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progress on my 55 gallon!

Discussion in 'Freshwater Aquariums & Fish Photos' started by ontheairship, Nov 21, 2009.

  1. ontheairship

    ontheairship Thread Starter New Member

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    picked this up for an impressive 133 bucks!

    55 gallon tank drilled
    wooden stand
    sunlight supply tek-lights
    sump
    protein skimmer
    phosban reactor

    The bulkheads were shot and I didn't think to do a freshwater leak test because the lady I bought it from had it setup until the day I picked it up. After a week of leaking from everywhere I replaced the bulkheads and all the sump pipes and everything was good to go! I had some bulk rock lying around (cause who doesn't?) and I picked up some live rock and sand off craigslist. The tank is now cycled and home to 3 green chromis (most simply fish but by far my favorite!!). The ceiling in my apartment is vaulted so I can't hang the lights over the tank so I mad this for the time being and I'll either add to it to make it acceptable or buy a canopy and mod it to fit my lights. I'd be find with "legs" for the lights but I can't seem to find them anywhere, affordable anyway. I'm spray painting it "brown hammered" tomorrow so it doesn't look so makeshift.

    1 question: are my lights too far or too close to my tank? I tried leaving enough room so I could still fidget in there if I need to.
    photo.jpg
     
    ontheairship, Nov 21, 2009
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  2. MOD_Dawn

    MOD_Dawn Active Member

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    imho too far (the lighting is too far from your tank).
     
    MOD_Dawn, Nov 21, 2009
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  3. kalebsdad21

    kalebsdad21 New Member

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    Nowhere near enough light for a saltwater. How many bulbs is that and what kand?
     
    kalebsdad21, Nov 22, 2009
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  4. ontheairship

    ontheairship Thread Starter New Member

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    4 bulbs total but only 2 are working right now. i have to replace the other 2. as of now there's 2 actinic plus, 1 pure actinic plus, and 1 aquablue plus
     
    ontheairship, Nov 22, 2009
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  5. BobV

    BobV Member

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    try getting the light closer to the water as stated before, and go for two 10,000k bulbs and two actinic. As it looks from the pic, you'd have a hard time growing anubias and java fern in it if it were freshwater.
     
    BobV, Nov 22, 2009
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  6. California Cowgirl

    California Cowgirl New Member

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    wow, sweet deal, i have the 4 bulb tek light and that alone was $350. Agreed with the others, light is too high up,i have mine 3 inches off the tank. Nice tank though
     
    California Cowgirl, Nov 22, 2009
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  7. ontheairship

    ontheairship Thread Starter New Member

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    any ideas getting the light low enough while still having room to get "in" the tank? I can't afford the 70 dollar "legs" and i cant hang it from the ceiling
     
    ontheairship, Nov 22, 2009
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  8. California Cowgirl

    California Cowgirl New Member

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    i'll show you how i hanged my light, give me a few minutes and i'll post some pictures it's all DIY
     
    California Cowgirl, Nov 22, 2009
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  9. California Cowgirl

    California Cowgirl New Member

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    so here is how i have my light setup. I originally had a shelf above the tank so i decided with the light fixture being light i can hang it from the shelf. So i bolted the shelf to the wall to make sure it was sturdy and strong enough to hold the light. then i got metal rods and bolted them to the shelf itself. Then i got some chain and hung the light from there and adjusted the light fixture to where it hangs 3 inches above the tank. When i need to do maintenance i just carefully put the light onto the metal rods. i got everything from Lowes and it was pretty cheap, i think only $20 for everything, much better than buying the hanging kit
    009.JPG
     
    California Cowgirl, Nov 22, 2009
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  10. ontheairship

    ontheairship Thread Starter New Member

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    i'm in an apartment and i need to cause the least damage to the walls as possible. can i still do that?
     
    ontheairship, Nov 22, 2009
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  11. California Cowgirl

    California Cowgirl New Member

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    you can probably patch up the holes when you move, i forget what the stuff is called but i'm sure you or someone knows what i'm talking about. but i'm sure you can do this idea without causing to much damgae
     
    California Cowgirl, Nov 22, 2009
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  12. MOD_Dawn

    MOD_Dawn Active Member

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    <a class="postlink" href="http://www.amazon.com/Erase-Hole-Acoustic-Ceiling-Putty/dp/B000BUCWB4" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;">http://www.amazon.com/Erase-Hole-Acoust ... B000BUCWB4</a>

    or

    <a class="postlink" href="http://www.buy.com/retail/product.asp?sku=208052283&listingid=46080240" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;">http://www.buy.com/retail/product.asp?s ... d=46080240</a> and simply paint over it. Home Depot can match any color ;)
     
    MOD_Dawn, Nov 23, 2009
    #12