Kensington Reefer
Supporting Member
Tasty!
Leemar Starphire 290
- Thread starter Kmooresf
- Start date
aqua-nut
Supporting Member
OK, first thing. You know your tank is too big when you cannot take a FTS from directly in FRONT of the tank! I hate you!! 
You are getting really good with the camera. I really like that you do not pan or move the camera when changing scenes. I like the fade to black transition. It's very relaxing.
And of course the beasties are beautiful.
You are getting really good with the camera. I really like that you do not pan or move the camera when changing scenes. I like the fade to black transition. It's very relaxing.
And of course the beasties are beautiful.
Kmooresf
Supporting Member
rygh said:
That is an interesting idea mark. With the tall "spires" in the middle though I fear it would cause even more shadows. Could be kinda cool looking though. The tank does have an interesting vibe right now.........it has a lot of dark and mysterious places. I could get away with it as is........however there is a lot of real estate......especially in the back that I would like to get some sps on. The new lighting will allow that. Ultimately I won't know if it was a good decision until I get them on the tank (I could have a sneek preview tonight........cause ecoxotic is in San Diego and they shipped yesterday). We'll see. Thx.
Kmooresf
Supporting Member
Made a quick video with the new lights tonight. The color is pretty great on the closer shots. Very close to what it really looks like. Color gets very faded when further back. I wanted to get a vid with just the kessils. I will do another with the supplimental lighting to do a comparison. Getting better with the video camera. Thankfully I am getting better with the editing software as well. Used to take me hours to make a short video. Anyway, hope you enjoy.
[YouTube]RFEdHhbhE2M[/YouTube]
[YouTube]RFEdHhbhE2M[/YouTube]
Kmooresf
Supporting Member
Made some nice progress on the canopy this week.
Pretty much finished other than a bit more sanding and staining. I'm very pleased with it, considering I'm not a carpenter. It's gonna have to sit in the garage another week until I get back from a family wedding. LAME!!
Anyway, thought I would show ya some pics of the progress.
Dry fit for the pulley system. I wasn't completely sure how they would react to being pulled from one side. Figured out the load still hangs true. SWEET!
I'll be happy to get rid of the temporary hanging scheme.
Pretty much finished other than a bit more sanding and staining. I'm very pleased with it, considering I'm not a carpenter. It's gonna have to sit in the garage another week until I get back from a family wedding. LAME!!
Anyway, thought I would show ya some pics of the progress.
Dry fit for the pulley system. I wasn't completely sure how they would react to being pulled from one side. Figured out the load still hangs true. SWEET!
I'll be happy to get rid of the temporary hanging scheme.
Kensington Reefer
Supporting Member
Damn Holmes!
You've got mad skills!
You've got mad skills!
Kmooresf
Supporting Member
Holy Mama! I am TIRED!!!
Got a hair up my A%& today and decided I needed to FINISH the canopy. Started around 11 am and At 0110 this morning (14 hours later) It is hung and it's freakin AWESOME!
By no means is it actually done, however it is hanging over the tank with functioning lights. So..........it's pretty much there. Minor tweaks and such to do.
Anyway, I'm going to bed, but wanted to get some pics up cause I'm EXCITED! :bigsmile:
Stain job isn't great, but it's the second thing I have ever stained, and it matches pretty good to the stand, so I am happy with it.
Got creative with how to hang the Kessils with as little verticle height as possible so I can raise the canopy to the ceiling.
MANY hours later.............
Kessils.......
Cord management............sorta. LOL!
150w ballast and controller (for the remote) for the ecoxotic Panorama Marine fixtures.
Let there be a crap load of LIGHT!!!!
Under the hood.....
This is with only the Ecoxotic fixtures (145 watts total). I'm impressed with the coverage. I will post more about these lights and how they are working with the kessils later. Overall though...........I like them a lot.
Got a hair up my A%& today and decided I needed to FINISH the canopy. Started around 11 am and At 0110 this morning (14 hours later) It is hung and it's freakin AWESOME!
By no means is it actually done, however it is hanging over the tank with functioning lights. So..........it's pretty much there. Minor tweaks and such to do.
Anyway, I'm going to bed, but wanted to get some pics up cause I'm EXCITED! :bigsmile:
Stain job isn't great, but it's the second thing I have ever stained, and it matches pretty good to the stand, so I am happy with it.
Got creative with how to hang the Kessils with as little verticle height as possible so I can raise the canopy to the ceiling.
MANY hours later.............
Kessils.......
Cord management............sorta. LOL!
150w ballast and controller (for the remote) for the ecoxotic Panorama Marine fixtures.
Let there be a crap load of LIGHT!!!!
Under the hood.....
This is with only the Ecoxotic fixtures (145 watts total). I'm impressed with the coverage. I will post more about these lights and how they are working with the kessils later. Overall though...........I like them a lot.
Kensington Reefer
Supporting Member
Hey now!!
Kmooresf
Supporting Member
Hey thanks guy's! I'm glad you like it. It's not finished yet, but you get the idea.
It is WAY heavier than anticipated, so I am going to change out the rope for a larger / thicker.....climbing style rope. The cord I am using is rated to 150lbs and I am sure it would be fine, but it is thin and hurts my hands pulling it up and down........plus it freaks me out seeing that much weight over my little glass box. Ha!
Have to put up some moon lights as well and several other small fixes. I'm working the next three days though, so it will have to wait till friday it seems.
Oh, and this makes it next to impossible to get into the tank. Even pulled as high as it will go..............so, tracks are also on the list, so I can pull it away from the tank for big maintenance jobs. Lot's to do.
It is WAY heavier than anticipated, so I am going to change out the rope for a larger / thicker.....climbing style rope. The cord I am using is rated to 150lbs and I am sure it would be fine, but it is thin and hurts my hands pulling it up and down........plus it freaks me out seeing that much weight over my little glass box. Ha!
Have to put up some moon lights as well and several other small fixes. I'm working the next three days though, so it will have to wait till friday it seems.
Oh, and this makes it next to impossible to get into the tank. Even pulled as high as it will go..............so, tracks are also on the list, so I can pull it away from the tank for big maintenance jobs. Lot's to do.
Lubecky
Guest
I've been following this thread as a visitor and had to join because I'm dying to ask you questions. Outstanding build by the way. Very impressive.
I've only had kessils since I started my little 33 gal. I do love them. They are a great light. I recently upgraded to 2-350 wides about 4 months ago. Have you had any issues with any of your blue corals keeping color? How far off the water were you keeping your wides? I know I have too much light I know but I can't stand shadowing. It's great to see that these lights are clearly capable of growth and maintaining color. I have not been successful in keeping the color of my corals but that is for different reasons and not mainly from the lights. Do you feel that they wash out your corals ?
Here's a pic of my tank before I started preparing for my upgrade.
It must be noted I guess that kessils alone may not be sufficient enough since you are having to add supplemental LEDs.
I'm local and will be upgrading to the new 360's I'm working on a 180 gal system and will prob be selling my two wides for $625 for both not sure if you would be interested?
I'm also wondering how you like your skimmer? Is it doing you justice? Would you recommend it? Buy it again?
I've only had kessils since I started my little 33 gal. I do love them. They are a great light. I recently upgraded to 2-350 wides about 4 months ago. Have you had any issues with any of your blue corals keeping color? How far off the water were you keeping your wides? I know I have too much light I know but I can't stand shadowing. It's great to see that these lights are clearly capable of growth and maintaining color. I have not been successful in keeping the color of my corals but that is for different reasons and not mainly from the lights. Do you feel that they wash out your corals ?
Here's a pic of my tank before I started preparing for my upgrade.
It must be noted I guess that kessils alone may not be sufficient enough since you are having to add supplemental LEDs.
I'm local and will be upgrading to the new 360's I'm working on a 180 gal system and will prob be selling my two wides for $625 for both not sure if you would be interested?
I'm also wondering how you like your skimmer? Is it doing you justice? Would you recommend it? Buy it again?