400 gallon project

[untamed]

Originally Posted by BC564

From the second pic...it would appear your urchin is getting quite big or very close in the foreground.

Yes, that hatpin urchin is probably 10" in diametre. When I got HIM, he was maybe 2". There are two urchins in the tank. One hitchiked in on the LR. The hitchiker urchin is smaller, with generally shorter spines. That one has grown from <1" to about 3". Both eat coraline.

There is a display of Bengaii Cardinal Fish with Hatpin urchins at the Vancouver Aquarium. The young Cardinals are supposed to hide in the urchin spines, but I saw no evidence of that in the display. None of their urchins were as large as mine, and they are clearly the same species.

[BC564]

well obviously they are getting their fill of coraline.....

[untamed]

Big day today. Spent nearly 3 hours replacing all my bulbs. I've got to Geisemann 13000K. A job that should take 5 minutes takes 3 hours in part because of the foolish design of the Aquamedic light fixtures. Changing the halides and flourescents requires removal of 20 screws on each fixture.

Is it Aquamedic's fault?...or my fault?...or just the way it is?.... I cannot get a 250W MH DE bulb to go into the fixture!!!! It might take me 30 minutes or more of fighting with the bulb to finally get it to click into place. I break the ceramic tab on the bulb about 50% of the time.

Very frustrating job and I'm glad I don't intend to do it more than 1x per year. So far, I'm happy with the look the new bulbs are providing.

[Tom R]

HI brad

My Geisemann fixture requires just one screw and then you slide out the 3 glass panels clean them and while they dry change out the lights. Total time maybe 15 minutes for 3 lights.

You should have had some off us help you after the camera clinic.

Tom R

[Big Al's BC]

Originally Posted by untamed

Big day today. Spent nearly 3 hours replacing all my bulbs. I've got to Geisemann 13000K. A job that should take 5 minutes takes 3 hours in part because of the foolish design of the Aquamedic light fixtures. Changing the halides and flourescents requires removal of 20 screws on each fixture.

Is it Aquamedic's fault?...or my fault?...or just the way it is?.... I cannot get a 250W MH DE bulb to go into the fixture!!!! It might take me 30 minutes or more of fighting with the bulb to finally get it to click into place. I break the ceramic tab on the bulb about 50% of the time.

Very frustrating job and I'm glad I don't intend to do it more than 1x per year. So far, I'm happy with the look the new bulbs are providing.

Yes, changing the bulbs on an Aquamedic fixture is intense. Did you access all the bulbs from one end? You should only have to remove the far side panel, then slide the lenses down one end. Same with the fluorescents. It is very easy to damage the sockets when you are putting the bulbs back. We use a tiny slotted screwdriver to spread open the socket while inserting the bulb. Makes installation a lot easier. Obviously this is with the power off!
Depending on the age o your fixture, some of the sockets have been known to arc with the failure of the retaining clip in the socket. If you think the bulb change is painful, wait until you need to replace a socket!

Big Al's BC

[Skimmerking]

Brad I know what you feel like I had a awesome pair of Aqua medic pendants, once. until i had to change the bulbs and ended up breaking a 100 dollar bulb and ended up arcing the socket , got mad at the fixture and ended up selling them really cheap just to get rid of them. they were fan cooled ballasts and electronic ballasts too. oh well that is why i will never go back to HQI ever again i will stay with the Moguls i like them for changing alot bettre and i dont break the bulbs. I wish that the 250 w were like the 150 w alot easier to change too.


oh well

[untamed]

Thanks for confirming that it isn't just me. I'm lucky so far that I haven't broken a bulb. I do use a slot screwdriver to try to spread the contacts just before I put the bulb in. Life time of these fixtures is probably 4 or 5 years...by then, I'm sure I'll be moving to LEDs.

[Pan]

Originally Posted by untamed

Thanks for confirming that it isn't just me. I'm lucky so far that I haven't broken a bulb. I do use a slot screwdriver to try to spread the contacts just before I put the bulb in. Life time of these fixtures is probably 4 or 5 years...by then, I'm sure I'll be moving to LEDs.

Naw by then we'll be using Plasma bulbs...google it 6000 degrees Kelvin. same intensity of the sun

[Myka]

Originally Posted by untamed

There is a display of Bengaii Cardinal Fish with Hatpin urchins at the Vancouver Aquarium. The young Cardinals are supposed to hide in the urchin spines, but I saw no evidence of that in the display.

The babies do hide in the spines of the Diadema urchins. They don't do it for very long though, just while they're really small.

[untamed]

Here's a group of photos now that the new lights are in. There are some new fish in these shots if you look closely.