60 gallon (previously 45) cube updated on 8/19/2010

wisesam · #1 03-03-2009, 07:56 AM

Again, slow progress, but I've got the background sealed with epoxy resin. Glued a glass behind it for reinforcement and installed the light.

Next to do is plumbing then I'm ready to add water.

wisesam · #2 03-08-2009, 04:07 AM

Finally got the pipes plumbed out.
I've added fresh water to test out everything and flush the whole system.
So far, I've noticed that my pump(Mag 9) is pumping the water faster than my drain pipe can handle if open at full. Maybe I should've gone with a weaker pump. So I need to throttle it down.
Also I need to raise the height of the drain pipe in the overflow so the sump doesn't get overflown with water when the pump is out. This will also allow the overflow chamber to hold more water so that the water splash won't be so loud.

banditpowdercoat · #3 03-08-2009, 04:24 AM

what kind of a light is that?

wisesam · #4 03-08-2009, 04:28 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by banditpowdercoat

what kind of a light is that?

It's the 250W MH fixture from fishneedit.com.
It looks pretty good so far, but I suppose it's too early to tell just yet.

banditpowdercoat · #5 03-08-2009, 04:35 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by wisesam

It's the 250W MH fixture from fishneedit.com.
It looks pretty good so far, but I suppose it's too early to tell just yet.

I Thought so. I have been seriously considering trying one of their lights. I am
an electrician, and I know the true cost of ballasts and lights. But soon as you label Marine, or aquarium the price jumps sky high. I think alot more people would get into the hobby is stuff wasnt over priced.

I'll be really interested in hearing your thougfhts on the light, fit, finish, etc.

wisesam · #6 03-08-2009, 05:42 AM

I think the fixture is pretty good. The case is made of aluminum which is nice a light. Should be good for dissipating heat as well. But there is not cooling fan on the unit.
It comes with a hanging kit, I think it is nice accessory.
The power cord that it uses from the fixture to ballast is a very basic one used by ordinary appliances, not the round one. I don't know if that is good enough for such high output light.
I guess the most important thing in a fixture is the ballast and reflector. I have not comment on those at this moment since I haven't used it long enough.

wisesam · #7 03-16-2009, 12:39 AM

An update pic of the tank. Got the live rocks and sand in. Just waiting for it to cycled before moving some of my corals in.

JDigital · #8 03-16-2009, 01:23 AM

Nice scaping job! Looks really good.

wisesam · #9 03-28-2009, 09:07 AM

So I got my float switch and built my auto top off system.
For a while I was thinking how I can mount the float switch. I thought about cutting a few pieces of acrylic and mount with some plastic bolt and nuts. But then my boss gave me some simple idea.
So I used a pvc pipe, cut in the middle to clamp it onto the baffle glass.
Mount the float switch onto it and connect it to the aqualifter pump, and done!
I also found a great 6gal container at Can Tire for the topoff water. It fits into a tight space beside my tank very nicely.
So happy I finally got this done

I've only moved 5 corals and some hermits into the tank. Slowly I'll move the SPS from my 75gal into it.
I find the bulb of this light fixture is not too good. I got the 14k bulb, but couple minutes after firing up the unit, it loses the blue tint and become yellowish white.
I will replace it with a phoenix 14K.

My coral are all brownish

. Hopefully they will color up. Can't wait for that day to come.

wisesam · #10 03-30-2009, 03:05 AM

I moved more corals into the tank and added a few fish.
A chrub angel, long fin shrimp goby, a couple firefish and a tiny lawnmower blenny.

I am getting quite a bit of green hair algae. The lawnmower is only 1 inch, tiny little cute fish. He'll have to work double overtime

Here are more pics.