Show Off your prop System!

[Kenfuzed]

I'm going to be setting up a custom prop tank attached to my main 150g and 45g refugium. My question is, will a 150 watt DE 14k be enough light over this small 24x18x12 prop tank? I will be growing out sps frags instead of trying to manage them in my display tank. I already have an ARO 150/175 electronic ballast and a 14k DE bulb so I'm hoping to save money by using what I already have. The pendant will be a DIY one made from a security light fixture and DE clip from hellolights.

 

[Rendos]

Andys29 - they are working out very well...good coverage and good intensity.

 

[Andys29]

the bulb that comes standard in the pendant is a 10,000k w/ a more blue effect correct? how is the sps growth so far?

 

[jman77]

Rendos,

That is a great looking setup !!

 

[Rendos]

Andys29 - I bought mine used and they have 14K bulbs. I think the growth is great so far. I have had them set up for about a month now, and already see encrusting of frags over the superglue and down onto the frag disk.

jman77 - thanks.
Sorry to hear about your dog (well, not yours, but the one in your avatar)

 

[gobygoby]

rendos,
nice setups plus your quote is one of my all time favs.! (the crow)

 

[Kenfuzed]

Anyone have any comments on this set up?

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=6221152#post6221152 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by Kenfuzed
I'm going to be setting up a custom prop tank attached to my main 150g and 45g refugium. My question is, will a 150 watt DE 14k be enough light over this small 24x18x12 prop tank? I will be growing out sps frags instead of trying to manage them in my display tank. I already have an ARO 150/175 electronic ballast and a 14k DE bulb so I'm hoping to save money by using what I already have. The pendant will be a DIY one made from a security light fixture and DE clip from hellolights.

Still wondering if the 150w 14k HQI is going to be sufficient.

 

[tekknoschtev]

Why not make a post in the equipment forum, or a post even in the Coral Prop forum, but a seperate one. With this being a "Show off..." thread it may get missed by people just checking otu the pictures.

My opinion is that it might be fine, but I'd go for a 250. If you already have evertyhing, give it a go, and if it doesnt work as planned, sell it and get the 250. That is a small tank though so you may be fine depending on reflector and such...

 

[causeofhim]

The 150 watt will be enough but I'm not sure if the 14k will give you great growth. I switched my 150 watt 14k AC bulb to a 10k XM and the growth has been much better with SPS.

 

[GTR]

First the Xenia Center. I've been isolating the Xenia from the main system over the last 2 months.

SteveU

 

[GTR]

The main system.

A look into the room.

The sump and skimmer

The main pump and reactor

SteveU

 

[causeofhim]

Wow! That is a prop system!
Very nice.
What gallon tanks are in your main room? Do you have any closer pics of how they are set up?

 

[GTR]

Main system...

Fuge #1 lit by compact flo from hd run 24/7

Fuge #2... Only light is overflow from fuge one. Just really a holding area but there are a few sponges that I keep in it.

Fuge #3... No light. I keep it covered but it gets some through the white plastic side walls. It has a few squirts and sponges I think don't require light. Encrusting sponges in this are doing well.

SteveU

 

[GTR]

This is the end the hang over the sump. 2 tanks have a 2" bulkhead and a 1" bulk head. The other two each have a 1-1/2" bulkhead.

Under the main stand with image lightened.

Top view looking from the return towards the overflow shows 3 of the four tanks.

(Edited to reduce picture size)

SteveU

 

[GTR]

A look down the side of an outer tank. I only have 3' between the wall and the tank.

The other side, outer tank.

SteveU

 

[GTR]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=6245493#post6245493 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by causeofhim
Wow! That is a prop system!
Very nice.
What gallon tanks are in your main room? Do you have any closer pics of how they are set up?

Those long tanks are 72" x 12" x 12". It's been up for about a year and this holiday season I'm making some changes. The center two tanks towards the sump are a real pain to watch for possible problems. So I've ordered a cube 24" x 30" x 12 that will sit only at the return end. The empty space at the sump end I'll be setting up 2 remote deep sand beds in tubs 25" x 18" with sand 12" deep.

That will leave me with two extra long tanks but that OK I have another sump ready once I empty all the crap out from previous projects. Until last year much of this was in my garage and it seemed like a wise marital decision to move it to my rubber shop.

SteveU

 

[lil_fishey]

wow gtrestoration thanks alot now i got drool all over my keyboard

but seriously that set up is awsome im so jelous

 

[GTR]

Lil-f... thanks. This system was started when my 15+ year old display tank failed (sprung a leak). I order a new larger tank but we had some things around the house that needed to be done before I wanted to place a new tank. As things progressed I discovered how much a liked a non-display system where I could tweak things like sandbeds, LR, flow and just things in general without concern given to the "look" of the system. The rewards came in the form of good growth, colors and overall health of the corals. What was lost was the beauty of my old not-so-natural reef display.

This type of setup is something akin to "only a mother could love it", but in this case other reefers as well.

The 180g display tank I ordered sits here, still on a pallet and wrapped just as it was delivered.
SteveU

 

[GABONE]

Nice job everyone.

 

[Funky_Fish14]

Beautiful setups everyone, each setup has different techniques/methods, but they are all accomplishing the same thing, and we are all sharing ideas with others.

Great pics and info everyone, keep it comming!

Chris