210G Upgrade / Build (Lots of Pics)

[michael_in_nc]

The xp5000 is going on your 600G?

Someone said they got a 5000 for a tank in my size so I was questioning if the 3000 was going to be big enough...

 

[dzfish17]

You should be fine with the 3000. I think most of the people who run an xp5000 on a system like yours are overdoing it. I guess they dont want to take chances with an undersized skimmer. Mike at Reef Specialty said the xp5000 can handle a heavily stocked 500g and lightly stocked 700g.

 

[ScubaPrawn]

Tagging along...can't wait to see this thing up and running.

 

[michael_in_nc]

Tagging along...can't wait to see this thing up and running.

Welcome aboard. Me, too... Next step will be getting the stand in place and starting to get the initial wiring setup.

 

[koby325]

Looks great keep posting pics as it come along

 

[pjmiller33]

Just subscribed to your thread (though I have been following along since the start). Everything looks great, I really like the way the stand is turning out so far (and great choice with the walnut). I am hoping to start my 210 build thread next week. I already have the equipment... just have to finish the fish room. By the way just down the road from you in Suffolk, VA.

 

[michael_in_nc]

koby, will do. I'm guessing a little slow the next couple of weeks. Stand will probably wrap up in that time frame, then the canopy will start.

pjmiller, welcome. You running similar equipment? I'll keep an eye out for your thread...

 

[mattiej]

Mike, great thread thus far and thanks for the input. Will definitely follow this thread throughout my own build.

 

[michael_in_nc]

Mike, great thread thus far and thanks for the input. Will definitely follow this thread throughout my own build.

I'm mostly in wait mode right now, so I'm starting to take a look at the DIY LED electronics. I'm an electrical engineer by day, so I might try to do the drivers myself and also put an interface in to use the Neptune Apex low voltage driver controls. It looks like the cost breakdown is about 50/50 (in terms of LED's and driver electronics). I could probably save a fair amount of the driver cost by building it myself. We'll see. I've been looking at them closer in terms of cost vs halides and also the "shimmer" effect. Several people seem to be having good luck with that, so I'm picking up more interest there.

 

[msudawgs56]

Wow... great build ... tagging along!

 

[pjmiller33]

Hey Michael,

Just checking in to see how things are going. I am not doing the leds (metal Halides and vho lights instead), but I am interested to see how your's turns out. I finally put my 210 build thread up. My project just seemed to keep growing and growing! I am hoping to add water this weekend. Being patient is always the hardest part isn't it?)

 

[michael_in_nc]

Hey guys. I'm still in wait mode right now. Since I decided to have Reef Savvy do my sump it delayed my order. I'm thinking a month or so before it ships. I'll check in with Felix in a couple of weeks. My stand builder has been traveling for work, so that slowed the stand as well. I think the stand is vey close though and will wrap up in a couple of weeks. I'll have more as that happens.

PJ, I will check out your thread. It is hard waiting. I've been planing out my next project while I wait. I'm looking at building a spectrometer to measure my light spectrum power levels. Should be key for an led build. I want to assess diffrent led's before committing to an led mix.

 

[michael_in_nc]

I did get my water storage barrels. I borrowed them and managed to get them cleaned up with the pressure washer this weekend. I have an ro/di line into my current 75G tank for auto top off, so I'm running that line over to the barrels (through the window at the moment). It seems to be working and I don't have to haul it over manually, so I'm going to try and keep this setup for now. Should be nice when the tank comes in as the water will be right next to the tank. That'll make it easy to pump right over.

I've got 5 barrels in all so about 275G of water. I'll have more built up for the move, but this should be enough to fill the display tank and some of the sump.

 

[michael_in_nc]

I spoke to Felix @ Reef Savvy this week. The glass is in and the tank is under construction. Looks like the tank may be done a little earlier than I thought, but I've still go the sump to go as well. I'm hoping for a mid-April ship date. We'll see. The stand build should crank back up soon as well.

Hopefully should have some more updates soon!

 

[srud]

Looking great!

I'd love to see updated progress pics of the stand. I'm particularly interested in the top as I see the face frame extends well above the support structure. I've got a stand in progress (not nearly as far along) and would like to do something similar.

 

[michael_in_nc]

Stand has progressed more lately. Stain / Finish work has started for the base. Skin is attached and doors are fitted. Still need to do the top molding work and remainder of finish work. Will post updated pics as I get them. I think the stand is 2 - 3 weeks out. I think tank will ship about the end of the month.

I did speak to Felix at Reef Savvy this week. After some discussion, we switched the overflow return setup to a glass holes type box modified for Reef Savvy. It's the dart version rated for 3000gph. That should give me more space overall plus free up the bottom area of the tank. One of my returns will go through the overflow box which will give it a cleaner look as well.

It's been slow for awhile but it's going to all come together soon!

 

[aquaph8]

Sounds like its just around the corner, very exciting, cant wait to see it. Whats the design on your sump look like?

 

[James404]

Great news Michael! Not sure if you saw but my tank is pretty much done, shipping out on Tuesday, that means yours shouldn't be too long after I would think. He should be posting pics of my tank on his facebook page by Tues.

 

[michael_in_nc]

James, I noticed your ship date. I will be checking to see how your tank looks. I think we're going to be really happy with the results.

 

[michael_in_nc]

Sounds like its just around the corner, very exciting, cant wait to see it. Whats the design on your sump look like?

My sump design is pretty simple now. I decided to move the refugium out of the sump, so the sump only has a skimmer chamber and a return chamber with one baffle. It will be 60" long x 18" x 18". Felix is going to use smoked glass on the back which should give it a nice clean look. I have adjusted my original plumbing plans. I'll post a lot of pics from the setup process showing my final setup. It'll probably be slow for another 2 - 3 weeks then it'll all hit at once. Might get some more stand pics soon.