265 in wall build - Brubakron's Reef

Time for a quick update. The basement is coming along, but taking a little longer than I had hoped for. Here are a few pictures of the tank area.


This piece will run along the entire length of the tank and open side. If will slide out for when I need front access to the tank.




I decided on 3 Jebao wp 40s for the powerheads. I also have the voltage selector to give additional control over the flow in the tank.




I also have ordered the Diablo DC 10500 for my return pump. I am still undecided at the moment on my skimmer and lighting.
 
I am looking for skimmer recommendations for my set up. As a reminder - 265 gallon display tank, 75 gallon refugium, and a 100 gallon sump. Once water is in probably talking about 400 gallons of total water volume, maybe a little more. I am not sure exactly how full the Rubbermaid tub will be. I do not have a preference for in sump or external - it will be on a concrete floor with a floor drain. I want a great reliable skimmer that will last me a long time. This will be a somewhat heavily stocked tank in the end, a few years away. While I am willing to spend the money to get what will work the best, I also would prefer a good for the money suggestion. Thanks for the input.
 
Here is the light I am considering http://www.atinorthamerica.com/powermodule.php[/quote]


So after researching I think the ati powermodules t5 LED hybrid is the lighting I am going to go with for this tank. The tank being 7 feet long has provided some challenges for lighting, but I plan to go with a 48 inch fixture and a 24 inch fixture. They are still fairly new , but initial review are very good. This also gives me the opportunity to have LEDs, but not rely on them as my only lighting. With a tank deth of 24 inches, I can use the four bulb fixtures (which 8 bulbs to change is easier to swallow then 16).

Now the question comes down to bulb combination. I have two options that have been presented, and would like I out from those with experience with T5 lighting.

1. 3 blue + and 1 purple + ( more of a 20 k look).

2. 2 blue + and 2 coral + ( more of a 14 - 16 k look).

I am leaning towards option 2 because if I want a bluer look I believe that I can achieve that easily with the LEDs. As always, thanks for the input.
 
Time for a quick update - the basement is 99% finished and I am going to start moving items down this weekend. I hope to have the tank filled with water within the next two weeks. I have made some equipment purchases recently.

Lighting - 3 GHL Mitras (I decided that all the features these units have outweighed my hesitation for LED only)

Return Pump - Diablo DC 10500

Skimmer - Reef Octopus SRO 5000 external

Below are a few pictures of the tank area. I still need to clean the tank well, and the contractor is going to bring the molding at the top down so there is not gap, sealing off the fishroom. I can't wait to get working on the tank.





I will get better pictures up when I have time.
 
Newbie Aquarist said:
The tank and room is coming together. What was the selling point to change from the T5s to the Mitras?
Click to expand...

The selling points were that I haven't read about any major issues with the Mitras, and people that own them are very happy. I also like that they will communicate with other, and have a lot that you can do with them. For about the same price as a t5 hybrid I decided to go for it.
 
Today I moved down the two tanks I have up and running. Everything seems to have made the move fine, and I am glad that I wont be moving tanks anytime soon again.

Lots of good news to report - The display tank is holding water - even though it is new, it had sat in the basement for over a year, and of course was moved several times during the remodel project. Anyway I filled it up, and am soaking it a vinegar solution now to clean it out.



You can see the tanks in the pictures below through the display tank Disregard how dirty they are, now that they will be out more, I will take the time to really keep the class clean. I need to do some cord management around the tanks, but like how they look. I was going to paint the back of the tank black, but now I am debating keeping it clear to see into the fish room. I guess that also would mean that I would need to keep it clean an organized.






The Mitras arrived, and I cant wait to hang them and see what they are capable of. I have yet to play with them, but I should have more time towards the end of the week.



 
Time for an update - I have water, sand, and rock in the tank finally!







As you can see, I kind of over did it with the sand bed - I wanted to have a thicker sand bed for all the sand dwellers I plan to keep, but overestimated the amount of sand needed. I am planning on moving some of the sand into the 75 fuge/frag tank when I get it plumbed in.

I like the aquascape so far, but it already seems full. I didn't even use all of the pukani dry rock I have turned in live rock. There are 11 rocks total in the picture, but 6 of them are large and make up most of the scape.

My skimmer came too, and I need to work this week on getting it plumbed into the sump.



Also, a picture of the sand and salt being delivered - It came as a freight shipment (still free for me), but it was cheaper for the company mailing the items.

 
And let there be light -




Currently just running the light program out of the box, still have yet to use the software with the Mitras, or even hook them up to the computer - maybe tomorrow. I am impressed with the spread, and think they light the tank well. I will start very low power to not burn out corals, considering too how close to the tank they are.

Here is the rig I set up - it is pretty rough, but it will work. It is pretty solid, and as you can see I had some extra help while building it.



Back of the tank - still need to work on cord management, but am not too worried until I get everything plumbed together.



Currently I am having the frag/fuge stand built, am waiting on a bulkhead, and need to plumb in the skimmer. I will test water tomorrow to see where I am at in the cycle. I am also going to get the QT up and running.
 
jacopasqui said:
Why you will not start whith live rocks? I suggest you to insert at least 1/3 of live rocks to speed up the tank maturation
Click to expand...

Speed is not your friend. The potential majano hitchhiker, or bristle worm is not worth the few weeks you save on the cycle.

These big systems are intended to be set up for years if not decades.
 
Last edited:
System looks good. I am interested to see how you like the LEDs, what kinds of coral are you going to focus on?
Do you have a stock list yet?
 
theReefKing said:
System looks good. I am interested to see how you like the LEDs, what kinds of coral are you going to focus on?
Do you have a stock list yet?
Click to expand...

So far I am impressed by the LEDs. I am impressed with the different spectrums that I can create with these lights. I played around with a few of the features, and was impressed with the storm mode. I know that I won't use it too much, but to know that I can simulate lightening is pretty cool to me.

I will have a mixed reef - I like SPS, however I am not sure that the tank will be SPS dominated. I would like to get some premium corals that I can grow into large colonies.

Stock list -

Currently have -
Black and white clown pair w/ BTA
Fire Clowns
Lawnmower blenny
Tomini Tank
Yellow watchman goby and pistol shrimp
Pink streaked wrasse (one of my favorites and may stay in the smaller tank)

Plan to add -
Variety of wrasses
Tangs - Blonde Naso, Kole Yellow Eye, Powder Blue, Achilles - possibilities
Tile fish or two
Zebra Barred Gobies - A group of 5 or 6
Jawfish - variety - I like the sand dwelling fish
Engineer gobies - These are still up in the air because of mixed reviews
Still thinking about purchases - I will plan to put in the tangs once most other fish are in the tank.

Queen Angel - This will be years down the road, and would be the last fish I put in. At that time I would need to decided if I am going to risk an angel in the reef tank.
 
Mark... said:
Your thoughts on the (Jebo) powerheads so far?
Click to expand...

So far I am happy with them. I am impressed with amount of water they move, to the point that I know that three would be too much flow with the factory controller. I will have to play with them to get the right amount of flow for the tank, but so far I do not have any complaints. I still need time to mess around with them though, as I just got them in the large tank.
 
brubakron said:
So far I am happy with them. I am impressed with amount of water they move, to the point that I know that three would be too much flow with the factory controller. I will have to play with them to get the right amount of flow for the tank, but so far I do not have any complaints. I still need time to mess around with them though, as I just got them in the large tank.
Click to expand...

They are such a great bargain, its nice to have a decent alternative to the over priced stuff.
 
Update time - I set up the QT about a week ago and am waiting for it to cycle. At the moment it is sitting on the floor until I break down the 40 breeder. That is the taller stand where the permanent QT tank will be housed in the future.





I also go the skimmer plumbed into the sump. My return pump will be here in a few days, and I hope to have the entire system plumbed together soon. The display tank has also completed the cycle, and I plan to add a clean up crew soon.

 
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