Kevin's Tank!!!

[kevin34]

Hey Az, thanks for all the help so far. What exactly does the melamine do? Also I may be ordering my lights this weekend (the same ones you have) and I have one more question about them. Where do you keep the ballasts? Are they mounted inside the canopy? In back of the tank on the floor or somwhere else?

 

[azfishgal]

The melamine is good for when you get salt build up, it's very easy to wipe off and it protects your wood on the other side, and painting is not necessary.

You'll love those lights, they are great and I love the fact that I only have two bulbs I need to change out. The ballasts are mounted on the back of my canopy, side by side. (I'll see if I can get a picture for you.)

 

[kevin34]

Thanks for the info (and if you can) a pic would be great.

I still havnt gotten an email with the canopy plans though

 

[kevin34]

Ordered my lights today. Only things left are RO unit and building a canopy. Ill order the RO after the canopy is build so it isnt sitting around too long before I get my live rock which will be at the end of the month.

 

[triga22]

Do we have an update on everything you have setup? Pics? This looks like its going to be a great setup!

 

[kevin34]

Thanks. There isnt really much to take pics of. I have the QT, skimmer, test kits, salt, heaters, etc. Nothing too excting. lol I will post pics of the lights when they come in (hopefully by next week) and of the canopy which will also get under way next week.

 

[triga22]

Ok. Im sorry I thought that you had the tank setup accept for water and rock.

 

[azfishgal]

Hi Kevin, hope these pictures help.
This is the back of my canopy. Ballasts are screwed right onto the back.

Top of the ballasts.

My husband drilled a hole for the cords to go through, right to the ballasts on the other side.

The light was crewed into the top through the reflector AND the socket. The socket is pretty heavy in comparison to the reflector and this stablized it very well.

 

[kevin34]

Ok its the moment we have all been waiting for. I got the rest of my plumbing parts for my sump and it is time for the updates to start rolling in.

I have the lights ordered (should be here tomorrow) and am ready to order my RO unit as soon as the canopy is built which I am hoping to start tomorrow.

Once the RO is in I am going to start mixing salt water and getting ready for live rock and sand which is going to be a Christmas present (thanks mom and dad

). But first I need to check my tank and system for leaks. I have my mag-18 in the back on my sump with a union valve off that, then a ball valve for shutoff, followed by a barbed T. Can anyone give me some tips on how to fill the tank properly and when to turn on the pump? I am going to fill it with tap water first just to check for leaks. Am I going to have to fill the tank all they way up? Also what is the easiest way to drain all that water afterwards? I have to add that I DO NOT have plastic clamps yet. I ordered some but they were the wrong size and I had to send them back so I should have those soon. Is it still safe to check for leaks or should I wait for the clamps to be in?

 

[azfishgal]

I'm not sure about the clamp issue, but after we filled our tank using the garden hose and checked for leaks, my husband just siphoned the water out using the hose, it worked out great. Of course my tank is next to a window that just happens to be next to the garden hose.

When you start mixing the salt, I would recommend NOT doing it in your tank. I ran into a bad batch when I was mixing the saltwater in my QT, and had to dump the whole thing, luckily it was just a 10 gallon tank. So I used a 20 gallon trash can and started mixing away. Took a few days, but it will be worth it if you run into a bad batch of salt.
OH, and congrats on getting things rolling!!!! Can't wait to see it up and running!!

 

[kevin34]

The delivery of the lights and building of the canopy had to be delayed today because of the huge snow storm. He got about 15" today!

So hopefully tomorrow things will start moving.

 

[kevin34]

Lights are in!!! Pics will follow soon!!

Work on the canopy will start as soon as possible and I would like to get it done within a week.

 

[sciknen]

hey
finally someone from mass
everyone on here seems to be from cali or the south
n e way im about to get a 110
maybe we can do some tradin some day lol
what part of mass u from
im from lowell

 

[kevin34]

Its nothing much but here are a few pics of the reflectors and bulbs. I finally feel like my tank is close to done.

 

[kevin34]

Originally Posted by sciknen
hey
finally someone from mass
everyone on here seems to be from cali or the south
n e way im about to get a 110
maybe we can do some tradin some day lol
what part of mass u from
im from lowell
Im from Hampden.

 

[sciknen]

i have a couple of ?s
are those pics ur only lights
how are u settin it up
im kinda new
are u just like gonna crew those fixtures into the canopy
then just plug it in (ballasts)
moon lights?
actinics or anything?

 

[sciknen]

cool thing i can get all my lightin for free
my dad works for osram lol
suckers

 

[kevin34]

Ya I am just going to mount the reflectors to the top of the canopy which will be started very soon. I will attach the ballasts to the back of the canopy. I and deffinately going to have moonlights in the future and possibly actinics but not yet.

 

[shinobi9119]

Kevin those lights r going to be amazing!!! I come over n we can blind jerrod!!!!

 

[sciknen]

it doesnt hurt the fish or n e thing to not have those things
wat do actinics really help with?
im confused with those
are they just there to make the fish look better