Canada Corals warehouse build thread

[corpusse]

Originally Posted by Aqua-Digital

And about time too stores took a lead from Europe and the UK. I was shocked when I first came over here what I saw locally, half flooded floors, moldy walls, slobs behind the counters in shorts because the places had no humidity control. If a store was like that in the UK it would last a week and most suppliers would not supply them.

Another store recently opened up locally with the same euro/UK clean looks, good to see its catching on.

I laughed when I read this, but I have to say I was a little weirded out going into CC. Just because it is so different then any other reef shop I've ever been to over the years. Still dropped a few hundred on some nice corals though

[The Grizz]

Very impressive set up, I'd be a kid in a candy store if I lived within reasonable driving distance.

[lastlight]

My first hour in there would probably be spent admiring the setup itself.

[Steve_French]

I wish I was still in the military just so I could get back to Ontario for a side trip to this shop. I am extremely impressed and will make a point of visiting if I get back that way.

[xenon]

Quick little update:

We decided to go backwards in technology and remove the GHL Mitras LED's from our SPS system and replace them with ReefBrite Hybrids instead. These are single ended fixtures using 400w 20K Radium bulbs. They are also supplemented with four 72" ReefBrite XHO led strips.

The power consumption is over double that from the GHL Mitras and heat is already an issue that we will need to deal with soon (chiller) but our SPS corals have never been more colorful.

Note: The tanks are perfectly level. The Tunze wavebox makes the tank look un-level.

[Bill@IA]

Originally Posted by xenon

Quick little update:

We decided to go backwards in technology and remove the GHL Mitras LED's from our SPS system and replace them with ReefBrite Hybrids instead. These are single ended fixtures using 400w 20K Radium bulbs. They are also supplemented with four 72" ReefBrite XHO led strips.

The power consumption is over double that from the GHL Mitras and heat is already an issue that we will need to deal with soon (chiller) but our SPS corals have never been more colorful.

Note: The tanks are perfectly level. The Tunze wavebox makes the tank look un-level.

Wow….that is an awesome set up. I love the new lighting system.

Way to go Dan.

[Delphinus]

I miss my Radiums. I was soooo reluctant to switch to LED but a year ago everyone was still in "full on switch to LED and GHL is the bestest of the bunch" mode. But a part of me worried that anything-not-Radium would be a step down.

But then came the challenge of replacing the Radiums. So I bought into the hype.

Man how things change.

Will you be selling the Radiums going forward? If they become easier to buy then I might consider switching back. Although the heat and power bill aren't something I'm hugely happy to go back to, I do have to admit that my tank just looked better with them than without.

[kien]

Originally Posted by xenon

WOW! Way to harness the power of the sun there! :-D Glad to hear the corals are responding favourably. Makes me want to try some radiums :-)

[Aquattro]

Originally Posted by kien

Makes me want to try some radiums :-)

Everyone is doing it!!

[xenon]

Originally Posted by kien

WOW! Way to harness the power of the sun there! :-D Glad to hear the corals are responding favourably. Makes me want to try some radiums :-)

400w 20K Radiums seem to be the gold standard for SPS coloration but it has lots of disadvantages compared to LED.

The heat produced from both the light and ballast is incredible. We are running a 1/3hp chiller but its not enough. More than twice the cost for power. The bulbs fire pretty white with electronic ballasts that are available on the market so they do still need actinic supplementation to make them look right. Evaporation has also increased.

I am patiently waiting for LED technology to catch up so that I can take these suckers down but something tells me that's not gonna happen for a very long time.