Poseidon's NEW Adventure! ;)

Poseidon · Jul 24, 2012

creefer said:
Looking good! You're 100% right on Preuss! Great place and good people.

Thanks! I'm glad you like Preuss too, Steve, Jake, Rick, and all the rest are GREAT!

Saltwatertaylor said:
During the school year I go to Michigan State and I have to say I visit preuss pets around twice a week

LOL! I am lucky I don't live that close, the 45 minute drive helps keep the visits down a bit, but increases the amount spent per trip!

revhtree said:
So how does it feel man?

It's quite nice Rev!!! Funny how much I missed the relaxing sound of the water, and the colors of the lights dancing in the room.

skinz78 said:
Bah, I say forget the led's and add to your existing T5's

Looking good, I like the scape!

Sent from my C771 using Tapatalk 2

Thanks! I am committed to the LED's now. I have taken on a personal challenge with this tank to reduce WATT draw to the absolute minimum possible. Check out this list:

Return Pump: 79W
Lights @ 100%: 88W (according to Vendor)
Korallia Circulation pump: 12W
Aqua clear 30: 8W
Titanium Heater: 500W max (I am going to add some insulation to 3 sides of the sumps to reduce heat loss to the cold basement.) I don't have a way (yet) to average this out over 24 hours.
Skimmer: 30W

I'd say I am doing pretty darn good, especially considering my last system used 480W in LIGHTS and another 150W for the return pump!

MarvinsReef said:
Looking good man.

Thanks Marv! I might try to open the scape up a bit, but otherwise I am very happy with the results so far.

Poseidon · Jul 24, 2012

One more task complete- Sumps wrapped on 3 sides with styrofoam. I also dropped the temp set point to 74.5 from 76, what are you guys and gals keeping your tanks at nowadays?

Reef Breeders · Jul 24, 2012

Poseidon said:
One more task complete- Sumps wrapped on 3 sides with styrofoam. I also dropped the temp set point to 74.5 from 76, what are you guys and gals keeping your tanks at nowadays?

Right around 78-80, 74.5 is a little low IMO.

skinz78 · Jul 24, 2012

anemonekeeper said:
Right around 78-80, 74.5 is a little low IMO.

Same here.

Henry C · Jul 24, 2012

Tank looks great, I run two penductor/eductor in my 90 makes for alot of flow!!! Tagging along, can't wait to see it filled up.

chort55 · Jul 24, 2012

I ran my 180 at 74.5 for like 2 years while I was toying with the idea of getting some colder water fish (mainly bandit angels), and wanted to be able to drop the temp a little more if I ever got close enough to actually getting them.... well needless to say never bit the bullet on them so I have went towards more of a "norm" but still sit at 76.1 although I can't really say I had any negative impact at the lower temp. If the primary reason to have the lower temp is to save a few bucks I wouldn't worry much I haven't noticed a difference in the electric bill really with the higher temp.

Poseidon · Jul 25, 2012

Thanks for the feedback guys. Main reason for the lower temps is a bit of experience from some very successful reefers using temps in the lower range, and believe it or not, Divers Den recommendations. Yes, lower power consumption is nice, but I know that realistically the difference would be minimal. There are times that my house is warmer then 76, so I am sure the heater isn't running much then.

Oh, I forgot to mention, I ordered a LED fixture yesterday!!! I ordered it from Reefbreeders, it is the 40 LED Cree fixture, with Royal Blue, Cool White, Blue, Red and Green LEDs. I may have to make a trim piece for it to gain the Wife Approval Factor, but I really couldn't pass up the awesome price, $299 shipped! Of course there will be pictures when it shows up, as I am anxious now to get going with REAL Reef Keeping!!!

Chameleon · Jul 25, 2012

yay congrats on the lights. I prefer to build mine but have almost looked into getting those leds because they are almost cheaper than diy build. Let us know how they do for you. 74 seems low, but if it works, do it. I keep my tank at 80-81 in summer and 79-80 in winter.

Poseidon · Jul 28, 2012

Another of the "little" things crossed off the list:

Notice anything different?

LIGHTS for the shelves under the tank. Next up is the trim pieces to cover the bottom of the tank, and the white foam. I am thinking of adding a trim piece around the top of the tank too, it would be completely open, just a cedar "ring" to cover the black plastic at the top. I would still have an open top, and complete access to the tank. What do you think?

Reef Breeders · Jul 28, 2012

I would go cedar trim on the tank, and use it to hide some clear mesh to keep jumpers from carpet surfing. I hope the LEDs under your stand are crees

Poseidon · Jul 28, 2012

LOL! I don't think they are cree's.... They were clearance at Home Depot for like $7 each. The clear mesh is already in place, the cedar trim I think would help finish the look.

My fish list does include a few jumpers:

Bartlett's Anthias
and Fairy Flame wrasse especially. I am also thinking about some Firefish, I know they are common, and cheap, but they are some pretty fish!

revhtree · Jul 28, 2012

Love it man!

Chameleon · Jul 28, 2012

very nice...looking good...love the light accents. your sand looks white in that first pic

Poseidon · Jul 29, 2012

revhtree said:
Love it man!

Thanks Rev!

Chameleon said:
very nice...looking good...love the light accents. your sand looks white in that first pic

LOL! It does. I set the exposure meter to more accurately expose for the stand, since the tank has 3 24W T5's up top, that part of the picture is VERY over exposed. I guess this would be a good example for HDR photography.

On a good note, I was able to find another timer laying around to put the rope lights on, they come on at 6, and go off at 11:30, no sense running them all day/night. On a bad note... I left my RO unit running over night, made a mess on the floor. No damage to anything, just extra work cleaning up. I think a float switch is going to move up the list of priority's now.

Poseidon · Jul 29, 2012

My view today:

A bit closer:

There are 2 more chromis in there somewhere, this is the longest that I have seen these guys out.

I also bought 24' of 3/4" aluminum "U" Channel, with a handful of stainless steel hardware to make a light rack. Hopefully USPS gets me the fixture here ASAP so I can get to building, and painting it.

revhtree · Jul 29, 2012

How does it feel to have a box of water in your living room again?

Poseidon · Jul 29, 2012

I'm really liking it Rev. Another key piece of the puzzle is on its way to me with an LED fixture, and I am keeping my eye out for controllable pump(s). I keep going back and forth between a single MP40 and a pair of MP10's.

The tank is starting to show signs of maturing, I see some diatoms on the rock work now. I have to admit the patience that I seemed to have in abundance before the tank had water in it has really taken a hit. Friday night I got a call from an old reefer buddy, he was happy to hear I am back in the hobby, and made a SUPER generous offer to me, he has frags of most of the SPS I was hoping to add to the tank, ready and waiting for me! I was stoked to hear that!

The list of needs is getting much smaller, Float switch, and then on to circulation pump(s).

Poseidon · Jul 29, 2012

Post for wants/needs as of today:

Float switch(es) for RO Unit. (I don't want to make any more messes in the basement.)
Circulation Pump(s), I am leaning towards 2 MP10's, but I am open to a good deal on an MP40 or comparable Tunze with the 7096 controller.
Skimmer, I have one on loan to me. It is a Reef Octopus I will need to replace and return this skimmer at some point. I really like Warner Marine skimmers, and I have even contacted my friend that bought my old K-2, he is upgrading tanks and moving soon, so I may have a shot at getting my old skimmer back!
Livestock!
Fish list is looking like this today:
Green Chromis
Firefish (Red probably)
Bartlett's Anthias
Hawaiian Flame harem, 1 Super male, 3 Females
Purple tang
Pair of clowns (I actually like plain old Occy's)
(Something Yellow)

Clean up crew of a variety of snails only, no crabs!

Ok, I think that is it for now, a nice place holder post to see how close I get to today's thoughts.