Starting 90g Reef Tank Build... Finally!!!

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<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=12989362#post12989362 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by kudora
well did a water change, put a k3 in vinegar, raised the canopy and installed the t-5s today


i have pics too!!!!!


here are my t5 that came very well packaged
1.jpg


here is me trying to figure out what i need to do, notice the Tswift photo print out lol
pre1.jpg


we put a 2" extension frame that was slightly smaller then the original frame so the ballasts could sit safely over a lip, forgot to take a pic of the finished back tho :o
1st pic shows the extension, second shows were the ballast sits.
3.jpg

4.jpg


this is the wires before i cut them to fit on the ballast, they will sit behind a small lip so they are not exposed to the water
5.jpg


another view of the same photo
6.jpg


light test 5 min later
7.jpg


FTS
9.jpg



i had alot of help today, glad my dad has a small wood shop, and my brother inlaw works on electrical gadgets for a living.
plus all the questions answered about t5s from the club house over the last month
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Good work... Very nice install... The color your getting off those bulbs looks really nice :thumbsup:
 
<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=12989827#post12989827 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by Schwe
I LOVE YOU!!! And mrs. TJ, for playing along, too! :D
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Haha... It was her idea :lol:

Just shoot me the link to the thread, and I'll post them on there. I looked for it last night, but wasn't able to find it using the search feature for some reason.
 
<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=12990142#post12990142 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by maroun.c
Hopefully your WB on the camera is correct because this is a very nice light colour you're getting with those T5s.
Thanks for the documentation.
One question do you have to buy the "transformer" or ballast I guess for each of those lights?
Got my first T5 80 w 140 cm long but its transformer only lights up one bulb and costs around 140 usd. I was searching other models that would allow me to light up 2-3 bulbs with a single transformer to cut on the costs if not it will only be 1 additional Actinic T5 to the one I have plus the halides.
thanks for any info.
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The amount of bulbs that can be run from one unit will depend on the ballast.

IceCap Brands:

Model 430: 2 - 54watt bulbs
Model 660: 4 - 54watt bulbs

I also have an AccuStart ballast that will run 2 - 54watt bulbs.

It looks like kudora is using a Vossloh-Schwabe ballast which should fire all 4 bulbs.

You can check the ballast specs to figure out how many bulbs they will fire.
 
<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=12990178#post12990178 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by HumanIMDB
T.J., your whelk incident has my girlfriend and I worried about placing the order for our CUC...

We are planning on ordering the following this week:
5 - Astrea Snails
5 - Margarita Snails
5 - Cerith Snails
5 - Nassarius Snails
Blood Red Fire Shrimp

But are worried about the nassarius snails...

You can be sure that we will be inspecting every one before it goes into the tank. :eek1:
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That's a good plan.

From now on I'll just be ordering the Super Tonga Nassarius Snails. There's no mistaking what those guys look like.

Where are you ordering from?
 
<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=12991300#post12991300 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by Tswifty8
That's a good plan.

From now on I'll just be ordering the Super Tonga Nassarius Snails. There's no mistaking what those guys look like.

Where are you ordering from?
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Super Tonga Nassarius Snails? I'll have to check those out.

We're ordering from <a href="http://www.jlaquatics.com" target=_blank>J&L Aquatics</a>.
 
<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=12990867#post12990867 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by sieldan
Kudora and Clubhouse Gang

A couple of questions if I may? First, how long is a '48inch' T5 bulb? And for you Kudora, what ballast is that, where did you get it, and how much? :)

Im on a severe shoestring budget so I am trying to make good usable now, easily upgraded later decisions. I want IceCap 440 and 660 ballasts, but the budget says not now. I have 6 sets of T5 ends. I am planning on wiring in normal output ballasts for now and just run a FOWLR. Once the funds are in, upgrade the ballasts and start adding corals. I just want to get my 90g up and running with fish as soon as possible. But I also want to do it right.

Thanks for the hijack yall. I envy each of y'all's tanks, and hope to have one as nice one day.

{back to lurking, and learning}
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The ballast is a Vossloh-Schwabe

www.reefgeek.com

I believe the bulbs are 46.5" long.

Browse the used selling forum... I picked up my AccuStart ballast (runs 2 54watt bulbs) for $30 shipped when I needed something to light my temp frag tank.

Bulbs are going to run around $20 each... I know SaltyCritter sells most UV Lighting & Geisemann bulbs for around $22.95, and believe it or not I'll give them the edge on packaging over ReefGeek :eek2:

bulbs1.jpg
 
<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=12991016#post12991016 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by HumanIMDB
Anytime Capn! :)

Cool. I've been drolling over the Man Of Steel Zoas he has. He told me he has some Superman Monti Danae and Digitata frags too. I love all things Superman so I will be getting those all of those for sure.
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Those are ridiculously nice corals... I'm just to nervous to try something like that until I'm sure it will thrive.

Those guys definitely aren't cheap :lol:
 
<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=12991413#post12991413 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by Tswifty8
Those are ridiculously nice corals... I'm just to nervous to try something like that until I'm sure it will thrive.

Those guys definitely aren't cheap :lol:
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He has some very expensive coral...I think the most expensive ones I saw are zoas that are $45 per polyp.

We're nervous too and won't be getting those for a while. :)
 
<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=12989370#post12989370 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by timschmidt
LOL I guess I unsubscribed to the thread. Love the BTA! I switched to Seachems matrix carbon in one of my reactors and my first reaction is that I am impressed with the pieces of carbon, they are spherical and quite tough. A simple rinse in tank water and let the reactor run a bit and this carbon stands up to my pump at full blast. How well it works is yet to be seen but I thought I would share my first impressions with the clubhouse.
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Thanks... It's has extremely dark color, and has opened up nicely now. I'm heading out to pick up some food for it in a little.

I was looking for SeaChem yesterday, but SaltyCritter was pretty cleaned out. All they had was ESV so I figured I would give it a shot.
 
Thanks for the replies martinphillip03, Kar93, and Tswifty8. Now I can mount the bases for the end caps I have at the proper distance apart in my hood.

Going to do a bit of looking on those ballasts, both the IC and the VS.

Thanks again yall.
 
<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=12989853#post12989853 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by capn_hylinur
what a great looking couple--TJ you look like a baseball player(athlete) and your girlfriend looks like a cheerleader:cool:
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Thanks Scott.

Haha... that got Laura all up in arms... :lol:

She wants me to state for the record that she was a basketball player (athlete), not a cheerleader. :rolleye1: :lol:

wKlimchock05.jpg
laura1.jpg
 
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<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=12991363#post12991363 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by Tswifty8
The ballast is a Vossloh-Schwabe

www.reefgeek.com

I believe the bulbs are 46.5" long.

Browse the used selling forum... I picked up my AccuStart ballast (runs 2 54watt bulbs) for $30 shipped when I needed something to light my temp frag tank.

Bulbs are going to run around $20 each... I know SaltyCritter sells most UV Lighting & Geisemann bulbs for around $22.95, and believe it or not I'll give them the edge on packaging over ReefGeek :eek2:

bulbs1.jpg
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i installed two of those VS ballasts to power the 4 bulbs, i am going to have to run a fan since the heat off the bulbs is raising the tank temp several degrees. i almost went with one 660 but went this route instead.
 
Well the anemone just inhaled 2 halfs of a silverside. :lol:

Anyone have recommendations about how much should I feed it in one sitting, and how often?
 
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I have a few days of work thanks to staying late running trials over the past few weeks...

So the to do list reads like this:

- Test Parameters
- Mount Frags
- ATO Unit Install
- Fix Canopy Lid (Finally)
- Re-mount Balasts
- Electrical Cord Organization... well maybe :lol:

That's the list for now, among many other non-fish oriented tasks that I have been putting off.
 
So the to do list reads like this:

- Test Parameters
- Mount Frags
- ATO Unit Install
- Fix Canopy Lid (Finally)
- Re-mount Balasts
- Electrical Cord Organization... well maybe :lol:
- Sit down have beer and marvel at my masterpiece.

:rollface: :D :rollface:
 
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