200G Inwall Fishroom Build

[nickjj]

Thanks Reef 101.

I decided to remove my DSB from my refugium about a few weeks ago. I can already see improvements on all my SPS corals with new white tips of growth appearing relatively quickly. Everyday the tank is looking better.

I'm still running the same fuge with a bare bottom some rock and macro algae which is also growing again. I personally think a DSB is meant for a high flow area where it can operate properly. I my case by removing it from the fuge it has definately improved he water quality based on how the sps are responding.

 

[kikireef]

Your tank looks great! I really like your fish room. Like you, I am trolling these threads to see how people have done things so when I move in the "not too distant" future, I can start my upgrade. Thanks for the good info and the pics. I would love to know what feeds what system. What I mean is DT > frag tank > sump > DT ? I am trying to get ideas on how to plumb my system when I upgrade and can't decide on a good route. I am also planning on adding a separate 10-20 gallon tank for a mantis shrimp that I would like plumbed into the system.

 

[builderguy]

Looks great! Lots of inspiration for my new 280g build with fish room. I love the light rack on the pocket door track...gienous

 

[nickjj]

Trolling threads is the best way to get great ideas. I'll be looking for your build threads kikireef and builderguy in the near future and I'm sure I'll learn something new from them as well.

As far as the water flow goes I have a Dart pump for the return that feeds the frag tank and then goes up and over the room to the Display tank. There is an end overflow on the DT that feeds two 1'5" drains to the sump. I have a Mag Drive 5 that feeds the refugium with a slow flow that is picked up before the skimmer in the sump. The fuge returns back to sump on the other side where the Dart pump picks up its feed.

I have a safeguard built in to my fuge if for some reason the drain gets clogged there is a float sensor that is monitored by my Aquatronica controller that will turn off the Mag pump and then email me that there is a problem.

My Aquatronica is one of the most important components in my system and has worked awesome for my needs on this tank and my previous one of many years.

 

[nickjj]

Has anyone put a smaller tank in their sump that would contain the macro algae and a deep sand bed. I'm considering simplifying my setup by doing this. It eliminates a pump to feed the Fuge and it acts as a rdsb that I can remove or replace if it crashes. I have a 120 gallon sump and I could easily put a tall 15g tank in the skimmer section.

 

[nickjj]

Thought i'd share some pics of the exhaust ventillation change I made today over my tank. I was wandering around a Lowes and came across a drainage product called Spee-D Channel Drain System. I've been wanting to improve on the air removal above my tank but didn't want to use galvinized pipe.

Anyways this stuff comes in 4ft or longer lengths that can be joined to make it longer. It's also made of plastic which the salt won't affect it or drop anything harmfull into the tank. Still using the S&P inline fan which has been excellent so far.

Attached are some pics.

 

[eagle9252]

any updates

 

[nickjj]

It's been a while since an update, thanks for asking eagle.

Been simplifying my system lately. Removed the refugium and the Frag tank since they had just become nutrient traps over time. Moved the macro algae in the fuge to the last chamber in my sump. I've been trying to get a handle on a cyno issue on my gravel for some time now. It's getting better with these changes.

Attached are some recent pics. The umbrella leather is almost a foot in diameter to give you some idea of scale.

 

[Cozmo]

Be interesting to see some tank and fish room updates...have you made the move to LED yet?

 

[nickjj]

Thanks for asking Cozmo.

I will be making the switch to the new version of the Orphek PR-156 LED lighting. As a matter of fact I just picked a couple of the units up and gees are they bright. I'm still seeing spots......

Check out the pics. More to come.

 

[nickjj]

Changed the rockwork around a bit.
Time for some updated pics.

 

[lilc64]

Changed the rockwork around a bit.
Time for some updated pics.

looks great keep the pictures coming.

 

[nickjj]

Some more updated pics.

 

[moondoggy4]

Those are nice Leds lights, I have never seen ones with the fans on the controller.

 

[nickjj]

Well after about 8 months of LED lighting I switched to a Sfiligoi Stealth 8 bulb 80 watt T5 fixture. My tank and it's inhabitants never really were able to adapt to the LED's and I had many coral casualties which prompted me to take a step backward.

In three months since the switch my tank has rebounded and some of the corals that were affected with bleaching and lost colour are slowly coming back to life.

I'm not turned off of LED's at all, just not convinced the huge par and narrow spectrums most fixtures offer today are not ideal at this time when compared to traditional lighting. I personally think the LED multichip arrangement provides the best spread and spectrum blends but there is still room for advancement in this technology.