215 Tank Build.... errr again, kinda

[princer7]

As some may know, I purchased Lhoy's 215 gallon tank. So it is not exactly a complete build from start to finish.... Kinda nice to not have to stress over that.

Here is Lee's thread:
http://www.maast.org/forums/showthread.php?t=39654

The tank, stand, canopy, sump and cryptic fuge will be coming home with me soon (date yet to be determined).

BTW, if anyone would like to lend a hand moving the beast or has access to some glass suction cups or tank moving carts, any little bit helps. :angel:

Here are the parts that I have available for the new tank so far... Not sure if they will all be needed or the right size.

Lights:
3 Lumen Bright Mini Reflectors
3 Coralvue 250 watt ballasts
4 Reflux Halide Bulbs (2 10,000K & 2 12,000K)
Icecap 660 ballast
Icecap 430 ballast Retro w/ 2 36watt actinics

Current Prime 1/3 Tower Chiller
MSX 250 Skimmer
GEO Kalk Reactor
MRC Dual Nano Calcium Reactor
10lb CO2 Canister
Milwaukee pH Controller
Aquacontroller Jr
3 Koralia 3s
1 Koralia 4
1 Koralia Nano
Phosban Reactor - Phosban
Phosban Reactor - Carbon
Reefkeeper ATO

*** Any suggestions on the parts list or design are welcome and appreciated ***

[princer7]

I would like to run some T5 Actinics but am not sure as the right balance with halides.

[lhoy]

Jennifer, the way I mounted the Halides will make it a challenge for T'5 or you will have to put them all on one side. When you life the hood, the Pendants rotate (of course you don't have to use the light bar, I just HATE having halides shine in my face!

List looks great! I had (2) nanostreams on each overflow box pointing down to keep the ends from having dead spots. Since you have a chiller might not be as big a problem but I would look in the future at replacing most of the Koralia's with some Tunzes. Have both and I like both, but with grow out of corals you will lose some space for powerheads.

Looking forward to seeing it develop!!

Lee

[ismvel]

As far as suction cups go....get with caferacermike....he has some and is up in the Round Rock area...he has always been willing to lend them out to charter members in the past....

[Bill S]

Jennifer, welcome to the "Big Tank Club".

All I can tell you is to plan and then re-plan for minimal/ease of maintenance. Because at that size, logistics become a pain.

Best things I did was to set up a dedicated RO/DI unit next to the tank, and then put a 40 gallon water container under the tank. I use it for both top offs, and mixing water change salt water. I also have a drain directly plumbed into my closed loop, for draining water for water changes. Makes changing about 37 gallons a snap:

Put 21 cups of salt into the full container of water
Turn on container circulation pumps
Wait a couple of hours for salt to disolve
Turn off circulation pumps on closed loop & return
Close drain for Ca reactor (otherwise it loses siphon)
Open drain
Drain tank to the "line"
Close drain
Turn on circuation pumps
Turn on pump from container to sump
Fill tank
Open Ca reactor siphon

[ErikH]

Automation is a God send. :) The easier you make water changes, and timers for all of your goodies makes it all worth it. I hated fumbling around daily with lights, and I feel dumb that I did so for as long as I did.

[Kristy]

hmmm... we are already doing things 10x smarter than we did only a few months ago, but not nearly as smooth and automated as what you are describing. Hoping Bill will be in on the tank tours this summer so we can come and take notes on that water change system above.

[princer7]

Bill, do you have any photos showing your plumbing. I am really interested in getting this fine tuned. Doing the emergency water changes recently on the little tank was nerve racking. Nothing like a 12 hour power failure. :at_wits_end:

[Bill S]

Well... I could TAKE some photos of my plumbing. BUT. See... I'm not the neatest guy around. Oh, from the OUTSIDE, the tank looks great. But UNDER it? It's a HUGE pile of spaghetti wiring and plumbing. And then under the wet bar next to it... Even worse. I'll see what I can do.

[ismvel]

Well... I could TAKE some photos of my plumbing. BUT. See... I'm not the neatest guy around. Oh, from the OUTSIDE, the tank looks great. But UNDER it? It's a HUGE pile of spaghetti wiring and plumbing. And then under the wet bar next to it... Even worse. I'll see what I can do.
But there is a method to his madness, because his tank is spectacular!!!!!!!!!

[princer7]

Tomorrow is the tank move!!!! This has been like waiting for Christmas!!! I am so excited and glad the wait is almost over!!! :bigsmile:

I have added a few more items for the tank setup. Here is the final configuration.


4 Lumen Bright Mini Reflectors
4 Coralvue 250 watt ballasts
4 Reflux Halide Bulbs (2 10,000K & 2 12,000K)
Icecap 660 ballast Retro w/ 4 36watt UVL actinics

Current Prime 1/3 Tower Chiller
2 Stealth Heater

MSX 250 Skimmer (I think the mod will allow it to fit :)
GEO Kalk Reactor w/ maxijet
2 Aqualifter for ATO supply of RO & Kalk
MRC Dual Nano Calcium Reactor
Mag 2 Pump for Reactor Circulation
10lb CO2 Canister
Phosban Reactor - Phosban
Phosban Reactor - Carbon

Tunze Wavebox
2 Tunze Streams 6101
1 Koralia Nano
2 Koralia 3 (if needed)
1 Koralia 4 (if needed)

2 American DJ Power Center

Aquacontroller III w/:
2 DC8 Power Strips
ORP Probe
PX 1000
Expansion Module
2 pH Probes (1 tank & 1 Calcium Reactor)
Lunar Simulator
Aquasurf
I/O for ATO float switches

Lee's cryptic fuge

150lbs of dried live rock
120lbs of existing live rock
160 lbs of new aragonite sand
60lbs existing live sand

[princer7]

Well, since the last update, I have added a few more things. The tank is in the house and we are finally working on getting it set up. The boys are both gone for the week (summer camp & visit with the grandparents).

We ran a water test tonight and mounted 2 of the 4 lumenbright reflectors - the other 2 are on the tank that is running. Also had some fun with the Tunze 6101s. Unless something unexpected comes up, there should be sand and rock in the tank tomorrow. It will take a few days for the RO water to produce enough to fill it however.

[princer7]

The tank is plummed!!! Still have to add the Kalk Reactor, Carbon & Phosban Reactors once the tank is ready to add corals & fish. Next will be sand and rock. It has taken longer than I hoped to get this far. The lights and Aquacontroller will be next as the tank fills with RO water & salted. Also, need to tidy up the power cords and add the chiller.

Pardon the distortion of the lens. I had the Fish Eye on the camera.

http://jpaustin.dyndns.org/gallery/Aquarium%20Project/HCCC/Current%20Pictures/Reef%20Tank/Small/IMG_0088%20Small.jpg

http://jpaustin.dyndns.org/gallery/Aquarium%20Project/HCCC/Current%20Pictures/Reef%20Tank/Small/IMG_0085%20Small.jpg

[JeffCo]

Looks good, nice job adding the unions, they help alot when you have to replace things.

[lhoy]

Looks great, love how you saved space by moving the pump. How are you feeding the chiller?

Miss it already!!

May want to drop level of light for frag tank a bit to reduce algae and coraline algae growth in other sections. I was beginning to have a LOT of coraline on Skimmer and such when I added my frag light. I thought about putting some black acrylic on the sides to shield the light or something.

Can't wait to see more!!

Lee

[apedroza]

Lookin GOOD!!!

[princer7]

I like the idea of black plexi and will drop the light down some.

I have to still plumb the chiller. Either use it's own pump or tie into the line going back to the tank. Not sure which way would be best yet.

The tank is about 1/2 full of RO with rocks and sand (both new dry sand & rock) placed. Once it clears up, I'll post some pictures.

I was happily suprised the skimmer fit. It was a monster with less than an inch to spare after modifying the pump connections.

[lhoy]

Well, given the strength of the panworld, it would easily run the returns and chiller and save the electricity from one more pump.

Just a thought.

Lee

[princer7]

how low should the light be from the water line? It is a 150w with a Hamilton reflector (thanks J_G).

[lhoy]

I would say 3 to 5" or so. I have the 150 Current Orbit only about 3 to 4" from water line on the Solana.

Lee

[princer7]

Made some progress on the tank this weekend....

Wired up 2 of the 4 halides. The other 2 will have to wait until the corals get moved from the small tank.

http://jpaustin.dyndns.org/gallery/Aquarium%20Project/HCCC/Current%20Pictures/Reef%20Tank/Small/IMG_8717%20Small.jpg

The RO water filled the tank, rocks sand and salt were also added....

http://jpaustin.dyndns.org/gallery/Aquarium%20Project/HCCC/Current%20Pictures/Reef%20Tank/Small/IMG_8731.jpg


The next step will be to clean up the wiring and finish out the equpment closet we picked up. It will house the electrical and controllers, chiller, as well as the RO reservoir....

http://jpaustin.dyndns.org/gallery/Aquarium%20Project/HCCC/Current%20Pictures/Reef%20Tank/Small/IMG_8710%20Small.jpg

[princer7]

It's been a slow week as far as working on the tank goes. Did pick up some new inhabitants that will make their way over when the tank is cycled. A really nice lobo brain coral, RBTA and golden dwarf moray eel from Starfire/Andrew. The eel is much bigger than the one I already had. They have been hiding so I look forward to seeing them interact (or not) during the next feeding.

With little done this week, I have thought more about lighting and stocking the tank.

I am waffling between 3 or 4 halides. I can fit 4 but not sure if that would be any improvement over just 3.

I picked up a network video camera for the web so the tank can be viewed from work. I'm hoping to put together a nice internet based console for the AC3 and video.

Axis 207W

http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/21KmW3yMzdL._SL500_AA280_.jpg

[princer7]

Well.... I'm scratching my head :confused:

Got the Aquacontroller hooked up and the temperature in the tank was 83 without the lights running. The house stays at 78. Decided to test the lights out overnight (only 1/2 are hooked up). They brought the tank up to almost 90 degrees.

Still have to plumb the chiller - this should eliminate the friction from having the main pump throttled down. Hope it is enough.

This is the first time I have delt with heat issues like this.

[lhoy]

I have been having trouble with my Aquacontroller Temperature probe. I would double check with another thermometer!

Lee

[JeffCo]

love those reflectors!! I would stay with 3 lamps if your heat rose that much, should get a better read once you get the chiller hooked up.

[princer7]

Woot! My tank is a year old today!

[fishypets]

Where's the B-day pictures?

[MRSBIGBIRD123]

Where's the Cake?

[aggman]

:confused::confused::confused:

um...how is it that our resident photography guru has not photographs in this thread?

i need my pix fix...:wink_smile:

~alex

[stoneroller]

Congrats! How about some hot chalice macros.....

how's the temp doing?