Joe's Starfire 210

plutoniumJoe · #1 04-14-2010, 12:28 AM

I had a rough start to the weekend on Friday. During my original leak test the overflow bulkheads didn't get much of a go. Needless to say the emergency drain on the Herbie was showing some signs of leaking. I the joint from the bulkhead to the drain pipe seemed to be the problem. Everything below that is glued up and I there was no way to undue the joint and fix so I cut the bottom pipe away.

It was very tense as I was using a saws all and the power caused the bulk head to work its way loose and then bang around. Once the pipe was cut I realized how stupid I had been but the damage or lack their of had been done.

That was just the start of my troubles. With the pipe gone I tried to loosen the nut to the bulk head but the threads of the bulkhead had gotten so beaten up that it a bugger in a half. I still couldn't loosen the drain pipe from the bulkhead as I couldn't get a grip on anything. The bottom pane of glass sits on 1/2 foam then I have 1" plywood under that. The hole I cut for access to the bulkhead is too small to get much into it and the tension was mounting.

I also knew that it didn't even matter if I was able to get the nut off the bulkhead I still wouldn't be able to get it over the the threaded pipe nut.

I tried using a blade held with pliers to cut between the two but nothing was working and I couldn't get any decent access to it to get any kind of grip. I finally had a eureka moment and thought what if I just use a cutting wheel on a dremel and cut the nut.

Voila! Everything replaced and water tight.

I don't know how many more frustrating evenings it might take but it was a close one.

plutoniumJoe · #2 05-09-2010, 12:02 AM

Well I haven't posted in a while but I did the big move two weekends ago. Everything went better then I thought with no losses. It was also pretty cool that within a day the cyano in the new tank cleared up. The skimmer also got the load that it enjoys and I couldn't be happier with my Bubble Magus.

The lights turned out pretty good but I have to work on leveling them and finding a better way to hang them. I think I will just go with chain.

I will also add t5s to the lights as soon as I get a chance and maybe some LEDs.

Joe

fishytime · #3 05-09-2010, 01:35 AM

good to here the transfer went well.....thats gonna be ton of light

plutoniumJoe · #4 05-09-2010, 03:21 PM

Right now it is 3 X 250MH. The T5s will only be 2 X 54watt as I don't want to replace the ballast at this time. For LED it will only be 6blue and 6white.

plutoniumJoe · #5 06-12-2010, 04:28 PM

Well I have added the T5s to the rack. They are a bit short but they will do. I am running them both with Fiji Purples and it is a nice transition light and makes the corals pop at night.

I have also added two strips of 3X3Watt LEDs that make great moon lights. I stopped running them for now as I need to set up a better way to put them on a timer as I don't want them running full power all night, it's too bright.

I am still working on the cabinetry and hope to have the doors and the top on this weekend (wishful thinking, looks like it will be a gardening weekend).

I also added an exhaust fan that you can see in the top left of the picture and will need to hook that up to a humidistat.

Thanks for looking.
Joe.

Sebae again · #6 06-12-2010, 05:29 PM

Your tank looks great! What brand of leds are you using and where can you buy them?

plutoniumJoe · #7 06-12-2010, 05:46 PM

Hi Sebae,
The LEDs are Prolight 3W that I got off ebay. http://cgi.ebay.ca/20x-White-3W-LED-...#ht_3088wt_962

I bought blue and soft white.