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Here's my Big Office System

Baxreefs

Baxreefs

Re: Here's my now 375 (was 120) by Bax

Slowly trying to get my act together to move forward with the beast

Sanding stand where the PO had painted around his Tunze controllers & drivers and stuff.

P3070612.jpg


Sanding inside too so I can seal it with Kilz

P3070613.jpg


Getting close to finishing the frag stand. Pieces are cut, just need to assemble and paint it.
P3070614.jpg


I have to scratch my head a bit and figure out how best to rework the manifold I had put together for the 120. I, of course , had just finished it when I picked up the 375 and changed everything!

P3070615.jpg


I also need to get some glass cut so I can beef up the tank bracing. Two of the cross bracess were cracked by the PO from laying MH lights on them. They have been cracked for a long time without incident, but, I'd say now is the time to fix it. Also, I've read a thread where butt jointed euro bracing seperated on a tank with almost the exact same build specs as mine. It was brand new too! So I want to add additional bracing to tie in the butt jointed pieces. I need to find a source for the good silicone.
 
jimroth

jimroth

Re: Here's my now 375 (was 120) by Bax

Last time I bought it, my local Tru-Value Hardware store (Denville Hardware) had the plain GE clear stuff, it says aquariums somewhere on the tube...
 
Baxreefs

Baxreefs

Re: Here's my now 375 (was 120) by Bax

I know I have seen the large tubes of appropriate silicon somewhere some time, but currently, neither Lowes or HD seem to have it except for in the small, expensive, tooth paste sized tubes. I'd need like 15 of those!
 
jimroth

jimroth

Re: Here's my now 375 (was 120) by Bax

Sorry I meant to say Denville HW has the caulking gun sized tubes.

That little store amazes me. They often have stuff HD and Lowes cn't be bothered with, like nylon nuts and bolts. They base their inventory on what people ask for, rather than what corporate tells them.
 
Baxreefs

Baxreefs

Re: Here's my now 375 (was 120) by Bax

jimroth said:
Sorry I meant to say Denville HW has the caulking gun sized tubes.

That little store amazes me. They often have stuff HD and Lowes cn't be bothered with, like nylon nuts and bolts. They base their inventory on what people ask for, rather than what corporate tells them.
Click to expand...


Hmmmm ....

.... Giving the customer what they want!


.... What a concept!
 
Baxreefs

Baxreefs

Re: Here's my now 375 (was 120) by Bax

So, I have been considering a larger tank for a loooong time as many of you know. Ive had a 210 and then 220 sitting dry waiting for the opportunity to set them up, for what ever reason these did not get set up, and now of course the 375 sits waiting the chance to support reef life once again. I have always looked at these potential set ups with the conservation of electricity in mind to the extent one can when running a larger reef.

So today, my wife walks down stairs from her palatial presidential sweet in our offices, and drops a $1,250 electric bill on my desk. $1,250.00, that's right! Now, this has been the coldest winter I've spent here so I figured it'd go up a little, but $1,250.00 ?!?!?!?!?!?!! :eek:

Our normal high winter bills are around $950. I have propane out in the shop, which we run at 45 deg, just enough to fend off freezing pipes. In the offices we have electric base boards, yikes! I know! I'd love to switch to all propane, but, it's not my building so I haven't made the investment in the parlor style propane heaters. If I owned the building I'd do it in a second. Anyway the point of my rant is, my wife asks, "What are you doing differently with the #%*@ fish tanks?!"

The only things I can think of are:

1) I started running the beast of a MRC skimmer sometime this year, that sucks 320 + 57 watts 24/7 to run the PW 210 and the feed pump. Ouch!

2) I started using my old Sedra NW skimmer pump to mix SW. I love it! It mixes instantly and aerates the heck out of the new SW too! But I guess running o 24/7 is a bit much ::)

3) I have this huge tub of live rock from the new tank acquisition with a skimmer, two PHs, and a heater .... that can't be good for the e-bill! :p

4) I have a 90 g that I put my Marco rock in to seed with some LR. You betcha, skimmer, light, PHs, & heater there too! Seeing a pattern ? :-\

...

So, I am rethinking my electrical consumption, attempting to reduce my reef's carbon footprint, if you will.

With that in mind, given a 375. And I want at least some SPS, but I am willing to make concessions in order to conserve juice and the environment and keep my jewel SPS in my frag system ( I know that is the irony of this hobby, save the reef but burn electricity like your running a Hospital).

So. What I need is your economy minded suggestions for lighting, heating, cooling and water flow.

.... Bring it on! 8)
 
jimroth

jimroth

Re: Here's my now 375 (was 120) by Bax

Bax,
Take a closer look at that bill, particularly the bar chart on the back.

We just got a giant electric bill, and I freeked out. Here's what happened. I bet the same thing happened to you:

Bill for December: Estimated bill based on last year's mild weather

Bill for January: Estimated bill based on last year's mild weather

GIGANTIC Bill for February: ACTUAL (meter reading) bill based on THIS year's FREEZING weather, combined with the unbilled KW for the last two phony estimated bills. I could have $#@& but it's all legal! Stoopid JCPL!
 
JRWOHLER

JRWOHLER

Re: Here's my now 375 (was 120) by Bax

Well it looks like you better get your butt in gear Baxter :D running all the tubs is the same as a tank more or less right? Just a thought I know you run MH lighting but what if you run a combination under your canopy of T5 or VHO and MH. Sam used to have the two different lights the MH and LED same idea cut down on usage. Of course it will create different "zones" but some planning and that might work very well. You could run MH on one side and T5/VHO on the other, or MH on the ends with T5 in the middle. All depends on your rock structure.
 
Baxreefs

Baxreefs

Re: Here's my now 375 (was 120) by Bax

Jim

That's exactly what happened!

JR

I am considering just that. I was considering NO on one side and T-5 on the coral side. But I am leaning towards a few T-5 on for the day and a light rail with one LA mini and a 400 MH cruising back and forth. Now I have both T-5 and MH and love it but it costs$$$$
 
Baxreefs

Baxreefs

Re: Here's my now 375 (was 120) by Bax

I am really considering this light rail deal. It could save a ton of heat and electricity. Anyone following this have a light rail? I really like to see one in action to help with my decision.
 
JRWOHLER

JRWOHLER

Re: Here's my now 375 (was 120) by Bax

How reliable are they? I would hate to see you get frustrated because the motor froze up or something.
 
D

ds4x4

Re: Here's my now 375 (was 120) by Bax

i hear they are pretty reliable but knowing my/our luck it'd stop right over a crossbrace and melt the heck outta it
 
Baxreefs

Baxreefs

Re: Here's my now 375 (was 120) by Bax

I have heard generally good things about them mechanically. I'll do a bunch of thread searches first and try to track down actual experiences. But, I was hoping to see, touch and feel one in action if possible.
 
Tazmaniancowboy

Tazmaniancowboy

Officer Emeritus
Officer Emeritus
Re: Here's my now 375 (was 120) by Bax

Bax, Don't know if you have ever been out to or interested in taking a trip to That Pet Place/That Fish Place out in Lancaster, but they were running their lights on rails last time I was there.

Taz
 
Baxreefs

Baxreefs

Re: Here's my now 375 (was 120) by Bax

Taz

Thanks! Good to know, I don't get out there too often but I'll keep that in mind.
 
Hawkeye

Hawkeye

Re: Here's my now 375 (was 120) by Bax

smcooler uses a light rail on his frag tank. I stupidly didn't realize the thing moved and he was like - back up or your hair will catch on fire...LOL!
 
Tazmaniancowboy

Tazmaniancowboy

Officer Emeritus
Officer Emeritus
Re: Here's my now 375 (was 120) by Bax

Hawkeye said:
smcooler uses a light rail on his frag tank. I stupidly didn't realize the thing moved and he was like - back up or your hair will catch on fire...LOL!
Click to expand...

LOL Is that new, I didn't notice it when I was there in Dec? Unless I missed it looking at all that eye candy! lol

Taz
 
Baxreefs

Baxreefs

Re: Here's my now 375 (was 120) by Bax

I was just at Stan's in February and don't recall seeing the light rail either? I am incredibly dense and obtuse, some times ... or so my wife tells me! ::)
 
M

momof6kids

NJRC Member
Re: Here's my now 375 (was 120) by Bax

Boy, you get out of commission for a few weeks and have to read 4 pages to catch up on your monster build, Bax. ;D
 
Baxreefs

Baxreefs

Re: Here's my now 375 (was 120) by Bax

Hey Erna!

So pleased you are able to stop by again! And I hope that's a sign all is good with you and Maddie!

Well this monster build would move along faster if cash flow wasn't so terribly abysmal. But what can you do? Things are slowly moving along though and sooner or later we'll have a big tank to ogle.

Say, how's my bad boy of rabbit fish doing? My zoas are still trying to recover from his last foray into the zoa patch! ;D
 
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