Ultimate 20G Setup Journal - Pic Intense

A tiny bit of progress this evening. I removed the doors and recessed the hinges so that they are flush with the cabinet facing. This was done to help alleviate the problem with the doors wanting to spring open instead of closing flush with the cabinet.

flush_hinge_1.jpg


flush_hinge_2.jpg
 
And since I haven't made much more progress recently, here's a few pics of the jig I threw together to help me cut the teeth in the overflow and the sump.

tooth_jig_1.jpg


tooth_jig_2.jpg


tooth_jig_3.jpg


tooth_jig_4.jpg
 
Yeah, I see your point sidjam. Really doing it either way has risk involved. One way I miss the fans until it's too late and the tank fries. The other way I'm out of town for two days and the whole system goes dead.

I'm going to stick with my plan of one GFCI in the wall. If I do go out of town I'll have someone checking on my tank for me that can reset the GFCI if necessary.
 
i still haven't decided whether to go with a calfo style overflow or an external like yours. do you like it so far? is it very noisy?

also where did you get your 1/4" black acrylic?
 
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sid, I haven't run any water through it yet. Hopefully I can get my return pump soon and do my first water test. Because the tank is so small and wanted to salvage all the real estate I could. This type of overflow made the most sense. I can say that based on the noise from the overflow in the sump it probably isn't going to be noisy at all.

I picked up the black acrylic at a local plastic shop. I think I got it for around $16.00 a sheet (1.5'x 2.5').
 
very well done. I like the clean design and ready available space you have at your disposal. Congrats, looks fantastic.
 
Sparks....I too am in the early planning stages of a 20. I am think I am going to go with a 20 long though.

I am in the process of deciding about lights. I would like to have SPS.

I have been reading that with the correct T5 lighting that SPS is a realistic though. Some people are even saying that T5 is on par OR better than MH.

I am leaning HEAVILY towards T5 due to lower energy use, and lower temp they operate at.

Try some reserch before buying MH. Hope I didn't toss a wrench into your plans. :)
 
I have been doing a fair amount of research into lighting as would like to use LED's fro my own tank, Irrelevant here.. but i did come across one article that claimed mh were totally unnecesarry unless ur workin with a very deep (ie over 24") tank. Power compacts & T5's are comparable or better.. sorry i cant be more specific will try and track down the link and post it for you to read..

jmhi
 
i love the shimmer metal halides give. you can't get that with any other lighting. plus i don't think we can ever come close to natural sunlight no matter what lighting we use.

dsparks, have you been to sandys? is it a good place to go? might be worth the trip if so.
 
Originally posted by sidjam
dsparks, have you been to sandys? is it a good place to go? might be worth the trip if so.
Click to expand...

sid, I do enjoy going to Sandy's, but I haven't been overly impressed with the selection of corals. I've seen sun corals there withering away. Also there's this one guy who works there with a serious chip on his shoulder. Back when I was a newb he was short and rude with me on a couple of occasions. And when I mentioned what I read on the Internet he gave me the eye roll.

Next time your in Louisville you should try Aquatica. A much better selection of Corals that appear to be in better health. Not as much equipment for sale, but that's always cheaper online anyway.
 
Treehumps, thanks for the link. I've been trying to find some good information on lighting to help me in my decision. I'll be checking it out.

supermarvin, I've been on the fence too. I've also read that T5's can be better than MH. I'd love to lose the heat of a MH. Keep me informed of what you do.

I'm off to read the thread Tree posted.
 
So its personal taste over the health and happiness of your stock?
Click to expand...

not at all. why would you say that?? many people use MH very successfully.


have been doing a fair amount of research into lighting as would like to use LED's fro my own tank, Irrelevant here.. but i did come across one article that claimed mh were totally unnecesarry unless ur workin with a very deep (ie over 24") tank. Power compacts & T5's are comparable or better.. sorry
Click to expand...


your saying that power compacts are comparable or better than MH for sps?? i don't agree with that. you may be able to keep some sps alive, but they will not thrive and will probably brown out. i do agree that T5's can be a good alternative to MH's.
 
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i agree sidjam, it would take many PC's to even come close, and the penetration you get out of them is minimal compared to MH or T5's. And the number of lumens you get out of T5's and MH's is much greater.
 
Agreed. So that leaves the decision to MH and T5's. I'm back and forth on this everyday. Today, I'm on the T5's. The low heat and bulb life are leaning me in that direction. THe noise of the fans in my hood drive my wife crazy. I will miss the shimmer, but not having to run a bunch of fans or a chiller is worth more to me.

Anyone have any experience with these?

http://www.reefgeek.com/products/categories/lighting/104061.html

Also, any thoughts on which bulbs? There was a great Q&A thread here, but I can't seem to find it.
 
I have heard Icecap ballast and Tek Reflectors. I forget which bulbs i have heard, but i go back and try to find which ones.
 
DSparks ... have you heard of the new T8's comin' out ... :D a lot smaller in diameter than T5's! They should be awesome for smaller tanks in the future. It also means they have to be compressed with more gas in that smaller space for equal power to the T5's which consequently takes even less energy to keep lit and emits less heat! I know it doesn't help you immediately but I thought I'd share :P

As for your immediate dillema both MH's & T5's have advantages/disadvantages but what really stands out for me and put me over the fence is that intensely crisp light of a MH.
 
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