Red Sea Max Owners Club - Page 16

Y-DesygnGuy · #**376** 01/08/2008, 08:04 PM

OK so I thought I would take some Actinic shots since we normally cant do that with the stock lights.

The Yellow Watchman Goby came right out when these lights went on.

Some orange zoo's that glowed

And of course some rics!

I have to get a new tripod, I have a hard time holding still to use the macro lenses, they all look blurry to me

martinphillip03 · #**377** 01/08/2008, 08:16 PM

russ49merc - Have you seen the mod where you cut the black inlet sponge

Marty

GDESQUIRE · #**378** 01/08/2008, 08:16 PM

Y-DesignGuy - If you remember I suggested the Phoenix bulb and ARO ballast. The ballast has bare wires. You can take apart the ballast that came w/ the unit and use that plug as I remember. The ballast that comes with the unit is electronic. You might want to try just changing the bulb before doing the electrical work required (which is minimal). You might be happy with the new bulb only. It's slightly more blue in color.

As to the look of the fixture, I think you would be much happier hanging it with the suspension wires that came w/ the unit. You could then hang it approx. 1 inch from the top of the tank which gives it a floating appearance and hides the skimmer etc. from being seen. I think you are being distracted with the ugly legs. I have used the 250 watt bulb for approx. 5 months. No chiller is needed - I run at a fairly constant 80 degrees. Water evaporation is about 1/2 gallon per day which allows me to dose kalkwasser. This keeps the PH at 8.3 - 8.4 and provides plenty of calcium. All of my hard and soft corals and the crocea clam are doing great.

Y-DesygnGuy · #**379** 01/08/2008, 08:36 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by GDESQUIRE
Y-DesignGuy - If you remember I suggested the Phoenix bulb and ARO ballast. The ballast has bare wires. You can take apart the ballast that came w/ the unit and use that plug as I remember. The ballast that comes with the unit is electronic. You might want to try just changing the bulb before doing the electrical work required (which is minimal). You might be happy with the new bulb only. It's slightly more blue in color.

As to the look of the fixture, I think you would be much happier hanging it with the suspension wires that came w/ the unit. You could then hang it approx. 1 inch from the top of the tank which gives it a floating appearance and hides the skimmer etc. from being seen. I think you are being distracted with the ugly legs. I have used the 250 watt bulb for approx. 5 months. No chiller is needed - I run at a fairly constant 80 degrees. Water evaporation is about 1/2 gallon per day which allows me to dose kalkwasser. This keeps the PH at 8.3 - 8.4 and provides plenty of calcium. All of my hard and soft corals and the crocea clam are doing great.

I was hoping you would check the tread, I could not for the life of me remember your screen name and I couldn't locate the post. Yes thank you for the information I bought just what you mentioned.

I hate to ask, but could you post a pic of yours hanging from the ceiling? My only thought on that is, what if I want to move the tank, I would have to put more holes in the ceiling. But I think the idea sounds great and i bet it would actually look pretty cool in my place. I have lots of metal and glass I think it would fit nicely. And yes I think the fact I can see all the stuff in the back is what really turns me off. Its the first impression thing I think, when you walk into the family room area you can see the stuff in the back. Of course once you walk up to the tank you could careless what is in the back your looking into the tank. But its the first impression when you walk into the room im concerned with. I really didn't want to see a pieced together tank, I wanted to see a polished reef tank.

Thanks for chiming in, I was hoping you would!

GDESQUIRE · #**380** 01/08/2008, 09:14 PM

See the pics at:

http://homepage.mac.com/gdesquire/PhotoAlbum5.html

GDESQUIRE · #**381** 01/08/2008, 09:24 PM

The holes in the ceiling are only approx. 1/4 inch if you use the screws supplied. The fixture when hanging is very easily adjusted up or down. You can raise it 15-20 inches to give full access to the tank which makes it very easy to work inside. If you want to change the ballast and need help w/ the wiring let me know.

Hi to everyone else. Although I post infrequently, I read the posts daily.

Donna - how is your clam doing?

Reefmack · #**382** 01/08/2008, 09:40 PM

Hey - nice to see you again GDESQUIRE!

Y-DesygnGuy · #**383** 01/08/2008, 09:43 PM

GDESQUIRE -- Thank you very much! I might hit you up on the wiring pictures in a few days.

I think I might just order the hanging brackets, I think it looks pretty nice actually. Thanks again!

mbdave · #**384** 01/08/2008, 09:54 PM

Sorry for my delayed return I'm just so darn busy. The RSM site chat sounds great. want to try and schedule a meet? If we get people that are rude or have thier head in a dark place in thier lower torso, "BOOT THEM!" What cha say Reefmack this is your empire what do you want.

Love the way I threw the ball in Reefmacks court

Dave

doubleduece · #**385** 01/08/2008, 10:34 PM

stathis Do you have a link for the led. Who makes it . The tank looks great

This thread moves fast. Does anyone work for a living LOL....
My head is spinning, no wait a minute I just chugged a beer..
My wife is telling me to go back to porn, she says Id spend less time starring at the screen. Is that plane .. Gotta go take some ritalin............

stathis · #**386** 01/08/2008, 10:56 PM

doubleduece thanks.
Unfortunately i don't have any link from the leds, but i'll try to find something similar on net.
I bought them on a local shop.

donna53w · #**387** 01/08/2008, 11:43 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by GDESQUIRE

Hi to everyone else. Although I post infrequently, I read the posts daily.

Donna - how is your clam doing?

The clam is doing fine, so far. It is so beautiful!

Y-DesygnGuy: Lovely photos with the actinics. I got my order of acans, etc today & I've quickly tried to take a few pics but
mine were blurry. Yours are clear & easy-on-the-eyes. I followed your stock lighting verses your new set up with interest. The biggest thing I miss about mh is the shimmer.

Stathis: Wow!

Gorgeous tank!! Gorgeous photos! Gorgeous lighting!
Australian Coral Snake Acan
[IMG]

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Multi Ric
[IMG]

[/IMG]

I was busy today getting my coral frags acclimated & settled into the aquarium. Wow! I'm very, very happy with the corals, even if they cost a small fortune. I'll take more pics of the others soon.

Is it good to place a plate coral on the sandbed??

lpsluver · #**388** 01/09/2008, 08:12 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by russ49merc
there has to be somone who knows what pumps will fit in there it seems like a maxijet will work in there

Russ...I replaced both pumps with a MJ1200 and used a barbed T to split the output to both RSM outputs. This, in retrospect, was a waste of time because the water flow is significantly less in one of the outputs. If I had to do it over again I'd just figure out a way to close off one of the holes. The output of the MJ1200 is approximately equivalent to the combined output of the stock RSM pumps. I also got rid of my Hydor Flo because it significantly reduced the pump output.

Y-DesygnGuy · #**389** 01/09/2008, 09:01 AM

donna53w -- Donna your new additions look very nice and I bet will add lots of nice color to the tank. Yes I believe a plate coral should be placed on the sand bed, they will actually move themselves around on the sand bed to find the "spot" they like i believe.

lpsluver -- So you replaced both the stock powerheads with mj1200's? They fit ok into the spot? Or did you have to mount them else where and run the line to the wholes? I don't quite understand what you posted, sorry, its early for me...

martinphillip03 · #**390** 01/09/2008, 09:24 AM

Y-DesygnGuy With your new light, are you going to pick up a couple of clams?

Marty

Y-DesygnGuy · #**391** 01/09/2008, 09:34 AM

martinphillip03 -- I do plan on getting at least 1 clam, ive always wanted one! In a few weeks once the tank is used to the new light I will work on that. Along with some really nice sps coral frags!

mbdave · #**392** 01/09/2008, 10:44 AM

lpsluver and Russ I did exactly that, plugged one hole and just use the 1200. I used epoxy to plug the hole worked pretty good and now coraline is starting to encrust on it.

lpsluver · #**393** 01/09/2008, 11:51 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by Y-DesygnGuy
[Blpsluver -- So you replaced both the stock powerheads with mj1200's? They fit ok into the spot? Or did you have to mount them else where and run the line to the wholes? I don't quite understand what you posted, sorry, its early for me...

1 MJ1200 = 2 Stock RSM pumps in total output volume. The 1200 fits just fine.

donna53w · #**394** 01/09/2008, 12:04 PM

I had asked previously where to place a plate coral ...

what I really have is a green carpet mushroom .... I know, I know, that's a huge difference. Where should I place the carpet mushroom, on the substrate, rock, ? Sorry, for the confusion.

janes_mw · #**395** 01/09/2008, 01:04 PM

mbdave - did the maxijet mod eliminate the microbubbles (at least caused by the stock power head cavitation) for you.... or for that matter, anybody else that has tried it? The stock power heads seem to cavitate anytime you turn them off then back on and continue for a while until they get happy.

Reefmack · #**396** 01/09/2008, 01:38 PM

Donna - the corals look nice and the pictures too. On the carpet nem - from Live aquaria:

http://www.liveaquaria.com/product/p...cfm?pCatId=602

It sounds like they may end up on the rock or the substate till they are "happy".

..............

mbdave - On using the rsmreefers site for chat, I doubt any idiots would show up as it's a private site, not like IRC. No desire here to be involved with being in charge of any chat site ever again LOL! The problem we'd have is the 3 hour time difference involved from the east to west coast. With my 9 - 10 pm sleep schedule I doubt I'd be awake when anyone from out west was able to get in. And if we want the catch Australia or European owners it would gave to be in the morning to afternoon. Weekday or weekend? I suppose weekend would be best. Anyone want to volunteer to pick a day & time to try? I think just picking a time and day and whoever can get there is the best thing?

donna53w · #**397** 01/09/2008, 01:49 PM

How about Sunday evening? Chat.

Reefmack · #**398** 01/09/2008, 02:03 PM

Donna - time? No guarantees I'll make it but it worth a shot to see who can.

Stuart60611 · #**399** 01/09/2008, 02:07 PM

Well, I have been awaiting both the Euroreef and Octopus nano skimmers to be available, but I am getting to the point that I really need to address the shortcommings of the stock skimmer b/c I believe my tank is suffering from such an inefficient skimmer. I found this. Seems reasonably priced and looks better than the stock skimmer.[

Two questions. First, anyone have any comments on the unit generally. Second, because my mechanical skills are less than optimal, can anyone comment on whether this would fit in the back skimmer chamber of the RSM so that the hood and skimmer flap would close.

Thanks,

Stuart

russ49merc · #**400** 01/09/2008, 02:14 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by lpsluver
Russ...I replaced both pumps with a MJ1200 and used a barbed T to split the output to both RSM outputs. This, in retrospect, was a waste of time because the water flow is significantly less in one of the outputs. If I had to do it over again I'd just figure out a way to close off one of the holes. The output of the MJ1200 is approximately equivalent to the combined output of the stock RSM pumps. I also got rid of my Hydor Flo because it significantly reduced the pump output.

thank you very much.