rutz81
New member
I figured I would start a thread to document my tank to hopefully show some pregression as time goes by. I have been keeping tanks for about 4-5 years, but, this is the biggest tank I've kept so far, previous tanks being a 29, 40, and a 75. I am starting from scratch on this tank though, nothing is being moved and transferred because before this I have not had a tank for over a year or so. I am trying to get as good equipment as I can now, so that I do not have to re-buy the same piece of equipment down the road because I wanted to upgrade to something(which I'm sure is going to happen anyway, but, it's worth a shot).
Here are the tank specs:
-Dimensions: Miracles 48 x 30 x 20 Rimless Starphire 3 sides-External Overflow (127G)
-Skimmer: ATB 840 v1.5
-Lighting:ATI Powermodule(10x54W)
Bulb Config(Front to Back)--Blue+, Blue+, Fiji Purple, Blue+, AB Special,Fiji Purple, Blue+,Giesemann Super Actinic, Blue+
-Return:Eheim 1262
-Circulation:2 x Vortech MP40(Gen. 2)
-Rock/Sand:100 lbs BRS Eco Rock/10lbs live rock rubble(LFS)---60lbs CaribSea Special Grade(approx 2")
-Auto Top Off-Tunze Osmolator
-Heaters-1 x 300W, 1x500W-Titanium
-Cal/Alk-unsure yet, 2 part or Calcium Reactor??
I have been dosing Microbater7 according to the bottles directions. In a few weeks, I think I am going to implement NP Biopellets and use them in combination with the MB7.
Here's some pics of some of the various equipment and the start of the tank. It has been running for about a month and a half, but, I am planning on taking it real slow since everything was dead to start(rock/sand).
Stand that I had custom made when it just got home
Trigger Systems Sump with ATB Skimmer
Night I got the tank(came in such a HUGE crate)
Tank with water/no lights yet
Sump Setup
Finally was able to hang the light(sorry for quality, had to use BB camera)
Angled Top-down
FTS
That is where I'm at right now...pretty much waiting for the water to become SPS ready, thinking in a few more weeks....
-Some issues I had along the way during setup:
-The Current Hanging Light Arm which I am using IS NOT meant to be used for the Powermodule of this size...I HAD to re-inforce the metal, and am still not 100% happy with the strength of it; i'm 100% sure it's not going to fall or anything, just not thrilled with hanging a $1200 light from that weak-*** metal. Going to have to keep an eye on it for potential bending down the road.
-I was having a REAL hard time tuning in my ATB skimmer, I knew it had to be around 6.5" of water for the large pinwheel. I originally had it in 8", figured was 1.5" really that big of a deal? After not getting much skimmate or it would overflow, I figured I'd make a stand bring it to about 6". Would .5" really make that big of a deal? To both, YES. After making a new stand to bring it to exactly 6.5" it skims GREAT, even with my super low bio-load of 1 fish and barely cycled rock.
**Next things I am looking into some quality test kits, Cal/Alk method, a more pleasing place to store my top-off water(it's in a 20G Brute next to my tank,hidden by a plant, now.), then some frags...
Here are the tank specs:
-Dimensions: Miracles 48 x 30 x 20 Rimless Starphire 3 sides-External Overflow (127G)
-Skimmer: ATB 840 v1.5
-Lighting:ATI Powermodule(10x54W)
Bulb Config(Front to Back)--Blue+, Blue+, Fiji Purple, Blue+, AB Special,Fiji Purple, Blue+,Giesemann Super Actinic, Blue+
-Return:Eheim 1262
-Circulation:2 x Vortech MP40(Gen. 2)
-Rock/Sand:100 lbs BRS Eco Rock/10lbs live rock rubble(LFS)---60lbs CaribSea Special Grade(approx 2")
-Auto Top Off-Tunze Osmolator
-Heaters-1 x 300W, 1x500W-Titanium
-Cal/Alk-unsure yet, 2 part or Calcium Reactor??
I have been dosing Microbater7 according to the bottles directions. In a few weeks, I think I am going to implement NP Biopellets and use them in combination with the MB7.
Here's some pics of some of the various equipment and the start of the tank. It has been running for about a month and a half, but, I am planning on taking it real slow since everything was dead to start(rock/sand).
Stand that I had custom made when it just got home
Trigger Systems Sump with ATB Skimmer
Night I got the tank(came in such a HUGE crate)
Tank with water/no lights yet
Sump Setup
Finally was able to hang the light(sorry for quality, had to use BB camera)
Angled Top-down
FTS
That is where I'm at right now...pretty much waiting for the water to become SPS ready, thinking in a few more weeks....
-Some issues I had along the way during setup:
-The Current Hanging Light Arm which I am using IS NOT meant to be used for the Powermodule of this size...I HAD to re-inforce the metal, and am still not 100% happy with the strength of it; i'm 100% sure it's not going to fall or anything, just not thrilled with hanging a $1200 light from that weak-*** metal. Going to have to keep an eye on it for potential bending down the road.
-I was having a REAL hard time tuning in my ATB skimmer, I knew it had to be around 6.5" of water for the large pinwheel. I originally had it in 8", figured was 1.5" really that big of a deal? After not getting much skimmate or it would overflow, I figured I'd make a stand bring it to about 6". Would .5" really make that big of a deal? To both, YES. After making a new stand to bring it to exactly 6.5" it skims GREAT, even with my super low bio-load of 1 fish and barely cycled rock.
**Next things I am looking into some quality test kits, Cal/Alk method, a more pleasing place to store my top-off water(it's in a 20G Brute next to my tank,hidden by a plant, now.), then some frags...
