Another Boyu 550 Question/setup

[Appleseed]

Hi all,

I recently bought one of these to be used as a freshwater tank but since the shop assistant mentioned that it could be used as a marine tank, I decided to try my hand at setting up a reef/marine tank.

But since opening the box I have discovered that the hood only has one 24w white/blue "tube". My concern is that this may not be sufficient to keep corals, so can any of our wise "elders" offer some advice as to if this is sufficient or should I add one more lighting to the hood?

I have now realised why this particular tank was cheaper due to the lack of skimmer, UV etc.... Oh well maybe I will learn to stop impulse buying... This was the only Boyu they had instock but now realise that this is a “B” variant. Oh well let the upgrades begin I guess...

Thanks

Andrew

 

[Morri]

With a single light you would be very limited to what you can keep in there as far as corals go, if you have 2 lights in it you can keep most LPS and Softies.

As far as the skimmer goes grab yourself a WG310 from Fleabay very cheap from hong kong

I wouldnt worry about the UV you do not need it mine is switched off.

 

[Appleseed]

Thanks Morri,

I already ordered a WG308 last week which is on its way from HK, hopefully it's okay...

Can anyone advise what parts I need to "upgrade" the lights?

 

[Morri]

Lights are a bit of a trickey one on the TL550 it basically depends on how much space you have free I would try to see if you can squeeze in the biggest PL in there you can, else you could look into adding some 3W LEDs will (need 18 min) but without seeing how much space you have got it would be hard to call.

Alternatly you could go open top and use a Metal Halide.

 

[Appleseed]

It's pretty much like the normal setup less the additional bulb. Also i would prefer to keep the hood.

 

[Morri]

I am of the same opinion to keep the hood but best to give you options looking at the picture you can eassily get another PC in there.

or LEDs PC is the easier option and you will be able to keep most LPS and softies. Is the installed bulb the half blue half white one?

 

[Appleseed]

Yes its a half blue half white job.

I am trying to figure out what bits to get to add an additional blue/white bulb.
What LED option/s would you recommend?

 

[Morri]

I personaly would go with a PC Ballast cannot rember wattage but this relative to length 24W rings a bell but could be wrong.

Then add a strip of Blue LEDs from fleabay this would be the easist route to go.

If you have the DIY skills you can make an array that will fit in the hood using CREE XR-E Leds this will have stunning results imo but might be over Kill less you want to keep things like SPS and Clams etc.

This is what my second project tank looks like with LEDs



Next thing to look at is the filter if you have not done yet the simple rule here is everything you got for the filter standard take out all compartments should be totaly empty. Add the skimmer in one heater and return pump in another.

This leaves 2 empty compartments people differ here some add broken live rock to these compartments.

I have 1 of my compartments with carbon and Rowaphos in and the other I grow chaeto in to removes nitrates.

 

[Appleseed]

I already have the fleabay leds in my pile of goodies
I was planning on populating the chambers as follows (left to right)
return pump
live rubble
rena smart heater
WG308

Also I assume that I can use a 24w PC Ballast to power an additional "bulb"?
I am okay with DIY, but never fiddled with PC ballasts before.

 

[Morri]

I already have the fleabay leds in my pile of goodies
I was planning on populating the chambers as follows (left to right)
return pump
live rubble
rena smart heater
WG308

Also I assume that I can use a 24w PC Ballast to power an additional "bulb"?
I am okay with DIY, but never fiddled with PC ballasts before.

Yip thats all they use I know when i was looking i struggled to find a ballast with the correct connectors but they are out there.

I would recomend using rowaphos as wel as this removes phosphate Carbon is always useful neither of these are large so can sit on top of the LR depending on what you are going to stock macro algae (Chaeto) is very good for reducing nitrates all this needs is a water proof LED in one of the chambers.

 

[Appleseed]

I will take the advise and add chaeto was going to add rowaphos in one of the chambers.

Can you recommend a watertight led to go with the chaeto?

I am also going to stirp the hood to find out what ballast is installed, hopefully it will have the part number on it (it appears to be a phillips product). And then google the cr@p out of it

Man google/altavista/net has changed our lives! I cann't imagine trying to figure this out 15+ years ago...

 

[Morri]

I just ordered these for mine to try and improve the growth a little more

http/cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?Vie...:EOIBSA:GB:1123

 

[seffieuk]

to the salty side

You could of course just buy a replacement hood or add a clip on metal halide. Occasionally a bargain boyu can be had, that would be another option

seffie x

 

[Appleseed]

to the salty side

You could of course just buy a replacement hood or add a clip on metal halide. Occasionally a bargain boyu can be had, that would be another option

seffie x

Thanks for the welcome Seffie.

I am trying to keep the hood, hence the desire to get the bits and bobs for the standard lights.

 

[Appleseed]

Morri, I was looking at your wicked LED build and was wondering if it’s okay to use LED's with the standard PC bulb?
I was thinking of maybe adding LED's if I can't find all the bits to get the second PC wired in. Any idea’s on how many or how to work out how many I would need?

I don’t suppose that you have a parts list from you LED build that you would care to share ?