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villjr
Tue, 13th Mar 2007, 10:25 AM
Well I started a new job, and one of my first priorities was to upgrade my system. This will take place over the next two to three months as I buy the various pieces for the new system. Very little hardware from the old system will go into the new system. All livestock and rock will make their way into the new system.

My current system:
My current set-up is a 37 gallon Oceanic semi-cube(24"x18"x20") drilled in the back with a 10 gallon sump/refugium. Coralife 65 Super Skimmer, mag 5 return, 2 x Seio 620 for circulation, and a Current Outer Orbit with a 15K 150 Watt DE HQI and 130 Watts PC. There is roughly 55 pounds of live rock in the system. Not sure how much sand there is, but there's about a 1"-2" layer. A small refugium with Chaeto in it with a 75 watt grow bulb from Home Depot over it. The live stock includes 30+ frags/small colonies of acros, millis, caps, and a few other SPS I don't know the names for. A few LPS, various zoos and rics/mushrooms. Two squamosas, one crocea, and one derasa. One yellow tang, scopas tang, mated pair of true percs, lawnmower blenny, and a green mandarin. There's also a sand sifting star, peppermint shirimp, cleaner shrimp, and various hermits and snails.

My proposed system:
70 gallon reef ready Oceanic(36"x18"x25") which is already on order
60 gallon sump/refugium(48"x12"x21") w/ 75 watt grow bulb over the refugium
Custom built stand to house the sump/refugium(courtesy of Louis and David at Aquatic Warehouse)
Coralife 125 Super Skimmer(maybe something else if I find a good deal)
Mag 5 return from the old system
An additional 30-40 pounds of liverock depending on the aquascaping
Two Tunze nano-streams if I don't wind up using the current Seios
Two 250 Watt 20K DE Metal Halides with lumenarc-minis running on two electronic ballasts(open top tank, I don't like canopies)
Cooling fans to maintain constant temperature(if these fail to do the job, may buy a small chiller)
Additional bag of course sand

My current system has been running for almost 12 months and 15 months total including the previous system. I love my tank, but the sump/refugium are too small and I love clams and would like to add additional clams as well as more corals and a couple more fish. That being said, when I finally do set up my new system, I will sell my old tank, stand, and sump/refugium. I live in a small apartment and do not have the room to store the tank. I will be holding on to the Coralife 65 SS and Current Outer Orbit lighting fixture as backups.

As I said this will be a work in progress over the next two to three months. I will add some pictures of my current system tonight or tomorrow and new pics of the new system as I get the various parts in. Any questions/comments/suggestions are more than welcome.

-Ernest

erikharrison
Tue, 13th Mar 2007, 11:29 AM
awesome Ernest, can't wait to see it man!

villjr
Sat, 14th Apr 2007, 06:15 PM
Well it's been almost a month and I decided to update this thread. I am also adding some pics of my current setup and pics of the new tank and proposed stand. I will also be going with one 400W DE MH instead of two 250W. And I will be adding some VHO's as well. Not sure how many yet. I'll add some pics of the stand as it's being built.

Current setup:
FTS
http://i60.photobucket.com/albums/h17/villjr/DSC00393.jpg
Sump/fuge
http://i60.photobucket.com/albums/h17/villjr/DSC00394.jpg
Closeup. Little cloudy the fish kicked up some sand.
http://i60.photobucket.com/albums/h17/villjr/DSC00396.jpg

The new tank:
http://i60.photobucket.com/albums/h17/villjr/DSC00392.jpg

http://i60.photobucket.com/albums/h17/villjr/DSC00391.jpg

The stand that Louis from AW is building.
http://i60.photobucket.com/albums/h17/villjr/stand2.jpg

http://i60.photobucket.com/albums/h17/villjr/stand.jpg

sharkboy
Sat, 14th Apr 2007, 07:31 PM
Nice tank...I saw it today at Aquatic Warehouse...I also saw a completed stand that Louis made...It looks great! By the way, you might want to go to something less blue than the 20k bulb...maybe 12 or 14 K for a little more growth...Good luck!

villjr
Sat, 14th Apr 2007, 07:38 PM
Nice tank...I saw it today at Aquatic Warehouse...I also saw a completed stand that Louis made...It looks great! By the way, you might want to go to something less blue than the 20k bulb...maybe 12 or 14 K for a little more growth...Good luck!Yeah now that I'm going with only one MH, I'll probably go with a 14k or 15k bulb and the VHO's. The stand there isn't mine.

txstateunivreefer
Sat, 14th Apr 2007, 10:10 PM
hmm pvc nori feeder havent seen that one i like that better than fishing a dang clip off the sand :)

hobogato
Sat, 14th Apr 2007, 10:18 PM
dont know how i missed this ernest - sweet upgrade! cant wait to see more ;)

hijack

hmm pvc nori feeder havent seen that one i like that better than fishing a dang clip off the sand :)

i use the clips, but i also have them fastened to the inside of the canopy using the cable and crimp barrels that are made for saltwater fishing.

villjr
Sun, 15th Apr 2007, 01:26 PM
hmm pvc nori feeder havent seen that one i like that better than fishing a dang clip off the sand :)

I actually got the idea from Louis at AW. He uses the same method, actually he gave me that piece of pvc from his store.


dont know how i missed this ernest - sweet upgrade! cant wait to see more ;)

Thanks Ace. I'm hoping to have the tank setup soon. I'm chomping at the bit to get it done already. But I would rather take my time and do it right then rush. There's still a few more items I need to purchase before I can set it up.

villjr
Sun, 27th May 2007, 01:39 PM
Didn't realize it had been over a month since I had posted anything. Well yeaterday I purchased all the wood (3/4" oak) necessary to build the tank, canopy, and side shelves. Will probably be about a month before it is all built. Still need to buy the MH and VHO's for the new tank. Will update as things come up.

villjr
Fri, 1st Jun 2007, 10:31 PM
Here's a pic of my sump/fuge. It's a 55+ gallon with the return on the left, refugium in the middle, and skimmer section on the right. Total system volume will be almost 125 gallons.

http://i60.photobucket.com/albums/h17/villjr/DSC00399.jpg

villjr
Fri, 1st Jun 2007, 10:36 PM
Future plans include a seperate 20 gallon(24"x18"x12") clam tank that will be plumbed into the sump/fuge. It will be lit by my current lighting fixture, a 150 W metal halide with 130 W power compact.

villjr
Wed, 27th Jun 2007, 11:11 AM
Should be getting 2 Hydor Koralia #4's today.

erikharrison
Wed, 27th Jun 2007, 01:04 PM
lol our setups are going to be very similar!!! Also you should be fine with a single 400, my 75 is a four footer, and I have my hqi in the middle. It lights up the middle out to the edges farther than I thought it would. I kinda like the fade in the corners. I have three t5 lights in my canopy so it's not all dark there. Gotta buy the rest of my stuff before I get another mini pendant. Can't wait till we're both up and trading!

villjr
Thu, 28th Jun 2007, 09:12 AM
Got the Koralia #4's in last night. Replaced the two seio 620's in my current setup with one koralia and the flow is incredible. Took me 45 minutes to adjust the koralia.

LoneStar
Thu, 28th Jun 2007, 09:54 AM
So how is the wood work coming along for the stand?

villjr
Thu, 28th Jun 2007, 10:09 AM
Don't know. Haven't been able to get a hold of Louis.