New 12gal tank w/ cadlights

[swervo513]

Hey, I just set up this tank. Its a 12 gallon custom bowfront with a built in refugium. Im planning a sweet little reef in this tank and Ill try to keep you posted with the progress.. This lights have not been properly adjusted to fit the tank yet but heres what I got so far.

<a href="http://s449.photobucket.com/albums/qq216/swervo513/?action=view&current=IMG_2582.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i449.photobucket.com/albums/qq216/swervo513/IMG_2582.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a>

<a href="http://s449.photobucket.com/albums/qq216/swervo513/?action=view&current=IMG_2586.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i449.photobucket.com/albums/qq216/swervo513/IMG_2586.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a>

<a href="http://s449.photobucket.com/albums/qq216/swervo513/?action=view&current=IMG_2585.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i449.photobucket.com/albums/qq216/swervo513/IMG_2585.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a>

<a href="http://s449.photobucket.com/albums/qq216/swervo513/?action=view&current=IMG_2590.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i449.photobucket.com/albums/qq216/swervo513/IMG_2590.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a>

<a href="http://s449.photobucket.com/albums/qq216/swervo513/?action=view&current=vertical.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i449.photobucket.com/albums/qq216/swervo513/vertical.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a>

<a href="http://s449.photobucket.com/albums/qq216/swervo513/?action=view&current=IMG_2598.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i449.photobucket.com/albums/qq216/swervo513/IMG_2598.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a>

What do ya think?

[Jadams]

looks like your off to a great start. cool tank!

IMO - I would take out the bio balls if I were you though...

Good luck!

[xenon]

Are those 18" T5 bulbs? :)

[mnml]

agree w/ jadams. take out the bio balls and fill the chamber with live rock rubble

[swervo513]

thanks for the thoughts... and ideas. ill find out what the specifications are on the lights and ill post it later

[james3370]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=13498268#post13498268 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by xenon
Are those 18" T5 bulbs? :)

i have the same tank. yes they are t5 but no, they are NOT 18"....they are 11" proprietary bulbs that i could only find from CADLights, so i gave the light to a member of our online forum here & went w/ a coralife 150w halide clamp-on :D

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v501/james3370/tank/new%2012gal/25.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v501/james3370/tank/new%2012gal/CIMG1172.jpg

i plan on adding a few more pieces under the rear bridge to bring it up a bit more

[james3370]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=13498234#post13498234 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by Jadams
looks like your off to a great start. cool tank!

IMO - I would take out the bio balls if I were you though...

Good luck!

i put mine as follows:

intake chamber has cheato>>>chamber 2 has live rock rubble>>>return pump in chamber 3

at some point, i might reverse the cheato & live rock....just did it that way since i had alot of live rock rubble & chamber 2 was much larger.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v501/james3370/tank/new%2012gal/9.jpg

[james3370]

btw....here is the thread about mine:
http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?s=&threadid=1479041

[swervo513]

do you think the lights are insufficient for a reef james??

[james3370]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=13505632#post13505632 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by swervo513
do you think the lights are insufficient for a reef james??

no, on the contrary....i think for a t5 fixture they are more than plenty for that size tank.

mine came w/ 3 of the 4 bulbs blown & the 4th was kinda dim & needed replacing, but all 4 ballast slots worked. i weighed the fact that it was gonna cost me ~$50-60 to order new bulbs & a member of our local forum had this halide for $100, so i bought it instead :D

having mixed feelings about this halide now from the heat issues it has brought up.....so if i had it to do over, i probably would've stayed w/ the t5 fixture. this tank was SUPPOSE to be an inexpensive 2nd tank to play around w/ till i got my new one built....yeah that plan has gone to @*&$ LOL

[swervo513]

LoL I know how that is... im glad to hear that because i was planning to put 3 sps in the tank when the time came to do it and maybe even a clam. My friend was suggesting to put an ice cap ballast on it to get some more output but im not so sure that its worth it. Like you said, i also want to keep it inexpensive.

PS: is there a forum to trade frags on here?

[swervo513]

update ... new corals...

http://i449.photobucket.com/albums/qq216/swervo513/IMG_2650.jpg
http://i449.photobucket.com/albums/qq216/swervo513/IMG_2651.jpg
http://i449.photobucket.com/albums/qq216/swervo513/IMG_2652.jpg
http://i449.photobucket.com/albums/qq216/swervo513/IMG_2653.jpg
http://i449.photobucket.com/albums/qq216/swervo513/IMG_2654.jpg

[swervo513]

update ... new corals...
http://i449.photobucket.com/albums/qq216/swervo513/IMG_2655.jpg
http://i449.photobucket.com/albums/qq216/swervo513/IMG_2665.jpg
http://i449.photobucket.com/albums/qq216/swervo513/IMG_2661.jpg
http://i449.photobucket.com/albums/qq216/swervo513/IMG_2666.jpg
http://i449.photobucket.com/albums/qq216/swervo513/IMG_2667.jpg
http://i449.photobucket.com/albums/qq216/swervo513/IMG_2668.jpg
http://i449.photobucket.com/albums/qq216/swervo513/IMG_2681.jpg
http://i449.photobucket.com/albums/qq216/swervo513/IMG_2694.jpg
http://i449.photobucket.com/albums/qq216/swervo513/IMG_2695.jpg

[1DeR9_3Hy]

Yet another nice setup, congrats :)

[swervo513]

thanx ... heres some more new ones
http://i449.photobucket.com/albums/qq216/swervo513/IMG_2709.jpg
http://i449.photobucket.com/albums/qq216/swervo513/IMG_2711.jpg
http://i449.photobucket.com/albums/qq216/swervo513/IMG_2717.jpg
http://i449.photobucket.com/albums/qq216/swervo513/IMG_2721.jpg
http://i449.photobucket.com/albums/qq216/swervo513/IMG_2724.jpg

[swervo513]

sorry for the crappy photos =(