6 gallon Tru Vu evolution...

M

mikeguerrero

Active Member
I want to see if I can keep a good group of small gobies all over this cube with button polyps...

I'd really like this tank to look like Ed's tank because I really like his variation in colors...

Keeping this tank cool is very important both for the types of fish I want and shrooms...

Metal Halides produce way too much heat, I don't know how Ed does it to keep that tank cold enough for his catalina goby...

I wonder how one gets a hold of the catalina goby that is use to warmer waters like Steven...

MG
 
EDGRAY

EDGRAY

New Member
mikeguerrero said:
I want to see if I can keep a good group of small gobies all over this cube with button polyps...

I'd really like this tank to look like Ed's tank because I really like his variation in colors...

Keeping this tank cool is very important both for the types of fish I want and shrooms...

Metal Halides produce way too much heat, I don't know how Ed does it to keep that tank cold enough for his catalina goby...

I wonder how one gets a hold of the catalina goby that is use to warmer waters like Steven...

MG
Click to expand...
:oops: :oops:

Well mike in my 12g NC heat issues were at one time but not anymore... i have prettie good air flow on hood, plus i have 2 PC fans on the feeding door of hood that cools the water , also have the nanochiller and well heater always at 76 degrees so if temps go down that will keep it warm but i guess during the day the heater is not working since MH produce the heat but not that much swingz at all 76-77 F...

And well i bet this tank will look 10 times better than mine i always admire your setups too Mike and as i've telling you before your tanks were the inspiration to get a NC and to make it zoa tank to DICKIE and gobies just cause of their colors , size & personality...

about steven im wondering the same thing....
 
skipm

skipm

Moderator
Staff member
Lookin' sweet. I have to admit that I was quite disappointed when you stopped working on this thing before, its great to see your plans actually being carried out now. I am going to be keeping my eye on the advancements of this project.
 
TimSchmidt

TimSchmidt

New Member
I'm not sure what you have under the canopy of your tank, but I'm betting you get a small gravity fed ATO under that canopy along with those lights...
 
C

chacha

New Member
I absolutely love the set up :shock: If I ever get around to setting up a nano that is exacly the way I want it. Very nice :!:
 
M

mikeguerrero

Active Member
I need feedback from all reefers on my lighting scheme.

The race is between Coralife's 12 inch 36 watt and Current USA's 12 inch 36 watt. Here are the facts:

Coralife

You get 36 watts of power with two 18 watt 50/50; 10,000K and True Actinic per bulb.

No fans and no moonlight.

Current USA

You get 36 watts of power with two 18 watt bulbs. One bulb is dedicated exclusively for daylight 10,000k and 6,700k and is independant. The second light is an additonal 18 watts but instead of mixing the daylight is inclusive to actinics.

One is a true actinic while the other is not, just a superficial bluer for color enhancement and nothing in value to the corals.

The kick is that you also get a white moonlight that stays on 24 hours a day. And each lighting can run independant, giving you dusk to dawn feature.

The current USA cost about $20 dollars more than the coralife.

Also current does not give you any fans but from the pics I've seen the holes on the side; so does anyone know if I can purchase the fans from current and place them inside? What would power them?

Now I'm a big fan of coralife lights, I think the bulbs are very nice spectrum of color. I'm going to post some pics of the two; I NEED ANSWERS AND SOME VOTING; REMEMBER THIS POLL WILL BE THE DECIDING FACTOR FOR MY MINI REEF.

THANKS,

Mike G
 
D

drty811

New Member
ok heres my opinion......

i have current lights as my PC's, really like the dual actinic bulb, not so fond of the daylight, switch daylight for 50/50 (best thing i have done in awhile) not to blue but not to white, almost perfect). another thing i didnt like the white moonlight that much, but i do like it when i placed my blue one right next to it, running both. any two inch fan will fit, as for powering them, im in the dark with that one.

i also love coralife but i know its a pain in the ass to add fans to the fixtures. i have tried and never have been happy with the outcome. currents are alot easier to install. the coralife has a better bulb selection.

HTH
 
TimSchmidt

TimSchmidt

New Member
You would have to get a walwart (device that plugs into wall and converts AC to DC, make sure to get the right voltage and amperage for your fan) You could get fancy and put a switch on the fan. If there is an easier way I don't know it. I vote for the current fixture. I personally don't mind the daylight bulbs but that is a personal preference. (It is quite white)
 
M

mikeguerrero

Active Member
As I get close to making my choice it appears I will go with current usa. I do love coralife as it's the only type of fixtures I've purchased in the past and currently own.

I've never had any problems with them, and everyone has complimented my tanks.

But I really like the current runs on two independant switches to gain the dusk to dawn affect. I also really like that it has a moonlight built in.

If I were to go with the coralife I would lose that ability since I would have to integrate the moonlight into the fixture.

This one is ready to go and looks of high quality lighting.

So far I have found it online at Gina's Aquarium for $78 dollars shipped to my home.

My LFS wants $120 for it, big difference in savings.

I should be placing this order on monday and have it by thursday; theres no rush since the tank is still cycling.

MG

P.S
Does anyone know if the fixture will fit with the canopy placed on top of it? They do advertise it on Tru Vu website and another site that sells the entire tank base as well. Just wanting to make sure it will close.
 
M

mikeguerrero

Active Member
I finally decided to go with the current usa 12 inch dual fixture. I went this route for many reasons but mainly because of the design. It's built like a tank, high quality metal and super clean look.

I took several pictures at different angles so you reefers can get an idea of the bulbs coloration. I took pictures with just actinics then with just daylights and then together.

You guys be the judges of what you like. Overall, I'm very impressed with the design, just take a look of how flush it caters to my system. I'm all about efficiency and elegant design.

TruVu and Current are in my book of MG approved.

Here she arrives...


Two 18 watt fixtures and a moonlight...


Side view...


Side view...


Top view...


Actinics only...


Actinics and Daylight...


Front shot Actinics and Daylight...


Side shot daylight only...


Front shot daylight only...
 
EDGRAY

EDGRAY

New Member
Nice work!.... they were made for each other nice combo... looks nice what about the hood it still fits with the light??
 
M

mikeguerrero

Active Member
These pictures are for EdGray so he can see that the canopy fits the light... hehehe
What do you think Ed does it get the EdGray seal of approval?

MG







 
EDGRAY

EDGRAY

New Member
Nice fit.... :thumbup: ... well done mike i love it... like the looks too....by the way too bad that TRU VU doesnt make 2.5 gallon or less or ill get one for sure i like yours alot mike.

P.S: looks like somebody should start coral hunting :lol: :mrgreen:...
 
R

reefman23

New Member
Looks great... I love the Current fixtures. Does the fan in the fixture have enough room to work properly inside the canopy?

Jesse
 
M

mikeguerrero

Active Member
Jesse,

Current USA does not place any fans in the 12 inch fixtures. The slot is there for a 2 inch fan but no wiring for it.

I want to call current and ask them if I do purchase the 2 inch fan from Marine depot, will I be able to connect it?

Chances are there isn't a wire but you could splice the cable and tag on to it when the light fixture turns on.

I think it might be better to give it it's own powersupply if you can do it and place it on a timer.

Jesse,

I was testing the heat on the current and found that the tank rose to 81.5 degrees and was still climbing without the dual fan I have over the sump. So I pulled it out and placed it in and watched the heat drop to 80 degrees and stay.

I'm looking at evaporation rates to see how often I have to fill her up. I have the fans on a timer that only come on when the lights are deployed.

Since current has two light switches that are independant, I will need a different timer to turn on the second light as it is both come on at the same time, that doesn't work for me, since I will lose the dusk to dawn effect.

Once I get all this worked out I will start on my corals, I just don't want to place anything in and then be modding the tank and draining it to get my cables in.

Almost most there...

MG
 
M

mikeguerrero

Active Member
Here is a sneak peak at my Tru Vu evolving to it's second stage; the addition of small frags from one of my LFS, Atlantis Aquarium...

Enjoy...

MG











 
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