70 to 93 Cube Upgrade/Build

[mvm]

No. The bulkhead is attached to the starboard with the threaded side facing up. I then inserted a 3/4" pvc and put the acrylic rod into that.

Sent from my PC36100 using Tapatalk

 

[mvm]

I have replaced the 2 250W halides with 2 aqua illuminations SOL blues. It's been about a week and so far I'm happy. The chiller has not kicked on once!! I'll take a few update pics tomorrow.

 

[tgriffin]

That's exactly what I want to go with. How is the coverage with the two units? How high off the water are they? Thanks!

Really looking forward to the pics!

 

[budsreef]

That's very cool! What do you have the levels set at? It's very easy to burn your corals especially under the 40 degree optics if you haven't swapped them out so go slowly.

 

[mvm]

Budsreef;645009 wrote: That's very cool! What do you have the levels set at? It's very easy to burn your corals especially under the 40 degree optics if you haven't swapped them out so go slowly.

Yep, biggest concern I've read. I am starting both blues at 35% and whites at 30% with a ramp up and down time of one hour. I have 8 70 degree optics coming to swap out the 4 front and 4 back optics to give better spread in the front and back. They currently are about 14" off the water and are covering the entire tank very well.

 

[budsreef]

A 5% difference in white to blue is what I do as well and I think that looks great. You're starting out about where I now have mine after two months but I replaced T5s so I really wanted to go slow. Plus my tank is only 18" deep.

The lenses are easy to swap out. Post pictures when you get a chance so we can see how you mounted them.

MvM;645015 wrote: Yep, biggest concern I've read. I am starting both blues at 35% and whites at 30% with a ramp up and down time of one hour. I have 8 70 degree optics coming to swap out the 4 front and 4 back optics to give better spread in the front and back. They currently are about 14" off the water and are covering the entire tank very well.

 

[merkywater]

Yea Matt where are the pics man?

 

[mvm]

Here are a few updated pics:
FTS:
http://i111.photobucket.com/albums/n135/mvanmol/IMG_3225.jpg?t=1305513622" alt="" />

I modified my light tree that held the old halides so that adjusting the height would only take a few seconds:
[IMG]http://i111.photobucket.com/albums/n135/mvanmol/IMG_3229.jpg?t=1305513705" alt="" />

[IMG]http://i111.photobucket.com/albums/n135/mvanmol/IMG_3226.jpg?t=1305513742" alt="" />
Front view:
[IMG]http://i111.photobucket.com/albums/n135/mvanmol/IMG_3235.jpg?t=1305513779" alt="" />
Right Side:
[IMG]http://i111.photobucket.com/albums/n135/mvanmol/IMG_3231.jpg?t=1305513845" alt="" />
Left Side:
[IMG]http://i111.photobucket.com/albums/n135/mvanmol/IMG_3233.jpg?t=1305513888" alt="" />
Male Rod's onyx with eggs:
[IMG]http://i111.photobucket.com/albums/n135/mvanmol/IMG_3237.jpg?t=1305513950" alt="" />
Female in 'nem (notice how her dorsal is faded from the RBTA :sad::
[IMG]http://i111.photobucket.com/albums/n135/mvanmol/IMG_3257.jpg?t=1305514085" alt="" />

Edit: A few corals:
My favorite teal and red chalice (more blue than pics represents):
[IMG]http://i111.photobucket.com/albums/n135/mvanmol/IMG_3245.jpg?t=1305514172" alt="" />
Horrible pic of pink lemonade colony (color is much different. My camera skills are lacking):
[IMG]http://i111.photobucket.com/albums/n135/mvanmol/IMG_3251.jpg?t=1305514310" alt="" />

 

[tgriffin]

WOW Man..... That looks great! I would really love to do that to mine.

 

[ralph atl]

nice!

 

[budsreef]

Good job! Looks great!

 

[merkywater]

Looking good buddy!

 

[mvm]

Here is a 3 month+ update after the AIs have been installed. I slacked on mantainence for the last month (which hurts a BB badly; trips to Jamaica, 2 to Seagrove) and turned the skimmer off for 2 weeks to treat a leopard with prazi, so the corals lost some color, but the growth have been great.

alt="" />
My son, the tank and his bearded dragon "spiderman" in the background.

alt="" />
Right side:

alt="" />
Top right:

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The acro to the left is a rescue. My crappy camera and crappy skills do not represent actual colors. They are unedited, obviously.

 

[ralph atl]

looking great! what's that huge coral that looks like a vibrator? a real deal ench?

 

[mvm]

mysterybox;679880 wrote: a real deal ench?

Thanks and yes.:lol2:

 

[mvm]

Bye Bye AIs, hello Sfiligoi:
So far, I've seen dramatic color and growth improvements since switching from the AI LEDs.
http://i111.photobucket.com/albums/n135/mvanmol/IMAG0093.jpg?t=1329794054" alt="" />

[IMG]http://i111.photobucket.com/albums/n135/mvanmol/IMAG0094.jpg?t=1329794046" alt="" />

[IMG]http://i111.photobucket.com/albums/n135/mvanmol/IMAG0095.jpg?t=1329794019" alt="" />

[IMG]http://i111.photobucket.com/albums/n135/mvanmol/IMAG0096.jpg?t=1329793560" alt="" />

 

[jumplittlechloe]

MvM;740889 wrote: Bye Bye AIs, hello Sfiligoi:
So far, I've seen dramatic color and growth improvements since switching from the AI LEDs.

Which Sfiligio unit did you go with?

 

[mvm]

Sfiligoi XR6. 250w 4t5 and moonlights.

 

[jumplittlechloe]

That 250w always seems to produce good results on your tanks. Guess sometimes when you need results (i.e. growth) you have to call in the halides!

 

[atlweb]

So you weren't happy with the AI units? I'm trying to find a nice nano LED option, and the AI nano is attractive, but I still am not sold on peoples results.