GoToSleep's 700g Build Thread (& complete remodel)

Believe it or not, this is a big improvement over previous. The bubbles are obvious int he last shot because they are concentrated in one place instead of all through the fuge. I think I'll try increaing the height of that pipe coming up off the top of the T and see if that helps. On the skimmer side, I actually had to toss a plastic cup over the top of the T because there were so many bubbles coming up but again, it's a big improvement over what I originally had. The other iintersting effect is that all those bubbles coming up in a pipe are acting as mini protein skimmers. It will be interesting to see if they produce nasty gunge once there is a big bioload in the tank or if they produce less because the Alpha Kone 300 will be online by then.

 

oh yeah, I remember you saying that now. very cool either way!

 

I should be happy my build came in at expected cost then

Plus today my RBTA split, so I can make some money off of the clone

Did you see my response to your CA RX question on my build thread?

Tom

 

I sure that many of you know that light ballasts run more efficiently and last longer if you prevent them from getting too hot. With this in mind, I mounted my ballasts up in the equipment area. I assembled a framework from 1/8" aluminum to serve several purposes. First, it gives me something to mount the ballasts to. The aluminum should help to conduct heat away from the ballasts. The ballasts are essentially suspended in the air so there is free air movement all around the ballasts.

Here is the installed framework.

 

four CoralVue dimmable 400W MH ballasts mounted on the frame.

 

I had it easy getting the wires from the lights into the fish room through the 6" ventilation opening but then I had to thread all four wires up through that little hole in the ceiling and another tiny hole 8" above that to get the wires into the equipment room overhead.

 

One day... One day. Seriously I can't wait to see this thing when the corals start filling it up. How are you planning on moving stuff around? Hope you invested in a decent mask and snorkel

 

One down side to using Sunlight Supply reflectors (LumenMax Elite) with CoralVue ballasts is that the plugs on the reflectors aren't directly compatable with the ballasts. I cut the stock plugs off of the cords for the reflectors and crimped insulated plugs onto the end of the wires so that that I could make a simple slip connection to the plugs that fit ballasts. I made these connections inside a junction box for an added bit of protection.

 

No mask and snorkel yet but I probably am going to need them. I guess that I can't just drop the clams and softies in from the top of the tank and hope that they land right-side-up on the sand bed. The longest tongs that I've been able to find are about 36" long. With me laying on a board across the top of the tank and using tongs with my arm down in the water, I should be able to reach the bottom. Anything that is too big or slippery for me to get a hold of with the tongs will be a bit more of a challenge.

 

Here they are all wired up and plugged in.