lhernandez86 RSM!, My RSM Options

[lhernandez86]

Hello All!

I'm new to this site, but am an active hobbier within my local community! I recently bought a Used Red Sea Max that I got a Killer deal on.

Tank is fully cycled as of last Friday

Here is my Equipment list.

Stock Lighting - t-5 compacts
Stock Flow Pumps
Koralia 1
Tunze 9002 Protein Skimmer
Steve T's InTank Media Basket
25-30 Lbs of Figi / Tonga LiveRock from my previous 46 Gallon Bowfront tank
25lbs of Black Sand
Some Snails some Hermits...they were on rocks

Equipment Ordered and on the way...

InTank Custom Tunze Skimmer Cup
InTank Fudge Light
Unique LED Lighting

Corals:

Red and White Acan - not sure of the exact name
Ultra Solar Zoas
Ultra Crayon Zoas
Ultra Golden Sun Zoas
Increduble Hulk Zoas
Red/Brown Ricordias
Green Striped Mushrooms
ToadStool Leather

As you can see these are the typical mods that everyone does but I am huge on antinic lighting and thats the only think that really bugs me about this system...you cannot run only the antinic lights by themselves. The LED lights the system comes with are nice but do not really illuminate the corals at night. Also whats the point of buying expensive colorful corals if the colors dont POP out?

Soultion???

I found a local guy named Steve that creates his own LED Fixtures and also retro fits nano tanks with these fixtures.

The name of the company is called:

"Unique LED Lighting"

http://www.uniqueledlighting.com/

Now if you take a look at the prices these arent cheap! Lucky i wasnt trying to run my entire system on these leds...I am just looking for antinic lights to compliment my t-5 lights! So with that said Steve has also never made a kit for the RedSea Max and I am lucky enough to be the first! So the plan is to attach a series of 6 Signature Super Blue LEDS in the section behind the T-5 Lights on the RSM Hood. This section is 3 inches wide and 22 inches long. Perfect fit for my LEDS...I will be getting these installed this Friday for Free! Will have these ready by Saturday! The normal fixtures he sells has three different lights...Daylight/Sunset/Super Blue, some of my LFS have his fixtures on display on there main display tanks and man are these lights nice! They create a nice shimmer effect on the tank and with enough of them you can support SPS to Soft corals in your tank.

The Pics are my start up pictures of the tank....I dont know how to take nice pictures with my camera like everyone else....will work on that for future post.

Attached thumbnail(s)

 

[JohnOTS]

Welcome!!!!

I also have a RSM 130 and would have to agree the only thing missing in this system is good actinics. I added two strips of the powerbrite blue LED's, these are really nice and much cheaper. The only problem with these are the spot light affect when so close to the water, you can see what I mean in my tank thread, link below. I have thrown around ideas of upgrading my lights to MH but I so far have been successfull with SPS growth and color with the RSM stock lighting. I have 4 different millipora's, digitata, blue acro tenius, montipora caps and encrusting montipora with great color and growth.

Again, welcom to NR, this site has helped me out in sooooooo many ways...

[StevieT]

[lhernandez86]

John,

So glad to hear about the LEDS you added...I was thinking about adding these instead, but was afraid of the spotlight effect....did you ever fix this? The LED's that I'm getting do not have the spot light effect, but now I'm wondering if I should get these added to the front of the hood or behind the t-5's. I dont want a cord running from the front of my hood to the back...would prefer to have it behind the t-5's closer to the back, and with the LEDS I am wanting I will also have the option to add more. BTW YOU GOT A KILLER DEAL ON THOSE! Those retail for over a 100 for the main led strip and the additional linking led strip. Since I will be the first to get the LEDS on my RSM he is only charging me 125$ installed....thats dirt cheap compared to the other fixtures he is selling.

I will also be adding SPS and I'm super glad to see that you are doing great with them! What additives do you add? if any? I am using Tropic Marin Pro Salt mix, what are you using?

Thanks!

Luis

[JohnOTS]

I dose with two little fishes c-balance AB 1cap of A and 1.5 caps of B every other day. I also dose 3 tsp tech-m magnesium once a week. I had to do a lot of testing to get this schedule down. Now I don't test that much anymore, well maybe once a week before my weekly water change.

I also feed my SPS roti feast, two drops every three days. I am not so sure the feeding is helping but I have noticed a larger PE on most of my SPS, who knows if this is from the food though... I think I have come to realize that stable and consistent water is just as if not more important than strong lighting for SPS health.

[lhernandez86]

Ok cool...I will make a note of those

I am also considering holding off on the LEDS and just doing it myself.

Here is a cool thread I found on how to do an install on the LEDS...

http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?t=1587273

[lhernandez86]

ANY IDEAS ON HOW TO REDUCE MICRO BUBBLES COMING FROM THE STOCK PUMPS? DRIVING ME CRAZY!~

[lhernandez86]

Alright....

Finally found the best choice on the LEDS...LEDSupply.com sells LED Kits for different price ranges depending on how many you would like.

It will cost me around 260$ for a DIY Fixture for my RSM.

Here is what is needed...

Heatsink from Heatsinkusa.com - 42$
2 - Led 9 Led Kits from LedSupply.com 100 each *Note these kits have all the wiring done for you all you need to do is request how much space you want between each LED.)
(these kits will include EVERYTHING you need all you need to do is attach the LEDS)
Artic Epoxy- 13$

After that all you have to do is attach the heatsink to your canopy.

They do sell the exact size heat sink in order to replace the t-5's in the RedSea Max . The price really depends on how many Leds you want....which I'm not sure about without testing the power they illuminate. I know there was another guy on here that was starting to retro fit his canopy....but he never updated it again and he was going to put 36 Leds on it. A LFS also only has 18 on a 48 gallon corner tank with all softy corals in it. Oh and the other think you will need is an additional fan....this will be trick b/c it is prefered to be attached directly to the heatsink.

I will be working on this project once the funds are recharged....

This post has been edited by lhernandez86: Nov 5 2009, 03:29 PM

[JohnOTS]

ANY IDEAS ON HOW TO REDUCE MICRO BUBBLES COMING FROM THE STOCK PUMPS? DRIVING ME CRAZY!~

Have you replaced the stock skimmer? The skimmer is usually the culprit. If you can replace the stock skimmer with a tunze 9002 and install a stevieT media rack, your tank will run so much better.

[lhernandez86]

Yes I have both....I think it just needs more water added

This post has been edited by lhernandez86: Nov 5 2009, 03:44 PM

[JohnOTS]

Yes I have both....I think it just needs more water added

You could also attach some tubing to the pumps to insure that the water never falls below the pumps. I never had to do this though. I know you need to be carefull with the way you add the chemi pure to the rack, it can clog pretty easy.

[lhernandez86]

Figured out it was the Floss that was creating the issue....just wont put in as much next time!

[StevieT]

You could also attach some tubing to the pumps to insure that the water never falls below the pumps. I never had to do this though. I know you need to be carefull with the way you add the chemi pure to the rack, it can clog pretty easy.

Tying the chemi pure to the second shelf keeps it from blocking flow to the bottom of the rack.