NEW TANK IS HERE!!!!!!!!!
- Thread starter HARRISON
- Start date
I had an 80 gallon reef ready built.
Update on prgress: I built the lower cabinets today and countertop. I unpacked the tank and set it on the counter top. So far everything looks pretty good. The new 80 looks huge compared to my 40. I can't wait to fill this baby up.
Here is a list of what I am planning on using so far. Feel free to give you opinions. The 250 watt metal halides with 10k bulbs just came in from Champion Lighting. they forgot a bulb but it is on the way. I have to build the canopy which I am still trying to figure out. The "stand" I built out of Home Depot Cheapo oak cabinets. The tank is going to be in a recessed area that was a closet in my office/ spare bedroom. The cabinets fill up the space then I put a formica countertop on for the tank to sit. Don't worry, I built the hell out of these cabinets with 2 by 4s. It will hold the weight. It is just a little nicer looking than a regular stand I think. Next, I am going to use a 30 gallon acrylic bio ball setup tank for a sump/ refugium. I am taking the balls out. The thermometer will be in the back with the carbon and the critters and algae will be in the front under a little PC light that I had for it when it was a FO tank. I am using a Rio 2500 to pump water to the overflow. Actual plumbing to be worked out still) Other than that I bought a bathroom fan and a duct hose to blow the humidity out of the stand so it stays dry and cooler. (12 bucks and moves alot of air). I am thinking about one of these in the ceiling above my Halides to suck the air into the attic. Then a house fan to blow it out of there?
Thats where I am right now. If someone wants to fill me in on loading pics on here I can post them too. (if anyone cares) haha.
Catch you tomorrow, I am beat for tonight!
Harrison
Update on prgress: I built the lower cabinets today and countertop. I unpacked the tank and set it on the counter top. So far everything looks pretty good. The new 80 looks huge compared to my 40. I can't wait to fill this baby up.
Here is a list of what I am planning on using so far. Feel free to give you opinions. The 250 watt metal halides with 10k bulbs just came in from Champion Lighting. they forgot a bulb but it is on the way. I have to build the canopy which I am still trying to figure out. The "stand" I built out of Home Depot Cheapo oak cabinets. The tank is going to be in a recessed area that was a closet in my office/ spare bedroom. The cabinets fill up the space then I put a formica countertop on for the tank to sit. Don't worry, I built the hell out of these cabinets with 2 by 4s. It will hold the weight. It is just a little nicer looking than a regular stand I think. Next, I am going to use a 30 gallon acrylic bio ball setup tank for a sump/ refugium. I am taking the balls out. The thermometer will be in the back with the carbon and the critters and algae will be in the front under a little PC light that I had for it when it was a FO tank. I am using a Rio 2500 to pump water to the overflow. Actual plumbing to be worked out still) Other than that I bought a bathroom fan and a duct hose to blow the humidity out of the stand so it stays dry and cooler. (12 bucks and moves alot of air). I am thinking about one of these in the ceiling above my Halides to suck the air into the attic. Then a house fan to blow it out of there?
Thats where I am right now. If someone wants to fill me in on loading pics on here I can post them too. (if anyone cares) haha.
Catch you tomorrow, I am beat for tonight!
Harrison
Sorry I haven't updated this in a bit. I have been at a wilderness medical conference (boring)...but I did get time during that to draw out the schematics of my plumbing and refugium...I am going to plumb it tonight and set up the refugium. If that goes well I will go pick out the oak for the top...I have a refugium question but I am goingt o make a new post to see what kind of response I get...
Hi Harrison, I just popped in and saw your post.
I also set up a 180 about 6 months ago and also have it installed in a closet in my office at home. I am glad that you are going with the 250s. I went with 3 x400s and now I wish that I hadn't. TOO HOT!! IMO I have also 2 x 140 watt VHO for atinic, 4 fans in hood for cooling and a fan over my sump.
Keep me posted and post some pics.
Barry
I also set up a 180 about 6 months ago and also have it installed in a closet in my office at home. I am glad that you are going with the 250s. I went with 3 x400s and now I wish that I hadn't. TOO HOT!! IMO I have also 2 x 140 watt VHO for atinic, 4 fans in hood for cooling and a fan over my sump.
Keep me posted and post some pics.
Barry
Toptank, I am glad to get the feedback on the 250's. I worried about that for about two weeks trying to figure out what to order. I think the 250's will work fine. As far as the bulbs I did upgrade to the bluelines as apposed to the 55k that were standard. I posted asking about lighting and the 10k seemed to be a popular choice, wish I would have known about the blueline thing. If they suck I will raise hell with the vendor. I will keep everyone posted on how they perform. I may add a couple 55w PC's with it but it depends on whether I can get myself to break down the 40 reef. I am up and down due to cost compared to the fact I really enjoy it and don't want to mess it up...
Here is where I am at so far. The stand is finished minus one more clear coat when I get everything complete. I think it looks nice and seems to be pretty functional. It is a 36 inch cabinet and two 15 inchers, one on e each side. Everything is built up to the hilt. The 30 gallon sump/refugium is plumbed in and seems to be a pretty good setup so far. I have made a few mods like drill a couple holes to ensure adequate flow and so that if there is a system failure the sump can handle the siphon water. (LFS guy is getting a six pack for that little hint). I do need to add a piece of plexy over the sump to stop the little air bubbes and their splash from getting all over. I filled the tank and all is well. Kinda makes you wonder if its going to hold but it did.
NEXT PROJECT:
I am working on the plans for a top cover. It will be made of oak. Right now I am trying to figure out how to make it so the bulbs are 8-10 inches from the water and there is access to everything without a lot of hassle. Should be a busy couple nights in the shop...
Thanks for the input so far. (looks like there might actually be life in this post after all)
Here is where I am at so far. The stand is finished minus one more clear coat when I get everything complete. I think it looks nice and seems to be pretty functional. It is a 36 inch cabinet and two 15 inchers, one on e each side. Everything is built up to the hilt. The 30 gallon sump/refugium is plumbed in and seems to be a pretty good setup so far. I have made a few mods like drill a couple holes to ensure adequate flow and so that if there is a system failure the sump can handle the siphon water. (LFS guy is getting a six pack for that little hint). I do need to add a piece of plexy over the sump to stop the little air bubbes and their splash from getting all over. I filled the tank and all is well. Kinda makes you wonder if its going to hold but it did.
NEXT PROJECT:
I am working on the plans for a top cover. It will be made of oak. Right now I am trying to figure out how to make it so the bulbs are 8-10 inches from the water and there is access to everything without a lot of hassle. Should be a busy couple nights in the shop...
Thanks for the input so far. (looks like there might actually be life in this post after all)
HARRISON
Which 10000k bulb did you get. If it is the blueline's I will give you two of them, those buld are not good at all they get real dark in the middle and I have talked with many who have gotten them and were not happy at all. Just wanted to head of a problem before it happened.
This is the word from another who bought them.
Yes, they did develop some sort of spot in the center of the bulb. I had so much bad luck with those bulbs that I had give them up. I went to 400 watts instead. Now I’m running radium 20000k bulbs. Also the blueline bulbs kept failing on me. Very unreliable IMO.
Later,
Keith
250 ushio or hamilton will be great. champion is good, just not the blueline bulb
IMO.
David
Which 10000k bulb did you get. If it is the blueline's I will give you two of them, those buld are not good at all they get real dark in the middle and I have talked with many who have gotten them and were not happy at all. Just wanted to head of a problem before it happened.
This is the word from another who bought them.
Yes, they did develop some sort of spot in the center of the bulb. I had so much bad luck with those bulbs that I had give them up. I went to 400 watts instead. Now I’m running radium 20000k bulbs. Also the blueline bulbs kept failing on me. Very unreliable IMO.
Later,
Keith
250 ushio or hamilton will be great. champion is good, just not the blueline bulb
IMO.
David
Been working my butt of to make the canopy. It is made of oak and so far looks pretty good. I have made several mods since starting but I think it will be a nice piece when complete. I am getting ready to go sand it, yehaww. After that I can add the halides and see how all that works on the new water. After a couple day running I had to make one small change to the plumbing. Had a hole that was open for an inlet hose which I decided agains and had to plug it. It would splatter little bits of water that I wasn't happy about. The rest seems to be running well. I had to add a couple holes to the center section of the 30 gallon sump. It is a system 2 bio ball setup and the sump dries a little too quickly and I worry about burning up the little motor. With the holes it allows more water to flow freely. I am going to add a mess of pictures tonight or tomorrow if I can get my wife off my back for a bit. She is on this obsessive compulsive kick right now. Not sure what the hell she is talking about, but anyway i need to get back out and work on my canopy so i will get pics on later...
Harrison
Harrison
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