225 'Reef Shelf' Tank Up And Running

AgentSPS

AgentSPS

New member
Photo heavy journal or my new 225 Reef Shelf SPS dominated tank.

I purchased this 225 gallon Lee Mar tank with birdseye maple stand and canopy used back in August.

<img src=http://pic18.picturetrail.com/VOL872/4145337/8654988/120666084.jpg>

<img src=http://pic18.picturetrail.com/VOL872/4145337/8654988/120666091.jpg>

<img src=http://pic18.picturetrail.com/VOL872/4145337/8654988/120666097.jpg>
 
As you can see in the next few pictures the stand and canopy were pretty beat up on the inside. There was extensive dry rot throughout but the exterior wood was in excellent condition with TONS of birdseye.

<img src=http://pic18.picturetrail.com/VOL872/4145337/8654988/120665511.jpg>

<img src=http://pic18.picturetrail.com/VOL872/4145337/8654988/120665518.jpg>

<img src=http://pic18.picturetrail.com/VOL872/4145337/8654988/120665539.jpg>

<img src=http://pic18.picturetrail.com/VOL872/4145337/8654988/120665552.jpg>

<img src=http://pic18.picturetrail.com/VOL872/4145337/8654988/120665727.jpg>

<img src=http://pic18.picturetrail.com/VOL872/4145337/8654988/120665737.jpg>

<img src=http://pic18.picturetrail.com/VOL872/4145337/8654988/120665742.jpg>

<img src=http://pic18.picturetrail.com/VOL872/4145337/8654988/120665547.jpg>
 
Are you planning to dismantle the stand and canopy and remake the interior? The exterior is really nice looking.
 
Around 150 hours later the interior of both the stand and canopy had been completely resurfaced, rotted pieces replaced, all hinges/hardware replaced, and several coats of marine paint were applied.

Marine paint applied to bottom of stand
<img src=http://pic18.picturetrail.com/VOL872/4145337/8654988/120666065.jpg>

<img src=http://pic18.picturetrail.com/VOL872/4145337/8654988/120666073.jpg>

Custom sump containing all H&S equipment

<img src=http://pic18.picturetrail.com/VOL872/4145337/8654988/120666077.jpg>

Water Testing

<img src=http://pic18.picturetrail.com/VOL872/4145337/8654988/120666101.jpg>

<img src=http://pic18.picturetrail.com/VOL872/4145337/8654988/120666105.jpg>

A shot of the euro gray plumbing and Oceans Motions 4 way on a closed loop. Sequence Barracuda circulated 4500gph with no head. Two channels go right down to the bottom of the tank and blow towards the front of the glass creating a barrel affect with the current. The remaining two channels run to the left and right of the tank.


<img src=http://pic18.picturetrail.com/VOL872/4145337/8654988/120666112.jpg>

<img src=http://pic18.picturetrail.com/VOL872/4145337/8654988/120666116.jpg>
 
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I spent around $250 for the plumbing and the first time I glued it all together and water tested it leaked from nearly every joint. A days worth of work!!! Apparently the glue I used must have been bad. I had to redo just about all the plumbing with new glue and fittings...


The lighting was another nightmare. I opted for 3 Lumenarc III reflectors. While they fit in the 16" tall canopy I could not reach into my tank. Since it is impossible to get birdseye maple with that much birdseye today I opted to make an addon to the canopy. The top was cut off the existing canopy and a 10" addition secured to the top. I will try to take some pics of the result tomorrow.

While the new addition has significantly less birdseye it matches pretty well. The builder told me it was so hard to find anything close that he was forced to pull birdseye from his personal stash.
 
Meanwhile here are some pics of where I am at today with the tank. You can see where the tank gets its name. The entire rock structure is supported by two large pieces of branch shown in the prev pictures.

<img src=http://pic18.picturetrail.com/VOL872/4145337/8654988/120672980.jpg>

<img src=http://pic18.picturetrail.com/VOL872/4145337/8654988/120672985.jpg>

<img src=http://pic18.picturetrail.com/VOL872/4145337/8654988/120672990.jpg>

<img src=http://pic18.picturetrail.com/VOL872/4145337/8654988/120672999.jpg>

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<img src=http://pic18.picturetrail.com/VOL872/4145337/8654988/120673006.jpg>
 
More....

<img src=http://pic18.picturetrail.com/VOL872/4145337/8654988/120673012.jpg>

<img src=http://www.frags.org/uploads/AgentSPS_LE_Pink_Tip_Pin_Cushion.jpg>

<img src=http://pic18.picturetrail.com/VOL872/4145337/8654988/120673039.jpg>


<img src=http://pic18.picturetrail.com/VOL872/4145337/8654988/120673035.jpg>

<img src=http://pic18.picturetrail.com/VOL872/4145337/8654988/120673072.jpg>

Photo Album with more photos:

http://www.picturetrail.com/gallery/view?p=12&uid=4145337&gid=8654988&
 
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These guys are in qtine right now and will go in the main tank as soon as they prove they don't like clams or corals.

<img src=http://pic18.picturetrail.com/VOL872/4145337/8654988/120673092.jpg>
 
Very nice and balanced display .... I really liked the way you placed ..... everything on the 2 pieces of staghorn rocks .....

I use alot of staghorn rocks in my home tank though I maximise the use of the spaces on the side walls too.
 
Wow I really like how you constructed your rock scape, I bet you have great flow all around.

That is going to be one killer tank when all the corals grow out :thumbsup:
 
WOW!

Nice score on the used tank and a great restoration job on the stand.

Very unique aquascaping too.

Real nice :)
 
HotHotHot said:
I have a question about the tank.

I just ordered a 225 from Lee-Mar, semi-custom, with holes drilled for a CL.

Do they use low-iron (StarPhire) glass in those? I wasn't able to get a clear answer from my LFS.

Thanks,
Ed

My thread: http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?s=&threadid=707018
Click to expand...

Stafire or other low iron glass must be requested and does come with additional cost. If the store doesnt know what starfire is, impretty sure they didint get you starfire. IMO if your gonna set up and 225 and by the looks of your eqiuipment so far, starfire might be a great option for you. Make sure you call your LFS before its too late. A few hundred bucks in the long run is cheap compared to a new tank.
 
Thank you all for the compliments!

orion76 said:
Wow I really like how you constructed your rock scape, I bet you have great flow all around.

That is going to be one killer tank when all the corals grow out :thumbsup:
Click to expand...


Flow was a big factor for me when designing the rock structure. I wanted a very open structure that would allow for the minimum amount of dead spots and would minimally obstruct the current momentum the closed loop would generate.

I have two different barrels for the Oceans Motions. Each has a different affect on the current. I switch them out every month or so.
 
Jeremy Blaze said:
Is the rock structure glues, epoxyed, or what? Looks very cool!
Click to expand...

Mr. Blaze

Originally I had planned to use a bunch of zip ties to strap all the rock together. I think I only ended up using 3. The nice thing about branch is that you can interlock the pieces creating a strong sturdy structure. I was lucky to locate large pieces that had lots of thin branches. When everything was where I wanted it I used epoxy putty to cement them in place and prevent shifting/collapse.
 
Quick question for you.

where is the intake for the closed at? i forget the name off the top of my head, but did you leave a spot to prime the intake?

how do you like it? do you think it takes away from the flow at all?

do you get anyway bubbles from having it located in the overflow? i want to add another closed loop and do not have a hole drilled for the intake. so i was thinking of throwing it in the tank, but now after seeing your setup maybe the overflow woudl work. how far do is the intake?

thanks

Nick
 
Moorish Idols, ... you are aware how impossible they are to keep long term arent you?

are they freshly wild caught, or has someone had them and they are eatting prepared fish foods???

If they are freshly wild caught, hope you know what your doing!


good luck, though I dont agree with the Moorish Idols, haveing had one myself I can say this...

I love the tank, Rockwork is very very interesting... great tank!!!
 
nbd13 said:
Quick question for you.

where is the intake for the closed at? i forget the name off the top of my head, but did you leave a spot to prime the intake?

how do you like it? do you think it takes away from the flow at all?

do you get anyway bubbles from having it located in the overflow? i want to add another closed loop and do not have a hole drilled for the intake. so i was thinking of throwing it in the tank, but now after seeing your setup maybe the overflow woudl work. how far do is the intake?

thanks

Nick
Click to expand...

Not sure if you can see in this picture but I drilled the left side of the overflow box and installed a bulkhead for the intake of the closed loop. Plumbing runs inside the overflow box and up over the back of the tank and down between the tank than the Oceans Motions. It only needed priming when I originally charged the plumbing with water.

<img src=http://pic18.picturetrail.com/VOL872/4145337/8654988/120666091.jpg>
 
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