1st fire in Flame Monaco and some questions.....

[mjstef]

1st off let me state my qualifications, Grew up with a Captain Hot woodstove tied into out furnace and also owned a home with an add onn wood furnace in the basement. This is the 1st sealed fireplace i have owned. Got the Flame Monaco installed this afternoon. Took FOREVER to get it hot enough to light off the secondaries. After the secondaries lit off i started cutting off the air. Took about 20 minutes but got the air shut down all the way. Irt burned beautiful for nearly 2 hours and i went about some chores. Checked the Selkirk 1" insulated right above the stove and had 173. This seems awfully hot being the air shutter was shut all the way? I let it go and it never got any hotter. About 4' from the top of the chimney the outer temp was 110* (18' tall chimney)

Just looked a few minutes ago and even with about 1/3'd load of wood, Their is no flame after burning perfect for over 2 hours. Is this supposed to happen? should i have had the air open a little more? Was burning 4 year seasoned Red Oak that was at 15% moisture. Thanks in advance for any advice. The manual leaves a LOT to be desired.....