**former thread of the month** Rebuilding the Reef - Log of a 90 Gallon Restarted - Page 15

pi · 01/26/2005, 08:58 AM

Thanks Kip! I got some from IPSF years ago and forgot/wondered what they were. A friend kept calling them nassarius which I knew was incorrect. They are great little snails! I found if I keep one side of the tank "dirty"for them to graze, they will breed like rabbits. Otherwise, they seem to almost lie dormant.

BTW James - How are the frags doing?

Jamesurq · 01/26/2005, 09:05 AM

frags are doing fine. Couple of them seemed to have bleached out a little - but all are still in good shape with good polyp extension. I guess it's just a matter of time for them to get used to the lighting.

By the way - ordered replacement bulbs for the 175W 10k Ushios. I'm running them for longer than the 400W Radium (obviously) and the color they are giving me is horrible. I'm guessing (although tough to say for sure) that they're past their prime.

I picked the 10K XM's - mostly because of the price and partly because I've heard they're a tad bluer than the Ushios.

We'll see. I'll be sure to post comparison shots after they're installed.

thrlride · 01/26/2005, 01:00 PM

Sounds good Kip, I appreciate it!

Jamesurq · 01/28/2005, 10:30 PM

Time for a few lighting comparison shots.

Here's the previous lighting:

175W Ushio's X2
400W Radium in the middle
2X65W PC actinics.

First a reference shot:

Jamesurq · 01/28/2005, 10:51 PM

Next we have Just the Ushio's and the Actinics (Radium Off):

Then just the Radium:

Then just the actinics:

Jamesurq · 01/28/2005, 10:56 PM

Here's the reason for this comparison: the straight up Ushio and immediatley following it - the straight up XM replacement:

Then a shot of the XM with actinics:

Jamesurq · 01/28/2005, 10:59 PM

And finally the:

BEFORE

and
AFTER

FYI - ALL camera settings were the same througout and were set to manual.

What do you think?

AJP · 01/28/2005, 11:01 PM

I like the after, it is much whiter.

Jamesurq · 01/28/2005, 11:04 PM

yeah - those ushios were really getting spent.

From what I hear the XM's will even get more white as they burn in over the next 100 hours or so.

AJP · 01/28/2005, 11:07 PM

That should look real good, post a pic when that happens, just to compare, if you can.

bugshop · 01/29/2005, 06:38 AM

WOW!!
Thanks for the pics. James

I know I'm going to order some new 10k XM 250 watters
for my tank now

Was the 400W Radium on the last 2 shots?

That sucker puts out some blue light

What ballasts are you using?

Timmy

RGibson · 01/29/2005, 07:06 AM

James how old were the Ushio bulbs?

Jamesurq · 01/29/2005, 08:23 AM

The Ushios were of an undetermined age - the tank was moved and broken down and not set up for a while. If I had to guess I'd say they were probably about 10 months of 12 hour a day usage.

The bulbs are all run on magnetic ballasts - the 175s are on a Hamilton ballast, as are the PC's. The Radium is run on a PFO HQI ballast (overdrives it to 430 watts).

And yes - in the last 2 pictures the Radium is on. The way you can tell is by the slight shadow cast by the centerbrace..

Jamesurq · 01/29/2005, 10:49 AM

Just as a followup - one of the XM's has developed quite a yellow tinge. Seems like that's probably part of the break-in process..

We'll see what happens.

Lunchbucket · 01/29/2005, 05:49 PM

i ONLY like the 20k radium. i like blue tanks. wehn i run my tank w/ the 20k xm it looks good (400w) and when i fire up my 400 w 10k Usion w/ it...looks like PEE IMO

nice looking tank though

Lunchbucket

IMPERATORFAN · 01/29/2005, 06:07 PM

Do you have the XM positioned between 12:00 and 3:00? I had to keep moving my three around until I got all of them positioned right to avoidt he yellow tint.

Jamesurq · 01/29/2005, 07:56 PM

Radium on it's own is cool - but it washes out the colors. Without it - it's definitley yellowish.

As far as the XM's at 12 and 3 - are you referring to the nipples? They're more like 5 o'clock on both.

I thought nipple down was the current school of thought.

Thanks for the big yellow blotches in my eyes too...

IMPERATORFAN · 01/31/2005, 12:54 PM

Quote:

Thanks for the big yellow blotches in my eyes too...

LOL ... didn't power 'em down first ... did you?!

That's the first I'm hearing about pointing down. Now you've got me intrigued. The only info/threads I've ever seen were all about 12-3. Please let me know what you end up going with.

Jamesurq · 01/31/2005, 01:14 PM

Did some further reading and they're all pointing up.

Seems to have "de-yellowed" the XM a little. (that could just be psychological though.

thrlride · 01/31/2005, 04:16 PM

So I need to point my nipples on my XM's up to 12? I have mine at 6 right now.

Jamesurq · 01/31/2005, 08:09 PM

yep - apparently so. Nipples up is the way to go..

thrlride · 01/31/2005, 08:28 PM

Nipples up it is then!

Jamesurq · 01/31/2005, 08:51 PM

Yeah - I had to adjust the socket to get it to fit snug with the nipples up.

PaPa_Johnny · 01/31/2005, 09:48 PM

So is it nipples up (I hope MaMa doesn't read this) on all MH or just XM's?

Jamesurq · 01/31/2005, 11:01 PM

all of them apparently.

01/26/2005, 01:00 PM	#353
thrlride Aka lemmywinks Join Date: May 2003 Location: Harrisburg, NC Posts: 8,017	Sounds good Kip, I appreciate it! __________________ Beer Snob Current Tank Info: 210 gallon FOWLR (H&S 200a-1260 , panworld 50px-x, 2x Vortech w/ WWD)

01/29/2005, 06:38 AM	#361
bugshop Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: Anderson/ Belton S.C. Posts: 652	WOW!! Thanks for the pics. James I know I'm going to order some new 10k XM 250 watters for my tank now Was the 400W Radium on the last 2 shots? That sucker puts out some blue light What ballasts are you using? Timmy __________________ Greenville, SC Reefer? Join the PMAC.

01/29/2005, 07:06 AM	#362
RGibson RGibson Join Date: Nov 2002 Posts: 2,377	James how old were the Ushio bulbs? __________________ RGibson

01/29/2005, 05:49 PM	#365
Lunchbucket Premium Member Join Date: Jun 2001 Location: Brookings, SD Posts: 12,924	i ONLY like the 20k radium. i like blue tanks. wehn i run my tank w/ the 20k xm it looks good (400w) and when i fire up my 400 w 10k Usion w/ it...looks like PEE IMO nice looking tank though Lunchbucket __________________ Trying to lose weight by walking is like trying to bake a cake w/ a cigarette lighter - Lunchbucket - "Nancy-Boy Extraordinaire" - maxxII- Current Tank Info: 58gal Oceanic RR, 2x400w MH (20k XM and 10k XM), Deltec PF601 Ca Rx, Deltec AP701 skimmer, mag950 return, iwaki 55rlt w/ an Oceansmotions 4-way unit, Tunze 7300 and 6000 each w/ controller, fluidized po4 rx

01/31/2005, 04:16 PM	#370
thrlride Aka lemmywinks Join Date: May 2003 Location: Harrisburg, NC Posts: 8,017	So I need to point my nipples on my XM's up to 12? I have mine at 6 right now. __________________ Beer Snob Current Tank Info: 210 gallon FOWLR (H&S 200a-1260 , panworld 50px-x, 2x Vortech w/ WWD)

01/26/2005, 08:58 AM	#351
pi Premium Member Join Date: Apr 2001 Location: Sunny South (Columbia,SC) Posts: 1,699	Thanks Kip! I got some from IPSF years ago and forgot/wondered what they were. A friend kept calling them nassarius which I knew was incorrect. They are great little snails! I found if I keep one side of the tank "dirty"for them to graze, they will breed like rabbits. Otherwise, they seem to almost lie dormant. BTW James - How are the frags doing?

01/26/2005, 09:05 AM	#352
Jamesurq Moved On Join Date: Dec 2002 Location: Greensboro, NC Posts: 5,470	frags are doing fine. Couple of them seemed to have bleached out a little - but all are still in good shape with good polyp extension. I guess it's just a matter of time for them to get used to the lighting. By the way - ordered replacement bulbs for the 175W 10k Ushios. I'm running them for longer than the 400W Radium (obviously) and the color they are giving me is horrible. I'm guessing (although tough to say for sure) that they're past their prime. I picked the 10K XM's - mostly because of the price and partly because I've heard they're a tad bluer than the Ushios. We'll see. I'll be sure to post comparison shots after they're installed.

01/28/2005, 10:30 PM	#354
Jamesurq Moved On Join Date: Dec 2002 Location: Greensboro, NC Posts: 5,470	Time for a few lighting comparison shots. Here's the previous lighting: 175W Ushio's X2 400W Radium in the middle 2X65W PC actinics. First a reference shot:

01/28/2005, 10:51 PM	#355
Jamesurq Moved On Join Date: Dec 2002 Location: Greensboro, NC Posts: 5,470	Next we have Just the Ushio's and the Actinics (Radium Off): Then just the Radium: Then just the actinics:

01/28/2005, 10:56 PM	#356
Jamesurq Moved On Join Date: Dec 2002 Location: Greensboro, NC Posts: 5,470	Here's the reason for this comparison: the straight up Ushio and immediatley following it - the straight up XM replacement: Then a shot of the XM with actinics:

01/28/2005, 10:59 PM	#357
Jamesurq Moved On Join Date: Dec 2002 Location: Greensboro, NC Posts: 5,470	And finally the: BEFORE and AFTER FYI - ALL camera settings were the same througout and were set to manual. What do you think?

01/28/2005, 11:01 PM	#358
AJP Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2004 Location: Kansas Posts: 2,652	I like the after, it is much whiter.

01/28/2005, 11:04 PM	#359
Jamesurq Moved On Join Date: Dec 2002 Location: Greensboro, NC Posts: 5,470	yeah - those ushios were really getting spent. From what I hear the XM's will even get more white as they burn in over the next 100 hours or so.

01/28/2005, 11:07 PM	#360
AJP Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2004 Location: Kansas Posts: 2,652	That should look real good, post a pic when that happens, just to compare, if you can.

01/29/2005, 08:23 AM	#363
Jamesurq Moved On Join Date: Dec 2002 Location: Greensboro, NC Posts: 5,470	The Ushios were of an undetermined age - the tank was moved and broken down and not set up for a while. If I had to guess I'd say they were probably about 10 months of 12 hour a day usage. The bulbs are all run on magnetic ballasts - the 175s are on a Hamilton ballast, as are the PC's. The Radium is run on a PFO HQI ballast (overdrives it to 430 watts). And yes - in the last 2 pictures the Radium is on. The way you can tell is by the slight shadow cast by the centerbrace..

01/29/2005, 10:49 AM	#364
Jamesurq Moved On Join Date: Dec 2002 Location: Greensboro, NC Posts: 5,470	Just as a followup - one of the XM's has developed quite a yellow tinge. Seems like that's probably part of the break-in process.. We'll see what happens.

01/29/2005, 06:07 PM	#366
IMPERATORFAN Registered Member Join Date: May 2004 Location: Louisiana Posts: 297	Do you have the XM positioned between 12:00 and 3:00? I had to keep moving my three around until I got all of them positioned right to avoidt he yellow tint.

01/29/2005, 07:56 PM	#367
Jamesurq Moved On Join Date: Dec 2002 Location: Greensboro, NC Posts: 5,470	Radium on it's own is cool - but it washes out the colors. Without it - it's definitley yellowish. As far as the XM's at 12 and 3 - are you referring to the nipples? They're more like 5 o'clock on both. I thought nipple down was the current school of thought. Thanks for the big yellow blotches in my eyes too...

01/31/2005, 01:14 PM	#369
Jamesurq Moved On Join Date: Dec 2002 Location: Greensboro, NC Posts: 5,470	Did some further reading and they're all pointing up. Seems to have "de-yellowed" the XM a little. (that could just be psychological though.

01/31/2005, 08:09 PM	#371
Jamesurq Moved On Join Date: Dec 2002 Location: Greensboro, NC Posts: 5,470	yep - apparently so. Nipples up is the way to go..

01/31/2005, 08:28 PM	#372
thrlride Aka lemmywinks Join Date: May 2003 Location: Harrisburg, NC Posts: 8,017	Nipples up it is then! __________________ Beer Snob Current Tank Info: 210 gallon FOWLR (H&S 200a-1260 , panworld 50px-x, 2x Vortech w/ WWD)

01/31/2005, 08:51 PM	#373
Jamesurq Moved On Join Date: Dec 2002 Location: Greensboro, NC Posts: 5,470	Yeah - I had to adjust the socket to get it to fit snug with the nipples up.

01/31/2005, 09:48 PM	#374
PaPa_Johnny Premium Member Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: Ranburne, AL Posts: 683	So is it nipples up (I hope MaMa doesn't read this) on all MH or just XM's? __________________ Johnny Current Tank Info: 90 gallon AGA, 240 gallon in the works, gathering equipment now.

01/31/2005, 11:01 PM	#375
Jamesurq Moved On Join Date: Dec 2002 Location: Greensboro, NC Posts: 5,470	all of them apparently.