29gal Build

[Elizabeth94]

Thanks everyone. I just ordered the glass-holes return kit for thirty bucks including shipping. Pretty good deal if you ask me, esp because it comes with a drill bit. When it arrives maybe I will post some pictures of my process of drilling the tank since it will be my first try.

 

[lbiminiblue]

welcome

 

[Elizabeth94]

The kit still has not come in yet and I am growing very impatient haha.

Just wondering, do you think the Aquaticlife T5 HO 4x24watt fixture would be enough light to support SPS at the top of my tank and possibly a clam on the bottom? Could it at least handle LPS? I am deff not worried about the softies but I want a little bit of everything in my 29gal.

Or should I go with Hamilton Technology 175w 3' Cebu Sun Metal Halide/T5 System the only thing is that fixture has no built in timing for the individual bulbs and the aquatic life runs on one cord and can control all of its lights on its own internal timers.

Thank you in advanced. Also thank you to anyone who has greeted me You guys are already so awesome and my tank isnt even interesting yet haha

 

[lbiminiblue]

The kit still has not come in yet and I am growing very impatient haha.

Just wondering, do you think the Aquaticlife T5 HO 4x24watt fixture would be enough light to support SPS at the top of my tank and possibly a clam on the bottom? Could it at least handle LPS? I am deff not worried about the softies but I want a little bit of everything in my 29gal.

Or should I go with Hamilton Technology 175w 3' Cebu Sun Metal Halide/T5 System the only thing is that fixture has no built in timing for the individual bulbs and the aquatic life runs on one cord and can control all of its lights on its own internal timers.

Thank you in advanced. Also thank you to anyone who has greeted me You guys are already so awesome and my tank isnt even interesting yet haha

well built in timers aren't too important. You can get external ones that will work just as well. I'm not sure if that few watts will support a clam. I would go with the Hamilton one. Better wattage. I know you're probably iffy about using multiple cords instead of just one, but that's usually how these things work. I wouldn't trade in power/voltage for convenience, especially when that convenience loss won't affect your fish.

 

[jcgardner]

Welcome you plan sounds great. Slow and steady is the best advice. Welcome to the addiction.

 

[Elizabeth94]

Thank you jcgardner . Addiction is correct, but this is going to be much more deadly than my freshwater addiction for sure.

Will the T5s be able to support SPS? If they cannot support clams thats okay as they get really big anyway. I deff want softies LPS and a couple SPS though. I would add a couple of led strips to the fixture for looks but maybe they would help also.

 

[Elizabeth94]

Well I got the return kit and it came with some candy! Step one was to eat the candy, step two was to pray that the glass wouldnt crack, and step three was to sit on a bucket for 10mins while holding the heaviest drill in place lol. All went well and there was minimal chipping. The bulkhead sealed tight so no leaks. Here are some pics.

 

[Kaze3]

Welcome to RS :spinner: I wish you good luck during your build. Even if it takes a while to get all the equipment, its always worth it in the end!

 

[Elizabeth94]

Thanks Kaze3. The only problem I am having right now is being fully confident in the lighting fixtures. I have been researching the AI Sol Blue. I love the look of leds but ik for sure people have success with t5's. I think to be fully confident I need to see the AI Sol in person, on an established tank with no other lighting.

 

[major fish]

One of the lFS I use have AI Sols on their 30" deep/tall reef with clams on the bottom and that is with just 2 units on a 60" long tank. Another of my LFS specialise in corals and have tanks which use Sols and Vegas.

I have just put a Vertex Illumina LED unit on my deep tank and it looks awesome at under half power.

T5 lighting units are available which will support the keeping of any coral in deep tanks, you just need the appropriate unit. ATI are extremely good units and also tried and tested over time.

 

[Elizabeth94]

I have been focusing my research to the Sol Blue and the Vega. I am worried that the blue will washout the reds in the coral but the vega is more expensive. However I believe the vega has a bigger spread than the Sol. Maybe I should just save up for that.

 

[Elizabeth94]

Drilled my tank for the second time for my glass-holes overflow. It didn't go as smoothly as my first time as I got bigger chips than usual but after putting the gaskets on it doesn't leak. Here are two pics.

[/URL][/IMG]

 

[Elizabeth94]

I spray painted the tank black a little while ago and it looks great. Dont mind the pictures above, the tank is dirty from drilling but its all nice and clean now. I also made a blue print of my plumbing for my return line. I think I did it alright. Hope you guys can read it okay.

 

[Elizabeth94]

Not sure if anyone is still following this thread but Ill post one more time. Here are some pics of my plumbing. I did not go with the blueprint I originally posted because I made it much more simple. I may not use this forum anymore but if you are still interested PM me and I will give you the info for the other forum with the complete build and extras.

 

[DianaKay]

I'm subscribed to your thread....most people follow the threads in the Reef Chronicles Forum.
One of the moderators can MOVE & RE-Name this thread so that we can follow it easier.
I'm having a sump built...I'm not a DIY person but I admire you people who are
I have no idea the extra benefits of a sump but I'm thinking it will be fun learning.
Yours is looking good but your dog looks bored

 

[Mike Johnson]

Thanks everyone. I just ordered the glass-holes return kit for thirty bucks including shipping. Pretty good deal if you ask me, esp because it comes with a drill bit. When it arrives maybe I will post some pictures of my process of drilling the tank since it will be my first try.

That is a very good deal!

 

[Elizabeth94]

Ah I see Diana, that is a bit different from my other forum then. Please excuse my lack of intelligence . Its very good that you are adding a sump in my opinion. There you can put some chaetomorpha and a nice deep sand bed if you do not have one to begin with. The algae will absorb nutrients and you can hide all of your equipment in there. My sump works great, but I didn't sand the edges of the glass enough and now I have cuts all over my hands from doing the plumbing yesterday. I am going to cut a piece of tubing and put it on the glass. Is your tank drilled? Btw, before I even made an account here I read through your whole reef chronicle but I have read so many I cant remember which was yours. I love my dog He follows me everywhere. In that picture I think he is sad because I am not petting him haha.

 

[DianaKay]

My tank is a Red Sea Max (plug & play) @65gal. I've just ordered a LifeReef Sump w/refugium from this site: Lifereef Filter Systems - Trickle Filter - Berlin System - Venturi Skimmer - Protein Skimmer - Acrylic Aquariums - Euro-brace - Euro-rim - wet/dry filter - downdraft - needle-wheel - calcium reactor
But it's not scheduled for being built until Feburary 2014. It will be built to fit inside my RSM 250 cabinet.
I'm going to be looking for sump use ideas.
Your building skills should make you proud! Myself, I'm not looking forward to even plumbing this in when it arrives but I'm excited to learn about using it.
Love that picture of your dog, he's very photogenic ....you need to post his picture in the forum of other pets.
http://www.reefsanctuary.com/forums...40989-rsm-owners-what-your-other-pets-43.html
I just have a mean old cat that I love to the moon & back

 

[Elizabeth94]

Thats going to be a great sump! Plumbing was a pain in the butt because the overflow had a very very slow drip. I have to take everything off, scrape the paint off, and silicone my bulkhead on with the gaskets. Nothing leaks now but it was just another set back until water could be added . I just have to order a couple more things before I can actually cycle the tank. While it is cycling I am going to buy my lighting since you don't need it for cycling.

 

[DianaKay]

I suggest you get Glenn (or one of the other Mods here) to change the name of this thread & move it to reef chronicles. (HINT HINT MODS )