200+ Gallon Build Thread --- PICS!!!
- Thread starter cprice
- Start date
cprice
New member
I looked it up on their website and there was one review and it was 5 stars. Turns out it was a guy using it to cycle his reef tank, ha!
http://www.acehardware.com/product/index.jsp?productId=1307957#showReviews
I got all of the LEDs programmed to the intensities I like and all of the channels grouped together for how I want the sunrise and sunsets to happen. Im using a StormX controller for programming.
Night time max (will go all the way down to 0% light depending on moonphase):
<a data-flickr-embed="true" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/140892181@N04/25674114673/in/dateposted-public/" title="20160405_235309"><img src="https://farm2.staticflickr.com/1604/25674114673_43a64552a8_z.jpg" width="640" height="360" alt="20160405_235309"></a>
At 20% intensity:
<a data-flickr-embed="true" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/140892181@N04/25672015274/in/dateposted-public/" title="20160405_235337"><img src="https://farm2.staticflickr.com/1532/25672015274_62cc71fc04_z.jpg" width="640" height="360" alt="20160405_235337">
At 65% intensity:
<a data-flickr-embed="true" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/140892181@N04/26210588391/in/dateposted-public/" title="20160405_235356"><img src="https://farm2.staticflickr.com/1669/26210588391_5b50f8ddd1_z.jpg" width="640" height="360" alt="20160405_235356">
At 100% intensity (of my schedule that is, at my "full" intensity whites are 30% and blues are 75%):
<a data-flickr-embed="true" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/140892181@N04/26276845645/in/dateposted-public/" title="20160405_235410"><img src="https://farm2.staticflickr.com/1513/26276845645_fce712f439_z.jpg" width="640" height="360" alt="20160405_235410">
Looks good in the room when lit up!!
<a data-flickr-embed="true" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/140892181@N04/25672012224/in/dateposted-public/" title="20160405_235435"><img src="https://farm2.staticflickr.com/1569/25672012224_94d5399409_z.jpg" width="640" height="360" alt="20160405_235435">
After looking at the lights, im not sure I need T5 supplement. I may add 2 T5 bulbs (possibly 4, but probably not) to help with shadowing and coloration. If I did that I would probably have to further turn down lighting on the LEDs to prevent burning.
Anybody have any thoughts on me adding T5s? I could just use my 4 bulb retro kit over the 48x24x16 frag tank in the garage instead...hmm.
cprice
New member
Thanks! Ive got another 100 lbs of dry rock that im going to break up and create a little more texture to certain areas and create a little more flow where it meets the sand. Overall though, I am really pleased the way the overall shape came out.
cprice
New member
At what point would it be OK to start adding pods to the tank? I know they need food but I wasn't sure if that is something that has to be produced by a mature tank or if it is something that can be dosed life phytofeast/osyterfeast/frozen foods, etc. I want to give the pods a chance to get a head start on populating the live rock.
attkstrpure
New member
I gotta say, watching everything come together is almost as good as seeing the tank up and running.
DIY stand building is a lot of fun imo. Yours looks great.
DIY stand building is a lot of fun imo. Yours looks great.
cprice
New member
Thanks!
I agree that the setup process and build is at least half of the fun if not more for me :rollface:
Now Im just trying to be patient and not rush anything. I have rushed in the past and always end up regretting it. Here's to a healthy start to this tank! :thumbsup:
mpderksen
New member
Got a request for you, if you don't mind. Can you take a picture of the inside of the overflow?
Then a few specifics on the plumbing: what size PVC did you use for the drains and return? I assume you drilled the bottom for the drain and the back for the return, but I'd love to see how you get it to the Loc-line fitting.
Then a few specifics on the plumbing: what size PVC did you use for the drains and return? I assume you drilled the bottom for the drain and the back for the return, but I'd love to see how you get it to the Loc-line fitting.
cprice
New member
No problem, I'll take them when I'm home this afternoon.
Sent from my SM-G900V using Tapatalk
cprice
New member
So hopefully this will show you what I did. The further standpipe is the full siphon with the closer one being the emergency. You can also see where the bulkhead comes in from the back to allow for the return. From there, I use a 90-degree elbow with 1 inch PVC that comes up to the threaded connector that goes to the lock line.
I used 1 inch PVC for both of the drain lines as well. This setup is duplicated on the other overflow.
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mpderksen
New member
Just pulled my standpipe (see other thread) and thought I would return the favor by showing you the screen I use. 1" PVC. Buy extra. They get brittle and break every now and then from weekly cleaning. I also painted the cover over the overflow to prevent algae from growing where my CUC and grazers can't reach it. That seems to have really helped.
cprice
New member
Huge Update
Huge Update
First of all, sorry that it has been this long since the last update. After a few setbacks with the tank and a few things around the house, I have finally been able to give the tank the attention is has been missing.
So, the first major thing that has happened since the last update was the installation of the 80 gallon Fuge/Frag tank. I was able to plumb it into the sump using a simple mag pump and drain where I hung a filter sock to catch any algae and help reduce micro bubbles.
<a data-flickr-embed="true" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/140892181@N04/27905782236/in/dateposted-public/" title="IMG_0009"><img src="https://c5.staticflickr.com/8/7460/27905782236_3dccdbb420_z.jpg" width="640" height="480" alt="IMG_0009"></a>
<a data-flickr-embed="true" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/140892181@N04/27862927691/in/dateposted-public/" title="IMG_0011"><img src="https://c4.staticflickr.com/8/7306/27862927691_0deef24266_z.jpg" width="640" height="480" alt="IMG_0011"></a>
<a data-flickr-embed="true" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/140892181@N04/27905776716/in/dateposted-public/" title="IMG_0013"><img src="https://c5.staticflickr.com/8/7456/27905776716_e9834a5e81_z.jpg" width="640" height="480" alt="IMG_0013"></a>
The fuge has really taken off and the algae is growing like crazy. The caulerpa, dragons breath, and cheato were all smaller than a baseball less than three weeks prior to this picture.
More to follow!
Huge Update
First of all, sorry that it has been this long since the last update. After a few setbacks with the tank and a few things around the house, I have finally been able to give the tank the attention is has been missing.
So, the first major thing that has happened since the last update was the installation of the 80 gallon Fuge/Frag tank. I was able to plumb it into the sump using a simple mag pump and drain where I hung a filter sock to catch any algae and help reduce micro bubbles.
<a data-flickr-embed="true" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/140892181@N04/27905782236/in/dateposted-public/" title="IMG_0009"><img src="https://c5.staticflickr.com/8/7460/27905782236_3dccdbb420_z.jpg" width="640" height="480" alt="IMG_0009"></a>
<a data-flickr-embed="true" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/140892181@N04/27862927691/in/dateposted-public/" title="IMG_0011"><img src="https://c4.staticflickr.com/8/7306/27862927691_0deef24266_z.jpg" width="640" height="480" alt="IMG_0011"></a>
<a data-flickr-embed="true" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/140892181@N04/27905776716/in/dateposted-public/" title="IMG_0013"><img src="https://c5.staticflickr.com/8/7456/27905776716_e9834a5e81_z.jpg" width="640" height="480" alt="IMG_0013"></a>
The fuge has really taken off and the algae is growing like crazy. The caulerpa, dragons breath, and cheato were all smaller than a baseball less than three weeks prior to this picture.
More to follow!
cprice
New member
Update Part 2 - Bryopsis
Update Part 2 - Bryopsis
So the next thing that happened was a bryopsis outbreak in the tank. I had two specific strains that practically took over the tank in a matter of days. I am pretty sure the source was 4 fish that came down with Ich and all died within 2 days of each other. Because of the rockwork, I was not able to find any of the fish, therefore letting them decay and spike my nitrates.
Anyways, after a regimine of elevated magnesium of 1800 ppm via Kent Tech M for a week and spot applications of 3% hydrogen peroxide with all pumps turned off, I seem to have killed 99% of it with the rest still dissolving away. I was really happy to see the result of the Tech M but wanted to make sure it was dead with the H2O2. Having 300 total gallons helps to dilute the H2O2 to almost nothing after the pumps come back on.
Here are a few shots of the algae when it started to get really bad:
<a data-flickr-embed="true" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/140892181@N04/27862932171/in/dateposted-public/" title="IMG_0003"><img src="https://c4.staticflickr.com/8/7478/27862932171_4b8e4aaaac_z.jpg" width="480" height="640" alt="IMG_0003"></a>
<a data-flickr-embed="true" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/140892181@N04/27862933121/in/dateposted-public/" title="IMG_0002"><img src="https://c2.staticflickr.com/8/7265/27862933121_50af5d7053_z.jpg" width="480" height="640" alt="IMG_0002"></a>
<a data-flickr-embed="true" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/140892181@N04/27862934511/in/dateposted-public/" title="IMG_0001"><img src="https://c8.staticflickr.com/8/7520/27862934511_32a6faf1d2_z.jpg" width="640" height="480" alt="IMG_0001"></a>
Here are the same spots as of yesterday:
This is the only remaining "crop" of bryopsis but it is dying and disappearing quite fast.
<a data-flickr-embed="true" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/140892181@N04/27907594086/in/dateposted-public/" title="IMG_0093"><img src="https://c7.staticflickr.com/8/7254/27907594086_49548399a8_z.jpg" width="640" height="480" alt="IMG_0093"></a>
<a data-flickr-embed="true" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/140892181@N04/27840333422/in/dateposted-public/" title="IMG_0081"><img src="https://c7.staticflickr.com/8/7299/27840333422_80885c26af_z.jpg" width="640" height="480" alt="IMG_0081"></a>
<a data-flickr-embed="true" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/140892181@N04/27328783383/in/dateposted-public/" title="IMG_0086"><img src="https://c8.staticflickr.com/8/7640/27328783383_3085e3c41f_z.jpg" width="640" height="480" alt="IMG_0086"></a>
Update Part 2 - Bryopsis
So the next thing that happened was a bryopsis outbreak in the tank. I had two specific strains that practically took over the tank in a matter of days. I am pretty sure the source was 4 fish that came down with Ich and all died within 2 days of each other. Because of the rockwork, I was not able to find any of the fish, therefore letting them decay and spike my nitrates.
Anyways, after a regimine of elevated magnesium of 1800 ppm via Kent Tech M for a week and spot applications of 3% hydrogen peroxide with all pumps turned off, I seem to have killed 99% of it with the rest still dissolving away. I was really happy to see the result of the Tech M but wanted to make sure it was dead with the H2O2. Having 300 total gallons helps to dilute the H2O2 to almost nothing after the pumps come back on.
Here are a few shots of the algae when it started to get really bad:
<a data-flickr-embed="true" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/140892181@N04/27862932171/in/dateposted-public/" title="IMG_0003"><img src="https://c4.staticflickr.com/8/7478/27862932171_4b8e4aaaac_z.jpg" width="480" height="640" alt="IMG_0003"></a>
<a data-flickr-embed="true" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/140892181@N04/27862933121/in/dateposted-public/" title="IMG_0002"><img src="https://c2.staticflickr.com/8/7265/27862933121_50af5d7053_z.jpg" width="480" height="640" alt="IMG_0002"></a>
<a data-flickr-embed="true" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/140892181@N04/27862934511/in/dateposted-public/" title="IMG_0001"><img src="https://c8.staticflickr.com/8/7520/27862934511_32a6faf1d2_z.jpg" width="640" height="480" alt="IMG_0001"></a>
Here are the same spots as of yesterday:
This is the only remaining "crop" of bryopsis but it is dying and disappearing quite fast.
<a data-flickr-embed="true" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/140892181@N04/27907594086/in/dateposted-public/" title="IMG_0093"><img src="https://c7.staticflickr.com/8/7254/27907594086_49548399a8_z.jpg" width="640" height="480" alt="IMG_0093"></a>
<a data-flickr-embed="true" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/140892181@N04/27840333422/in/dateposted-public/" title="IMG_0081"><img src="https://c7.staticflickr.com/8/7299/27840333422_80885c26af_z.jpg" width="640" height="480" alt="IMG_0081"></a>
<a data-flickr-embed="true" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/140892181@N04/27328783383/in/dateposted-public/" title="IMG_0086"><img src="https://c8.staticflickr.com/8/7640/27328783383_3085e3c41f_z.jpg" width="640" height="480" alt="IMG_0086"></a>
cprice
New member
It was a lot! A little over a half gallon in 7 days and I am using IO Reef Crystals.
I just got my apex up and running and all new equipment installed. Hopefully the better flow of the 2 MP40s will help keep any new algae at bay.
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