UrbanSage's 270 Gallon in Wall Reef Adventure.

[kau_cinta_ku]

wow that's a huge change, but I like the blue color

from what I understand the reeflux 12k's are supposed to be close to the XM 20k's. since you have used both is that about true?

 

[Hop]

Looks pretty good I like the change...

 

[UrbanSage]

I think I like it too. The before picture I think looks better colorwise than reality did.

I only have experience with the 250w 20,000k HQI's from XM. They were bluer.

There is a huge difference in the amount of light I can visually notice. The 10,000k's seemed much much brighter.


Hop, in your thread, (I really should ask there ) I saw you received a new impellar, that wouldn't happen to be compatible with the Sedra pumps?

 

[kau_cinta_ku]

Nick, your pm box is full

 

[UrbanSage]

Ok, got that cleaned up thanks!

 

[kau_cinta_ku]

sent PM to start filling it back up

 

[melev]

Remember to clean out your SENT folder too.

The tank looks nice, but I totally get the 'too much blue' thing. Try turning off the actinics and look again.

I won't use 12,000K bulbs personally. I'd rather have 10,000K - 20,000K - 10,000K plus VHO actinics.

Be that as it may, I really do like the second picture better. How's that for speaking out of both sides of my mouth? :lol:

 

[UrbanSage]

Switching the VHO's off and on doesn't seem to do much.
I will however be pursuing some 10,000K VHO's to replace the super actinics. I think that will do great.
Should I go as far as daylights instead? 6500K.

 

[melev]

If you want to try 6500K bulbs, you can get those at Home Depot (4' and 6') for $5 and up. They are marked "Daylight" and usually have blue or green ends.

I'd probably get 10,000K VHOs if that is your preference.

 

[tangdiver]

I will chime in, you need to go drastic when trying to change metal halide colors. As actinics VHO do not do much for 10k MH nor does 10k VHO do much for 20K MH. If that makes since....

Just my thoughts but try the HD lights...make sure the right watts. Look at in terms of PAR values. PAR of VHO=low PAR of MH=high so which has more power to change the color of the other.

Again take it for what it is worth from a washed up public aquarist that could not hack it in the real world so he started a fish business that crashed and burned with the sale of a pet store that he sold out to.

Grant

 

[melev]

Grant, you always find a way to find the rain in a nice puffy white cloud. :lol:

With IceCap ballasts, you can overdrive the NO bulbs. I used to do that over my 55g and it worked great. They will last about 6 months, which is no big deal.

 

[tangdiver]

Grant, you always find a way to find the rain in a nice puffy white cloud.

What part?

 

[melev]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=12623018#post12623018 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by tangdiver
What part?

<i>Again take it for what it is worth from a washed up public aquarist that could not hack it in the real world so he started a fish business that crashed and burned with the sale of a pet store that he sold out to. </i>

That was just bad luck. As you know, keeping a LFS open is tough, and we see them come and go all the time. It is rare to find one that has been around a long time unfortunately.

What I saw while I was there, you were doing things nicely. However, overhead and a boss that sees only the bottom line will always be a problem. When you open your own store one day, I bet it will be successful.

 

[tangdiver]

Thanks for the nice words...always needed. Just hard to see things sometimes through others eyes.

Sorry nic for the tear moments.

Grant

 

[Dakota Reef]

Can't remember if your halides are 250 or 400 watt. I haven't hooked up my icecap ballasts yet if you'd like to try them with the Reeflux 12k's. From what I'v read online that combo gives a crisper whiter color than what you can get with a magnetic ballast. I've got a couple of 250 icecaps you can try since its gonna be a while before I can get my new light hood put together.

Hey Grant, you know how I feel... you deserved better.

 

[UrbanSage]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=12622694#post12622694 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by melev
If you want to try 6500K bulbs, you can get those at Home Depot (4' and 6') for $5 and up. They are marked "Daylight" and usually have blue or green ends.

I'd probably get 10,000K VHOs if that is your preference.

That's good news. If blind buying either kind I would go for the 10,000K's but If I can do a test run for ~$15 I think I will begin from that side.

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=12622877#post12622877 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by tangdiver
I will chime in, you need to go drastic when trying to change metal halide colors. As actinics VHO do not do much for 10k MH nor does 10k VHO do much for 20K MH. If that makes since....

Just my thoughts but try the HD lights...make sure the right watts. Look at in terms of PAR values. PAR of VHO=low PAR of MH=high so which has more power to change the color of the other.

My worry is that if I take a yellow bulb and a blue bulb I end up with a green tank. I like the current tank better than before, but if I can tweak it a bit whiter I think I'd nail the look I imagine.

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=12623970#post12623970 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by Dakota Reef
Can't remember if your halides are 250 or 400 watt. I haven't hooked up my icecap ballasts yet if you'd like to try them with the Reeflux 12k's. From what I'v read online that combo gives a crisper whiter color than what you can get with a magnetic ballast. I've got a couple of 250 icecaps you can try since its gonna be a while before I can get my new light hood put together.

Hey Grant, you know how I feel... you deserved better.

Halides are 400's. I do currently have VHO's so I can pick up some bulbs from Home Depot and give them a test run.

 

[kau_cinta_ku]

I am using the deluxe daylight bulbs from home depot for my phyto/ rotifer cultures. they are 6500k and pure white. it was 5.97 for 2-4' bulbs just to give you an idea.

BTW they have 2 kinds, a daylight and the daylight deluxe the daylight bulbs I think were 5800k so those will prob. be a little yellow.

 

[auntbeast]

I've read this thread from the beginning, tortured my husband into looking at all the pics because this, to me, is an ideal setup. It's what I've been trying to describe to hubby.

You have done a phenomenal job and it is definitely, my inspiration thread. Thank you so much for sharing.

p.s. My daughter who is 2, loves your tank and puppy too.

 

[StunnaShadez]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=12601860#post12601860 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by UrbanSage
I received the new bulbs today.
The change is drastic and will take a bit of getting used to. They are much more blue than I would have thought. Time to change the VHO's to 10,000k I guess
Anyone know if an algae scraper exists for the Tunze magnet cleaners?

Before

After

loving the second one MUCH more haha. great job

 

[UrbanSage]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=12627891#post12627891 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by auntbeast
I've read this thread from the beginning, tortured my husband into looking at all the pics because this, to me, is an ideal setup. It's what I've been trying to describe to hubby.

You have done a phenomenal job and it is definitely, my inspiration thread. Thank you so much for sharing.

p.s. My daughter who is 2, loves your tank and puppy too.

Oh wow, thank you very much. Maybe I don't spot the uniqueness, but people seem to think something is out of the box about this setup.
To me it is just a new aquarium which has a long way to go (I don't mean to sound like it doesn't matter much to me. My tank is a huge part of my life).

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=12628345#post12628345 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by StunnaShadez
loving the second one MUCH more haha. great job

I'm torn if the tank actually looked like the before picture I and not as it really did, washed out and brown. I might actually like the more natural look....... I find it to be a tough call!