193 gallon plywood build thread

Discussion in 'I made this!' started by horkn, Jun 15, 2009.

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  1. horkn

    horkn Giant Squid

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    I sure do talk about the high PAR numbers from those XM 10ks with e ballasts:)

    My friend with a 120g lit by 2 xm 10k Se's and electronic ballasts were over 500 PAR. He is using lumateks now but he had 1 icecap and one other brand before. the off brand actually made like 520 APR,a nd the IC driven one was just over 500. I think sanjay's or some other notable light tester confirmed those findings by using an ARO e ballast and the Xm10k SE 250w to make like 520 PAR too.

    I will get a PAR number from the lumateks as well on my friends tank and post them.

    I really wanted lumateks, but the icecaps came up used.
     
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  3. horkn

    horkn Giant Squid

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    Well, I have been doing a lot of PAR meter readings with several bulbs, reflectors, and electronic versus magnetic ballasts.

    Even with about 1 year old XM Se 250w 100000k bulbs, I am getting over 500 PAR at the surface with the icecap ballasts.

    I will post up more on my findings soon. It's kind of exhausting swapping bulbs, reflectors, and getting a lot of readings. I only wish i had new xm10ks to see the difference right now. i will be getting new bulbs soon, but this one 9 month old ushio has some really nice light to it.

    I don't know if my TAR m58 ballasts burned the old xm10ks I have in to run a tad more yellow than they are supposed to be, or whether that yellowy hue is from the age of them? The ushio 10k with a couple less months is bright white.


    Who is running XM 15k 250w SE's? I wish XM marked their bulbs better. All this one I have says is XM / DB, but it certainly is not a 10k xm, and I have no clue how old it is. it's PAR numbers are pretty poor though. It looks well worn in, could be pretty old, and possibly a 20k.
     
  4. Dingo

    Dingo Giant Squid

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    lol they must be PRETTY blue ;) jk

    but really, that is pretty awesome for the PAR on the XM's
    what was the value on the ushio?
     
  5. horkn

    horkn Giant Squid

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    Looks like I will be finally adding a 40 breeder frag tank to the tank.

    It's about time, because I HATE having frag racks on my front glass.

    It's really bad when your frags are actually 7" colonies that are so heavy the normal magnets don't hold up the racks anymore.
     
  6. SkyFire

    SkyFire Clown Trigger

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    I wish for such "problems" :D

    Congrats on the new frag tank.
     
  7. horkn

    horkn Giant Squid

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    LOL, I knew someone would sympathize with my "problems".

    No I need to figure out how to plumb this in. I am going to see if I can have the drain from the DT, drain into the 40 breeder, and then that way I won't need a return pump.

    The frag tank will go to the left of the 75g sump, and elevated as high as I can get it and allow the DT's drain to drain into it. From there it can drain into the sump.

    All gravity would be ideal for a drain and return:)
     
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  9. Jason McKenzie

    Jason McKenzie Super Moderator

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    What about "T"ing off your return to your display and having it diverted to the frag system. Not sure if your current return pump is throttled back at all

    J
     
  10. horkn

    horkn Giant Squid

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    I have an extra tee available (actually 2) on my return manifold.

    I just don't know how much return flow that will take away from the DT. I guess that really isn't that big of a deal as you don't really need much flow from the return. I get most of my flow from powerheads.
     
  11. horkn

    horkn Giant Squid

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    Here is my 40g frag tank. I just have a mj1200 plumbed in for the return pump. That seems to work very well, but I will eventually make the drain from the DT, the feed ( return) line for the frag tank.

    [​IMG]
     
  12. bernardmem

    bernardmem Plankton

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    Hello I'm new here. Following the 193 gallon plywood build. I have some glass from a 37 tall gallon. What do you think about a 2 front window 6 footer. I will use the 2 pieces of glass I have 30" x 20" with 4" sides and center. I have not found anything that looks like this but I see nothing wrong with it.

    Should be find with if I have side windows with 4" edges too.
    Looking for some input.