100 Gallon Rimless Build. It's WET!!

[medi]

You should come by next time you are in SA and check out my 36" tank with dual 250w w/Lumenbrite reflectors with the 4- T5s actinics (420nm/460nm). I used to have just one but had too many shadows...now all the corals are happy.

I might just have to do that. After thinking about your suggestion i think I will go with two 250w MH. It would be nice to see your setup for some ideas.

[medi]

It has been a few days since any updates. I finally finished my plumbing and I am not certain I am going to keep the returns the way they are currently. I had to use flex tubing to connect the SCWD to the returns, but unfortunately it wasn't flexible enough to connect them without running a lot of extra tubing in circles just to make it work. I know I am losing quite a bit of flow, but I just wanted to get some water in it and leak test everything. I will probably figure something out before the final placement. Other than that I got my new skimmer, leak the tested the system, and I get to report there was no leaks to be found. Also, I picked up 115 lbs. of LR from Chad and Belinda and I ordered my sand last night. I chose the Tropic Eden aragasnow. Hopefully it will arrive within the next two weeks. I want to get this moved to it's final spot within the next few weeks.

[medi]

Today I pulled my SCWD apart and discovered that the carrier had somehow come out of the internal groove and had become twisted inside the housing. I pulled it apart and everything should be working better now, but unfortunately I drained all of the test water and so now I won't know until I fill it up for real. I'm keeping my fingers crossed. I'd hate to have to order something else. I know my wife is getting annoyed by seeing UPS dropping stuff off nearly everyday. To add to her frustration UPS dropped 90 lbs. of Tropic Eden Aragasnow on my doorstep, but hey what's a marriage if the wife isn't a little mad from time to time.

On a side note I decided to change the sump that I had already plumbed. I did this because I want to have a fuge and also I want a larger sump for equipment and the ability to hold a little extra water. I chose the PM R36+. I ordered it through RCA, but I have been in direct contact with PM. The standard fuge comes with dual 1" bulkheads and dual 4" filter socks. Since I have significantly more flow through my tank I didn't think that setup would work for me. They are building my a setup with dual 1.5" bulkheads and dual 7" socks. Unfortunately, I am having to sacrifice a small amount of room in the fuge so that I can squeeze my skimmer in next to the socks, but I think the reward will be well worth it. All in all this setup is getting very close to being finished. Which I am very happy about because I am starting to get antsy.

[jesserettele]

tagging along, looking great!

[medi]

Today I moved the aquarium to its new location and re-hung my light over it. I also started the very slow process of filling the tank with water from my RO/DI. I have a 75 GPD unit so I imagine it will be full sometime tomorrow. Assuming there is no new leaks then I will mix in the salt and hopefully get the sand and LR in and start the aquascape this weekend. My MP40 ES driver is supposed to come in Friday morning so I will have new toy to play with when I get off work. I am excited to see what kind of flow this thing is capable of. The lights in the pics are just my actinics. I had already turned my one 250 watt MH off, but I am actually very surprised how well it lit the tank. I still plan on changing it down the road, but I think it will work well enough for now. The pic of the internal components of the sump are just to show the craftsmanship that PM puts into their refugiums. I am still very impressed with this thing.

[hobogato]

that is so clean and perfect looking, great job!

look forward to seeing what you fill it with...

[aquasport24]

Very clean, how come you chose eggcrate over starboard?

[medi]

The eggcrate is only there to protect the bottom of the tank from the LR. I put in my sand bed over the top of the eggcrate. Not really necessary, but I can't see it hurting either.

[medi]

The tank is up and running. I moved all of my livestock over and so far everything is doing great. I like my first attempt at aquascaping because it give me a lot of room on the sandbed and I think it looks pretty clean. Also, it is very open so the fish have plenty of places to swim and there is not many places for detritus to build up. On the other hand I can't decide if I like the large center mass in the aquarium. I still am toying with the idea of two rock peninsulas with a valley in between. I can't decide. Any opinions?

[MRSBIGBIRD123]

I think I would be happier with 2 areas and use dual 250w like Steve suggested. It seems to me the top of the center is getting blasted with light in the last picture and the sides get limited light. I was the one who suggested to Steve to add the second light...