With all the systems I have built in the last 2 years I have yet to do a build thread. The only difference is I am posting this to get your opinions on how I am doing and take suggestions on what u think I may be doing wrong or could do better.
Specs
Standard 72x24x24 180 tank
Custom built hardwood stand
Jebao DC6000 main return
Mag 9.5 frag/acc sump return
Apex
DIY calcium reactor co2/ph controlled by apex
Eshopps RS200 sump
Eshopps 240 skimmer (temp)
RW15 & MP40 (DT)
Wp25 & wp10 (FT)
BRS Dual RX both sides with carbon (1st RX cheap stuff 2nd RX is rox 08)
TLF phosban 150 with 1 cup high cap GFO
Proposed lighting
3 x Hydra 26's in custom canopy
2 x 80 watt t5 actinics
Ocean revive t247 over fuge
Frag tank has a 4x39watt current t5 fixture
Changes to tank hardware
Change out sump for a large custom fuge since my sump area is 48x23 is can fit something large in there. Planned on building it out of 1/2" acrylic with a return boil over section, no filter socks but an option to add 3 x 7" socks if the need arises. From there water will flow about 18" deep through the fuge section where there will be several decorative macro algae colonies over a bed of miracle mud with three 4" deep baffles to keep mud in one place and allow it to be rotated out as it expires as advised by eco systems. Then a couple of weirs to get any bubbles out and then to the return section.
I also just picked up a bubble magus BM220 skimmer with the avast neck cleaner (thanks ChevyAddiction) to handle the bio load mh wife plans on putting in this thing.
As it sits now it has been filled with 1/2 reef crystals and 1/2 instant ocean so when I combined 180 gallons of new water to the existing frag/acc sump system of about 75 gallons it didn't freak everything out. After 2 days of mixing with a bag of carbon in the tank I slowly blended the systems together over about 8 hours turning the main return on and off. But I did measure all elements and they seemed to come close to my current system. I did turn the co2 to the calcium reactor off for now just to let the KH slowly fall to the 8.5 I like to run. With no fish in the system right now and about 40 lbs of rock with the other tanks running for a while it shouldn't start a cycle. Just not gonna feed anything for a few weeks until the bacteria colonizes the new tank. I am going to slowly add the 100lbs or so of rock I have in the tank that's holding my livestock in the next few days. As I plan on turning that tank into a big QT and running the main system fallow for the next 2 months to attempt to rid myself of any fish parasites.
Sorry for the long read. Let me know if you've tried this before and failed or succeeded without kicking the system into a cycle.
Specs
Standard 72x24x24 180 tank
Custom built hardwood stand
Jebao DC6000 main return
Mag 9.5 frag/acc sump return
Apex
DIY calcium reactor co2/ph controlled by apex
Eshopps RS200 sump
Eshopps 240 skimmer (temp)
RW15 & MP40 (DT)
Wp25 & wp10 (FT)
BRS Dual RX both sides with carbon (1st RX cheap stuff 2nd RX is rox 08)
TLF phosban 150 with 1 cup high cap GFO
Proposed lighting
3 x Hydra 26's in custom canopy
2 x 80 watt t5 actinics
Ocean revive t247 over fuge
Frag tank has a 4x39watt current t5 fixture
Changes to tank hardware
Change out sump for a large custom fuge since my sump area is 48x23 is can fit something large in there. Planned on building it out of 1/2" acrylic with a return boil over section, no filter socks but an option to add 3 x 7" socks if the need arises. From there water will flow about 18" deep through the fuge section where there will be several decorative macro algae colonies over a bed of miracle mud with three 4" deep baffles to keep mud in one place and allow it to be rotated out as it expires as advised by eco systems. Then a couple of weirs to get any bubbles out and then to the return section.
I also just picked up a bubble magus BM220 skimmer with the avast neck cleaner (thanks ChevyAddiction) to handle the bio load mh wife plans on putting in this thing.
As it sits now it has been filled with 1/2 reef crystals and 1/2 instant ocean so when I combined 180 gallons of new water to the existing frag/acc sump system of about 75 gallons it didn't freak everything out. After 2 days of mixing with a bag of carbon in the tank I slowly blended the systems together over about 8 hours turning the main return on and off. But I did measure all elements and they seemed to come close to my current system. I did turn the co2 to the calcium reactor off for now just to let the KH slowly fall to the 8.5 I like to run. With no fish in the system right now and about 40 lbs of rock with the other tanks running for a while it shouldn't start a cycle. Just not gonna feed anything for a few weeks until the bacteria colonizes the new tank. I am going to slowly add the 100lbs or so of rock I have in the tank that's holding my livestock in the next few days. As I plan on turning that tank into a big QT and running the main system fallow for the next 2 months to attempt to rid myself of any fish parasites.
Sorry for the long read. Let me know if you've tried this before and failed or succeeded without kicking the system into a cycle.
