BrianB Posted October 10, 2010 Author Share Posted October 10, 2010 Ok so I am now up and running. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BrianB Posted October 11, 2010 Author Share Posted October 11, 2010 So after adding some more live rock etc I am really liking the look of metal halides. This is my first setup with halides and I love the shimmer effect but the light doesn't seem very bright. Maybe I have them hung too high. Currently they are 15 inches from the water surface is that too high? The light is a 250 watt se no name 14k bulb with a PFO pendant. Any help comments welcome. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rick Posted October 11, 2010 Share Posted October 11, 2010 My bulbs are 10" over the water. (Measured from the bulb itself.) If it's the bulb I sent with the pendant I'm not sure how old it is so a new bulb might also be brighter. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
h2odvl Posted October 11, 2010 Share Posted October 11, 2010 I would move it down till the edge of the light is at the top of the tank. Here is a pic of what i mean Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dee77 Posted October 11, 2010 Share Posted October 11, 2010 Can't wait to see this stocked Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BrianB Posted October 15, 2010 Author Share Posted October 15, 2010 SO it has been up for about a week or so. And I am already hating a few things and may break down and redo a couple things. First is the overflow, in itself it's not bad but I don't think it does a good enough job skimming the stuff from the surface. I was thinking that if I drilled the tank the surface skimming would improve. The second thing I am hating is the sump, it's too tall for the stand makes it really hard to get in there and do anything on. It's like 20 inches high which gives me like 2 inches to work in. I am thinking about picking up a 20L and using that as a sump. That will give me a extra 6 inches to work with under the tank and I will have enough room to add a skimmer if I choose later. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ThePremiumAquarium Posted October 17, 2010 Share Posted October 17, 2010 Looking good. I would move the light so that it is about 8-10" above the tank. I like you sump idea as well but just remember that shallower tanks require more frequent water top off which can get anoying without an ato. Drilling the tank would also be ideal and can be easily done. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BrianB Posted October 17, 2010 Author Share Posted October 17, 2010 I don't mind doing top offs, I already have to do about half a gallon a day now. But the height makes it a pain to do simple things like change out a filter sock. And forget about a skimmer I made the stand too low I only have about 20 inches from bottom of sump to top of the stand. I did move the light down quite a bit last week it's around 8 inches inches over the water now. As far as drilling I have drilled a tank before I just had the overflow laying around and decided to use what I had. Now I don't know that I wanna break everything down to drill. :( Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gill Posted October 17, 2010 Share Posted October 17, 2010 That ballast looks sweet!!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rick Posted October 17, 2010 Share Posted October 17, 2010 Is that K1 going in this tank? If so you can probably get enough surface agitation with it to get rid of the film. Mount it either on one side at the rear or maybe even on the side and then aim it at the front of the tank about 1/3 of the way down at an angle that will bounce the water back into the tank. You should be able to get it to spread the water flow all of the way across that way and I think it will get rid of any film. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BrianB Posted October 17, 2010 Author Share Posted October 17, 2010 Yuo the k1 is going to be in this tank along with the other k1 I have and a k2. I plan on moving a k1 to each side and the k2 on the back wall towards the right side angled so it hits the front and left side. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BrianB Posted November 5, 2010 Author Share Posted November 5, 2010 Some new pic of how it is turning out so far. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ReeFit Posted November 5, 2010 Share Posted November 5, 2010 I am liking that rock layout. the table tops are nice and it doesn't look to stacked up. Nice scopas, if he gets to big, let me know, i've got a home for him. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ReeFit Posted November 5, 2010 Share Posted November 5, 2010 I don't mind doing top offs' date=' I already have to do about half a gallon a day now. But the height makes it a pain to do simple things like change out a filter sock. And forget about a skimmer I made the stand too low I only have about 20 inches from bottom of sump to top of the stand. I did move the light down quite a bit last week it's around 8 inches inches over the water now. As far as drilling I have drilled a tank before I just had the overflow laying around and decided to use what I had. Now I don't know that I wanna break everything down to drill. :([/quote'] i have a sump and built in nano skimmer if your interested. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
moovinfast Posted November 5, 2010 Share Posted November 5, 2010 Looking good. Looking more like a display tank than a frag tank. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BrianB Posted November 5, 2010 Author Share Posted November 5, 2010 i have a sump and built in nano skimmer if your interested. I just started building a new sump that should be able to house a swc 120 or a bubble magus nac3. What I wanted to do was use a 30b since the height is the same as a 20l but 12x18x36 but I went with a 20l cause it was $20 at petco. I may add another 40b next to it in the future and at that time probally build a bigger sump for both tanks. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hozer21 Posted November 5, 2010 Share Posted November 5, 2010 Looking good. Looking more like a display tank than a frag tank. I would have to agree with you on that Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BrianB Posted November 7, 2010 Author Share Posted November 7, 2010 Made some changes yestarday removed the old sump and added the new one, cleaned up the wiring, added some extra light and wrapped all the tubing with foam insulation. Who knew it was gonna take up most the day to change out a sump. Tho I did re do the plumbing with new clear tubing the old was full of algae. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BrianB Posted November 7, 2010 Author Share Posted November 7, 2010 A few more. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
reef165 Posted November 7, 2010 Share Posted November 7, 2010 That is looking really good!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Trautman Posted November 7, 2010 Share Posted November 7, 2010 lookin' goood! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rick Posted November 7, 2010 Share Posted November 7, 2010 Very nice. Are those daylight spirals? Pretty cool deal with the reflectors on them. If you get a chance I would like to see a better shot of how you set them up. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BrianB Posted November 7, 2010 Author Share Posted November 7, 2010 Yeah they are 6500k spriral bulbs I put 4 of em in there. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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