Starting a new 90 Progress will be updated

[khoivo1]

what does Aqua Controller Jr do?? i assume it like turn off and on power ,,,am i right??
what is your sand?? live sand?

[Dano999]

Originally posted by khoivo1
i have the same size 90g with acrylic canopy,,,i am looking to get those light like your t5 but not sure how hot is it since i got enclose acrylic canopy,,,i have two 4" fans in the back,,,did you try to turn all light on in full 12 hrs?? how hot is it?? do you think my acrylic canopy will be fine or should i cut out top of canopy to open more air,,,anything would help thanks

The temperature with the fans right below the lights was 100 degrees. My tank is still at 76. The surface of the inside of the canopy was barely warm.

[Dano999]

Originally posted by khoivo1
what does Aqua Controller Jr do?? i assume it like turn off and on power ,,,am i right??
what is your sand?? live sand?

It provides a number of different controls for up to 12 outlets when using the DC-8 and DC-4 outlets. It also monitors temperature and PH levels and can control various items like turning on and off fans, heaters, chillers, lights and so on.

More info is at the Neptune sight Neptune Systems or look under Neptune Systems in the Sponsor Forum.

I am using Carib Sea Aragonite.

[Dano999]

Day 17

After many hours of arranging an rearranging this about as good as I could get it. There are two "tunnels" one on each side of the center piece.

My fingers are sore even though I wore a pair of aquagloves. The backs not doing too good either.

It's still real cloudy from all the moving around.

[barngeatbayman]

I like it, though I think you could use some more rock IMO.

[Dano999]

Thanks

I'm going to get some smaller pieces to accent. Four 30 lb pieces were hard to arrange.

[Linkblaze]

I like it too, at least to my noob eyes...when I start setting up my tank I'm definetly going to make sure I start with a couple of large pieces like this. I've been lurking on this thread a lot since stumbling on on this website and deciding to set up my own tank. The pictures have been a big help and I've been using this thread as sort of my "basis" for determing which topics I need to learn more on.

You're definetly providing a real service to at least one newbie. Bravo, and keep up the great work.

[Linkblaze]

Also, Dano if you would mind posting a picture of how you mounted your moonlights. Your pics for lighting set up are excellent, but not totally sure where exactly your moonlights went.

Thanks

[thekillerclownf]

looks good. you used those monster pieces to good results. plenty of space for coals and frags to be mounted, yet still room to add those cherry picked pieces of rock we all find and buy along the way.

great build so far, can't wait to see how you stock it.

[Dano999]

Originally posted by Linkblaze
Also, Dano if you would mind posting a picture of how you mounted your moonlights. Your pics for lighting set up are excellent, but not totally sure where exactly your moonlights went.

Thanks

\

On the pictures below you can see the moon lights. They are on the edge canopy door in between lights 2 nd 3. They are not yet wired on picture 1 but were completed on picture 3.

[Dano999]

Day 18

The tank has settled down and is a lot clearer.



I am doing some temperature tests to see how much the lights heat up the tank. Yesterday the tank got to 81.6 degrees and over night dropped to 76.

I added one of the clip on fans (finally found use for them) to blow into the sump area over the return to see if that decreases the temperature. It is fairly noisy. If this doesn't help I am going to replace the 80mm fans with Vantec Stealth 120mm fans. They put out twice the CFM (53 vs 23) with only 28 dBA.

Current readings

NH4 - 0.0
NO2 - 0.0
NO3 - 1.0
PH - 8.0
Salinity - 1.024
Temperature - 76.2 ( before lights go in)

[msn711]

Nice build you got going. I'm upgrading to a 120...tagging along. I might have missed it, but what are your stocking plans?

[Nitroq2]

Looks great, just going to tag along if you dont mind

[Dano999]

Originally posted by msn711
Nice build you got going. I'm upgrading to a 120...tagging along. I might have missed it, but what are your stocking plans?

I haven't decided but I would like mostly sps with a few clams. As for fish no clue yet I am still researching.

[Mavrk]

dano-
Just so you have a point of reference, my T5's heat my water up a good 3-4 degrees without fans. I do not have the icecap VHO setup like you, so they don't run as hot as yours will. I do have the icecap reflectors though. I think you might want to go with the 120's. By the way, larger fans are usually quieter anyway, but the stealths are nice.

One quick question. Are those two Koralia 4's you have? I have one in my 90 and am thinking of getting a K1 or K2. How does the flow look?

[Dano999]

The max temperature today was 79.5 that's with the house a/c set at 76. Not too bad. The 6" clip on fan blowing on the return area helped. I put the a/c back at 78 and will test again tomorrow.

I think I'll go with the 120s regardless as I want to keep the end caps cool on my t5s. The 80s I have don't seem to be putting out much. At least I know I can keep the tank below 80 during the hottest month of the year.

Those are the Koralia 4s. They are awesome. I currently have them hooked up to the AC jr. and they alternate on and off between each other every 6 hours. Look at the PM3 and PM4 programming I posted. Although I noticed a error it should have read "IF Time > 00:00 Then PM3% OFF... and so on " the PM#s should match the PM3 and PM4 numbers. Not sure I'll keep it this way yet. I might keep both going full time to increase the overall flow.

[Bluey101]

Dano...Tank looks great I can't wait to see it when you are done..

[Mavrk]

Ah, air conditioning. I miss having that.

[Dano999]

Day 19

Everything looks good and the first new signs of life appeared.

Sorry for the poor photo my camera does not have manual focus and the glass interferes.



NH4 - 0.0
NO2 - 0.0
NO3 - 2.0
PH - 8.2
Ca - 580
Phosphates - 0.0
Salinity - 1.024
Temperature - 79.4

[Dano999]

Here's a few pictures from the side.

[Criminal#58369]

Looks good, you made some progress since i last read your thread.

[khoivo1]

where did you get your refugium at ? what size ?? look so clean and pro,,,,well build,, i am looking for one,,,let me know asap thanks

[Dano999]

It's a Aquafuge Pro (Small). It's made by CPR Aquatics. They have a larger model also. It has a built in skimmer that I have some doubt it will be sufficient although they claim it will handle up to 100 gal. The skimmer column is only 4".

It can be found at most on line stores. I bought mine locally and would have probably chosen something else if I had researched more. It is convenient but a bit noisy. Most or all of the noise is coming from the skimmer. Around 60 dBA at 1 ft.

I had to modify it (mod was on the CPR site forum) to get the skimmer to produce more bubbles and reduce some of the noise. Since I don't have much or any bio load yet I can't tell you if it works well.

With the two optional lights they run close to $500. Very expensive if I have to add an additional skimmer. It does appear to be well built. I have researched on this forum for any comments and most seem to come from people who don't own it.

I believe they also make a fuge without the skimmer.

[Dano999]

Day 20

I went looking for some cherry pieces of Live Rock yesterday and could not find anything local. I tried on-line last night and thought I found some only to find out they only had pieces 18" and larger available. Well I am stuck as where to look now as I am concerned about paying another couple hundred bucks without knowing if the pieces will be what I want.

If anyone has had a good experience buying on-line please let me know.

NH4 - 0.0
NO2 - 0.0
NO3 - 1.0
PH - 8.2
Ca - 580
Phosphates - 0.0
Salinity - 1.024
Temperature - 78.5

[Thinslis]

I've been getting mine from local reefers, so far I've got about 110lbs for $150. Check out your local reef clubs, they are a source from some really good deals.