StPatrick's 60 Gallon Solana XL

[Stpatrick]

Very nice build. Stand looks great but I would paint the trim of the tank white too.

Thats part of the hood build part :) Stay tuned. More on that shortly.

 

[grumpy-crab]

I just looked though this thread and your tank and set up looks great. Im gonna tag along and watch this progress sense im in the beginning of my cube build. :)

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[Stpatrick]

I just looked though this thread and your tank and set up looks great. Im gonna tag along and watch this progress sense im in the beginning of my cube build. :)

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Welcome aboard. I am excited about this build. Tank is smaller then I would like but this build will give me the chance to correct the errors of my last build. I am most curiouse about going back to a Mogul MH from all LED/t5. My ballast will drive the build at around 320 watts.

 

[revsgirl]

Lookin' great!

 

[Stpatrick]

So I got the hood mostly done. The idea is that the hood will secure to the back wall and open via a piano hinge (see pic). It should make it really easy to lift up for tank maintenance. Here are the things that will be crammed into the hood.

The sealed pendent for exhausting hot air.
Three 453 nm led strips. One 24" 1 wattx24 leds. Two 12" 3 wattX12 leds. 96 total watts.
Three variable speed exhaust fans & Controller.

I plan in installing one on each end of the pendent. One blowing air in, and the other pulling air out. That should give me some good air movement to reduce heat. I also plan on putting one on the back of the canopy blowing air over the water. These fans are supper quit. The range from 9-18 db and 120 cfm at max rmp. Eventually I will have all the fans on a thermal switch. I am still trying to figure that part out.

Below is a picture of my daughter and I building the hood.

 

[Stpatrick]

Here is the tank with the hood and water in the tank. No lights yet. I will paint the black trim and hood once I get all the placement and hole cut.

 

[Stpatrick]

The next picture is an explanation on how the hood will function.

 

[Stpatrick]

Here is all the equipment that I an putting inside the canopy. Less the ballast.

 

[grumpy-crab]

I like the canopy and how it opens... good job.

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[Stpatrick]

I am having a hard time getting the pendent & Leds in the canopy. I might need to go with a lower profile LEd. I don't want to lose the par gain though. Any suggestions? I hope to have it figured out today.

 

[revhtree Verified Admin]

I really like the oversized stand and the little lip around the edge.

As far as lighting I would go with a dimmable LED. You can grow anything you want under them and you can adjust for whatever that is.

 

[Stpatrick]

I really like the oversized stand and the little lip around the edge.

As far as lighting I would go with a dimmable LED. You can grow anything you want under them and you can adjust for whatever that is.

Hey Rev. My main light source will be the 250 radion mH. I plan on over driving it to about 330watts. The led is merely accent and some supplementation. I have been through just about every LED and As much as I agree they grow corals, I don't think they can produce the coloration MH can. When they do I will make the switch, again :) What lights are you running these days?

 

[Stpatrick]

Update time :) I am proud to say my tank and stand is completely done and complete :) I honestly this this is my best set up yet. Here she is.

 

[Stpatrick]

The hood turned out great. I was having a hard time getting everything stuffed in. After I decided to put the 12" led strips in the sealed hood it was easy peasy.....

Here you can see how I was able to get the canopy hinged. It works better then I could have ever hoped. I need to build some sort of brace to keep the canopy open while I am working in the tank. Anyone have any ideas?

 

[Stpatrick]

With the 250 metal halide & leds on I get virtually no heat to the water line. I have the MH running about 5" awl. This sealed air cooled canopy really works. It has to be the best $70 I ever spent. I was worried about the water temp raising when all the lights are on. Not even an issue. The tank temp is controlled via my apex and set at 77 degrees. My heater actually comes on to heat the water because it cools down, even when all the lights are on :beer: I even have the three fans turned down almost all the way.

 

[Stpatrick]

Here is a nifty fan controller I picked up. The fans, leds, and MH are all controlled via the apex.

 

[Stpatrick]

Here are are couple vids of the scape. Sorry so blue. You get the idea :)
[video=youtube;FJNY02TM_P4]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FJNY02TM_P4[/video]
[video=youtube;q5ohBDILPlk]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q5ohBDILPlk[/video]

 

[Stpatrick]

MP 10 controllers.

 

[Stpatrick]

My tank has been cycling for about 3 weeks now. With the help from MB7 I made it through the ammonia stage a couple days ago. Just waiting for the nitrite to disappear. I am in the thinking phase for building up my clean up crew. Here is what I am thinking of adding. I kind of stole this idea from Medred on reef central :) Does anyone know where I can get these or order them from?

10 Astraea Snails
5 Nassarius Snails
5 Florida Ceriths
5 Dwarf Ceriths
5 Spiny Star Astraea snails
3 Fighting Conchs
1 Fuzzy Chiton
3sexy shrimp. Because they are cool.
10+ Stomatella
Mini Bristle Starfish (Not sure about these)
Copepods (need a source)
Amphipods (need a source)

 

[grumpy-crab]

Looks really good... :thumbup::thumbup: and how about gas struts to help hold the canopy open. That or locking hinge.