Updated Photos of 2 Gallon Cube

Bob, thanks for the tip! In your opinion, will a differnce in resistance be a manufacturing error or do you think different manufacturers make 5w 12v halogen bulbs with different resitstances of purpose? The only markings on the bulbs are the same (5w 12v) and although I have the part number on the replacement bulbs, the originals came already mounted in their fixtures and there was no other documentation so I have nothing to compare.

- Chad
 
ninjafish said:
Bob, thanks for the tip! In your opinion, will a differnce in resistance be a manufacturing error or do you think different manufacturers make 5w 12v halogen bulbs with different resitstances of purpose? The only markings on the bulbs are the same (5w 12v) and although I have the part number on the replacement bulbs, the originals came already mounted in their fixtures and there was no other documentation so I have nothing to compare.

- Chad
Click to expand...

Chad.... A 5watt 12volt should be a 5watt 12 volt.... there should not be any "real" difference in the readings from one manufacturer to another.... All I can think of is that you've got a "blown" filiment.... And that's where you're going to see the difference... The bad bulb will have higher resistance than the good bulb ( that fires ).... It may be hard to see without a microscope or a really good magnifing lense....


Bob
 
Thanks Bob. That is really encouraging. I bought a pack of 10 bulbs in the auction. Maybe one of the other ones will work better!
I will let you know.

- Chad
 
ninjafish said:
Thanks Bob. That is really encouraging. I bought a pack of 10 bulbs in the auction. Maybe one of the other ones will work better!
I will let you know.

- Chad
Click to expand...

You're very welcome.... Got to put something that I'm good at to good use ( i reckon ) .... :lol:

Quality control ain't what it used to be .....


Bob
 
Bob,
I am at work right now but I just wanted to tell you that I tried another bulb and sure enough, it worked! Thanks.


The switch went well and right now I am just waiting for the silicone to dry around the chaeto light cord. Switching the plumbing lines from the previous filter to this one was a bit of a mental puzzle but I managed to do it without draining the tank (which is good because I didn't want to have to try and catch the mantis with a coffee cup! (forgot my net).
I will have some results and photos soon.

- Chad
 
And here they are. This is a photo of the two cannisters together with the sbmersible lights running.



46130inside.jpg



After I switched the hoses from the previous filter to the new ones, I threaded the electrical cord for the submersible lights through the hole that I'd drilled and sealed it with silicone. I then cut two small holes in the grate of the top media compartment so that I could drop the lights down into the middle compartment on either side (so they would give a good light distribution). The reason that I put the chaeto in the middle compartment is so, if I don't prune it in time and it starts to grow up through the grate, it still won't be close to the impellor. When that was done, I moved my LR rubble over to the bottom container. Right now the top is empty but I am curing some LR rubble that I will add later. There is also room for a bag of carbon once in a while if I want.


- Chad
 
And here is a better photo of the two filters:


46130sidexside.jpg




After going through an Eheim filter comparison chart, I realize that I initially overestimated the volume of my first filter. I apologize for the error in the start of this thread. It looks like the first filter held 0.5 gallons and the new one holds 1.58 gallons.
When the silicone had dried, I connected everything and, after taking a deep breath, plugged the filter in. To my joy, the modded impellor worked exactly as it was supposed to and the turnover in the tank is the same as it has always been! The only downside to the switch is these new media baskets are made of dark plastic and don't allow the light from the chaeto fuge to shine through the sides. Too bad... I really liked that glowing-reactor look. :p

Cheers,

- Chad
 
:lol: Well done on the upgrade Chad..... Glad everything worked out ..... I agree with you on the light, the glow coupled with the "bio-hazard" sticker really sets it off...... I have to tell you ... your inovations with this cube tank are what's going to pull you through in the Thread of the Month selction.. IMHO......


Well done

Bob
 
Thanks you guys. I really appreciete all of your help. If wouldn't have been much of a thread if it was just me here ;)

- Chad
 
Very Cool and Congrats on your award. I do have a couple questions though. I have a hard enough time getting work done just reading RC let alone having a cube in my cube. Do you actually get any real work done in your office anymore? Also it doesn't look like it would be to hard to do an incidental 10% water change just by bumping into your desk. - Slosh ! Have you had any accidents?
 
Reefbone,
Thanks! Just between you and me, productivity has gone way down ever since I put the tank in the office :p . Luckly the desk is really sturdy and I haven't had anyone bump it hard enough to upset the tank. I do however need to go really slow when I am using my algae magnet around the top - I have sloshed a fair amount of water out that way!
Cheers,

- Chad
 
Update,
I don't know if it is just my imagination or not but the tank looks healthier since I did the conversion. The frogspawn has opened up more than it ever has and the pulsing xenia looks like its finally growing.
I did notice however that having both chaeto bulbs working (and possibly the larger filter motor) has brought my temp up to 82F.
I would like to hear peoples' thoughts on that temp. Too hot? Ok?
It would be easy to pull it down a couple degrees - just take out one of the bulbs in the chaeto lights. I appreciate any thoughts.

- Chad
 
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