500+ Gallon System Build [Archive]

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Troy Valentine

Sat, 23rd Apr 2016, 11:28 AM

Its been 12 years since my last build. So on this thread I plan on documenting everything so I wont forget the details.

Idea:
5-seperate tanks tied to one system

Tanks/Stands

Display Tanks:
2-36"x30"x25" Planet aquarium tanks. (ordered 4/15) -SPS dominant-
2-36"x30"x42" (Heritage/Spanish Oak)Coastal Aquarium Stands (ordered 4/15)

1-60"x30"x30" Planet Aquarium -Gigas clam and mixed reef-
1-60"x30"x36" (Heritage/Spanish Oak)Coastal Aquarium Stand

Frag Tank:
1-24"x24"x12" (Gift from Dave at Southseas Aquatics)

Xenia Refugium:
1-20"x17"x16" Matt Monster Acrylic (on current system)

Sump:
1-38"x18"x16" Matt Monster Acrylic (on current system)

Fresh Water Reservoir:
1-17"x20"x24" Aquatrend (on current system)

Current System:
DT: 240g (8"x2"x2") Mixed Reef
http://www.maast.org/attachment.php?attachmentid=27893&d=1459028209

Frag Tank: 60g (24"x24"x24")
27959

SABOB

Sat, 23rd Apr 2016, 11:39 AM

Can't wait for updates.....was impressed seeing your current setup and remember you talking about this idea.Did you move or in same house?

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Troy Valentine

Sat, 23rd Apr 2016, 01:56 PM

Can't wait for updates.....was impressed seeing your current setup and remember you talking about this idea.Did you move or in same house?

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Thank you Bob.

You are right this idea has been in the works for a number of years, and originally I was going to wait until I move. However now that my house is almost paid off, the idea of starting over again is making me want to stay. But by going with 3 separate tanks if I end up moving I can remove a tank without shutting down the entire system. I looked into getting a single 10'x30"x30" but the weight was a big concern. At well over 1000lbs I would hate for something to go wrong and someone gets hurt. 3- smaller tanks will also allow me to go with a species targeted tank instead of a poo poo platter of different corals in one tank.

Troy Valentine

Sun, 24th Apr 2016, 11:06 AM

Lighting:

Both 36" tanks will have identical lighting build into a canopy.
32" SB Reef
36" Aruba Sun T5 retro (On current system)

The 60" Gigas tank will have 2- AI Hydra 52s mounted to a light rail, or I might use wood to match the color of the canopy. If I go this route I would also use a box around each fixture to match the stand as well.

Frag Tank Lighting:

1-16" SB Reef fixture

Xenia Fuge:

1-16" SB Reef fixture

Troy Valentine

Sun, 24th Apr 2016, 11:16 AM

Skimmer:

Vertex Alpha 250 (Gift from Clement Hayes)
Matt Monster 6"x30" Sicce PSK2500

I will need to have a decent amount of skimming power to start off because of the stress my current corals will put on a young system. However my goal it to be skimmer less again, and keep just the Vertex in the sump as a backup incase of an emergency.

Cammed_02

Tue, 26th Apr 2016, 09:24 AM

Man troy this is going to be awesome. Congrats on the new build

Justin

Tue, 26th Apr 2016, 10:00 AM

Going to be epic man. Post some pics when you get a chance.

Zack

Tue, 26th Apr 2016, 10:15 AM

This is going to be an amazing build. Can't wait to see how everything progresses!

Troy Valentine

Mon, 30th May 2016, 10:21 AM

Thank you all for your vote of confidence!!! Sometimes I feel I may have taken on little more than I was prepared for.
Sorry its been a while since my last update. I had some problems with the stand manufacture, but that is behind me now and I am ready to move forward.

Here are the 2 new tanks/stands that I placed in my dinning room that will act as a holding system while I slowly move everything from the DT. Should take several months for this process to be completed.
http://i1152.photobucket.com/albums/p499/Troyreef77/P1140652_zpsmlgliotl.jpg (http://s1152.photobucket.com/user/Troyreef77/media/P1140652_zpsmlgliotl.jpg.html)

Troy Valentine

Mon, 30th May 2016, 10:28 AM

SABOB

Mon, 30th May 2016, 10:52 AM

How did you remove the HUGE clam? Thought the openings on top wouldn't allow it

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Troy Valentine

Mon, 30th May 2016, 11:03 AM

QUOTE=SABOB;993077]How did you remove the HUGE clam? Thought the openings on top wouldn't allow it[/QUOTE]

I haven't removed it yet. I am seriously dreading that day. Yes, you are correct that the clam is wider than the center brace opening will allow. However I am hoping that I can turn the clam on its side to remove it. I will use an engine hoist to pick it up as well as a net to cradle it, and turn it on its side, guessing it weights around 100-120lbs.

SABOB

Mon, 30th May 2016, 07:55 PM

Please have some video the removal,if you need help,let me know😎

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Frogman

Fri, 3rd Jun 2016, 02:43 PM

Good bye Oceanic 240!! I know you will give your new owner as much joy as you have brought me.

Established 2004
http://i1152.photobucket.com/albums/p499/Troyreef77/P1140669_zpsa9ucovej.jpg (http://s1152.photobucket.com/user/Troyreef77/media/P1140669_zpsa9ucovej.jpg.html)
Retired 2016

You bet it will!! As long as you don't have to take the tank apart to get that clam out. Hahaha. Let me know when you're ready for the livestock move, I'll be there to help and clean up.

Let me know what I can do to help,

It's in everyone's best interest to take care of those who take care of you. Support a local Veteran!

Troy Valentine

Sun, 5th Mar 2017, 02:22 PM

Its been almost a year since my last update. What an emotional roller coaster I've been on with regards to this new setup. The first issue I ran into was the stand stains didn't match; Had to ship them back to the manufacture. Then the center 241 gallon tank was defective with a 3 inch bubble in the silicone seam. So I had to send that back to the manufacture to fix the defect. Unfortunately I realized the defect after 60lbs of sand and 100 gallons of water were in the tank. I can't tell you how much fun it was to empty and move a 440lbs tank 3 times. Then I had to level the room's foundation because it was sloping an 1 1/2" over the 14'. During these unforeseen delays my corals were dying at an alarming rate in my dinning room, where I was keeping the livestock. This die off was due to snails clogging the return from the sump below. I ended up loosing around 80% of my coral collection. I have a full rubber made tub in my backyard filled to the top with SPS and LPS skeletons!! It doesn't end there. After I got the tank up and running it seemed like I had finally put the move behind me. But then the Gigas clam's health started to decline. I really thought it was a goner! especially after it started to gape and it mantle was retracted during the day. I was watching this clam that has been with me for 9 years wither away. I turned the Hydra 52's down to 50% and started to feed phyto slowly.(which I know is controversial) Day by day I looking for small improvements. Then I saw a glimmer of hope, it reacted to stimulation. Which it hasn't done for some time. I was hopefully optimistic. But as the weeks went by I was noticing marked improvements, and after a month its mantle had recovered, and it started to clear itself again. Thank God! Now for the PO4 spike... The clam is basically a 120lb filter. Which consumes NO3 and PO4. the levels are hard to quantify, but I can tell you its very significant. While the clam was sick and no growing the PO4 levels spiked to .28! Which consequently effected my CA and Alk levels. They were way out of wack. 600 CA and 15 alk. SO I started dosing high capacity GFO at 1/4 the recommended amount. To make a long story shorter. It took 3 weeks for the levels to normalize at .02. I think I can say the move is finally behind me. Now for pics....

Troy Valentine

Sun, 5th Mar 2017, 02:31 PM

http://www.maast.org/attachment.php?attachmentid=28214&d=1488738328
http://www.maast.org/attachment.php?attachmentid=28218&d=1488738346
http://www.maast.org/attachment.php?attachmentid=28217&d=1488738341
http://www.maast.org/attachment.php?attachmentid=28216&d=1488738336
http://www.maast.org/attachment.php?attachmentid=28215&d=1488738332
http://www.maast.org/attachment.php?attachmentid=28219&d=1488738350

Frogman

Wed, 5th Apr 2017, 05:00 PM

My 240 Build

https://r.tapatalk.com/shareLink?share_fid=1254&share_tid=85482&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww%2Emaast%2Eorg%2Fshowthread%2E php%3Ft%3D85482&share_type=t

His old system Reborn!
https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20170405/91be44cb85c3df972d03a80e15fed5e8.jpg

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Zack

Wed, 5th Apr 2017, 06:53 PM

Man Troy that sounds like a doozy, I know you've been dreaming about this setup for as long as I've known you and glad to hear it's finally up and running after so many hiccups. Im also glad to hear that clam's doing well! That thing is a serious beauty.

Troy Valentine

Sat, 8th Apr 2017, 07:33 AM

Troy Valentine

Sat, 8th Apr 2017, 07:35 AM

Troy Valentine

Sat, 8th Apr 2017, 07:55 AM

Please have some video the removal,if you need help,let me know

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For some reason I can't upload the video from the camera, but I was able to save a few still pics from the camera.

SABOB

Sat, 8th Apr 2017, 12:57 PM

Wow,that clam is bigger than I remember

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Troy Valentine

Sun, 24th Feb 2019, 12:09 AM

Well it has been almost 2 years since the last update. The system has been working as designed, with all the growing pains of a maturing reef. However in the past few weeks I have done some major changes to the aquascape to free up some real estate, and breathe new life and interest back into the system.

http://www.maast.org/attachment.php?attachmentid=28801&d=1550987858

http://www.maast.org/attachment.php?attachmentid=28792&d=1550986507

http://www.maast.org/attachment.php?attachmentid=28793&d=1550986561

http://www.maast.org/attachment.php?attachmentid=28779&d=1550983422

http://www.maast.org/attachment.php?attachmentid=28799&d=1550987345

http://www.maast.org/attachment.php?attachmentid=28800&d=1550987345

Troy Valentine

Sun, 24th Feb 2019, 12:16 AM

http://www.maast.org/attachment.php?attachmentid=28791&d=1550986417

More pics to come.

alton

Wed, 27th Feb 2019, 11:17 AM

Very nice! How is the new Orphek fixture working out?

Troy Valentine

Wed, 27th Feb 2019, 09:19 PM

Thank you Alton! After looking at so many lighting options. I still go back to tried and true technology. 4-36" T5s on each of the side tanks with a single 16" SB reef fixture on just the SPS tank, and on the center tank I went with a 250 watt metal halide with 2 Hydra 52HDs. I can honestly say from my experience with LEDs I have found nothing can replace the "full spectrum" characteristics of a MH or T5 when it comes to long term survivability of clams. I see a noticeable difference from when I am using a halide and when I am not.

T5 fixtures(2 of these on each tank) https://www.marinedepot.com/Hamilton_Aruba_Sun_T5_Retrofit_with_LEDs_2_x_54_Wa tt_T5_HO_Low_Profile_Fluorescent_Retrofit_Kits-Hamilton-HT01239-FILTRTRF-HT01239-vi.html

Metal halide fixture https://www.bulkreefsupply.com/bimini-sun-double-ended-hqi-metal-halide-reflector-hamilton.html

SB Reef https://sbreeflights.com/sbox-reef-lights/1-sbox-basic.html

Hydra 52HD https://www.bulkreefsupply.com/hydra-fiftytwo-hd-black-aqua-illumination.html?msclkid=818026a0a75213c609087ad7 e394643b&utm_source=bing&utm_medium=cpc&utm_campaign=Search%3EBrand%3EAqua-Illumination%3EExact%20(MAP)&utm_term=hydra%2052%20hd&utm_content=hydra%2052%20hd