kenf729

Hello everyone...

This fall I'll be going on vacation be gone for about 10-12 days, have my auto top off completed, lights on timmers...

I need to find a good auto feeder (prefer one that feeds once daily), then need to get my fish accustomed to eating pellets, been eating frozen forever now...

Anyone have a good recomendation on a feeder? I don't have anyone close by that I can count on to come feed 3 times a week...

Ken

this last summer I went through an ick break out, I took all the fish out of the main tank and put them into a hospital tank with copper treatment, copper was in the tank for 30 days and slowley changed out to just plain saltwater, the main tank stayed fish free for 2 months, no fish no place for the ick to surive...I have since not had any breakouts...

hope this helps

PM on the way for #1,6 and 8

ken

Where did you get the T5 connectors?

 

Clay

I went to Saltwater Fantaseas, talk with Pat, he's a great guy, new they cost $12 a set. not sure if he has any used connectors, but worth asking...

Not to highjack the thread but, how long can mixed salt water last, I have a 35 gal container on wheels that I want to mix, it will take me about 1 - 1 1/2 months to use it all, I will keep a pump in the container mixing, also light free...any issues with this, although not automated, I would be able to do a 10 gal water change in about 15 mins.

Ken

each of the couplers has 2 set screws, total of 4 per side, the light isn't that heavy, right now only using 2 on each side, should hold up for quite a while...

the best part is no hole in the wall or ceiling...

Just what my tank needs....More extention cords and power strips...(laugh)

Well I created an adjustable light stand for my 48" odessey light...

let me start off with this...first it cost less than 20 bucks and took about 1 hour to build.

front view...

Ok, if your still interested here is what I used...

I bought a piece of 1/2 conduit (came in 10 foot piece) I think it cost about 2 bucks. then I bought 4, 1/2 inch couplers again about 2 bucks apiece, there is a slight ridge in the middle, using my dremmel I ground down the ridge where it would slide freely on the conduit. next I bought 4 half moon brackets about .70 apiece. see pictures...

I then cut the conduit in half making two 5 foot pieces. slide two couplers on the conduit usinge the half moon brackets mount to the side of your stand, note the couplers have 2 set screws to adjust the height.

next I had 6 'S' hooks, bought some chain and cut to about 4 chain links per side. I used an S hook to slip into the vent of the light another S hook into the top of the condiut, done on both sides.

more pictures:

mounting the conduit to side of stand...

side view of light...

Just a note I can lift the light about 18 inches high, plenty of room to work on the rocks...

My next step is removing everything and painting black to match the stand, if you like any other steps or help fell free to PM me...

Ken

Just have to say thans for the great write up...I swapped my 4 65w pc to two t5's much more light not to mention better quality, the process of swapping out the lights was super easy...

I'll make a trip to Saltwater fantaseas, but just to make sure if I get the 54W you say there 48" my light from outside end to end is right at 47 inches, so I think I need 45" lights. Right?

one of my PC's is out, I would just as soon have t5's, more light,less power...

Ken

Edit: what lumens are you using daylight bulb?

Hi, well I'm finally getting around to converting my odessea light, wanting to take out the PC's and replace with T5's, my light is 48", anyone have any leads on where to get the end caps (4)...

thanks

Ken

If I read this correctly, you have a similar light to mine-I have (had) 2-250 DE MH w/4-65 watt Compact fluorescents-Well this weekend I swapped out the CF bulbs to T5's.

It took about 30 minutes and the fixture now is the MH w/ 2-54 watt T5's-the T5's put out more light at half the watts and I am glad I finally did it.

 

If you are looking to swap your fixture and go all T5's-IMO, I would not go that route, SPS will (again IMO) grow better under the MH than T5's and everyone has their opinions on that, I have grown SPS under T5's but have had best results under MH-my tank is about 90%SPS.

 

Keep your fixture you have and replace the CF to T5's-the project ran me 10.00 plus bulbs.

Can you shed more "Light" on this subject, I have one of those hoods that have 2x250Mh and 4x65pc, did you need to swap out ballasts or use the ones currently in the hood, also would it be possable for you to do a right up on how the wiring went?

Thanks

Woohoo, my first meeting, been to Tim's store lots of times...count me in..

Just wanted to thank you again, these are looking good in my tank...

still ahve the Watermellon Zoas? interested in them...

Ken

Share the love

being new to reefing, I think it would be a great thing...for a while there I had the prettest red rocks and thought it was cool...didn't know what it was...now I run chemiclean, and the red is gone...

Ken

Share the love...

Big Dave was willing to meet me on his day off to assist a noob.

Dave thank you very much for the button polyps, they have already opened and look great, the green frags (sorry I don't remember the names) are glued down to a great rock...and the wait begins...

The last bit (again do't remember the name) is doing great against the back of my tank...

Thank you very much Dave!!!

Ken

"May Day..Share the Love"...April showers...bring May...Xenia or something like that...

wow, as another noob, I really like the first picture and would like to have a peice, are those the green star polyps? not even sure of the names yet...lol...

the second picture??? I think I have a small peice of that trying to grow in my tank now...the third looks cool too..

Ken

Is this one a members only "Share the Love", at this time I cannot afford to sign up, if so please disregard mine...

thanks,

Ken

I've got one of those units 250MH with 14k HQI bulbs look great. I got mine from a guy that was moving and picked it up for $150, only mine didn't have the legs, so I built a box to house it on my 55g tank.

currently have the lights all on timers, Actinic's kick on about 9am go off at 1 then come on again around 6 off again at 8. the MH kick on at noon and off at 7...corals seem to be doing good...

Ken

Well tonight one of my ballast quit working, anyone have an extra that they would part with cheap? would like an electronic just in case I decide to go higher than 14k. please send me a PM, tank looks realy bad with only one light on.

Ken

Congrats Kendaroo, looks like you got a very nice looking frag...

CA2OR, thanks for a fun week...

Ken