The 110 Tall (48x18x30) Project. Picture Intense!

good info. Makes sense. When I setup that nano back in october, everyhing in there, sand rock etc, was from my big tank and I still had a nasty bloom.

When will you be coming to Tucson? I have something for you and Ed.
 
I'm glad I found your thread. Nice, well documented progress log you've got there. The tank looks really good. :)
 
Thanks! I will post more picks in a few weeks when I borrow a good camera.

I am upgrading skimmers and working out all the little stuff. The new kimmer does not fit in the sump, so I will have to retool the baffles, bah!:mad:

Still awaiting prodbio too. I'm starting to loose interest in using it.
 
OK, the T5's are here and I installed them tonight. I only bought two of the URI to try them. They cost $22 each at Premium Aquatics. I also bought 4 aquamedics, on sale for $10 ea.

The bulbs:
URI Actinic White and URI Super Actinic

Aquamedic Ocean White 10K and Ocean Blue Actinic

The color appearance as you look at the lamps:
The URI looks pink white compared to the AM which looks white/white

The URI Actinic looks purple/blue compared to the AM which looks blue/aqua blue

The color apearance as you look in the tank:
The AM pair gives a bright effect with yellowish white crisp tones in the water. The black foam had a greenish hue.
The URI pair gives a warmer purple/pink color, while tinting the black foam with purple hues.

I measured the LUX of the bulb pairs and they were comparable.
The URI pair produced 14,500 LUX
The AM combo pair prodiced 15,500 LUX
The AM blue/blue produced 14,500 LUX

As a LUX comparison, the RF 250 watt electronic ballast powering a Phoenix 14k bulb produces 31,500LUX.

All measurements taken 7" from lamps.


In general the AM pair looks crisp blue/white compared to the URI which looks purple/pink/white. In other words, the URI gives that great warm feel that is legendary on the VHO line of bulbs.

Conclusion: I plan to run these as dawn/dusk and at noon time in conjustion with the MH. The MH will run from about 9am to 5pm. The T5 will run 7am to 9am, then noon to 3pm, then 5pm to 8pm.

I will try this lighting regime for awhile. Since the T5 will be mostly viewed for its dawn/dusk feature, I decided to go with 2 AM blue bulbs and the URI Actinic white / Super Actinic. The looks gives a pretty blue/purple tint. I think in order to get a little more blueness I will purchase another URI SuperActinic. I will then run 4 lamps alternating the blue AM with actinic URI.

As a final note, the AM blue looks like a 460nm and the URI looks like a 420nm bulb, but neither lamp specifies the frequency range.

Here are a couple pics:



TestPhotos110tall%20210.jpg


From L to R, URI actinci white, URI super actinic, AM Ocean blue actinic, AM Ocean white 10k
TestPhotos110tall%20198.jpg
 
Scott, I'm really enjoying the progress pics. Everytime I leave UMC I think of your tank!. The leathers are so great- not as white as they were in your tank, but they are beautiful, filling up the tank, kind of off white. Maybe it's less light. Or maybe they miss their old home.
 
Scott, thanks for having us over on such short notice today. Your tank looks great! Pictures always give an idea, but there's nothing like seeing it in person. Thanks for the frags too!
 
OK, the setup has been up and running for over one month now. I have finally fine-tuned most of the system and took some pictures.

Here are just a few

Full Tanks shot of the 110tall
Full%20Tank%20Shot.jpg


Full tank shot of the adjacent 16gallon Nano.
Full%20Nano%20Tank%20Shot.jpg


Close-up of a nice blue tort
Blue%20Tort%20Closeup.jpg


This was an amazing shot. I was trying to take a picture of the clownfish trying to nestle in the giant clam, and the hogfish came over and started a fight. After a few words, the hogfish bit the clownfish!!!
Fish%20Fight.jpg


Close-up of Hydnophora sp.
Hydnophora%20Closeup.jpg


Pulsing Xenia
Xenia.jpg


Big Polyp Orange skirt zoos
Zoo%20Big%20Orange.jpg


Close-up fire&ice zoo
Zoo%20Fire%20and%20Ice.jpg


Yellow zoos
Zoo%20Yellows.jpg
 
It skimms like crazy! It does make a bit of noise though. I have been trying to resolve this with Euroreef, but I might need a replacement impeller, not sure. The noise comes and goes and seems to be related to air getting trapped under the magnet and pushing it and the impeller chopper up.
 
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