125g tank build, need lots of help!

S

shrimpy brains

Guest
I currently have a 90g reef tank!
My cat jumped on top and broke the center brace (which has had me very concerned)
I tried to epoxy, but it didn't hold.
So, I finally found a 125g on "that auction site", got it for $85

I ripped out part of wall, moved thermostat and breaker box over,




 
S

shrimpy brains

Guest
Ok, next I built a stand and enclosed on wall. (the space above tank will be enclosed with doors for feeding and glass cleaning in front)
To the rear of tank was a hallway end which will now be a hidden maintenance area.
If you can see at all, I have already taken a lot of advice from here, there will be DIY overflows(Thanks Isistious) and a refugium(design ideas from Doc and others)
Anyway, here is my first stumbling block.
I also purchased MH ballasts(auction site) for $75 here's what I received. All are labeled "Energy Savers Unlimited, Inc. There are two larger boxes, Model # AF3MH175 MH A (175W 120V 5.5amps) One smaller box with same model#, watts and volts, only 3.7 amps. Along with these units came 8 mogul sockets. I was told that each ballast would power 2 175w MH, but now am thinking the larger ones will power 3 and the smaller 1 powers 2. But maybe not as all 3 units have the same amount of wires coming out. which leads me to my first question. (also, the last pic is of another ballast I received in the deal, for actnics.




 
S

shrimpy brains

Guest
Here we go, each MH ballast has a plug attached to unit which goes to wall and a cord that plugs into unit with 6 wires coming out. (1 red, 1 green, 1 white, 1 yellow, 1 orange and 1 black) Each mogul socket has 2 wires(1 black, 1 white) Anyone know how to wire them up??
I assume yellow and white to one socket, orange and black to another, What of the green and red?? Green for ground and red for hot, but isn't that what the plug is for?? Anybody have an answer? Would be very appreciated.




 
salt210

salt210

Active Member
im thinking 3 wires per socket. you have to have neg, pos and ground for each, but the 6 different colors is throwing me off
 
S

shrimpy brains

Guest
Yes, 6 different colors, I guess I should have mentioned on one of these cables, the wires seem to have been disconnected as opposed to cut. The yellow and white are same length, the orange and black are the same longer lenth, the red is a length different by itself and the green is rather short compared to the others with a little ring on end as if it was a ground. Thats why I was thinking the way I was. Probably can't see this in pic. Don't know if that helps anyone.
 
S

shrimpy brains

Guest
I will try that, but he may not know either, as he bought them from a fish store that went out of business. I gave one to a freind at my church, who is somewhat of an electrician. He is going to try to figure it out with a current meter(or something like that) If not I have an actual electrician that is supposed to call me back. The only problem with that, in the area where I live, is it's almost impossible to get any kind of service contractor to show up.
That's what I get for moving to the country.
lol
 
S

shrimpy brains

Guest
Originally Posted by redsea
http:///forum/post/3007856
looking good
Thanks! I'm hoping it turns out well and am planning lots of extra stuff for easy maintenance!

Ok, so moving on from the lighting question(which hopefully will be figured out soon).

So, heres the plan for refugium. Opinions please!
I plan on running 2 one inch DIY PVC overflows. one running from each side of tank. On one side, running possibly thru bucket with turf scrubber(not sure if I'm gonna do this part yet) Seems to be a lot of differing opinions on this form of filtration(am thinking it can't hurt) Ok so from DT thru turf scrubber(maybe) thru another bucket with protein skimmer and heater to another container with return pump.
From other side, thru small container with carbon, thru phosguard into large rubbermaid refuge with possibly sock, sponges or both for bio filtration and smoother water flow thru fuge(second heater in here somewhere) and to container with return.
sound good or overkill?
Return pump is a mag drive, 1800gph ball valve on return to match overflow thru "SCWD" to DIY spray bars on each side of tank. Have'nt quite figured out positioning on these. I am hoping to get maximum circ. from this and not have to add powerheads. We'll see how that goes. Suggestions or pictures of yours welcomed.
What do you think??
 
taznut

taznut

Active Member
idk enough to be a lot of help on this but i would suggest putting the skimmer on the other side... from what i have seen with the turf scrubber it works about like a fuge, if this is true, the skimmer shouldnt come after this because it will take the "good stuff" the scrubber gives to it out before returing it to the dt...
 
mr-toad

mr-toad

New Member
If you need parts I have some old stuff that you may want. I am attaching a picture of an overflow, I also have a red sea prizim skimmer that is not being used anymore. I do not reccomend it but if you have to have something it works. There are various other things I may or may not have laying around.

 
culp

culp

Active Member
i don't know if you have already answered this question. but what are you going to be doing to keep your cat from braking the center brace on your new tank.
 
S

shrimpy brains

Guest
Originally Posted by taznut
http:///forum/post/3009439
idk enough to be a lot of help on this but i would suggest putting the skimmer on the other side... from what i have seen with the turf scrubber it works about like a fuge, if this is true, the skimmer shouldnt come after this because it will take the "good stuff" the scrubber gives to it out before returing it to the dt...
From what I read of turf scrubbers, IMO they are not useful for things like growing pods. They are just for removal of trates and phates and such. That is why I also will be running a typical fuge. However, I will take this into account and run protein skimmer before turf scrubber.(just in case)
 
S

shrimpy brains

Guest
Originally Posted by Culp
http:///forum/post/3010997
i don't know if you have already answered this question. but what are you going to be doing to keep your cat from braking the center brace on your new tank.
Now that's a great question.
I have built this tank as an in wall. On the front there will only be access thru doors that must be opened by lifting up. Behind the tank I will be putting a door on the whole area to hide space for maintenance. As long as I remember to keep it closed, that should prevent any more cat issues.
 
meowzer

meowzer

Moderator
Originally Posted by Culp
http:///forum/post/3010997
i don't know if you have already answered this question. but what are you going to be doing to keep your cat from braking the center brace on your new tank.
LOL...I had the same thing happen a couple of weeks ago...On the + side it took my cat 6 years worth of jumping down onto it to break it

So we'll talk in 6 years
 
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