first reef tank
Printed From: Utah Reefs
Category: Main
Forum Name: Introduce Yourself
Forum Description: Introduce Yourself the the club.
URL: http://www.utahreefs.com/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=45208
Printed Date: December 04 2025 at 12:47pm
Software Version: Web Wiz Forums 12.03 - http://www.webwizforums.com
Topic: first reef tank
Posted By: phinfan
Subject: first reef tank
Date Posted: December 07 2010 at 9:26pm
|
Hello to all I have not formally introduced myself in this area. I am the one who bought the tank from Jackie. Many of you are not only familiar with the tank, but possibly even familiar with some of the posts that have been made beginning with the day she sold it. As I mentioned before I will be setting it up after Christmas, soon after I hope. I will be trying to get as much of the necessary items, equipment, ect. between now and then. Looking forward to help from as many of you as possible as I enter the wonderful world of reefs. Thanks in advance to those I haven't been in contact with already. I am way excited and can't wait. The stand is currently being used as a Christmas decoration. Consider this pic the first of many, to be followed with others once I get going with the actual set up.  |
Replies:
Posted By: CapnMorgan
Date Posted: December 07 2010 at 9:30pm
|
Again welcome! I can't wait to see the tank start to go together. If you have any questions or need help please feel free to call me or just send me a pm. ------------- Steve http://utahreefs.com/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=40637&PID=356246" rel="nofollow - My Old 180G Mixed Reef Currently: 120G Wavefront Mixed 29G Seahorse & Softies Running ReefAngel Plus x2 435-8 |
Posted By: SGH360
Date Posted: December 07 2010 at 9:37pm
| Cool, I bet you are impatient to set up the tank. Great to see you got your first reef and what a reef! |
Posted By: phinfan
Date Posted: December 07 2010 at 9:38pm
| I looks like I may need some advice on how to post good pics, like the ones I have seen many of you post. |
Posted By: ptronsp
Date Posted: December 07 2010 at 9:43pm
This is great! I love the use of the stand for the time being.. 
|
Posted By: phinfan
Date Posted: December 07 2010 at 9:45pm
| I bought the bulbs from aquatic dreams. There seems to be a problem with either one of the fixtures, end caps, wiring, or ballasts. It came with 2 ballasts ice cap 660's. 4 bulbs wired to each ballast. 4 lights work all the time, the other 4 are intermittent. I have tried moving the bulbs around, moving the ballasts from one fixture to the other. Still intermittent problems. |
Posted By: bstuver
Date Posted: December 07 2010 at 9:48pm
|
Huh, weird I am pretty sure those ballasts were shipped right from icecap for the MWRF. I am sure someone up your direction will volunteer to come take a look and see what is going on. Can't wait to see this set up:) ------------- Jackie Stuver "wait these aren't the happy Hawaiians oompa doompa godly heaven on your face zoas? I dont want them then. lol!" Ksmart |
Posted By: arthuriv
Date Posted: December 07 2010 at 9:56pm
The best way is to use a free photo server like http://www.photobucket.com - www.photobucket.com and link to them.
Maybe try contacting Dion. He should be able to help you! ------------- Quality Marines Aquaculturing & Captive Breeding program! Presented by Ashley & Chelsea from Reef On Thursday 6 Oct 2016 |
phinfan wrote:Posted By: davser
Date Posted: December 07 2010 at 10:28pm
|
welcome, and about your lights it might be the ballast that happen to my fixture have you switched the bulbs to the one that work all the time? ------------- It's not about what you know but about who you know |
Posted By: Luckedout
Date Posted: December 07 2010 at 11:10pm
|
Is the ballast firing up ok? If so, then it's most likely a loose wire in the fixture somewhere. Probably got bumped from moving around the hood. If the ballast is what's flickering then you have something loose in the ballast and need to pop it open and take a peek.
------------- -Ben 90g Mixed reef www.body-balancechiropractic.com |
Posted By: PhotoGlen
Date Posted: December 07 2010 at 11:41pm
|
Welcome to the best Fish Geek site available in Utah! ------------- I honestly think it is better to be a failure at something you love than to be a success at something you hate. George Burns Now two 29 gal. Biocubes 90 gal. with a 40 gal. sump |
Posted By: Jeremyw
Date Posted: December 08 2010 at 11:24am
|
Welcome! Glade you have some use for it till the season is over! Cant wait to see it up and filled with water!
I too would suggest hitting someone up like Dion to come over and take alook at it. ------------- Next meeting: |
Posted By: Crazy Tarzan
Date Posted: December 08 2010 at 11:43am
|
I like the current use of the stand. Is the tank going to sit in front of that window? It will block some light, and the sun might cause other minor issues such as heat and or algae. ------------- Was that in there yesterday? Casper--WY windier than ? Down to a 20, soon to double or nothing |
Posted By: Dion Richins
Date Posted: December 08 2010 at 12:13pm
|
I just had a ballast similar to the ones you have come in the shop today. It had a lose wire on the switch on the ballast its self. We by passed it and it works great. Give that a lookysee and hopefully it helps. ------------- http://www.customaquariumfurniture.com" rel="nofollow - Bad "censored" Cabinets Best quality in the valley! He is one sexy bald guy, even with out a finger!(MAC) |
Posted By: Dion Richins
Date Posted: December 08 2010 at 12:13pm
|
Awesome use of a empty stand!!!!! ------------- http://www.customaquariumfurniture.com" rel="nofollow - Bad "censored" Cabinets Best quality in the valley! He is one sexy bald guy, even with out a finger!(MAC) |
Posted By: Lewy
Date Posted: December 08 2010 at 2:16pm
|
Welcome. I'm glad to see you getting into the hoby. ------------- 40 gal w/ 20 sump |
Posted By: swiftra
Date Posted: December 08 2010 at 5:17pm
|
Phinfan great to see ya on the board. Like everybody else can't wait to see this tank setup. I'm up in the Ogden area so if you need some help with the ballast give me a shout. Sounds like it's a wiring issue to me since you said it's working intermittently. Wires heat up and expand and lose connection. Hopefully that helps. Welcome aboard!
------------- If you make it idiot proof, someone will find a better idiot! Well 100g crashed when I moved it. Starting a 50g cube now. |
Posted By: Sculpin
Date Posted: December 08 2010 at 5:25pm
|
Make sure you stay on top of your parameters and you'll get some good growth out of those houses and trees. With feeding I would say once a day. Those little people can feed off the natural growth but they may need a little extra due to how young the decoration is. It looks pretty sterile right now but give it time. Good luck and keep up the photos. Micah
|
Posted By: phinfan
Date Posted: December 08 2010 at 7:41pm
| thanks swiftra i may take you up on that. i am in s ogden. electrician i'm not, as simple as it may be. |
Posted By: kellerexpress
Date Posted: December 08 2010 at 10:43pm
|
welcome, looking forward to seeing this tank set up finally ------------- IM 30L Kessil A160we x2 |
Posted By: phinfan
Date Posted: December 10 2010 at 10:47pm
|
I found the problem with the lights. The three wires, from the cord that plugs into the outlet, black, green, white, were not getting a good connection. During the troubleshooting process I noticed the bad connection in the connector that plugs into the ballast. I was able to make the lights come on and go off by messing with the connector. I also seen it shorting when I moved the connector. Upon further review, I was able to see the black wire was not making a good connection. I then discovered the white wires connection was also compromised. A little more homework and I think I will be able to get this fixed without a visit from any of you that offered up your assistance. Thanks
|
Posted By: Dion Richins
Date Posted: December 11 2010 at 9:54am
Im glad its that simple!! ------------- http://www.customaquariumfurniture.com" rel="nofollow - Bad "censored" Cabinets Best quality in the valley! He is one sexy bald guy, even with out a finger!(MAC) |
Posted By: phinfan
Date Posted: January 05 2011 at 7:16pm
|
Well I am taking baby steps but, things are starting to come together. The tile is in place where the tank will sit. Tyler is building me a custom sump. I ordered some marco rock and it shipped today, and I also purchased my skimmer. http://i201.photobucket.com/albums/aa176/phinfan1962/IMG_0018.jpg more pics to come
|
Posted By: Jeffs_little_ocean
Date Posted: January 05 2011 at 7:41pm
|
Nice! I think you will like your skimmer. I just bought a vertex about 2 weeks ago. So far I have been very happy with it. ------------- Life is good....right? |
Posted By: skimace7
Date Posted: January 06 2011 at 9:57am
|
Welcome to the sight ... The best advice I ever recieved that has proven for me is to take it slow... Enjoy!! ------------- 120 gallon mix Reef mainly SPS and LPS... |
Posted By: phinfan
Date Posted: January 11 2011 at 10:26pm
| Well, my Marco rock arrived today. Sump is still under construction, thanks Tyler. I placed my sand in the tank and made my first attempt at my aqua scape. I will have to look at it for a bit to see if it grows on me. I will see if I can get some pictures tomorrow. Critics welcome. Is there anything I need to keep in mind as I make my final decisions with rock placement? |
Posted By: skimace7
Date Posted: January 12 2011 at 9:33am
|
My 2 cents would be keep it far enough away from your glass so you can get a cleaner around it and keep as much off the sand bed as possible... ------------- 120 gallon mix Reef mainly SPS and LPS... |
Posted By: Davidwillis
Date Posted: January 12 2011 at 9:53am
| And stack it so you have very little touching the sand, so you can get water flow over most of your sand. |
Posted By: P.Kapp
Date Posted: January 12 2011 at 10:33am
+1 I looked all over the different reef sites for pictures of other peoples that i really liked so I could get more ideas. I tried to leave enough space between my glass and rocks so that I'll have room for some coral to grow out and still be able to get my magnet cleaner by it. I also used acrylic rods and some of that aquarium putty stuff to do my rockscape. I would make sure you love it before you fill it with water. its a lot easier to change it with no water in there. Im kinda jealous... this was one of my favorite parts of setting up my tank  ------------- Preston Kapp 210 Gal Reef |