08TRDOFFROAD's 45 Gallon Build
- Thread starter 08trdoffroad
- Start date
Here are a few updated pictures of the tank! Took them last night just before I left to check out the Swap Meet!
GSP
Kenya Trees
Xenia
Hammer
Starting to grow new heads from the skeleton
Toadstool Leather
Nuclear Green Candy Cane
Horrible picture of my Zoa's not even open
The twin RBTA's
Lights, equipment, and sump
Couple days worth of skimmate
FTS
GSP
Kenya Trees
Xenia
Hammer
Starting to grow new heads from the skeleton
Toadstool Leather
Nuclear Green Candy Cane
Horrible picture of my Zoa's not even open
The twin RBTA's
Lights, equipment, and sump
Couple days worth of skimmate
FTS
Santa brought me a MP10w ES!!! I spent a few hours tinkering with it, and have it to a point were I am happy with it, but I am sure there is more tinkering in my future! Ha Ha!
The unboxing!
What is in the box...
On the tank.
I mounted the controller on the side of the stand with the included velcro.
I still need to tidy up the wires with some zip ties.
After flipping through the instruction manual, it became very apparent to me that Vortech intends these pumps to be used in pairs. 4 pages of the quick start manual are about assembly, and the next six are about pairing two pumps together. I called my LFS yesterday to see if they still had one on the shelf, (because they were still $265 instead of the $280 everyone else is selling them for) no luck. So I will be keeping my eye out on the classified section here and on other forums to try to pick up a second for the other side of the tank.
Anyway, here is a short video of the one running on my tank, making a "wave".
The unboxing!
What is in the box...
On the tank.
I mounted the controller on the side of the stand with the included velcro.
I still need to tidy up the wires with some zip ties.
After flipping through the instruction manual, it became very apparent to me that Vortech intends these pumps to be used in pairs. 4 pages of the quick start manual are about assembly, and the next six are about pairing two pumps together. I called my LFS yesterday to see if they still had one on the shelf, (because they were still $265 instead of the $280 everyone else is selling them for) no luck. So I will be keeping my eye out on the classified section here and on other forums to try to pick up a second for the other side of the tank.
Anyway, here is a short video of the one running on my tank, making a "wave".
Those mp10s are beasts. I have been giving serious consideration to purchasing a pair myself but the price tag is semi prohibitive. Btw is that a bh100f your running as skimmer? I have a standard 100 on my closed loop. I see your corals are coming along nicely as well. Have you started 2 part or kalk yet?
No, I am not dosing anything yet. I picked up a magnesium test kit yesterday and discovered that my mag is low. It tested at 1140 ppm, I would like it up around 1350 or so. I will be starting to dose with something to correct that issue. I am wondering if my low mag levels are to blame for my lack of coraline growth.
I don't recall if you said but what salt do you use. That might be the culprit of your magnesium predicament. Did you ever stick some live rock in there. I Also noticed that the Marco rock, which I must say thank you for the recommendation it is bar none in quality and the price is right, is a little harder to populate. I had about 60 lbs of dry rock I had curing for a few months and tha stuff is purpling up nicely where as the Marco rock is just starting to color up. My theory on that is the shape if the rock, the Marco is very jagged which is good and the stuff that is moving along quicker is more uniform.
On a side note what do you have for a clean up crew? I don't recall.
On a side note what do you have for a clean up crew? I don't recall.
I have used RC, IO, and Coralife trying to using up what I had left. My last water change was with Coralife. I used the raw shrimp cycling method, so I never seeded with live rock. I have been wondering about whether or not the texture of the rock has anything to do with it.
I do have a clean up crew. It consists of:
1 Emeral Crab
10 Hermit Crabs
10 Cerith snails
and a few stomatella hitch hikers!
I do have a clean up crew. It consists of:
1 Emeral Crab
10 Hermit Crabs
10 Cerith snails
and a few stomatella hitch hikers!
It is finally official! I ordered my LED's a few days ago!!! I planned this build with room to grow with future tanks, as these fixtures may eventually be moved to a 90 g tank with another 20 led's added!
This is what I ordered
Qty: 1 - 24 Ultra Premium LED DIY Kit with Dimmable Drivers (48D drivers, Black 80 degree lens, Thermal grease, 7-XT-E Royal blue, 7-blue , 7-Cool white, 3-Neutral white)
Qty: 1 - 2 LED Moonlight kit
Qty: 4 - CREE XP-G Neutral White 3W LED with 80 degree Black Lens
Qty: 5 - Bulk wire (white)
Qty: 5 - Bulk wire (blue)
Qty: 5 - Bulk wire (black)
Qty: 1 - AA Battery LED Tester
Qty: 2 - Drilled and Tapped 4.25" x 16" Heat Sink for 24 LEDs
Qty: 1 - DIY 2 Color Dimming Kit
I also ordered this soldering station.
http://www.circuitspecialists.com/soldering-stations-csi-station1a.html
While it is only a 40W. I haven't done much soldering so I am not worried about setting any land speed records while assembling the kit, so it should be able to keep up just fine. And the price was right!
This is what I ordered
Qty: 1 - 24 Ultra Premium LED DIY Kit with Dimmable Drivers (48D drivers, Black 80 degree lens, Thermal grease, 7-XT-E Royal blue, 7-blue , 7-Cool white, 3-Neutral white)
Qty: 1 - 2 LED Moonlight kit
Qty: 4 - CREE XP-G Neutral White 3W LED with 80 degree Black Lens
Qty: 5 - Bulk wire (white)
Qty: 5 - Bulk wire (blue)
Qty: 5 - Bulk wire (black)
Qty: 1 - AA Battery LED Tester
Qty: 2 - Drilled and Tapped 4.25" x 16" Heat Sink for 24 LEDs
Qty: 1 - DIY 2 Color Dimming Kit
I also ordered this soldering station.
http://www.circuitspecialists.com/soldering-stations-csi-station1a.html
While it is only a 40W. I haven't done much soldering so I am not worried about setting any land speed records while assembling the kit, so it should be able to keep up just fine. And the price was right!
