Far From Stock NC24

[energy_crisis]

Hi

I haven't been a big participant of RC, just browsed mostly. I'm a little more active on nano-reef and have shared this tank with the people there and I thought it might be fun to share it here now with people that I don't know. Some of you might know me under the user name "shao-lin nano"...anyway, so here is my tank that I started modifying sometime last year and added water last July.

The Mods:

Lights:
http://i23.photobucket.com/albums/b364/shaolin_1981/MH_setup.jpg

Glass Shield:
http://i23.photobucket.com/albums/b364/shaolin_1981/glass_shield.jpg

Upgraded Air Flow:
http://i23.photobucket.com/albums/b364/shaolin_1981/airflow.jpg

New Vent:
http://i23.photobucket.com/albums/b364/shaolin_1981/newvent.jpg

I've also got a Fluval 204 filter in the stand and an Aqua Medic Titan 150 Chiller.

I've got a ReefKeeper mounted into the stand:
http://i23.photobucket.com/albums/b364/shaolin_1981/RK-2.jpg

The ReefKeeper controlls the lighting, cooling, and heating. I have 2 80mm fans mounted to the lid controlled by the RK for evap cooling. I can't find the pics for that right now.

Here are some shots of the corals:
http://i23.photobucket.com/albums/b364/shaolin_1981/1-20a.jpg

http://i23.photobucket.com/albums/b364/shaolin_1981/1-20b.jpg

http://i23.photobucket.com/albums/b364/shaolin_1981/1-20e.jpg

http://i23.photobucket.com/albums/b364/shaolin_1981/1-20c.jpg

Thanks for looking.

[Mikeeal]

WOW. Nice mods. That's a buttload of light. Everything's super clean looking.

How about a shot of the whole setup? Stand and all.

[Chelsey]

Awesome!!! :) Did you order this from nanotuners or did you make it yourself? I'd love to see a full tank shot!!!

[energy_crisis]

I did all the mods myself. I did get some parts from nanotuners but mostly from other reefers and ebay and such.

[Kigs]

I love the zoos and the frogspawn! Where did you get the dendro?

I would like to see a full tank shot as well. Great pics!

[energy_crisis]

Dendro is from a LFS in Southern California.

His site is still under construction but I know he shipps his stuff.
http://www.passionofthesea.com/
The site has all his contact information.

I was just at his store today and saw some nice dendros...nicer than the one I have.

It'll take me some time to take a FTS but I'll do it sometime soon.

[nanoreefs415]

thats probably the coollest light mod ive seen in a cube. looks awesome.

[Illuminati]

I see you on Nanoreef.com all the time, you have the best Nano around.

[aural]

awesome tank - definitely put a full setup shot up.

above anything i loooooove the dendrophylia. i have been looking for a piece for a long time.

[MVrico]

how is your water temp?

[MVrico]

I forgot to ask where you got that extra vent from?

[Kigs]

...how much does dendrophylia usually go for? I just got a price from the guy you recommended and the price is way over my head. I could rather get a new MH unit for my tank with that price.

[energy_crisis]

The extra vent was from a "bay drive fan" from computer accessories, easily found on ebay for around $5. I just took the grill off and glued it to the top where I made the hole.

My temp is stable at 78 +/- 0.5F. The ReefKeeper is keeping temps amazingly rock steady.

Dendros go for around $50/head I think. The link to the LFS I posted above has them for around $30 something but they're all multi heads so you're still looking at minimum $100 or so for the peices he sells.

Thanks for the complements everyone.

I have a hard time with full tank shots because the light intensity is a lot more at the top than at the bottom and with my point-and-shoot digi cam, the top will look really white and bright...the color looks all distorted. I'll still try later.

[Agu]

Nice mods and nice tank :thumbsup:

Btw, you name is appropriate "energy_crisis" :lol:

[ycrazyy]

energy_crisis, this is one of the BEST nc mods I have seen. I have been looking into upgrading my lighting and after seeing this, I don't even know what to do! Was this an extremely difficult project to do (i.e. a lot of soldering and dremmeling) or basically just ordering some new hardware and retrofitting it in? I'd love to do this or something similar to my 24DX (esp. with the MH in there) and any help you can give would be greatly appreciated! If you can point me to your post on the other forum too I'd also appreciate it.

[randt122]

nice mods. What temp does the tank stay at?

[Newreeflady]

Do you have a webpage where you layout how you modified the hood?

Nice system! A lot of color, really beautiful healthy looking coral.

-A

[FishWife1]

Gorgeous! Very colorful and clean looking. Nice being able to keep a clam, too.

Laurie

[delta410]

where did you get the small metal halide setup?

[chocolateblnt]

Any FTS's?

[energy_crisis]

The mods required more imagination and creativity than anythiing else. The most difficult part was making it look clean but as far as cramming in all the lights it was quite easy. I did solder all the connections and used heat shrink tube to seal it. You can just use those caps that screw onto the wires to insulate them. Anyone needing help can just PM me for my AIM SN and I can help.

I got the 70W MH from aquabuys off of ebay...they also have thier own website at aquabuys.com. There is a vendor on nano-reef.com that sells a similar kit as well under the username DrLamp or LampDr. Nanocustoms.com also sells the kit and you can get matching quick disconnect cables (like the stock ones) and Chris offers excellent service as well as the other sellers I mentioned.

Here is a link to my other posts:
http://www.nano-reef.com/forums/index.php?showtopic=63151

I'm actually going to upgrade this tank to a custom 65g. I'll be selling the hood when I do. I'm also setting up a 6g NC with probably more light than this NC24. It's almost done...I'll share it here when it's complete.

[vanmo92]

nice

[All Delight]

Awesome!

[energy_crisis]

Here are some FTS.

First is with all PC lights on 2x9W Actinic, 2x36W 50/50, 1x36W Actinic all on:
http://i23.photobucket.com/albums/b364/shaolin_1981/PCFTS.jpg

With all PC and MH on:
http://i23.photobucket.com/albums/b364/shaolin_1981/MhFTS.jpg

Shot with partial stand / ReefKeeper / Titan Chiller:
http://i23.photobucket.com/albums/b364/shaolin_1981/EquipmentFTS.jpg

Bottom Up shot:
http://i23.photobucket.com/albums/b364/shaolin_1981/BottomUpFTS.jpg

[jfw60]

That is truely pressing the envelope for what can be achieved in the nano 12. That light settup would make Maguiver blush. Have you had problems with alage, or heat? I would like to see how your corals grow and progress under such intense lighting.:D :D

[richfavinger]

OH MY GOD! :eek1:
The fish, I'm blind, I'm blind!
Hows the heat?

Rich

[energy_crisis]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=7008724#post7008724 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by jfw60
That is truely pressing the envelope for what can be achieved in the nano 12. That light settup would make Maguiver blush. Have you had problems with alage, or heat? I would like to see how your corals grow and progress under such intense lighting.:D :D

It's actually a 24g nano. I had temperature problems in the begining but solved it with cooling fans in the lid pointing at the water connected to the ReefKeeper for evap cooling and the Titan helps too.

All the corals grew in nicely. I've lost a few corals here and there but overall health of the ones that made it past a month have been really great.

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=7008751#post7008751 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by richfavinger
OH MY GOD! :eek1:
The fish, I'm blind, I'm blind!
Hows the heat?

Rich

Heat's not an issue...I've got plenty of fans. The exhaust fan near the MH feels like a blow drier set on low and the entire hood is only slightly warm to the touch.

[energy_crisis]

Here is the pic of my feeding lid fans that I installed...they're connected to the ReefKeeper and turns on when temperature gets too high. I haven't seen my NanoCube reach 80deg sinc this mod.

My temperature range is approx. 77.5-79deg.

http://i23.photobucket.com/albums/b364/shaolin_1981/feedinglid.jpg

[alien9168]

Wow. Those are some serious mods. How do you deal with heat inside the Nc?

Awsome tank!
:)


-alien

[energy_crisis]

I have a Titan 150 Chiller and the fans in the lid connected to my ReefKeeper for evap cooling. Temperture is never an issue with this tank.

[bil2k]

How much evaporation do you get?

[energy_crisis]

When the fans go off I get about chamber 3 worth of evap a day. Maybe a gallon max.

[alien9168]

Nice fnas...i didnt see that post before i asked about the heat. sorry :)

Thsts really cool...it looks like the switch was meant to be ther ;)

[bil2k]

holy cow thats a lot of evaporation. no auto top off yet?

[saltygeek]

Whats your ambiant room temp? I was looking at the titan but my room temps can get in the 80s and i dont know that it would be enough. Thanks

[energy_crisis]

I was working on an ATO but got lazy and never got around to it. I'm upgrading soon so why bother.

During the summer the ambient can climb up to the 90s but every little bit helps. I know the titan's ability to chill depends on ambient but what are you going to do if you don't have one?