as its too high. The tank is using 100 mL/day of both Ca and Alk and I haven't seen any coraline growth yet, go figure.

3-part system in the mud room, the two Brute trash cans are for the water change system
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/21479988@N04/5231638579/" title="IMG_5281 by nickgrant79, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5201/5231638579_d87d16e310.jpg" width="500" height="375" alt="IMG_5281" /></a>

Closeup of the dosing pumps
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/21479988@N04/5231636777/" title="IMG_5280 by nickgrant79, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5049/5231636777_9d7d1c9163.jpg" width="500" height="375" alt="IMG_5280" /></a>

Eshopps magnetic probe holder for the 3-part lines in the tank, I have one the pH, cond, and temp probes too
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/21479988@N04/5232226772/" title="IMG_5276 by nickgrant79, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5087/5232226772_5f5c005a90.jpg" width="500" height="375" alt="IMG_5276" /></a>

Random gratuitous skimmer pic
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/21479988@N04/5232229754/" title="IMG_5279 by nickgrant79, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5284/5232229754_0793144e9f.jpg" width="375" height="500" alt="IMG_5279" /></a>

 

[Reeferhead]

The tank saw its first official inhabitants yesterday when my cleanup crew from Aquarium Cleaners came in.

30 Assorted Hermits
20 Blue Leg Hermit Crab
200 Dwarf Cerith
50 Florida Cerith
8 Fuzzy Chiton
80 Nassarius Vibex
30 Nerite Snails (Large)
15 Nerite Snails (Small - Medium)
3 Rock Boring Urchins*

Some of this stuff went in the 60 as well. I also transferred more LR (about 20 lbs) and a couple tester corals that happened to be hanging on.

Chiton
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/21479988@N04/5232221216/" title="IMG_5270 by nickgrant79, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5005/5232221216_9202858c90.jpg" width="500" height="375" alt="IMG_5270" /></a>

Nerite Snails
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/21479988@N04/5231627545/" title="IMG_5269 by nickgrant79, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5249/5231627545_bc2e00d0bb.jpg" width="500" height="375" alt="IMG_5269" /></a>

Pile of assorted hermits and Cerith snails
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/21479988@N04/5232218924/" title="IMG_5268 by nickgrant79, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5008/5232218924_1ffddb1958.jpg" width="500" height="375" alt="IMG_5268" /></a>

The "Testers" Acan, xenia, zoas, shooms
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/21479988@N04/5232217770/" title="IMG_5267 by nickgrant79, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5245/5232217770_c9233233b1.jpg" width="500" height="375" alt="IMG_5267" /></a>

With continually less LR in the 60 I wanted to start transferring some of the fish. Since all my fish are really healthy and none are particularly sensitive I figured the best way to determine the order in which I add them to the new tank should be stupidity

This guys went in the fish trap before I even put food in it = really stupid
Red Velvet Fairy Wrasse
(I really need to learn how to take good tank pics)
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/21479988@N04/5232222590/" title="IMG_5272 by nickgrant79, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5247/5232222590_9cb676570c.jpg" width="500" height="375" alt="IMG_5272" /></a>

 

[Im Lon 2]

Oh, BTW the sand is Tropic Eden Miniflakes and is by far the best sand I've ever seen. Big thanks to Lonnie for the recommendation. :thumbsup:

No problem. Glad you liked it!

I may setup a quarantine tank in the near future and have the old water run straight to it.

that is an awesome idea because this allows the stuff in QT to get use to the same water.. I like this idea a lot!


Everything is coming together nicely! Great Job.. I need to come by and see it in person.

 

[Reeferhead]

Everything is coming together nicely! Great Job.. I need to come by and see it in person.

Thanks Lonnie, Your welcome over anytime.

 

[kraash]

You could always use that extra line under the house for a calcium reactor

 

[Reeferhead]

You could always use that extra line under the house for a calcium reactor

Yeah Yeah, If I recall correctly, a certain someone held on to using just kalk for years convinced it was all he needed.

 

[Reeferhead]

I hooked up one of the Vortechs to the WXM (the wireless controller for the APEX) this morning. The added control this module gives you is a amazing. Without the WXM all you can do with the Vortech is set the mode (Pulse, reefcrest, lagoon, etc) and set the intensity. However, with the WXM you can set it to change these modes and intensities throughout the day.

Currently, I have it set to alternate every couple hours during the day between 100% Pulse mode (I get about a 1/2" wave with one pump) and 75% Lagoon mode and at night the flow is cut to 50% Lagoon mode.

 

[kraash]

Very cool, I think I will put an APEX on my Christmas wish list. What accessories do you have with yours?

 

[Reeferhead]

Very cool, I think I will put an APEX on my Christmas wish list. What accessories do you have with yours?

Keep in mind I'm running two tanks: WXM, PM1, PM2, 3 EB8s, 2 DC4HDs, and IO Breakout Box

The WXM will proof even cooler when I transfer over the other pump and I can play around with the sync / antisync control features.

 

[jjwill_sdsu]

Can you dim/control the LED spotlights with your Apex? Or just on/off?

 

[Reeferhead]

Can you dim/control the LED spotlights with your Apex? Or just on/off?

Only on/off with the PAR38s but Neptune makes a control module for the Aqua Illuminations LEDs

http://www.neptunesys.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=57&Itemid=40

 

[chadfarmer]

what do you thank about the leds

 

[Reeferhead]

I like them. I don't think I would use them to light a tank on their own but they're perfect for what I was trying to do. Serious crazy PAR for 21 watts. I went with the 60 degree optics and like I said I get about a 100-200 boost in par at 24" depth covering an area about 10" in diameter. The PAR right under the surface of the water is pushing 1800. I really like the color too, a true 20k look IMO. Its nice to be able to point them in whatever direction I like. It will be interesting to see how things grow under them and if my higher light loving SPS grow towards them or not.

 

[jjwill_sdsu]

I like them. I don't think I would use them to light a tank on their own but they're perfect for what I was trying to do. Serious crazy PAR for 21 watts. I went with the 60 degree optics and like I said I get about a 100-200 boost in par at 24" depth covering an area about 10" in diameter. The PAR right under the surface of the water is pushing 1800. I really like the color too, a true 20k look IMO. Its nice to be able to point them in whatever direction I like. It will be interesting to see how things grow under them and if my higher light loving SPS grow towards them or not.

If you can get your SPS growth pattern to follow your spotlight, I'd try gradually tracing out some crazy patterns... spirals, your name, etc.

 

[Reeferhead]

If you can get your SPS growth pattern to follow your spotlight, I'd try gradually tracing out some crazy patterns... spirals, your name, etc.

Bonsai ReefKeeping right?

 

[Reeferhead]

I've been transfering more corals, clams, and fish. I have coraline starting to take off but plenty of cyano as well.

This is my current issue

http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?t=1951785

 

[tall_jason79]

wow talk about a kick to the jewels

 

[Reeferhead]

Yeah, it sucks. However, its honestly a good thing that I found out the way I did. If I would have transfered everything together (porites and all) its likely that I would have never noticed the issue and past on these nasties to other members unknowingly.

 

[tall_jason79]

well that is a positive way to look at it.