My tank Part 2 (pix) - plenum conversion - comments?

bayouguy

bayouguy

Member
Ok, I've converted my tank based on what I've heard from everybody. Here are the pictures of the tank conversion process:
http://www.humankind.com/aq/index2.html
Let me know what you think. At the 3-4 month mark, here are the stats on my setup:
55g tank
BakPak II, Millennium 2000 bio/chem filter
substrate: UGF capped, with 1.5-2" of crushed coral and aragonite, followed by a screen with 1" of live Fla keys sand - total subtrate of 4"
9 pieces of live rock (prob about what? 30 pounds so far?), 50+# live sand
livestock: starfish, 4 damsels, some algae and misc stuff - no real coral or inverts YET.
What I have coming:
A PCMH48 Retro lighting rig, consisting of 2 175W 5500k MH and 2/65/Ultra Actinic PCs for a total of 480 watts of light, or 8.7 watts per gallon (woohoo!)
The lights are to be delivered on the 23rd. I'll be working on installing them into the canopy and then determining what I need in the way of fans and cooling.
I'd like you experts to take a look at my setup and make recommendations. Do I need more filtration, power heads? Etc?
I have a client who sells CO2 injectors that I think I can get one in trade so that may be something I do in the future. I'm also trying to fineagle a military/industrial lab chiller a friend got from a military surplus auction that may be convertable to the tank - we'll have to see about that.
In the meantime, the objective here is to configure the 55g to be able to handle just about any common, semi-low-maintenance reef life... I don't mind investing time and money into the setup but probably won't add any livestock that require special daily attention that can't be automated.
I'm hopefully getting ready to populate the reef soon. Any recommendations on that as well? I figure the first few specimens will be basic like star polyups, etc... any other comments and suggestions are most welcome!
 
bayouguy

bayouguy

Member
So, let me ask a few direct questions. Assuming I want to set up a fairly generic tank capable of housing some average corals and such...
1. Do I have enough filtration? Should my existing system be altered or expanded and in what way?
2. Do I need more water movement or power heads? Any recommendations?
3. I want to add some inverts and coral. What should I add first?
I will be getting more live rock but am slowly introducing it a little at a time. I think I have the DSB and the lighting taken care of but any other suggestions are welcome.
 
burnnspy

burnnspy

Active Member
I recommend adding more LR as you can afford it until you have about 60lbs. Do you have nitrates in the tank?
BurnNSpy
 
bayouguy

bayouguy

Member
Actually I have been running 2 10 gallon saltwater tanks for approximately 2 years - in slightly different configurations testing various principals - I had the best luck with UGF which is why I originally set up the 55 with an UGF but I've since been overwhelmed with suggestions to do away with it, hence the substrate change. I've learned quite a bit but still consider myself a neophyte, which is why I'm asking so many questions ; )
Here is a recent picture of the tank:

You'll note that there seems to be more and more live rock. I'm adding about 10 pounds or more of live rock a week. Since the above picture was taken, I've added 3 more Fiji rocks, making a total of about 14 live rocks in the tank with an average weight of 3 pounds or so.
Today I also added two powerheads to the tank. On the left side I added a Power Sweep 228 from Zoo Med Aquatic - I have to say I LOVE this pump - it cycles back and forth making a wave-like motion in the tank that is so cool! I mounted this pump on the upper left side.
I also added an Aquarium Systems Maxi-Jet PH (MP400). It's only about 106gph and I have it position at the bottom of the right side of the tank - the intent is to create a small current along the bottom rear of the tank to keep any debris from settling.
Total water movement in the 55g currently is somewhere in the area of 800-850gph.
At present there are only 4 damsels, a crab and a starfish in the tank. Since some of the live rock I've been introducing into the tank is not fully-cured, I'm doing it slowly. I'm not necessarily settling on this much water movement in the tank at this time or the location of the power heads - I'm mainly just getting the tank to establish and helping cure the live rock.
Monday, my lighting system will come in and I've been discussing how to mount the light system with my LFS. I've learned a few new things that I will have to be cautious of:
* Some debate over whether or not I mount these MH retrofit directly on the top of the canopy or stanchon it off a bit.
* Concern over whether or not I run the risk of having the MH bulbs explode if they are hit from water in the tank.. The canopy is about 6-8" and the bulbs may be no more than 4" from the water (and I'm told I should ace the glass tank top) - so I may have to consider either replacing the canopy with something higher or building some kind of high-heat-tolerance cover/plate between the bulbs and the water.
Any advice?
 
adrian

adrian

Active Member
Bayouguy, so far, so good. Take everything you hear at the LFS, all of them, with a grain of salt. I too was told about the bulbs expoloding and having to mount the bulbs 8-10" off the tank, ect... I have my bulbs mounted about 4" off the surface, maybe closer to 3". I did recently get a canopy to raise the bulbs a bit, but this was not due too bulbs exploding or heat, Im upgrading to 250s and I wanted to allow the light to spread out better since I will most likely use 2 250 vs. my current set of 3 175. As long as there is no splashing water at the surface then you shouldnt have to worry about the bulbs getting splashed and exploding. I like running a couple of fans in my canopy vs. having to raise the lights to avoid over heating. I would suggest using a couple of those 4" radio shack comp fans, they work really well and a pair is about $40. I know how hot it gets over here and Im sure its the same where you are and a couple of fans will work wonders on forcing the heat out of your canopy. Your filtration sounds fine, too bad you cant pop a hole in the tank before you get too far and install a sump, its well worth it. This way you could ditch the millenium and store your heater, bak pak, and a bag of carbon in the sump, you could also buy a nice return pump or two for circulation and ditch the PHs, unless your planning on a wave maker. Im not too familar with the whole plenum thing except the little I read about it and what Ive been told at CC so I cant offer any info on that. I wouldnt worry about the chiller, as long as you mount your lights right and deal with the heat via fans it wont be needed. I run my tank around 80-82 and everything is thriving, it even got up too 85 one day, the AC crashed, with no ill effects. Are you planning on using the CO2 equip for, a reactor or are you going to add it directly to the tank? Im not familar with co2 injection, but I highly recommend a reactor. What did you mean by ace the center brace. I have one but havent done anything to it, I am going to cut off that strip of plastic in the middle as soon as I get a chance though. Give me an e mail if you ever need any help or a suggestion, its good to know of another reefer in the area, maybe we could trade some props when you get your tank stocked, or hell let me know if your around this way and I may be able to help you get started stocking once my prop tanks are finished. Good luck
 
luke

luke

Member
MH can and do explode. THey won't from lite salt splash but, if you have a nice 3" clam sitting high up in the reef and he decides to "sneeze"...POP oes the halide.
Luke
 
bayouguy

bayouguy

Member
I got my lights today and have been checking them out. Tonight was kind of chaotic, as I took most of my gear over to a friends house who had a lot of tools and equipment. We were supposed to work on installing the retrofit but he had a dozen things going on and he half-assed the job because he wasn't paying attention so I decided that it might be best for me to do it completely myself.
We were working on a 3-4" riser for the canopy to get the MHs the 6" from the top as listed in the manual, but I keep talking to people who have their lights 3-4" above the water with no problems. In fact the people whom I bought the lighting kit from said they hung theirs only 4" from the water themselves. So I think I'm going to install the reflector in the canopy and see how it goes.
What I found really funny is the PCs seem to run as hot as the MHs - though I wouldn't dare touch the MHs - I set the PCs on top of my tank and ran them a little while - boy are those suckers bright! (compared to my dinky 18 watters that were there previously).
I will be posting some pictures shortly...
 
bayouguy

bayouguy

Member
Hey Adron, I believe I sent you an e-mail yesterday - if you didn't get it, let me know and I'll try again. I'd like to talk with you sometime since we are in the same area and I have a lot to learn.
You'll see what I mean about the "middle strip" in trying to mount the reflector in the canopy I have. As far as a sump and other things, I still have much to learn and appreciate any advice.
Ok, check it out! Look what I got from UPS today:

Here I am testing the MH bulbs. You can see the clips for the 2 PCs in the reflector - I tested them outside of the reflector:

Here's my friend getting a pic with his Nikon Coolpix closeup of the bulb - he probably liked to look at the sun when he was younger..

Oh my god these things are BRIGHT!!!
 
adrian

adrian

Active Member
Yeah those babies are bright, and yup PCs get nice and hot too, not as hot as the MH but hot enough to let you know. I got your e-mail and I sent you one back. What type of setup is it, PFO, hamilton,...? Looks like you have some work in store for yourself :)
 
bayouguy

bayouguy

Member
Aye, I have been watching the stand VERY carefully. I think it's holding up well - basically I don't see much more weight being added now, but my intention is to replace my "retro" stand with the matching bottom piece to my canopy.
Which brings up another question - if I want to move the tank, how much do I need to drain/remove from the tank before it may be safe to move?
I got the MH and PCs installed into the canopy and I'm really happy with the install. I'll post "part III" of my tank conversion in a new topic... All I can say is EVERYTHING THEY SAY ABOUT MH IS TRUE!!! My god - the way it lights up the tank is nothing short of amazing. I've seen at least a dozen new things in the tank since it was lit up.
 
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