Moving to Norway part II

[ergert]

Well, I bought a 90gallon Reef ready tank, stand and lights( 2- 250Watt Metal Halides)+ 4 Actinic blue 65watt power compacts) This light is one unit.

I am going to buy some Voltage Transformers- the one for my tank is a 1500watt step up to 220 or step down to 110volts. This is what I am getting just for my fish tank :

VT 1500 - STEP UP /DOWN VOLTAGE CONVERTERS

1500 Watt Maximum Capacity, heavy-duty continuous use transformer
Converts 110/120 V to 220/240 V OR converts single phase 220/240 V to 110/120 V (switch is on back of unit)
On/Off switch with indicator lamp
4 outlets on front of unit (outlets accept 3 or 2 prong US plugs and 2 prong Euro/Asian plugs)
Insulated power cord is hard wired with a grounded European Shucko plug also good for Asian outlets
Comes with 2 prong US adapter to enable non-grounded use in the USA, Canada and Mexico (grounded 3 prong US adapter also available - Item No. VP 13)
Easy to carry with attached handle, heavy-duty metal casing
Fuse Protected.

I am going to plug this in the wall and have an american powerstrip plugged into it with my 2 ballasts and return pump and power heads plugged into that.

Will this work ok? I am scared I will plug all this in and it will blow up on me. It should work fine if I flip the switch on the back of the transformer to 110 right?

Anyway, my coral died last week, I am not worried about shipping that anymore. I do have about 80 snails and crabs I would like to put in a small bag and bring it on my carry-on and make a little bucket to put them in when I get to Steinkjer before we permanently move to Oslo. Trying to find out how to bring my fish that survived also.

I am going to cook my live rock and ship it with my furniture and t.v etc and will have to bring it back to life again when I get my stuff from the shipment. That way I will have all my rock as I heard it is hard to get there.

What do you guys think about the transformer? Think it will work ok?
What about bringing the snails with me onboard the plane? They dont require any water, just a wet paper towel soaked in salt water.

Thanks for your opinions. I will be calling the Norwegian embassy here in houston to find out how to ship my cat there because Norway is so dang strict about all this! Thanks for your assistance.

Eric

[ergert]

Opprinnelig postet av ergert

Well, I bought a 90gallon Reef ready tank, stand and lights( 2- 250Watt Metal Halides)+ 4 Actinic blue 65watt power compacts) This light is one unit. All this cost me $600.00. I think that is cheap.

I am going to buy some Voltage Transformers- the one for my tank is a 1500watt step up to 220 or step down to 110volts. This is what I am getting just for my fish tank :

VT 1500 - STEP UP /DOWN VOLTAGE CONVERTERS

1500 Watt Maximum Capacity, heavy-duty continuous use transformer
Converts 110/120 V to 220/240 V OR converts single phase 220/240 V to 110/120 V (switch is on back of unit)
On/Off switch with indicator lamp
4 outlets on front of unit (outlets accept 3 or 2 prong US plugs and 2 prong Euro/Asian plugs)
Insulated power cord is hard wired with a grounded European Shucko plug also good for Asian outlets
Comes with 2 prong US adapter to enable non-grounded use in the USA, Canada and Mexico (grounded 3 prong US adapter also available - Item No. VP 13)
Easy to carry with attached handle, heavy-duty metal casing
Fuse Protected.

I am going to plug this in the wall and have an american powerstrip plugged into it with my 2 ballasts and return pump and power heads plugged into that.

Will this work ok? I am scared I will plug all this in and it will blow up on me. It should work fine if I flip the switch on the back of the transformer to 110 right?

Anyway, my coral died last week, I am not worried about shipping that anymore. I do have about 80 snails and crabs I would like to put in a small bag and bring it on my carry-on and make a little bucket to put them in when I get to Steinkjer before we permanently move to Oslo. Trying to find out how to bring my fish that survived also.

I am going to cook my live rock and ship it with my furniture and t.v etc and will have to bring it back to life again when I get my stuff from the shipment. That way I will have all my rock as I heard it is hard to get there.

What do you guys think about the transformer? Think it will work ok?
What about bringing the snails with me onboard the plane? They dont require any water, just a wet paper towel soaked in salt water.

Thanks for your opinions. I will be calling the Norwegian embassy here in houston to find out how to ship my cat there because Norway is so dang strict about all this! Thanks for your assistance.

Eric

[norskfisk]

I am worried that you can get a 50Hz/60Hz problem. Described here:
http://www.kropla.com/frequency.htm

You should find answers to these questions before trying:

Does the transformer transform 50Hz to 60Hz? If it does, then you should be safe. If not the pumps will be affected (17% reduced effect and 17% higher current, danger of overheating).

Will the light ballast system be affected by the lower frequency?

[ergert]

Oh man, I dont know about the Hz part. I gave you the description and I have not got a response back from them. Thanks for the tip!

Eric

[ergert]

I cant find anything about that. I am going to have to call when these holidays that stop everything are over. I am not going to risk my lights etc, if it doesnt convert Hz also. I am assuming it does. I am looking at the top of the line and actually will probably get a 2000watt just for the tank lights and stuff for that.
I am not going to take a chance and just get one and assume it will do what I am thinking. If my lights pop, I will be knocking on their door.

Another thing I remember talking about was that you guys sometimes use your ocean water for your tanks. Am I right about that? Where do you go to get ocean water that doesnt have a 2 headed rat floating around? Oh yeah, its not the States. Is it the same salinity,PH etc?

Do you guys have chlorine in your drinking water or minimal heavy metals to where I can start off my tank with the hose outside?

I am very concerned about the transformer part so any electricians please feel free to jump in and put my mind at ease. I know for a fact these lights= made in China are only 110V and 60Hz.

[stoffer]

Bringing stuff in a bag of water sounds like a royal '!"#!"#!¤%!¤ these days , brave man.

[ergert]

I did some reading and found out this: Do voltage converters convert the cycle (Hz)?

All voltage converters only convert the voltage and not the cycle, however most appliances and electronics will function properly with them. North American 110-120 volt electricity is generated at 60 Hz. (Cycles) Alternating Current. Most foreign 220-240 volt electricity is generated at 50 Hz. (Cycles) Alternating Current. This difference in cycles may cause the motor in your 60 Hz. North American appliance to operate slightly slower when used on 50 Hz. foreign electricity. This cycle difference will also cause analog clocks and timing circuits that use Alternating Current as a timing base to keep incorrect time. Most modern electronic equipment including battery chargers, computers, printers, stereos, tape and CD players, VCR/DVD players, etc. will not be affected by the difference in cycles.

Hopefully I wont notice a difference since the lighting is so bright.
Yeah, I am willing to bring my snails on board. I have breathable bags and I will just stuff it with a few drops of water and wet tissue. What can they do about it? Take it away, oh no, not the killer snails

Nobody commented on the using your own ocean water for your aquarium. Is that a pain in the **&** or should I just use water from the house? Do you guys chlorinate your drinking water?

Thanks guys.

Eric

[stoffer]

Water quality in the sea around Norway is under normal conditions very clean, however there are conditions in our deep fjords when algea and other stuff will be very consentrated. Idealy you get your water a couple feet down and not nearby major cities, factories and fresh lake outlets just to be sure. At Steinkjer i guess you wont have any problems. Drinking water is good for human consumation and in most areas good enough altough maybe not ideal as it may have silicates, phosphates and other stuff in it. Also there is always the chanse you might livining in an area or house with old copper plumbing and other minor issues so a normal ro/di filter is a good insurance.

[stoffer]

On the equipment i dont think you should have any issues, reading most pump specs you will see its the very same pump, they just change the capasity diagram according to the change in speed between 50 and 60Hz. On the lights this difference should have absolutly no impact with an electronic ballast as most are today.

[ergert]

Thank you very much for your replies Stoffer! That makes me feel better.
At first we will be in Steinjer until we find a house in Oslo or around it. I have to have a City to live in and it is close to the rest of Europe and I am just going to take drives to Europe.

After our stuff gets shipped we will actually move to a house in Oslo where I will set up my tank etc. I am really excited about moving now.

I dont have a job, but my wife says the government has to take care of us until we get on our feet. I dont want to depend on the goverment very long so hopefully I will get a job.

I have a degree in International Studies with 6 years of finance work. If anyone knows of a place that I would have a good chance of working in Oslo, let me know. I can also cut up fish for a living as most foreigners that go there do. Got to do what you got to do.

Thanks

Eric