Installed the heavy duty GFCI tonight:
[IMG]http://i226.photobucket.com/albums/dd280/insaneclownfish13/100_0717.jpg[/IMG]
Getting my fish cabinet in order:
[IMG]http://i226.photobucket.com/albums/dd280/insaneclownfish13/100_0715.jpg[/IMG]

I took a few minutes tonight to straighten out the wires around the quarantine- it looks nice and clean now-
[IMG]http://i226.photobucket.com/albums/dd280/insaneclownfish13/100_0718.jpg[/IMG]
[IMG]http://i226.photobucket.com/albums/dd280/insaneclownfish13/100_0719.jpg[/IMG]
After I moved the Maxijet 900 behind the filter and got it plugged into the new power strip I noticed a loud buzzing noise from the tank. I thought the powerhead was pressing against the filter..I moved both around, and both seemed to be making a considerable amount of vibration.
I finally realized the powerhead wasn't pushing around much water and I stuck my hand in to feel the flow- it felt very gentle..almost non-existent. So I unplugged and changed outlets- same effect. So I left it unplugged. There seemed to be a subtle odor from the tank, and my forearm did feel weird.

So looks like the Maxijet is burned out. I'll try a vinegar dip to see if I can get it working properly again. I'm not sure if I imagined this, but it also seems like there may have been a subtle current leak.

What's even more strange is that immediately after two of the Tongan Nassarius extended a long appendage the likes of which I had never seen before:
[IMG]http://i226.photobucket.com/albums/dd280/insaneclownfish13/100_0720.jpg[/IMG]
Once again, my guess is that the stray current might have provoked a spawning event.

So I performed surgery on my Maxijet this morning. Come to find out when I adjusted the output I loosened the nozzle too much from the body and the propeller was running loose. :o

It's working perfectly. These lil Italian made Maxis are definately the real deal for reefing. I kept 4 900s running continuously for 3 years in my 40 reef with zero issues and zero maintnance. When I took the impeller out today there was zero calc buildup- a very innovative design with their magnetized floating impeller.

So I guess I was imagining things...as for the funny smell from the tank...it was coming from the funky spice candles I had sitting directly behind it...:rolleyes: :o

:lol:

I've had to repair or replace impellars. Drives me a little crazy as I want them to work forever.

One of my easy solutions to impellars that are falling apart and sliding up and down the metal rod is to attach a tiny ziptie to the bottom end to take away some of the free space. That resolves the problem sometimes.

good deal!!

Nice looking tank but I have a question .

[IMG]http://i127.photobucket.com/albums/p155/insaneclownfish/100_1755-w.jpg[/IMG]

Where does the return exit the overflow ?

i am sure it will be cut b4 it ships :) or the clown will take care of it :) no biggie i am sure.

[B]melev[/B]- Sound advice as usual.

[B]FUA[/B]- Thanks, I think so too.

[B]Agu[/B]- I'll be running 1/2" locline over the top of the teeth with a flare nozzle.

[QUOTE]Agu- I'll be running 1/2" locline over the top of the teeth with a flare nozzle.[/QUOTE]

I have a similar setup, just removed one tooth from the overflow and the return with a flare fit just fine in the groove. ( I already have you modifying your new tank :lol: .)

fwiw,

[B]Agu[/B] I don't even have it in my hands yet and you want me putting new holes in it..:p

I think I inadvertently made my quarantine tank into a nano tonight- I could have saved $$ and just made a 5.5 on my kitchen counter...:)
[IMG]http://i226.photobucket.com/albums/dd280/insaneclownfish13/100_0724.jpg[/IMG]

I'm a bit surprised at how much I'm liking this lil tank. This was the LR a fellow reefer was holding for me from my old 40 breeder reef for my new system. It's 3 years old and richly encrusted. I like it so much I think I might just leave it and buy some new rock for the 16g system.

In fact, even if I use this as a quarantine for sps, I won't have any sps in it. So I'm thinking of keeping a few choice LPS or softies.

Thats beautiful rock!

dude so you want some sps now?? Haha nice stuff man

[B]zack85[/B]- Thank you- it's a mostly Brazilian that developed in my old system for 3 years. There's a pretty sharp piece of Tongan thrown in there too.

[B]erickrm[/B]- Stop dropping and breaking your colonies...you'll have less to sell..:p

I ordered my fixture from [url]www.nanotuners.com[/url] It's being drop shipped from Current-USA on Monday. I can't say enough about the fantastic customer service I received from Nick over at nanotuners.
Here's a great pic of the reflector I found on Nano-Reef from ezcompany's Solana setup. I like the design: [img]http://img264.imageshack.us/img264/9657/img0493vd8.jpg[/img]

lol actually dude, i am getting rid of most of my SPS only keeping a few here and there, i am going to collect only exotics from now on.... going to start with the nicer ORA stuff :) German green with blue polyp, tenius, then gonna go with GARF Bonsai, and some tyree stuff ;) so if you do want any coral i can probably hold soem for ya or i can place them in my fathers tank until your tank is ready ;) i can also hook you up with about 7G of my tanks water wheni do a water change, and this way you can have an almost established tank :) let me know bud and i will let ya know wheni am getting ready to do a water change. usually every two weeks but if you need it sooner i can accomidate ya :) that light looks awesome by the way bro!!! def keep those pics comming!

[B]erickrm[/B]- I appreciate the offer, but I should be all set for water. Vince picked up some of that processed and enriched NSW for me. I bought four 4.4 gallon jugs. I'm going to mix this with some stored water from my quarantine, and another 2-3 gallons from the quarantine the day I set up the tank.

I started organizing one of my closets downstairs into a mini-fish room. I wanted all my supplies closer to where the tank will be.

I'm also pleased with the little 13w folding power compact grow light(comes with one bulb for plants and one for reading) I found on clearance at Lowes. For $17. I'm going to grab a second for the quarantine.

I took a ride out to Frank's again to pick up more of my LR. I didn't take nearly enough the first trip. He patiently dug out a couple of my red legs, blue legs, one cerith and Trochus while Vince "called them out" in the tank. I let Frank keep a bunch since they were doing such a good job at keeping his tank clean..:) Frank was holding my large Ollyphylia colony, so I fragged him off a piece for being nice enough to hold stuff for me. I was also pleased it regained its zoonathella in one spot from a bleaching incident.

On top of all this I took a ride out to Groton to pic up my Australian Duncan colony from farmer john at Fin and Feather Pets. This colony came directly from Julian Sprung, so I was happy to get John a nice sized frag back. In fact, this might be the only LPS I put in the new system. I'd like to let it grow out a bit more before fragging it again.

In the meantime I canceled my fixture order with nanotuners and ordered the fixture from phishybusiness instead. Serdar bought a bunch of them at a trade show and was offering them for $206.95. nanotuners couldn't match the price because it wasn't something phishy had gotten directly as a Current distributor. However, they were exceptionally understanding and accomodating about canceling my order(I kept my order for the power strip) considering the almost $100. price difference, and they refunded me immediately. Once again- nanotuners- top rate and a class act.

Jas gave me a call- he's delivering my stand on Monday- I can't wait to get started..:)

I picked up a purple pseudo tonight for the quarantine.
Here's that tank- now with all the LR, and the two coral colonies:
[IMG]http://i226.photobucket.com/albums/dd280/insaneclownfish13/100_0738.jpg[/IMG]
Here's the Duncans chowin on mysis:
[IMG]http://i226.photobucket.com/albums/dd280/insaneclownfish13/100_0732-1.jpg[/IMG]

My stand is done and it's purty! Beautiful craftsmanship...Thanks Jas!
[IMG]http://i226.photobucket.com/albums/dd280/insaneclownfish13/IMG_090010_15_07.jpg[/IMG]
[IMG]http://i226.photobucket.com/albums/dd280/insaneclownfish13/IMG_090210_15_07.jpg[/IMG]

like always phenomenal work!! i still have the stand for my old 75g he built and its solid as a rock!! cant wait to see you get started on your build man!

Lovin it. What are your plans for a finish?

Vince, here's the color- Bombay Mahogany. I used it on my Grandmother's antique desk which I rebuilt and refinished it. It now proudly serves as my Plasma stand:
[IMG]http://i127.photobucket.com/albums/p155/insaneclownfish/100_0663.jpg[/IMG]

Nice stand.Just make sure when you stain it that you try some on the bottom or a piece of scrap because it may not turn out the same color as your Grandma desk because it's more than likly not made of the same wood.Just a little warning happend to me

[B]SaltwaterChris[/B]- Thanks for the advice. I'm planning on doing an extra coat, and hopefully this will keep the color nice and deep. Comparatively, the desk is solid mahogany, the railings I stained I just overcoated, and the closet doors downstairs were a raw pressed board- some type of pine maybe. Those doors were a very light wood. The doors soaked up alot of the stain, but remarkably they're all almost identical in color.

I should mention I'm using a Poly-stain. Alot of people haven't had good luck with this approach, but I've found it to be a worthy product.

I had presents from the FedEx man this morning, and slowly but surely I'm moving right along. Everyone didn't actually expect to see a tank setup already right? :p
[IMG]http://i226.photobucket.com/albums/dd280/insaneclownfish13/100_0758.jpg[/IMG]
[IMG]http://i226.photobucket.com/albums/dd280/insaneclownfish13/100_0763.jpg[/IMG]
[IMG]http://i226.photobucket.com/albums/dd280/insaneclownfish13/100_0760.jpg[/IMG]
Preppin the fish room. For all of us with smaller homes, this means a closet :lol:
[IMG]http://i226.photobucket.com/albums/dd280/insaneclownfish13/100_0762.jpg[/IMG]
I plan to alternate the Koralias at 15 minute intervals for some wave action. As far as the light is concerned, I plan on experimenting with a 6-9 hours cycle that is split into different intervals. 4 hours on two hours off 3 hours on- Or 2 hours on 2 hours off 3 hours on 2 hours off 2.5 hours on. I had read an interesting article that talked about cloud cover and light saturation on the reef. At around noon, corals reach a point of absolute saturation- almost like a blackout period where their ability to "digest" light becomes zero. After this period they are able to process more light. The best analogy I can think of is similar to a sunbather laying out till high noon. From 10-11:40 and from 2-4 they may get a great tan, but that period from about 11:45 -1:45 they just burn. I'm going to play around with this idea, which I think is a very logical approach when it comes to keeping a MH system cool.

If anyone has any suggestions or input I'd love to hear it. Keep those ideas and insights coming!

so i heard you are getting another gift tomorrow from my homeboi JAS!!!! its gonna be good stuff man keep thos pics comming!

That is a good idea about the light timing....when I get home at night my tank is reading a steady 85.5 Way to freaking hot...guess that's why Nemo jumped :( Picking up a chiller probably this weekend. Still waiting a bit on the ACJR...even thought it would be great for timing the lights.

yea i was jus tthinking about that, i have an RKII and i think ima just trade it for an ACjr lol just bc of the programability!

I hould be getting a box like that at the end of the week. Now, it is confirmed, that the ballast is electronic. Even the owners manual did not specify the specs of the ballast.

Where did you buy your light? I got mine from Phishy Buisiness for $206. When I went back to the sight earlier this week, the price is now $250. The light is certainly worth a great value even at $250.


The cost of buying the components separately like an ARO ballast, PFO pendant and Phoenix 14k will cost $260 and up and it does not look as cool.
Cheers