DBR
Fri, 23rd Sep 2011, 09:09 PM
Hello MAAST... I wanted to introduce myself and start my new tank build thread. I just moved into the area this last week from Northern California and hope to be here for at least the next 10 years. I'll be paying the club fees here shortly.
I've got about 14 years in the reef keeping hobby. I've kept many tanks from 6g to 300g and am a big Do-It-Yourself-er. The first 9-10 years I focused on soft/LPS corals and zoos but with the last 4-5 years in SPS rich Northern California I've officially been changed into an SPS addict. I am also a big collector of rare and colorful Chalice's and Acan's. I'm primarily a coral guy for my home systems and don't get into the fish too much past what will best help my corals. The tank I just took down in Cali was a SPS heavy 120 w/ 40g sump/fuge and 40 gallon frag tank. I also kept a 6g nano zoo garden and a 34g Red Sea Max LPS Tank. As you can imagine it was a bit painful to break down all of those tanks that had been up for nearly 5 years each.
Now that I'm here in San Antonio and having to start up a new system I've decided to move up to a single larger system for the time being and am going to take the opportunity to do a few unique things with this build that I've never done before. I'm going with a New 187 gallon Starphire glass display tank that's 60" long by 30" wide and 24" tall w/ dual corner overflows. I'll be using a custom acrylic 60g Sump Tank, custom acrylic 40 gallon Refugium tank and a 13 gallon RO/DI ATO tank with the system under the stand.
Some of my existing Wet-Ware that I'll be likely using on this system:
2 x Sea Swirl 1 ½” Wave makers
Reeflo Dart Pump – 4300 gph (Return Pump to Sea Swirls)
Reeflo Snapper Pump – 3600 gph (Pump to Reactors, Chiller and Refugium Tank)
2 x Eco Tech Marine MP40 Vortech’s with 2 back-up batteries
Korallin Calcium Reactor 3002 w/ 10 Pound CO2 Tank and Dual Gauge Regulator
3 x Large Media Reactors 4” x 4” x 24” (For use of Carbon, GFO and Bio Pellets)
1/3HP TECO SeaChill Chiller TR20 w/ UV Sterilizer (Will sit outside on covered patio)
Digital Aquatics Reef Keeper Elite w/ net module, Power Bars and Probes (pH, Salinity, ORP and Temperature)
Reef Octopus Extreme 12 Inch XS350 In-Sump Protein Skimmer w/ Gate Valve
2 x ViaAqua VA300T Titanium Heaters
Reef Fanatic Level Control Kit (ATO)
Maxi-Jet 400 Pump for ATO
I'm a bit unsure about my lighting at this point and have even considered exploring a full LED set-up. Here is a current list of my lighting on hand:
2 x Sunlight Supply Reef Optix 1 Plus Horizontal Single Ended Mogul Based Pendant Reflectors w/ glass
2 x 250W Ice Cap Ballasts
12 x Sunlight Supply 24” 24W T5’s
8 x Ultra Blue LED’s
I'll be putting the lighting on 2 sets of tracks to easily move out the canopy side doors to give max access to the tank from front canopy door.
However I'm going to do some evaluating of light coverage and Watt usage for this new tank build and see if I want to do anything different. I do have a couple of 400W Ice Cap ballast as well if it makes since to use them.
I'm in no supper hurry to get this tank up and running and have lots of other focuses at the moment having just moved into the area with new job and going back to school for my MBA so be patient on the thread's tank progress. I will move along slow and steady though and always post lots of pics. You may even have to endure lots of details on my DIY-ers.
The first step for me on this project is to have the stand and canopy frames made. I'll be building hardy steel 2" and 3" tube frames finished with a heavy white powder coat. After I have them nailed down to perfection how I like I've got some unique ideas on how to skin them.
Updates to come and I'll also try to throw up some pics of my past tanks when I have a chance.
Jeff
I've got about 14 years in the reef keeping hobby. I've kept many tanks from 6g to 300g and am a big Do-It-Yourself-er. The first 9-10 years I focused on soft/LPS corals and zoos but with the last 4-5 years in SPS rich Northern California I've officially been changed into an SPS addict. I am also a big collector of rare and colorful Chalice's and Acan's. I'm primarily a coral guy for my home systems and don't get into the fish too much past what will best help my corals. The tank I just took down in Cali was a SPS heavy 120 w/ 40g sump/fuge and 40 gallon frag tank. I also kept a 6g nano zoo garden and a 34g Red Sea Max LPS Tank. As you can imagine it was a bit painful to break down all of those tanks that had been up for nearly 5 years each.
Now that I'm here in San Antonio and having to start up a new system I've decided to move up to a single larger system for the time being and am going to take the opportunity to do a few unique things with this build that I've never done before. I'm going with a New 187 gallon Starphire glass display tank that's 60" long by 30" wide and 24" tall w/ dual corner overflows. I'll be using a custom acrylic 60g Sump Tank, custom acrylic 40 gallon Refugium tank and a 13 gallon RO/DI ATO tank with the system under the stand.
Some of my existing Wet-Ware that I'll be likely using on this system:
2 x Sea Swirl 1 ½” Wave makers
Reeflo Dart Pump – 4300 gph (Return Pump to Sea Swirls)
Reeflo Snapper Pump – 3600 gph (Pump to Reactors, Chiller and Refugium Tank)
2 x Eco Tech Marine MP40 Vortech’s with 2 back-up batteries
Korallin Calcium Reactor 3002 w/ 10 Pound CO2 Tank and Dual Gauge Regulator
3 x Large Media Reactors 4” x 4” x 24” (For use of Carbon, GFO and Bio Pellets)
1/3HP TECO SeaChill Chiller TR20 w/ UV Sterilizer (Will sit outside on covered patio)
Digital Aquatics Reef Keeper Elite w/ net module, Power Bars and Probes (pH, Salinity, ORP and Temperature)
Reef Octopus Extreme 12 Inch XS350 In-Sump Protein Skimmer w/ Gate Valve
2 x ViaAqua VA300T Titanium Heaters
Reef Fanatic Level Control Kit (ATO)
Maxi-Jet 400 Pump for ATO
I'm a bit unsure about my lighting at this point and have even considered exploring a full LED set-up. Here is a current list of my lighting on hand:
2 x Sunlight Supply Reef Optix 1 Plus Horizontal Single Ended Mogul Based Pendant Reflectors w/ glass
2 x 250W Ice Cap Ballasts
12 x Sunlight Supply 24” 24W T5’s
8 x Ultra Blue LED’s
I'll be putting the lighting on 2 sets of tracks to easily move out the canopy side doors to give max access to the tank from front canopy door.
However I'm going to do some evaluating of light coverage and Watt usage for this new tank build and see if I want to do anything different. I do have a couple of 400W Ice Cap ballast as well if it makes since to use them.
I'm in no supper hurry to get this tank up and running and have lots of other focuses at the moment having just moved into the area with new job and going back to school for my MBA so be patient on the thread's tank progress. I will move along slow and steady though and always post lots of pics. You may even have to endure lots of details on my DIY-ers.
The first step for me on this project is to have the stand and canopy frames made. I'll be building hardy steel 2" and 3" tube frames finished with a heavy white powder coat. After I have them nailed down to perfection how I like I've got some unique ideas on how to skin them.
Updates to come and I'll also try to throw up some pics of my past tanks when I have a chance.
Jeff