my 5G refuge, thanks Kevin!

[ShagMan]

This is what my 5G refuge looks like right now... I finally got
some of the macro that Kevin has given me repeatedly, to
take hold... after some testing with a refractometer, I found
out that the macro in the past didn't like the 1.030 SG!!
I ordered myself a refractometer and a TDS meter yesterday
and today, so I should be good to go now. Looking good!
This tank will be transferred to the 55G refuge when the 240G
is up and going... should be sweet!

THANK YOU Kevin.

[SaltnLime]

I have one of those little 5 gallons also...Want to tell us more about the setup and lighting....Maybe i could do something similar.

[ShagMan]

OK, you talked me into it.

Firstly, the pump/filtration is totally stock, the
only difference is that I stopped replacing the
pad, I just keep on washing it every
once-in-a-while, but that's just because I'm too
cheap to buy replacements. Remember, this
is a refuge, not a coral tank, so high flow is
not needed. I have found that I'm growing a
few small stalks of Redsea Xenia in this tank
though!

The lighting is from www.ahsupply.com, it's a
2 x 13w PC retrofit kit, and it comes with every-
thing that you need.

Here's a trick: I needed a white bulb (I ordered
the kit originally with two actinic bulbs)... I looked
around, and found out that walmart carries a
"shoplight wand" thingy, for automotive use, and
it has a 6500K 13w PC in it. If you're retrofitting
something small, and just want white/yellow light,
go to walmart and get one, it's $20, and you have
to gut and retrofit it into the hood you're using.
In the picture, the white bulb is a 6500K bulb from
the shoplight.

[harbingerofthefish]

Just a question...

why do you need an actinic light on a fuge?

So you have a spare 13 watt actinic?

[ShagMan]

Actually, now that I remember, the other one broke.
The actinic is good, because it makes the water not
so yellowy looking... other than that, you could just
run all 6500K bulbs

[110REEFMAN]

still at wallmart go to the section that has desklamps

there is on that is like 9.00 i think they were onsale for 5.00 its a translucent blue that folds down or flips up and has a half round base if you mcgyver it to peices you will get the transformer bulb and push button i had an extra radshaq project box big enough for the transformers and the switches i drilled some holes for vents

you can retro this into any thing i was thinking of gitting hitemp blue spray paint and use it for a moonlight im not shure of that i might use led

and by the way if you want cheap blue led loghts to convert to moon lights i found a souce for cheap ones with the resistor on them i think even cheaper than radshaq when you buy the parts

here you go yall are gonna laugh

i went to freds there is one in pensacola on ninemile rd (for you pnscolas)go the the auto isle and look for the led washer lights only 5.45 i think for a pair

go home get a pair of cutters clip off the front chrome portion then pull out the clear plastic then pull put the led be shure to clip a length of wire cause its real long

it already has the resistor on it but what is funny its on the negative (-) lead???? but just wire to a +12volt source and a hanger and you got a blue moon light !!!!!!!!!

chad

[ShagMan]

Was the bulb double ended? If it was, it wasn't a power compact. The cheapest I've seen a single 13w PC in anything, it was $15-$20... best deal I've seen for 2 x 13w is the larger hand-shoplight that you can get at Lowes or HD.

VERY good idea about the LED windshield washer nozzle thingies, like you said, they'd come with the resistor already ready to go, and are usually cheap... might have to try that myself.

[110REEFMAN]

the bulbs were pc 13 watts they also have replacement bulbs for 5.00-7.00 but if you catch the pc desk lamps onsale you can get the xtra parts and a new bulb for cheaper than a replacement bulb ill have to go by wollyworld and look to see if they have the lamp again sometimes target has lamps that go cheap too!!!!

chad