180gal Starphire New Reef Build - Work In Progress

[tjm9331]

a nice think sand bed is nice, the scape looks good too. Your Marco rocks will color up over time and having the dry live rock in the tank with them will/should help speed up that process cause they will help seed the tank with coralline algae

btw I subbed the thread, looking forward to see what comes next.

I'm looking to do a large tank like this sometime next year so this will be a good learning experience

 

[dimasv]

My sump is ready and running waiting for skimmer and apex.

 

[dimasv]

My skimmer finally arrived its all set. Tuned it on ar low speed and opened gate valve full. I guess i need run it like that for couple of weeks. Had to make a small stand to keep it at 8in deep

 

[dimasv]

Hi guys probably stupid question but how do i dial the skimmer? Its been running full gate valve open for about 2 weeks. First question is what are the air intakes on photo for? Second how do i dial skimmer with gate valve. And third why my foam is not reaching to the top is that because water clean? Thanks for your help

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[JamesHolt]

Those intakes are silencers , keeps the noise down..
To dial it in you just start closing the valve a tiny bit at a time.. Go slow it may take a few days to find its happy spot, then when you start adding fish you will be tweaking it some more...

 

[dimasv]

Playing with a new toy

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[dimasv]

Bought this pump to try for my qt

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[dimasv]

My qt setup is almost ready

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[Jmason95]

Saw your post in the Kessil AP700 thread about lighting - thought I would post here my thoughts instead of entering into a discussion in that thread.

You asked which lighting people prefer - Kessil AP700, Hydras or Radions. I've owned all three.

First I would ask what type of coral you plan on keeping. I wouldn't use the Kessil for SPS. Currently I have an SPS tank with Radions and a 10 gallon LPS/softie tank with a Kessil A80.

I love the look Kessil's produce (AP700, 360's or A80, they all produce the same light/shimmer), but the thing I did not like about the AP700 (which holds true for all the Kessil lights) is that they come off a bit dull - the tank won't appear bright unless you run the spectrum with more white. Also, the AP700 will not allow you to slowly mix or blend the spectrums as you change colors. Unless there has been a change in the programing of the lights, the AP700 will just "click" over to the next color if you program the lights to change spectrums throughout the day.

Now, if you get Kessil A360's, you can buy the spectral controller and it will properly blend the spectrums as they change colors. It looks a lot better than the AP700, and the actual light and shimmer is the same as AP700. Make sense?

If you like Kessil, and you don't plan on keeping SPS (Montipora's will probably do fine), I would use A360's with the spectral controller. I think the Kessil out of all three LED lights looks the nicest and gives the best looking natural shimmer.

The Hydra and Radions look very similar - you'll be able to independently control each color channel, but you'll find that you need to run the Reds and Greens lower, whites low and blues high.
The Hyrda aren't as bright as the Radions (unless you run the whites higher). The Radion G4's are bright. I run a pretty blue spectrum and the whole tank is really bright. There is a bit of a "disco ball" affect you hear people talking about, but's I don't think it's bad or really that noticeable. I still really like my Radions.

Hopefully this gives you an idea of what each light has to offer.

 

[dimasv]

Saw your post in the Kessil AP700 thread about lighting - thought I would post here my thoughts instead of entering into a discussion in that thread.

You asked which lighting people prefer - Kessil AP700, Hydras or Radions. I've owned all three.

First I would ask what type of coral you plan on keeping. I wouldn't use the Kessil for SPS. Currently I have an SPS tank with Radions and a 10 gallon LPS/softie tank with a Kessil A80.

I love the look Kessil's produce (AP700, 360's or A80, they all produce the same light/shimmer), but the thing I did not like about the AP700 (which holds true for all the Kessil lights) is that they come off a bit dull - the tank won't appear bright unless you run the spectrum with more white. Also, the AP700 will not allow you to slowly mix or blend the spectrums as you change colors. Unless there has been a change in the programing of the lights, the AP700 will just "click" over to the next color if you program the lights to change spectrums throughout the day.

Now, if you get Kessil A360's, you can buy the spectral controller and it will properly blend the spectrums as they change colors. It looks a lot better than the AP700, and the actual light and shimmer is the same as AP700. Make sense?

If you like Kessil, and you don't plan on keeping SPS (Monitpora's will probably do fine), I would use A360's with the spectral controller. I think the Kessil out of all three LED lights looks the nicest and gives the best looking natural shimmer.

The Hydra and Radions look very similar - you'll be able to independently control each color channel, but you'll find that you need to run the Reds and Greens lower, whites low and blues high.
The Hyrda aren't as bright as the Radions (unless you run the whites higher). The Radion G4's are bright. I run a pretty blue spectrum and the whole tank is really bright. There is a bit of a "disco ball" affect you hear people talking about, but's I don't think it's bad or really that noticeable. I still really like my Radions.

Hopefully this gives you an idea of what each light has to offer.

Thanks for your help. I have never had any SPS so yes my plan is in future to learn and actually have some of them and I would like my light to support it.

Is that really not a good light for SPS corals ? I heard that people dont even run the lights 100% of power, why would that not be enough ? I can go with radion but dont like that disco effect I see on others pictures. Plus I dont need any controller more to buy. For my tank I guess I would need 3 units and it comes to much more money :-(

 

[Jmason95]

Thanks for your help. I have never had any SPS so yes my plan is in future to learn and actually have some of them and I would like my light to support it.

Is that really not a good light for SPS corals ? I heard that people dont even run the lights 100% of power, why would that not be enough ? I can go with radion but dont like that disco effect I see on others pictures. Plus I dont need any controller more to buy. For my tank I guess I would need 3 units and it comes to much more money :-(

It's not the power of the light that's the issue, it's about the spread of even light with SPS. The Radion produces a better more even spread which is why it's more popular with SPS keepers.

You can always do Kessil, and add T5's later on if needed. I had my AP700 with T5s.

 

[dimasv]

Getting ready for first arrivals.

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[dimasv]

Decided to try this heater. According to reviews it says the most reliable. Have another 300w eheim as a pair to it for my 180gal. If i like it will get another one.

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[dimasv]

My first guys in qt now. Gave them ichx bath and now they are with prazipro. Cupramine next.

 

[dimasv]

Finally my lights are all set with diy mounting arms

 

[dimasv]

Starting to play with a new toy. Lets see what are the all good reviews really worth.

 

[dimasv]

Installed uv just in case... lots of talks either its needed or not. Decided to try. Connected it to return and feed apx 130gph through it.

 

[dimasv]

Havnt posted in a while. Since my last post added more fish and corals. Dropped ap700 to 10in above the water. Added one sps to test. Setup media and in process calcium reactor.

 

[mclayj]

Havnt posted in a while. Since my last post added more fish and corals. Dropped ap700 to 10in above the water. Added one sps to test. Setup media and in process calcium reactor.

The system looks great! I'm about to pull the trigger on my first large system and I had a few questions that I hope you could help me with.

1. How do you like the Miracles tank & stand? Is there anything you would change now that it's set up? I'm currently trying to decide on a Red Sea Reefer 525XL/625XL or a custom Miracles set-up and stand

2. Has such a large water volume affected your home in any way? Do you have to run a de-humidifier now?

3. Where do you get your livestock? I live in Oakville and find quality livestock is quite limited

Thanks!

 

[dimasv]

The system looks great! I'm about to pull the trigger on my first large system and I had a few questions that I hope you could help me with.

1. How do you like the Miracles tank & stand? Is there anything you would change now that it's set up? I'm currently trying to decide on a Red Sea Reefer 525XL/625XL or a custom Miracles set-up and stand

2. Has such a large water volume affected your home in any way? Do you have to run a de-humidifier now?

3. Where do you get your livestock? I live in Oakville and find quality livestock is quite limited

Thanks!

1. I love the tank I bought from them. Especially the eurobrasing and back side surface overflow, makes your backwall completely flat. I would never buy tank without eurobracing. I was looking at the reefer but I wanted 180gal, and they did not have it, plus I enjoy putting parts all together myself picking what I want but that comes more costly for sure. Stand is also very good quality just 4 posts lots of space below however my sumpt in another room, and if you want your sump below the tank you would probably end up building a walls, which might not look as good as reefer tanks depends on your skills. What I love about the stand is adjustable height legs, I really thankful for those as the floor I build below the tank not really horizontal so this stand fixed the horizon for me.

2. My tank is in the basement but I have humidity controllers all over the house and I did not notice any real change. In winter evaporation higher of course. but no more then 60 I keep in basement. Main floors much less.

3. Fish and budget corals I buy at the bigals in Mississauga, I love their stock, there are also 4 more stores right around that place, I buy sometimes there too. For amazing corals verity but a bit pricey I go to canadacorals.com I think owner Rob has the best stuff.