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My T5 Retro actually works!

Discussion in 'Quad Cities Area' started by REEFer Madness, Jan 30, 2010.

  1. REEFer Madness

    REEFer Madness Inactive User

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    Today I finally had time to get things going.   I built the frame for the end caps and screwed the reflectors down.  Well, just to make sure everything fit I started piecing together the lights and ballasts.  Literally, next thing I knew, I have a working system.
    Now I have to take it all apart so I can coat the wood and build around the frame work to make it look apealling.   It was much easier than I anticipated.
    [​IMG]
     
  2. matt the fiddler

    matt the fiddler Inactive User

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    very nice /DesktopModules/ActiveForums/themes/_default/emoticons/biggrin.gif
     
  3. AJ

    AJ Inactive User

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    Nice work Andrew! In the immortal words of John "Hannibal" Smith... "I love it when a plan comes together".

    --AJ
     
  4. B-Rad

    B-Rad Inactive User

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    Nice job Andrew!
     
  5. REEFer Madness

    REEFer Madness Inactive User

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    I was seriously surprised there was absolutely no trouble shooting. I have a 4x65 PC light that the bulbs were rusted to the sockets. I went to change out the sockets and shocked myself doing. So I was more cautious this time around.

    Now I'm thinking if I want to hang the canopy or make it so it opens up. I'll take it apart today down to the frame work and try to get a better feel. With the bulbs and reflectors in it, I'm not moving it around much. Then I'll build the stand how this canopy comes about.
     
  6. B-Rad

    B-Rad Inactive User

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    Sounds like a plan keep us posted as you get things done. AND more pics!!
     
  7. Big Country

    Big Country Inactive User

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    Nice job. What kind of bulbs (brand/model) and sequence are you using? Replacing mine with a recommendation from The Grim Reefer, but curious what you are using.
     
  8. Big Country

    Big Country Inactive User

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    double post...oops.
     
  9. REEFer Madness

    REEFer Madness Inactive User

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    That's exactly what I did. I read through the long T5 post by Grim Reefer and made some notes.

    Workhorse 7 ballast
    Ice cap t5 reflectors, clips and end caps
    2 GE 6.5k bulbs in the front
    1 Giesemann Aquablue plus and 1 Giesemann pure actinic in the back.

    It's been too cold for me to work on the facing of the frame. I put about 5 coats of Bull's Eye sealer/primer. I only have a power drill and miter saw to use for right now and I get to use my porch as a work area.
     
  10. Greenonion

    Greenonion

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    looking good andrew....those icecap reflectors are sick, but you might wanna trade out one of the GE 65k bulbs for a giesmann actinic plus, that bulb combo is gonna be uber yellow..... can't wait to get over there and see you and ricks tanks. we need to get a tank tour going!
     
  11. REEFer Madness

    REEFer Madness Inactive User

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    I got the canopy all done, except for re-installing the lighting (Will be easy now I know that it works!).   I just made the frame work out of aspen and then put oak trim around to hide the ballast which will be mounted on the top of the framework.
    I pretty much have the stand done except for mounting the door and I'm going to prime and stain later through out the week.   I have the stand backwards right now in the picture so it's easer to prime the inside tonight.
    The tank is scratched up pretty bad, but I don't think I'm going to try to sand them out.  I've considered it for a while, but decided against it.   When it gets filled, the smaller scratches should disappear, but I'm not really worried about it.
    [​IMG]
    [​IMG]
    The 55 gallon acrylic was pretty much cut in half (12" and 8" tall).   I'll be using the top one overflow down to the middle one.   I'm going to do a raceway and use softies like xenia, gsp and the like.   I'm thinking of making the last chamber into an aipstasia area before going down into the sump.
    Then the sump I'm thinking of doing a 20 long full of argonite sand.   That way it'll work as a passive nitrate control and should eliminate the need of a Calcium reactor.   Argonite will dissolve slightly above pH 8.0, I shouldn't have to worry too much about it.
    I'll be alternating the lighting between the top and middle sections to help keep the pH in balance also.  
    I have to see once it's all set up if I'll have room for an external skimmer in the stand or have it next to it.   If I can't fit a skimmer, then I may put in a 10 gallon or two for a settling chamber and/or a return chamber.
     
  12. REEFer Madness

    REEFer Madness Inactive User

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    HA! I just previewed my post real quick. Can any guess which books I have been reading lately?
     

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