Ext 112 ushio 400 wat MH System.

[X-37B]

I was forced to retire due to a accident at work. I'm legally 30% disabled. It feels like 50%.
My retirement plan was to get a Mali and train it in the sport of Schutzhund which I practiced years ago with my Shepard "Mako The Land shark".
So that's out and I have cats, lol, always have.

I am very happy with my 4 led systems but honestly after 5 years I miss the halide look. It's different and must be seen to really be appreciated. You halide guys know what I mean.

I am starting this build in a few weeks as soon as the tank arrives.
Electrician comming this week to instal another dedicated 20amp.

This is planned as a growout system and to compair the halide to my led lit systems Side by side.

Current plan
Ext 112
Reef Brite Fxture
Ushio 400 watt
I-power Electronic ballast
I have 10K ushio
& 20k Radium
2 24" Meridian 14K edge bars to start
Aqualogic heater controller with brs titanium heater
Return pump will be the IM pump, I have 2 spares from the 2 other IM systems
Tunze 9410 dc skimmer in return area
I may run ozone
Fuge in second chamber with live GLR rock and a 16hd for light
Esv 2 part with dsr ez-trace in the ato reservoir
Tunze 3154 ato
1 Sea Sweep with Tunze 6105 pump for flow
400 micron mesh socks
I will be ordering GLR but not fixed on how many pounds.
I will cure the rock in tank then transfer some to the sump and to the sump of my 170 to convert it to a live rock fuge.
This is where the tank will sit in the outlined area.
Stay tuned should be interesting.

 

[Rocks reef]

You had me at Halide brother! I can't wait to see this come to life!!

 

[X-37B]

You had me at Halide brother! I can't wait to see this come to life!!

Thanks I appreciate the love, lol.
At 67 years old I will take all the love I can get, lol.
I have 15 to 25 years left if I live as long as my mom and dad did.

 

[X-37B]

Got the 20 Amp circuit installed.
Also wired the ballast. Fired up the ushio 10k, very white.
I now have 6 Ushio 10K and 6 Radium 20K plus 4 ultra sun 10K.
I am ordering the ext 112 today.
Once here I will build the light fixture and then once in place I will order 50lbs of premium GLR.
I will still need to order:
2 meridian edge 14K
Heater and Aqua Logic controller
Sea Sweep
Custom lid from Kraken
Carx geo 618-Looking for used
2 stage regulator
Tunze ato
Ato Reservoir
2 ADJ 8 circuit strips
Sump fuge will be lit by a ai 16hd, I have 3 will run 1.

I have the powerhead, Tunze 6105 and skimmer, Tunze 9410dc.

I want to fit the carx, 10lb co2, and ato reservoir under the stand. It should all fit.

 

[Reefering1]

Following

 

[ScottD]

Following along your journey. You’re 112 is the same foot print as mine, I’m curious to see how you setup yours.

 

[X-37B]

Ordered tank today.
Also ordered some 8020 to build the light frame that will hold the ReefBrite fixture and 2 meridian edge 14K.
I need to order the Meridians.
The frame is going be built out of 8020 lite 3 sided. The pendant will sit in a 9×15 8020 opening with the edges hanging off the side.
The edges will be held in the 8020 with the meridian edge mounts.
I had to file them a small amount so they will fit and they are held in place by a tnut.
Here is the idea.

 

[reef’r]

Not to hi Jack your thread, but I’m looking at picking up a 36” reefbrite 250w fixture for my 48” SPS tank. I don’t know much about halide but I’d love to pick this up. Question is what are your opinions on the 36” fixture in the 48” tank? Being MH would I have enough coverage to grow acros on the edges?

 

[X-37B]

I have decided to run A4R on this system. I have the kamoer and some leftover A4R and just purchased a Simplicity 5 liter dosing container. I use a set of 2-2 liters for 2 part on 3 other systems.
A simple setup and I only have to use one doser.
Everything should now fit easily under the tank.

Not to hi Jack your thread, but I’m looking at picking up a 36” reefbrite 250w fixture for my 48” SPS tank. I don’t know much about halide but I’d love to pick this up. Question is what are your opinions on the 36” fixture in the 48” tank? Being MH would I have enough coverage to grow acros on the edges?

The 36" is just 2 of the 8x15 pendants. I ran 2 de 250's on my 120. Plenty of power to grow anything.
Old 120

 

[reef’r]

I have decided to run A4R on this system. I have the kamoer and some leftover A4R and just purchased a Simplicity 5 liter dosing container. I use a set of 2-2 liters for 2 part on 3 other systems.
A simple setup and I only have to use one doser.
Everything should now fit easily under the tank.

The 36" is just 2 of the 8x15 pendants. I ran 2 de 250's on my 120. Plenty of power to grow anything.
Old 120

Okay excellent. I will be supplementing with two or3 blue plus bars as well. My tank is only 16” tall so I hope to be able to mount the fixture nice and high over the tank and have a nice shallow sps lagoon theme

 

[X-37B]

Okay excellent. I will be supplementing with two or3 blue plus bars as well. My tank is only 16” tall so I hope to be able to mount the fixture nice and high over the tank and have a nice shallow sps lagoon theme

Towards the end I had 2 or3 blue plus added. Lights were 14" off the surface.

 

[Arkayology]

Sorry to hear about the injury. Good luck with the new build!

 

[X-37B]

I just ordered this fixture. It.was $80 less than the RB pendants I have.
I fired up the RB in the gargage and will compare the 2 footprints when the OG arrives. This reflector is vertical and 21×21.
You can remove the 8" flange and replace with the Louvered panels.
Glass swing away door panel.
It's similar in size to the old Hamilton 20×20 but looks to be a much nicer unit.

 

[Nor'easter Reefer]

Got the 20 Amp circuit installed.
Also wired the ballast. Fired up the ushio 10k, very white.
I now have 6 Ushio 10K and 6 Radium 20K plus 4 ultra sun 10K.
I am ordering the ext 112 today.
Once here I will build the light fixture and then once in place I will order 50lbs of premium GLR.
I will still need to order:
2 meridian edge 14K
Heater and Aqua Logic controller
Sea Sweep
Custom lid from Kraken
Carx geo 618-Looking for used
2 stage regulator
Tunze ato
Ato Reservoir
2 ADJ 8 circuit strips
Sump fuge will be lit by a ai 16hd, I have 3 will run 1.

I have the powerhead, Tunze 6105 and skimmer, Tunze 9410dc.

I want to fit the carx, 10lb co2, and ato reservoir under the stand. It should all fit.

As a fellow electrician.... the screws are sideways....

we can argue about which way the ground prong is supposed to go, but I thought we had found a common ground with the cover plate screws!

All seriousness, your systems look awesome and cant wait to see this evolve and to see what you can grow with halide vs led side by side!

 

[CBonito]

Thanks I appreciate the love, lol.
At 67 years old I will take all the love I can get, lol.
I have 15 to 25 years left if I live as long as my mom and dad did.

We will tolerate no such negativity sir. Being alive and well enough to hang out and play with our tanks is something we can all be thankful for.

I'm on-board. I love metal halide. Everyone makes fun of my kessils that I use with my ATI Straton...it's because deep down, I am a metal halide lower. I can't shake it. There's no way man...

I always personally loved the 14k coralvue bulb. I'm unaware what you can even get nowadays, but that was a great one for me. It was pretty and didnt need any actinics or anything. Radiums used to only last me maybe 6-7 months until they were noticeably dimmer.

I like that reflector with the heat ducts! Man what a great idea. You could literally hook that right up to one of those panels that go into your window for a portable AC unit and blow the heat outside with a 12v 120mm computer fan. I see your fireplace is blocked...you could blow the hot air right out the chimney too.

Just some thoughts.

 

[X-37B]

We will tolerate no such negativity sir. Being alive and well enough to hang out and play with our tanks is something we can all be thankful for.

I'm on-board. I love metal halide. Everyone makes fun of my kessils that I use with my ATI Straton...it's because deep down, I am a metal halide lower. I can't shake it. There's no way man...

I always personally loved the 14k coralvue bulb. I'm unaware what you can even get nowadays, but that was a great one for me. It was pretty and didnt need any actinics or anything. Radiums used to only last me maybe 6-7 months until they were noticeably dimmer.

I like that reflector with the heat ducts! Man what a great idea. You could literally hook that right up to one of those panels that go into your window for a portable AC unit and blow the heat outside with a 12v 120mm computer fan. I see your fireplace is blocked...you could blow the hot air right out the chimney too.

Just some thoughts.

Not worried about the heat. A tunze fan keeps my 170 at 78 set 77 when the room gets to 82.
I am removing the ducts and going air colled with the louvers.
The fire place is blocked off to keep the cars out, lol.
It will be interesting to see the footprint.

 

[X-37B]

Got this today.
The build on this is the best I have seen in a long time.
RB for comparison.
22×22×12+6 for the socket.
Weight 22lbs
I bought a socket extended, needed for 250 or 400 watt bulbs.
I will be setting up in the garage to test par and spread at different heights. I will do the RB also.

 

[X-37B]

I finished the 8020 frame for the RB & Meridian edges.
Came out nice. The Meridian edge will attach to both sides.
The RB sits on tabs.

Got an old school fixture for $20.
24×13×8. I will test all 3 in the garage for spread and par.

I am working on a 8020 frame that will support the OG and 2 Meridians.

Only issue with the OG is the vertical position of the bulb.
Ushio 10K have a universal burn position.
The 20K Radiums have a horizontal burn position so I can't use them in the OG fixture.

No news on the systems delivery but it could be 4-6 months so I have time.

 

[X-37B]

So here is the first mockup of the 3 fixtures.
All fixtures are 31" to the bottom.
This will simulate 14" above the water and 17" to the bottom of this system.
This is the 8×15 RB fixture with the Ushio 10K 400 watt and running no glass this round.
Bulb has only ran for 30 minutes.
Once the bulb cools I will test the 20K.
Par meter is a Parwise running in air mode.
Ballast is an iPower selectable running at 400.
The 10K is nice and white with a nice blue peak at 424.

 

[X-37B]

Here is the vintage grow light hood.
The RB has higher par across the 36×36 area.
Keep in mind these readings are sitting on 2×4's so spread will be better in real life.
This fixture looks brighter than the RB, odd?