my 55 gallon mixed reef journal
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Topic: my 55 gallon mixed reef journal
Posted By: Aspear
Subject: my 55 gallon mixed reef journal
Date Posted: July 23 2007 at 9:21pm
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equipment
-Lighting;4x 54 watt T5 lighting (with individual reflectors) -skimmer;octopus nw 110 -20 gallon sump/10 gallon fuge -6 stage ro/di unit -3x 2MDQX-SC (1x return, 2x circulation[1500 gph]) -55 gallon AGA tank/stand -2x 150 watt AGA heater fish -pair of percs (third) -randalli shrimp/goby pair (first) -flasher wrasse or midas blenny (second) -1 male and 2 female randalli anthias (forth) inverts -25 turbo snails -30 ble leg hermits -5 nass. snails -cleaner clams -cleaner shrimp -3 peppermint shrimp -serpent star (after 6 months) -bta (after 6 months) -clams (after 6 months) comments and suggestions welcome! |
Replies:
Posted By: Mike Savage
Date Posted: July 23 2007 at 9:28pm
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Looks good. You will really like the T5s. I have a Midas Blenny and he is one of my favorites. Mike -------------  |
Posted By: Aspear
Date Posted: July 23 2007 at 9:49pm
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thanks mike!
gonna start the plumbing tomorrow |
Posted By: Aspear
Date Posted: July 26 2007 at 10:45am
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plumbing is finished!(finally)
back of the tank and all pvc in the tank has been spraypainted. as soon as i get the overflow i can fill er up |
Posted By: Mike Savage
Date Posted: July 26 2007 at 10:53am
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Have you tested the plumbing yet?
Test it with fresh water to make sure it doesn't leak so you don't waste money on salt if you have to drain it.
Mike ------------- |
Posted By: Aspear
Date Posted: July 26 2007 at 1:18pm
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i know
the overflow isnt here yet so i cant test it |
Posted By: reptoreef
Date Posted: July 26 2007 at 2:01pm
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If you can still do it, I recommend having the tank drilled for an overflow.
------------- www.captivereefing.com |
Posted By: shaggydoo
Date Posted: July 26 2007 at 2:03pm
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Sounds like a good start... post some pics.
What bulb combo did you pick with t5? ------------- 60g LPS Cube |
Posted By: Aspear
Date Posted: July 26 2007 at 4:20pm
| 1 10000k, 1 20000k, 1 12000k, 1 atcinic |
Posted By: shaggydoo
Date Posted: July 26 2007 at 4:30pm
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How do you like the color? ------------- 60g LPS Cube |
Posted By: Aspear
Date Posted: July 26 2007 at 5:14pm
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dont have the bulbs yet, ill let you know when i get em
here are some pix 
      
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Posted By: Aspear
Date Posted: July 29 2007 at 2:45pm
| whaduya think |
Posted By: Jmerk
Date Posted: July 31 2007 at 10:40pm
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Keep up the good work!
Can't wait to see the whole tank put together!
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Posted By: shaggydoo
Date Posted: July 31 2007 at 11:34pm
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I think it looks like a lot of piping for a 55g. But it really looks sharp. I like how you put black piping inside the tank. Wish I had taken the time to do this. PS get rid of the skimmer ;) ------------- 60g LPS Cube |
Posted By: Aspear
Date Posted: August 01 2007 at 11:17am
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why get rid of the skimmer?
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Posted By: shaggydoo
Date Posted: August 01 2007 at 12:11pm
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Oh there is actually no real reason. I'm just biased against skimmers. But they work for many people so I am just being a moron ;) ------------- 60g LPS Cube |
Posted By: Mike Savage
Date Posted: August 01 2007 at 2:38pm
Just to keep things fair. I am biased towards a skimmer. We can agree on T5HO though! 
Mike ------------- |
Posted By: Jmerk
Date Posted: August 01 2007 at 4:03pm
I know Aspear and he loves 2 things:
1- Fish (This means everything that goes w/ fish)
2- Plumbing the fish tank
So my point is, he wants to make it complex so it is more fun. (Atleast it is to him)
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shaggydoo wrote:Posted By: Aspear
Date Posted: August 01 2007 at 4:08pm
wow you know me well  .......
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Posted By: Jmerk
Date Posted: August 01 2007 at 4:09pm
| Hey, be nice! |
Posted By: Aspear
Date Posted: August 01 2007 at 4:12pm
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Posted By: Aspear
Date Posted: August 02 2007 at 5:55pm
| bump |
Posted By: Aspear
Date Posted: August 12 2007 at 7:02pm
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everything works well
gonna get the rock this weekend! ------------- Must be an optional hallucination (some people unknowingly call this an optical illusion-Mike Savage |
Posted By: Aspear
Date Posted: August 13 2007 at 10:29am
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should i get rock online or at one of the lfs's ------------- Must be an optional hallucination (some people unknowingly call this an optical illusion-Mike Savage |
Posted By: shaggydoo
Date Posted: August 13 2007 at 12:08pm
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I got my rock from LFS. Better yet try to get some off the board. I wouldn't trust an online order just because I don't like purchasing anything live online. I want to see it before I get it and take it straight from one tank to mine with minimal out of water or in the bag time. ------------- 60g LPS Cube |
Posted By: Mike Savage
Date Posted: August 13 2007 at 12:36pm
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I prefer to get live rock that is already cured and has good bacteria, pods, bristleworms, and coraline algae already established and no die off from periods of time out of the water. The best source for this is an established tank that is being dismantled. Occasionally a LFS will have such pieces but usually it will come from other hobbiests in the area. If you are local here then watch this Board and the Buy-Sell-Trade forum.
Mike ------------- |
Posted By: Aspear
Date Posted: August 13 2007 at 5:16pm
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im up in logan ------------- Must be an optional hallucination (some people unknowingly call this an optical illusion-Mike Savage |
Posted By: Aspear
Date Posted: August 13 2007 at 7:03pm
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ill try several stores this weekend! ------------- Must be an optional hallucination (some people unknowingly call this an optical illusion-Mike Savage |
Posted By: Jmerk
Date Posted: August 15 2007 at 4:14pm
| Sweet! Can't wait to see it all assembled! |
Posted By: Aspear
Date Posted: September 18 2007 at 10:02pm
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update:
the T5 fixture came in today canopy build will start this weekend ------------- Must be an optional hallucination (some people unknowingly call this an optical illusion-Mike Savage |
Posted By: Mike Savage
Date Posted: September 18 2007 at 11:05pm
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That's great!
Make sure to post pictures.
Mike ------------- |
Posted By: Aspear
Date Posted: September 19 2007 at 11:42am
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ill get some up tonght ------------- Must be an optional hallucination (some people unknowingly call this an optical illusion-Mike Savage |
Posted By: Aspear
Date Posted: September 19 2007 at 4:24pm
whole tank:
cpr overflow ($20 used): 
T5 lighting: 
metal halide lighting:  
sump,pumps,& pluming: 
 ------------- Must be an optional hallucination (some people unknowingly call this an optical illusion-Mike Savage |
Posted By: Mike Savage
Date Posted: September 19 2007 at 5:11pm
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The tank looks good. What temperature are the bulbs?
Mike ------------- |
Posted By: Aspear
Date Posted: September 19 2007 at 5:53pm
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there 6500k ------------- Must be an optional hallucination (some people unknowingly call this an optical illusion-Mike Savage |
Posted By: bbeck4x4
Date Posted: September 19 2007 at 6:06pm
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I have 6500k pc's on the wifes nano tank, I have not heard of anyone using the ceramic bulbs on a reef let us know how things do, I still want to go to a higher color temp to get the greens better. ------------- Family Portraits /Google trusted Photographer for Google Maps for Businesses |
Posted By: Aspear
Date Posted: September 19 2007 at 6:22pm
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what is the difference between ceramic and not? ------------- Must be an optional hallucination (some people unknowingly call this an optical illusion-Mike Savage |
Posted By: bbeck4x4
Date Posted: September 19 2007 at 6:30pm
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I am not sure when it comes to using it for a reef tank, usually IME the ceramic will produce more reds and yellows, not many reds in the reef. High pressure sodium lamps have a color temp in the 3500k range, they have a all ceramic core, they are mainly used for a cheep parking lot lighting option, I once had a orange mustang that under those lights it looked white. with that in mind I am not sure what the ceramic in the metal halide is going to look like, if it can get 6500k then it will work(things will live), but in the long run you may be more satisfied with a higher color temp. ------------- Family Portraits /Google trusted Photographer for Google Maps for Businesses |
Posted By: Mike Savage
Date Posted: September 19 2007 at 7:02pm
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I agree that is will work but I think that the color may not be very pleasing to the eye. My guess is it will be very yellow.
Mike ------------- |
Posted By: Aspear
Date Posted: September 19 2007 at 7:44pm
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the actinic will run all day
im hoping it will balance the yellow out ------------- Must be an optional hallucination (some people unknowingly call this an optical illusion-Mike Savage |
Posted By: bbeck4x4
Date Posted: September 19 2007 at 8:10pm
for a start it will work, and you can change the bulb very easy, later, believe me we all did
------------- Family Portraits /Google trusted Photographer for Google Maps for Businesses |
Posted By: Aspear
Date Posted: September 20 2007 at 9:50am
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does any one know were i can get 10,000k 150 watt se metal halide bulbs
i can only find 6500k and 50,000k ------------- Must be an optional hallucination (some people unknowingly call this an optical illusion-Mike Savage |
Posted By: Sitaga
Date Posted: September 20 2007 at 10:02am
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Marine Depot has them:
http://www.marinedepot.com/ps_ViewItem~idProduct~MB2468.html - http://www.marinedepot.com/ps_ViewItem~idProduct~MB2468.html
Edit: Actually - I don't think that is an SE.. I'll keep looking.
Edit 2: From the looks of it, they don't make it for the SE: http://www.aquarium-lighting-guide.com/metal-halide-ansi - http://www.aquarium-lighting-guide.com/metal-halide-ansi ------------- Tons of livestock including fish, coral, and inverts currently in stock. We also have Reeflo pumps, SeaChem additives, Brine Shrimp Direct foods, and ATI lighting in stock. |
Posted By: Aspear
Date Posted: September 20 2007 at 1:53pm
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thanks sitaga
i dont know if mentioned this before, but im 14 ------------- Must be an optional hallucination (some people unknowingly call this an optical illusion-Mike Savage |
Posted By: Sitaga
Date Posted: September 20 2007 at 2:05pm
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This hobby is ageless from all that I can can see. Grab it by the horn and enjoy the ride! ------------- Tons of livestock including fish, coral, and inverts currently in stock. We also have Reeflo pumps, SeaChem additives, Brine Shrimp Direct foods, and ATI lighting in stock. |
Posted By: Aspear
Date Posted: September 20 2007 at 2:12pm
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yep
ive liked and wnted tanks since 4th grade ------------- Must be an optional hallucination (some people unknowingly call this an optical illusion-Mike Savage |
Posted By: Mike Savage
Date Posted: September 20 2007 at 2:33pm
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I agree. Age doesn't matter. Maturity or dedication might but not age.
Mike ------------- |
Posted By: Aspear
Date Posted: September 20 2007 at 2:50pm
dedication and the will and ability to spend lots of money  ------------- Must be an optional hallucination (some people unknowingly call this an optical illusion-Mike Savage |
Posted By: superman1981
Date Posted: September 20 2007 at 2:52pm
I've wanted a tank since I was about 14... It took me until I was 25 to accomplish it though  I blame it on my dang parents who were constantly telling me SW was too difficult and cost too much... I guess I should have had Adam come over to tell them the truth about it... Hey Adam (Blundell) how old were you when you started up your first SW tank? (PS I love my parents, they're great people... and I did have guppies for many years because of them) ------------- Sure you are, you are Crappy Reef Club Member #1 -Chk4tix 6 gal nanocube 65 gal http://www.utahreefs.com/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=78639&title=tims-65-gallon-build" rel="nofollow - build thread |
Posted By: Mike Savage
Date Posted: September 20 2007 at 3:22pm
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(PS I love my parents, they're great people... and I did have guppies for many years because of them)
I love my parents too but I had to start with Sticklebacks!
Mike ------------- |
Posted By: superman1981
Date Posted: September 20 2007 at 5:13pm
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I think my parents biggest issue with SW was that they knew absolutely nothing about the hobby, and since this was during the early days of the internet, there wasn't a lot of information available... If I would have known Adam was into SW back then I probably would have talked to him (since we grew up like 3 or 4 blocks away from each other) but I had no clue he was into SW until I joined the club a year ago...
------------- Sure you are, you are Crappy Reef Club Member #1 -Chk4tix 6 gal nanocube 65 gal http://www.utahreefs.com/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=78639&title=tims-65-gallon-build" rel="nofollow - build thread |
Posted By: Aspear
Date Posted: October 30 2007 at 5:09pm
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sorry for the lack of update!
the cycle is started! ------------- Must be an optional hallucination (some people unknowingly call this an optical illusion-Mike Savage |
Posted By: Mike Savage
Date Posted: October 30 2007 at 6:33pm
 Cool. You will be stocking it before you know it!Mike ------------- |
Posted By: Aspear
Date Posted: October 30 2007 at 8:25pm
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thanks mike!
the only hitchhiker so far is a singlr mushroom i hope it lives ------------- Must be an optional hallucination (some people unknowingly call this an optical illusion-Mike Savage |
Posted By: Mike Savage
Date Posted: October 30 2007 at 8:57pm
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Well it just might. Mike ------------- |