90 gal update finally!

kemper6120 · Sep 16, 2012

Dowtish said:
You need to pull out a gallon or so and just add freshwater to get the salinity down.

Typed from my phone, because I have nothing better to do.

Ok man i will do like 2 gal

kemper6120 · Sep 16, 2012

jgraz said:
What you really need to do is get those fish out of there until the cycle is over. You realize they are suffering in there between the ammonia and the nitrites, right?

I have already said i have no where to put them or i would lol but they should be ok since they are tiny in a pretty large aquarium

kemper6120 · Sep 17, 2012

Been looking at all different types of lighting solutions and i know i want to go LED. My question is what exactly do you think i should go with. I have heard alot about DIY with the bridgelux and i have also heard about the Cree leds from rapidled.com .... Is it better to go DIY or should i look into buying a fixture that is already set up.. if i went that way i know it would be more expensive but what models and brand would you prefer?

Dowtish · Sep 17, 2012

I wouldnt do LED only. It seems most folks around here that have gone that route, end up going back and supplementing with T5's. I would look into DIY combo of LED's and T5's.

prsnlty · Sep 17, 2012

I went with AI sol blue LED's. then added 2- 24 inch T5s X2

125g mixed reef Peninsula

prsnlty · Sep 17, 2012

ooops didnt mean to send yet.

I put the T5s inbetween 2the 2 led fixtures. my T5s come on at 11am and off at 6pm (the brightest time of day in summer). I intend to add an AI Vega in place of the T5s to get the same color spectrum. but my leds have paid fir themselves in electric alone and my tank looks better, cooler and everything apears quite happy.

125g mixed reef Peninsula

prsnlty · Sep 17, 2012

The sol blues have better par than the vega but i believe its due to the color spectrum they are set at... which is adjustable. the blues are in fact lacking the purple, red and green that T5 and the vega has. I think to mix the sol blue with vega would be perfect lighting for all corals

125g mixed reef peninsula

kemper6120 · Sep 17, 2012

prsnlty said:
The sol blues have better par than the vega but i believe its due to the color spectrum they are set at... which is adjustable. the blues are in fact lacking the purple, red and green that T5 and the vega has. I think to mix the sol blue with vega would be perfect lighting for all corals

125g mixed reef peninsula

So the AI vega. its meant for nanos is it not? i know little about them :) them seem to be nice but i have a 90 gal so i would need two or more right? or if i went with the 2 AI sol and one AI vega we are talking like 1400 bucks

kemper6120 · Sep 17, 2012

prsnlty said:
ooops didnt mean to send yet.

I put the T5s inbetween 2the 2 led fixtures. my T5s come on at 11am and off at 6pm (the brightest time of day in summer). I intend to add an AI Vega in place of the T5s to get the same color spectrum. but my leds have paid fir themselves in electric alone and my tank looks better, cooler and everything apears quite happy.

125g mixed reef Peninsula

Can you post a pic? i curious to see what it looks like!

prsnlty · Sep 17, 2012

AI has a nano module but these are not for nano tanks. I have a 72"x18" 125g tank. I only really need 3 units but because of the center support across the top, many people put 4 units on a 6' tank.

So, if you have a 4' long tank you will only need 2 units. they have a 2' x 2' spread so do the Vega units

125g mixed reef Peninsula

prsnlty · Sep 17, 2012

The sol blues are $400 and Vega is $500 at last check. then the controller is about $100

125g mixed reef Peninsula

gmoney243 · Sep 17, 2012

My diy led+t5 combo cost $400 and that's for a 180. Diy is cheaper. Pre fab units are easier. Which do you value more money or time?

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prsnlty · Sep 17, 2012

That's a HUGE savings! Unforunatly I myself don't have the tools or know-how to make them. Wish I did :(

125g mixed reef Peninsula

kemper6120 · Sep 17, 2012

gmoney243 said:
My diy led+t5 combo cost $400 and that's for a 180. Diy is cheaper. Pre fab units are easier. Which do you value more money or time?

Sent from my Vortex using Tapatalk 2

with school and work idk if i got time but i do like saving that much money!!

gmoney243 · Sep 17, 2012

prsnlty said:
That's a HUGE savings! Unforunatly I myself don't have the tools or know-how to make them. Wish I did :(

125g mixed reef Peninsula

I did mine with a $10 hacksaw and $20 soldering iron some electrical tape and wire on my living room floor/coffe table. No need for lots of tools or a workshop although that would be best if u can lol

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prsnlty · Sep 17, 2012

Where did you get instructions how to make them and get the parts? Do you also have a dimmer/timer of sorts?

125g mixed reef Peninsula

gmoney243 · Sep 17, 2012

The kit comes with instructions but also there's a ton of threads and youtube vids showing you how. Mine is manual dimmable only. But you can just get controller dimmable drivers. I just use basic timer to turn on and off

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prsnlty · Sep 18, 2012

gmoney243 said:
The kit comes with instructions but also there's a ton of threads and youtube vids showing you how. Mine is manual dimmable only. But you can just get controller dimmable drivers. I just use basic timer to turn on and off

Sent from my Vortex using Tapatalk 2

So it came as a kit? Was it including reds, green and purple leds as well besides the blues and whites? I am wondering if I should attempt this.... I want to replace my T5s with an LED unit that has color other than blues and white (I was planning on getting an AI Vega to add to the 2 sol blues that I have) But now I am thinking twice....

kemper6120 · Sep 21, 2012

Well i got another test update. nothing has changed much.

pH - 7.8
Nitrite - .2
Nitrate - 2
Ammonia - .25
Salinity - 1.027

Gonna do another water change later tonight. really need to get this Ecobac up and running

Dowtish · Sep 21, 2012

kemper6120 said:
Well i got another test update. nothing has changed much.

pH - 7.8
Nitrite - .2
Nitrate - 2
Ammonia - .25
Salinity - 1.027

Gonna do another water change later tonight. really need to get this Ecobac up and running

you got the reactor, and the ecobak. I've got a pump for it if you want. I'll sell it to you for $10. do you have the 1/2 inch tubing? and did you get a ball valve yet?