I haven't been active on RC for several years. My spectacular 250g (pic below) unfortunately crashed a month after moving it to a new home in 2009 - not surprising because it was a system running right on the edge! It has been largely neglected with two surviving fish (Sohal tang and dwarf eel) and a handful of corals, despite essentially no maintenance or water changes since the crash, just occasional skimmer maintenance and salt addition to maintain salinity. Well five years later after seeing a friend's new 400g setup I am diving in again, bigger and better 
My old tank at its peak:
This tank was placed in a niche, which limited the depth to 29" and access was restricted to the front side. All the equipment was externally plumbed into a adjacent perpendicular closet, with a simple undersized (because of space constraints) sump that was problematic. My new house has a small fish room (stripped exterior bathroom) behind the tank area allowing a much deeper tank. So my plan is for a 'cube tank' approximately 72" x 48" x 27" with all equipment except chiller under the stand, contained in a large sump. Because I live in Arizona, I will be using exclusively LED lights and efficient pumps; my hope is that the chiller will be a failsafe rather than a necessity.
The tank will be in-wall at the front of a music/theater room, but from the fish room I will have mostly unfettered access to each side of the tank. Plan is to be able to listen to my high end two channel audio and watch the tank, or drop a screen down to conceal the tank and watch a movie using a surround system.
My old tank was custom built by A.G.E., as is the new one my friend installed. I really like their hybrid construction (starfire glass display panels, PVC bottom, acrylic eurobracing and external overflow) and plan on ordering another; I was glad to see they were still in business. A LFS is now a dealer for A.G.E. and I am awaiting the initial bid from them.
I was very interested in the RE Dreambox filters, and probably willing to pay the price for one, but alas the air freight from Germany is prohibitive. Last week I briefly spoke with a RC sponsor who indicated that MRC might be able to craft a custom industrial sump in a similar design, which might actually work out better since it will have english rather than metric plumbing, and can be made with optimum dimensions for the space under my stand.
My current skimmer, a Deltec AP1003, will be retired; the three Eheim pumps are noisy and add a lot of heat to the water. I am leaning towards a (single pump) BK Supermarin 250 or double cone 250, Vertex 250, or ATB 1260 skimmer which will be run in sump. I anticipate a heavy bioload - again see my old tank! - but believe these skimmers will be more than adequate.
I have used Reeflo Dart pumps for the closed loop and return. I have had some intermittent leaks from the sump's return pump bulkhead, and one of the pumps had a major leak requiring new seals. I am leaning towards two internal pumps -- contendors are Red Dragon, Abyzz, and WaterBlaster HY.
Most flow will come from Vortech pumps. I will likely use a pair of MP60 and once again plumb for a closed loop, with the four returns connected to PVC that will support rock columns and insure good flow around the reef structure.
Also in the sump I will all the media reactors, one for Zeovit or pellets, another two for GAC and GFO. These will be internally plumbed and used when warranted.
My current lighting is three 250w Phoenix 14k with four 60" VHO. Again I am leaning towards running LED lighting exclusively. Possibilites are Radion Pro Gen3, Orphek Atlantik V2, Mitras 6200, and Hydra 52. I am planning on using 3-4 fixtures, mounted perpendicular to the tank length, intentionally leaving the 6" or so next to the front and rear glass very dim to limit light leak and algae growth.
My current controller is a Prolilux IIex. Unfortunately I was just informed there is no longer an upgrade path to the III, so have to decide whether to stick with Profilux or migrate to a Neptune Apex controller. The Vertex Cerebra looks interesting too, but seems like it has been vapor for years now...
Livestock will be a very mixed reef, as before, with SPS high on pillars and bridges; LPS at lower levels on the rock structure and sandbed, and non-photosynthetic softies strategically placed in high flow, dimly lit areas such as underhands and caves.
Thanks for reading! I hope to have some photos of the theater/aquarium room and preliminary drawings up soon! Any equipment/plumbing suggestions are welcome!
My old tank at its peak:
This tank was placed in a niche, which limited the depth to 29" and access was restricted to the front side. All the equipment was externally plumbed into a adjacent perpendicular closet, with a simple undersized (because of space constraints) sump that was problematic. My new house has a small fish room (stripped exterior bathroom) behind the tank area allowing a much deeper tank. So my plan is for a 'cube tank' approximately 72" x 48" x 27" with all equipment except chiller under the stand, contained in a large sump. Because I live in Arizona, I will be using exclusively LED lights and efficient pumps; my hope is that the chiller will be a failsafe rather than a necessity.
The tank will be in-wall at the front of a music/theater room, but from the fish room I will have mostly unfettered access to each side of the tank. Plan is to be able to listen to my high end two channel audio and watch the tank, or drop a screen down to conceal the tank and watch a movie using a surround system.
My old tank was custom built by A.G.E., as is the new one my friend installed. I really like their hybrid construction (starfire glass display panels, PVC bottom, acrylic eurobracing and external overflow) and plan on ordering another; I was glad to see they were still in business. A LFS is now a dealer for A.G.E. and I am awaiting the initial bid from them.
I was very interested in the RE Dreambox filters, and probably willing to pay the price for one, but alas the air freight from Germany is prohibitive. Last week I briefly spoke with a RC sponsor who indicated that MRC might be able to craft a custom industrial sump in a similar design, which might actually work out better since it will have english rather than metric plumbing, and can be made with optimum dimensions for the space under my stand.
My current skimmer, a Deltec AP1003, will be retired; the three Eheim pumps are noisy and add a lot of heat to the water. I am leaning towards a (single pump) BK Supermarin 250 or double cone 250, Vertex 250, or ATB 1260 skimmer which will be run in sump. I anticipate a heavy bioload - again see my old tank! - but believe these skimmers will be more than adequate.
I have used Reeflo Dart pumps for the closed loop and return. I have had some intermittent leaks from the sump's return pump bulkhead, and one of the pumps had a major leak requiring new seals. I am leaning towards two internal pumps -- contendors are Red Dragon, Abyzz, and WaterBlaster HY.
Most flow will come from Vortech pumps. I will likely use a pair of MP60 and once again plumb for a closed loop, with the four returns connected to PVC that will support rock columns and insure good flow around the reef structure.
Also in the sump I will all the media reactors, one for Zeovit or pellets, another two for GAC and GFO. These will be internally plumbed and used when warranted.
My current lighting is three 250w Phoenix 14k with four 60" VHO. Again I am leaning towards running LED lighting exclusively. Possibilites are Radion Pro Gen3, Orphek Atlantik V2, Mitras 6200, and Hydra 52. I am planning on using 3-4 fixtures, mounted perpendicular to the tank length, intentionally leaving the 6" or so next to the front and rear glass very dim to limit light leak and algae growth.
My current controller is a Prolilux IIex. Unfortunately I was just informed there is no longer an upgrade path to the III, so have to decide whether to stick with Profilux or migrate to a Neptune Apex controller. The Vertex Cerebra looks interesting too, but seems like it has been vapor for years now...
Livestock will be a very mixed reef, as before, with SPS high on pillars and bridges; LPS at lower levels on the rock structure and sandbed, and non-photosynthetic softies strategically placed in high flow, dimly lit areas such as underhands and caves.
Thanks for reading! I hope to have some photos of the theater/aquarium room and preliminary drawings up soon! Any equipment/plumbing suggestions are welcome!
