Returning to what I love - My new 180 Rimless

[E.intheC]

looks great! I'm impressed. Can't wait to see it lit up (and with some nasty looking corals as well!)

 

[jbanks]

Thanks E.intheC,

I will have a very important component delivered tomorrow.. I should have some really good updates on the weekend along with detailed pictures of the stand that I promised Cali above..

 

[tatoofr]

Hmmmmmmmmmmmmmm.
I wonder what that could be?
Frank

 

[jbanks]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=15132005#post15132005 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by tatoofr
Hmmmmmmmmmmmmmm.
I wonder what that could be?
Frank

Patience my friend. LMAO :lol: Somehow I feel we will be enjoying the same long awaited spoils :thumbsup:

 

[jbanks]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=15120790#post15120790 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by cali_reef
Jonathan,

Looks great... Welcome back!!

Can you post few more photos of the stand? I am in the process of making a new stand for my 36"x36"x27" cube tank too, I need some ideas .

Her you go Cali... As I stated, the Stand is a very basic Oak Stand finished Jacobean. The Photos make it look black, but it's actually a nice deep chocolate. Dimensions 48 X 36 X 27. The tank sits flush with the stand. I still have to put the brush nickel handles on.

Here is the 10 inch Iron Frame beneath the stand..

Here is an inside view. Most of my equipment is in the room behind the tank, so this space will be used for basic storage along with housing the controllers and battery backup(s) for the Vortech MP40s.

 

[jbanks]

Update shots

Update shots

Boy did MB7 do it's thing with clearing this tank up quick... Here is a center shot of the tank. As recommended I dropped the water level to around 2 inches to be safe(thanks guys).. I don't want water on the floor when cleaning or have the water line creep up on me too fast due to blockage of the overflow teeth over time with coralline and other stuff.

Here is an updated side shot:

Now the side with the Vortech MP40s. I may end up moving the one that is lower and further in the back.

The controllers... 1 set to Master and the other to slave working inversely in Reefcrest mode:

Surface agitation:

I guess this is why it's called Starphire... It's like not having glass at all

For the Substrate, I used a combination of Arag-Live Special Grade Reef Sand and Carib Sea Dry Special Grade:

 

[bogg]

Neato!

 

[SunnyX]

Looking great my man! I love the two island design!

I cant wait until you get you lights and fire that bad boy up!

Are you currently dosing an increased dosage of MB7 in order to seed the tank?

 

[jbanks]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=15142601#post15142601 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by bogg
Neato!

Thanks bogg!

 

[jbanks]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=15143094#post15143094 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by SunnyX
Looking great my man! I love the two island design!

I cant wait until you get you lights and fire that bad boy up!

Are you currently dosing an increased dosage of MB7 in order to seed the tank?

Thanks Bro!, That rock structure was completely inspired by your tank.. :lol:

I received the fixture today. Two minor issues. A small superficial dent in the front near the ATI sign ( of all places - Thank you UPS!!!!! :mad2: ) and one of the Aquablue specials are bad. I'll be contacting the vendor as soon as they are available about the bulb..

As for the MB 7, I went with the bio diversity route... I used microbe-lift as well.. First I started heavily dosing Microbe-lift then discontinued that and started with the MB7.. The first few days of using MB7, I used the seeding instructions.. Now, I am tapering off to the maintenance, which for me is four caps per week until I start stocking the tank... At that point, I will probably start dosing the MB7 daily like you are.

 

[tatoofr]

HI jOn,
You can really turn that fixture any way you want. The small dent can be in the back, Still hurts I know .
I have bulbs you can use if you want,
Frank

 

[jbanks]

Hey Frank,

I realized that last night, which made me feel a whole lot better Thanks.. As for the bulbs, I would love to try one just to see how it looks all lit up. You have to post a picture of yours! Let me know if you will be around later tonight or on Sunday. Maybe I can swing through and purchase and/or borrow a bulb from you. Thanks Again!!

 

[Poseidon]

That is looking good! Just wait until the rock is all colored up purple, and covered in corals, it will look AWESOME!

 

[CeeGee]

for the price those fixtures cost it would be going back and a replacement would be sent. I would accept nothing less than perfect and I would insist that I be able to use the current one until the replacement is ready to be shipped.

 

[jbanks]

Thanks Poseidon.. I'm definitely looking forward to that...

 

[jbanks]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=15146469#post15146469 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by CeeGee
for the price those fixtures cost it would be going back and a replacement would be sent. I would accept nothing less than perfect and I would insist that I be able to use the current one until the replacement is ready to be shipped.

CeeGee,

You're absolutely right... After getting a really good look at it last night, I realized some things that really bothered me and could possibly be a hazard.. I wrote the vendor last night.. I'm really confident that they will work something out for me... I'll be speaking with them tomorrow...

 

[jbanks]

I was really looking forward to posting some updates with the lighting, but as we all know, you have to take the good with the bad with this hobby and patience is truly a virtue... More to come soon.

 

[jbanks]

After a frustrating weekend of new equipment blues, there was a shimmer of light in it all (No pun intended to all the T5ers) LOL. I actually met two local reefers, "tatoofr", who has posted on this thread and his friend "ONEWAY". Meeting them both confirmed something that draws me to this hobby. It's largely about the wonderful people that are part of it that make it GREAT! I never met these guys before Saturday and they both welcomed me and gave me their assistance with some issues that I was having... Both of their tanks are true works of art and set the standard for well maintained tanks due to excellent husbandry. I wanted to publicly thank them for their help and also for validating one of my main reason for getting back in to the hobby, making new friends.

Let me not forget.... If there are any non-believers as to what T5s can or can not do with SPS, you NEED to see these guys all T5 systems... Extraordinary!!!!

 

[jbanks]

As I suspected, My vendor was right on top of the damage situation with the Fixture come Monday morning.. I really can't say enough about the guys at PA... We are in the process of working it all out.. In the interim, I took the opportunity to mount the fixture so that I could have the cables in place in case I decided to wait for another fixture... So, here are some preview shots:

Bulb combo until two bulbs are replaced- This Powermodule is BRGHT!

Let there be light!

Mounted 8 inches above the water line..

 

[tatoofr]

Hi,
Looks good jonathan, thumbs up.
Frank