TOTM quality 6' SPS tank for under $1k? The 5.56 build thread; AKA a really bad idea

[five.five-six]

That's always how I felt with my 250w 10k XMs on my old 120g tank. It didn't look "reefcentral quality blue", but the colors it brought out were spectacular in their own right. I remember a superman montipora had the purple glowing under the 10ks, something I still have never seen from blue setups.

Maybe I'll play with some whiter settings now that I'll have variable programming lamps for the first time, and see if those kinds of colors can be teased out from LEDs (I doubt it).

Talk about growth and it looking like snorkeling... 10K XMs definitely met those conditions and brought some really unique coloration.

Take a pic with the new lamps, I'm curious what the tank looks like!

Full tank shot

OK, FTS. I need a camera, it really looks a lot beter than this iPad camera depicts

These are full sized clickable zoomable pics. Thes AB 10K lamps really shifted from 10K yellow to about 14K as advertised over the week they have been running. Several coral have taken some adjusting to them, most notable the acroberry from Scott which has little patches of bleached tips, though the polyps are still colored.

I’m considering placeing the frags from my battle pack today, they are still on my makeshift frag rack

https://imageshack.com/a/img924/5571/EnLi2C.jpg

https://imageshack.us/i/pmAhIbvSj

I’ll have to post some pics under the 420nm moon lights this evening, it’s a compleately differant tank LOL

 

[marioensf]

That looks great !!!

 

[five.five-six]

That looks great !!!

You have helped a lot!

I’m working on horse trading for a pair of T5HO blue lamps for some sticks. I have icecap 660 complete. Let’s see how it looks under those instead of the power compacts.

Bought new Salifert ca and mg tests ($29.14) and sold a chiller ($50)


New overage: $309.32

 

[joesig]

So far looking great

But dude i just saw that leg video.
What happened to you leg??


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[five.five-six]

So far looking great

But dude i just saw that leg video.
What happened to you leg??


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

I really can't discuss during pending litigation under advice of counsel.

I need a camera, wanted to take some top down picks but iPad camera just fell on it's face

Another pic of my leg

WARNING do not click if you are planning on eating food in the next few days.

https://imageshack.com/a/img923/5640/L8SLXG.jpg


I warned you.

 

[five.five-six]

I came up on 2 pair of ATI 80 watt blue plus lamps from another reefer. 2 of these should really even out the 10K halides. I have to help the kids with school projects this weekend so it may be a few weeks before I ge them installed

$80 cash

New overage $389.32

 

[marioensf]

Man, it's looking more like "under 10K" JK
When you are ready to switch MH bulbs, shoot me a pm; I have a small "hoard" of 250W.

 

[five.five-six]

Man, it's looking more like "under 10K" JK
When you are ready to switch MH bulbs, shoot me a pm; I have a small "hoard" of 250W.

It's weird I really like the 10K look. The problem is it doesn't pop corals phosphorescent. I have several sets of radium 20 K's but I don't think they grow out as fast as these aqualine 10K will. I ended up stumbling into a couple 3 hours this afternoon. I'm going to mock up those ati's on mine icecap 660 and see how they look

 

[marioensf]

I meant under $10K...
For growth under MH, 10K's seem good, 12K's.
A reefer around this area borrowed a PFO-HQI ballast I have to run 10K's for the sole purpose of growth.
That ballast I had it paired with four 36" T12-VHO Super Actinics driven by an IC-660
Still have the VHO bulbs and quite a few spare IC-660/430 (if you ever need a replacement)

 

[BeanMachine]

Only $389 over, hehe yeah right someone needs an audit.

 

[five.five-six]

Only $389 over, hehe yeah right someone needs an audit.

556 wife has been on me like Donkey Kong. That number is right as rain.


I'd be willing to face a Muller investigation on that number

Anyways, I hooked up the T5 blue plus lamps temp. Just wrapped wires around the pins to save the $21 for endcaps just to try it out and those 10K are bright AF. The ATIs help the color tremendously but still not as blue as the radiums alone. There's no reflectors either except for where the lamps pass under the halide reflectors. I think putting reflectors on the bare sections will help even more.

 

[five.five-six]

I meant under $10K...
For growth under MH, 10K's seem good, 12K's.
A reefer around this area borrowed a PFO-HQI ballast I have to run 10K's for the sole purpose of growth.
That ballast I had it paired with four 36" T12-VHO Super Actinics driven by an IC-660
Still have the VHO bulbs and quite a few spare IC-660/430 (if you ever need a replacement)

those 660's are prety reliable. Nothing wrong with the VHO lamps you have, the T5's are just a bit more efficient.

 

[yellowslayer13]

wasssssupppppp

 

[yellowslayer13]

my girlfriend is gonna murder me im getting back in lol I figure I have a zoo I might as well have an aquarium

 

[five.five-six]

my girlfriend is gonna murder me im getting back in lol I figure I have a zoo I might as well have an aquarium

Ha Ha you are back!!! We need to figure out how to get you out here for RAP next year. I'll even dig a hole for you to fall into.

 

[five.five-six]

New overage $389.32

Sold a TLF reactor and some frags last weekend $85

New overage $304.32

 

[Rakie]

Sold a TLF reactor and some frags last weekend $85

New overage $304.32

Nice, proper steps forward

 

[five.five-six]

Nice, proper steps forward

There's really only 2 er 3 more coral I want

Events horizon
OC orange passion

And either a WD or a HR if I can find it for cheep enough. I'd like to see what they do under halide/T5


Right now I am in the grow it out stage. I really don't have room for all the frags I have and have been trying to sell some off.

 

[SchnitzelReef]

There's really only 2 er 3 more coral I want



Events horizon

OC orange passion



And either a WD or a HR if I can find it for cheep enough. I'd like to see what they do under halide/T5





Right now I am in the grow it out stage. I really don't have room for all the frags I have and have been trying to sell some off.

I know a guy that has both. [emoji16]

 

[five.five-six]

I know a guy that has both. [emoji16]

PM me a price for all 3.