project5k
Reef enthusiast
no, i actually went with ebay, just caue i was already on there and i have some paypal credit i wanted to use up..
Rcpilot - 29g Frag Tank
- Thread starter Rcpilot
- Start date
Rcpilot
Reef enthusiast
Got the new 175w bulb in the mail today. It's one of those $10 ebay bulbs from hobbylighting. Supposed to be 14k. This is the first time ever firing it off my old Custom Sea Life ballast.
Edit:
I have no idea if this is a pulse start ballast, or magnetic or electronic. It's old and it's from custom SeaLife. Got it cheap with the mogul, ballast, cords and enough aluminum to make my own reflector.
So do these things take awhile to warm up and come to full brightness? It seams to be getting brighter and brighter with each passing minute.
How do I know if it's the correct ballast? How do you know if the light requires pulse start or electronic ballast?
Or:
Who cares, it fires and it's putting out light - don't worry about it?
Edit:
I have no idea if this is a pulse start ballast, or magnetic or electronic. It's old and it's from custom SeaLife. Got it cheap with the mogul, ballast, cords and enough aluminum to make my own reflector.
So do these things take awhile to warm up and come to full brightness? It seams to be getting brighter and brighter with each passing minute.
How do I know if it's the correct ballast? How do you know if the light requires pulse start or electronic ballast?
Or:
Who cares, it fires and it's putting out light - don't worry about it?
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Ted
Living one day at a time
when i first fired up my mh it took about 10 minutes to get to full power. Now it is much faster. I think they have to kinda break in first. I have no idea about the balast question so I will go with who cares it looks bright on the pictures. :D
daugherty
part time reefer
that is a magnetic one
bjohanson1234
.........
I really think that all that matters is that the Watts on the light and ballast match.
Also, if you have to turn it off, it might take a few minutes to fire back up. They tend to need to cool down a bit before they fire back up.
Also, if you have to turn it off, it might take a few minutes to fire back up. They tend to need to cool down a bit before they fire back up.
daugherty
part time reefer
yes the bulb has to cool down before it will restart
Rcpilot
Reef enthusiast
Okay, so it's a magnetic ballast - check
Now do I need a special bulb for that? Or will ANY 175w MH work?
This one seams to work. I have burned it for about 8hrs so far and it gets brighter and brighter. More blue too. It's 14K. Takes about 15 minutes to light up all the way, but when it's fully lit .......... holy hawg leg that sucker is bright!!
Now do I need a special bulb for that? Or will ANY 175w MH work?
This one seams to work. I have burned it for about 8hrs so far and it gets brighter and brighter. More blue too. It's 14K. Takes about 15 minutes to light up all the way, but when it's fully lit .......... holy hawg leg that sucker is bright!!
daugherty
part time reefer
as far as i know any 175w bulb will work but i could be wrong pm ccapt i am shure he knows for shure
bjohanson1234
.........
I would think as long as the base of the bulb matches the socket, it will work.
yote
In Memoriam
I don't think the type of ballast matters any.At least I've not seen anything on bulbs that would indicate otherwise.
Rcpilot
Reef enthusiast
Ted
Living one day at a time
wow very nice you did a great job. I want one now.
Rcpilot
Reef enthusiast
Couple more shots.
oops, loaded one of them twice. My one and only SPS frag all the way up at the top.
I had to use my PC light for now. Don't have time to make the reflector for the 175w MH. Thats only 78w of PC light on a 29g tank --looks awful bright to me.
There's a 3-stripe damsel in there behind the big rock. He's a little freaked because I just slammed my hand in the 10g tank and snatched him. Walked him over to the 29g tank and dropped him in - no acclimation.
I didn't acclimate any of the corals either. Tested the water in the 29g - all was normal - so just plucked them out of the 10g one by one and placed them in the 29g. The frags that are on racks - I just picked up the whole rack and moved it. Took 15 miutes to transfer the corals.
oops, loaded one of them twice. My one and only SPS frag all the way up at the top.
I had to use my PC light for now. Don't have time to make the reflector for the 175w MH. Thats only 78w of PC light on a 29g tank --looks awful bright to me.
There's a 3-stripe damsel in there behind the big rock. He's a little freaked because I just slammed my hand in the 10g tank and snatched him. Walked him over to the 29g tank and dropped him in - no acclimation.
I didn't acclimate any of the corals either. Tested the water in the 29g - all was normal - so just plucked them out of the 10g one by one and placed them in the 29g. The frags that are on racks - I just picked up the whole rack and moved it. Took 15 miutes to transfer the corals.
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Picasso
Seahorse Whisperer
YEAH, RC, that looks great! Congratulations!
C
C
dcantucson
Reef pro
Can't wait to see them grow! Great job Rc.
Rcpilot
Reef enthusiast
Damn!! Y'all been waiting for me to post? Haven't been here 10 minutes and 3 new posts. I love you guys!!
dcantucson
Reef pro
We've been hearing AND waiting for this!:lol:
Rcpilot
Reef enthusiast
Glad ya like it. I'll make improvements to it slowly.
I'll put the 175w MH on it in the next month or two. I still need to get a couple wiring harness's for the 65w PC actinics. Then I'll probably build some kind of canopy or hanging hood to house the lights.
I am planning to remove the refugium baffle in the sump to increase my return section and lessen the effect of evaporation. By removing the baffle I can increase my return from 4g to about 7.5g
I'm going to drill the 10g tank and pipe into it for the refugium.
I'll put the 175w MH on it in the next month or two. I still need to get a couple wiring harness's for the 65w PC actinics. Then I'll probably build some kind of canopy or hanging hood to house the lights.
I am planning to remove the refugium baffle in the sump to increase my return section and lessen the effect of evaporation. By removing the baffle I can increase my return from 4g to about 7.5g
I'm going to drill the 10g tank and pipe into it for the refugium.
project5k
Reef enthusiast
awesome rc... i'm so jealous...
so, tell me.... since i just got my first set of zoas.. how long do they take to grow? i mean i understand it depends on a lot of things, but assuming that mine are happy and whatnot, how fast do they grow?
so, tell me.... since i just got my first set of zoas.. how long do they take to grow? i mean i understand it depends on a lot of things, but assuming that mine are happy and whatnot, how fast do they grow?
Rcpilot
Reef enthusiast
Depends on what kind of zoas........
Average zoa colony will double in size about every 6 - 9 months, in my experience.
Best thing you can do is change 5% or 10% weekly with good RO water. Keep your chemistry set within normal parameters. My tank grows like dandelions - thats why I had to upgrade from a 10g frag to 30g.
More frags than I can sell - wish the local people weren't do damn cheap!! :frustrat: Some guy came over last weekend and offered me $20 for a rock the size of a banana that was covered in watermelon zoas. 2" diameter and about 8" long. I did a quick head count and was up between 90-100 polyps. I told the guy no. I'd want $40 for a rock like that. He laughed at me. Well F**K you then dude!! Go buy that rock from the LFS or an online retailer - you'll pay $80 - $100. :grumble:
Average zoa colony will double in size about every 6 - 9 months, in my experience.
Best thing you can do is change 5% or 10% weekly with good RO water. Keep your chemistry set within normal parameters. My tank grows like dandelions - thats why I had to upgrade from a 10g frag to 30g.
More frags than I can sell - wish the local people weren't do damn cheap!! :frustrat: Some guy came over last weekend and offered me $20 for a rock the size of a banana that was covered in watermelon zoas. 2" diameter and about 8" long. I did a quick head count and was up between 90-100 polyps. I told the guy no. I'd want $40 for a rock like that. He laughed at me. Well F**K you then dude!! Go buy that rock from the LFS or an online retailer - you'll pay $80 - $100. :grumble:
