Update on the 400 gal in Polson

[Aegir]

Hey guys, Just wanted to drop an update on the Polson install. After the major ICH outbreak, we got a good QT setup going... backed by an SWC "mini S" cone that will prob be used on another tank in the future. Also added 6 AquaIlluminaton SOL LED fixtures, and started getting things back on track after many months of idle time. Got some clean up and organization, and some other small things in the next week so I will keep this updated.Sorry for all the down time and dropping off the face of the earth... Just placed a fish order today so things should be rolling again. Going to be looking to start stocking some SPS and LPS in the next few weeks.

Guess I need some posts to add pics?

 

[Aegir]

Anyways... 3 posts is easy.

Fish List includes

Yellow tangs
Naso tang pair
Flame angel
Lyretail anthias
Blue tang
Tennenti tang pair

Harlequin shrimp to eat the starfish population

 

[Aegir]

Big thanks to Dan at Reefmissoula

And now for the pictures:

 

[Aegir]

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<br><br>QT is 2 29 gal tanks and a 40brdr sump<br>

<br><br>Breaking in the cone in the big sump<br>

<br><br>Quick video<br>
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[Bennettp]

Very impressive system you have there. Im at work now dying to get home so I can open up my ai sol super blue and apex system which came in the mail today. I would love to hear your experiences with the ai sols.

 

[Aegir]

Thanks for the compliments! I just designed and set this up for a gentleman in Polson. It was my old In-wall display, with some serious eupgrades.

Well, they have been on the tank for a few months now and they have their pros and cons... mostly pros

Love the adjustibility when used in conjunction with a controller... He is using a ReefKeeper Elite with the ALC module to control them, and between the sunrise/sunset dimming, and lightning storm mode they are great. I love the idea of placing corals and reducing light VS placing them at the bottom and moving them up. They are a ridiculous amount of light... compared to a 400W MH setup, still can burn corals and coraline algae and even a piece of paper.

They are upgradable, if AI makes a better LED puck you can swap them out.

Also did another build with the PAR 38 spotlight LEDS, these are hands down better if you can come up with the cash.

Dont like that you have to make your own cord, and setting that up was a PITA.

We will see how they do with coral growth over the next few months! Heres my power usage run downs, and pay off time using an LED fixture over a MH, T5 or Combo MH/T5 for this tank.

Inital investment to buy equipment:
Metal halide : 1032$
T5: 779$
Combo T5/MH 1299$
MH/Plasma 1678$
SOL 3200$

POWER USE PER YEAR @ .10 KWh (you might pay more?)
MH 1040-1240w = 374-446$ @ 10 hrs per day
T5 468W = 202$ @ 12 hrs per day
combo 738w = 265$ @ 10 hrs
plasma/ MH= 568W = 201-360$ @ 10 hrs
SOL 75wx6 =450w or 190$ @12hrs

Cost in bulbs per Yr
MH 420$ (heh heh)
T5 360$
combo 540$
Plasma/MH 320 MAX
Sol 0$ for 10 years

Total per yr (bubls and power after initial investment)
MH 866$ max
T5 562$ max
Combo 805$ max
plasma/mh 680$ max
SOL 190$

 

[Bennettp]

Thanks for the write up. Part of my plan was to keep my system low powered. Im running a small return pump with vortech mp10 for flow in conjuction with low powered needle wheel skimmer and led lighting. The lower power consumption the cheaper monthly costs and it will allow my back- up ups to run longer in a power outage situation. You have to factor in that ai sol is almost never running at 100% on most peoples tanks plus if you are doing a sunrise and set then not all leds are on so power ussage should be even less than what you listed, unless you counted in those factors.

 

[Bennettp]

My ai sol will probably run at 30-50% power plus the sunrise and sunset so Im guessing my power ussage will be around 20-35 watts during the day.

 

[Aegir]

No, I calculated it at 100% (75w per module) just to show the return on investment...

Right now we are running like 80% blue 60% white at peak, and its PLENTY of light. Also saw they have just reduced the price significantly on the modules.

 

[Bennettp]

Ya thats why I picked one up. The newer pheonix models will be released soon at $500. I ultimately decided that the sol was still a great deal and well worth the price at $400.

 

[DevonM]

How's the tank?

 

[Aegir]

Running smooth, still taking things slow! Added some Lyretail anthias, a purple tang, some more scopas and yellow tangs... Sorry for the camera phone pics

You feel like doing some fragging? How was the hunting season for ya?

 

[DevonM]

You feel like doing some fragging? How was the hunting season for ya?

I do need to do some fragging soon. Might even start cutting tonight. Hunting didn't go so well as I didn't get out much. I need to get into bow hunting for the earlier season. Life gets too busy towards the end of the year.

 

[Aegir]

Awesome man, keep me posted... You still got my number? Willing to bring some beer and come help out one of these nights! I will talk to the owner and see when he is going to be in town over the next few weeks and hopefully we can set something up.

Yeah I feel ya, I dont even have time to get tags anymore it seems like. Between work and other things, for some reason I choose dirtbiking or snowboarding to fill the small amount of free time I do have. I hit a big cow elk on my dirtbike, so thats good enough for me... Even got some hair out of my radiator for a trophy

 

[Aegir]

Finally got to spend a day doing some work. Changed the broken skimmer pump out, which was a 50% flop and needs some tweaking. Turns out the reeflo pump cant "lift" water like the old panworld can. The one good thing was we beefed up the intake to the beckett to 1 1/2" from 1" and did some "porting and polishing" to help the flow. Going to move the pump down on its own stand to fix the problem. Big thanks to Devon... got some new stock it the tank finally, and he almost got to see a temper tantrum after assembling and disassembling the leaking skimmer pump 5 times. Good thing he was there to spot the cracked impeller!

Turned back the SOL fixtures to 35% whites, 45% blues to give some acclimation time, and will ramp those back up over the next few weeks. Got the Calcium reactor hooked up and ready... will continue to dose 2 part as needed until it becomes a "burden" for the owner. He does have a nice dosing pump for IVs (being a paramedic) so that might come into play.

Some pics, taken at "dusk" with a below par camera

note where the flowerpot stung the **** out of my fingertips (dark spots) WEAR GLOVES, on both hands not just one!

feeders out as the moonlights came on

new super-flow pump... well kinda

New lighter rubble is all frag pieces

As the lights were about to go off

And now waiting, and finding a better camera...

eace:

 

[DevonM]

Looking good. Can't wait to see what it looks like after a few months go by.

 

[Aegir]

Thanks man! Hopefullly things are in check and we get some good growth. Going back up soon to fix that skimmer pump, its working as well as the last pump, but it should be 2 or 3 times the GPH... need to spend a day just tidying up cords and hiding some of the bulk still. Didnt even get to controller upgrades, need some new probes again...

Hopefully can get my friend to setup email notifications and some of the more tech features soon... we are using a SonicWALL router, which is a little more complex to setup, but also more secure. Still loving the idea of a webcam.