50 Cube SPS Zeo Reef

[kevlow]

Well a few more things are sorted for tank I got home and did a 100% water change on the rock so it's back in fresh RO with plenty of circulation. I also stopped by Deer Park to pick up a few items;
- New bucket of RS salt from a mate.
- Continuum CaptivPhos to treat the rock once it's in the tank, it also contains Al2O3 to also absorb the silicates that will leach from the rock.
- Due to the rock also being completely dead, I've picked up a bottle of Dr. Tim's bacteria to seed the tank with a decent source of bacteria I got a bottle large enough to "instant cycle" the tank lol but that's not what's going to happen! Once that's in I'll be adding a prawn for an ammonia source for the bacteria to feed on and watch the levels from there and once things settle then the first fish will be going across
- Tank spot is clean and I have commandeered a shelf in one of the cupboards so I'm ready to get rocking lol

I still need to pick up some plumbing, a few bits and bobs and sort out a sump but everything else will simply be coming across The skimmer, lights, return, heaters and whatever will come across after a good soak in vinegar and some hydrogen peroxide to sterilize anything lol.

As I have nothing to show at the moment please enjoy a picture of towels and the supplements lol

LOL. Very nice assortment. I have been following along for a while.
Are these from Deer Park?
I think that by placing the red in the middle you will bring out the blue and pink a little more.

In all seriousness, I can't wait to see your new tank set up and running.

 

[Wrangy]

LOL. Very nice assortment. I have been following along for a while.
Are these from Deer Park?
I think that by placing the red in the middle you will bring out the blue and pink a little more.

In all seriousness, I can't wait to see your new tank set up and running.

Thanks matey :beer: I'm glad you've been enjoying the ride.

Yep everything from Deer Park, rock and water included lol. I buy everything from him where I can help it as it makes my life easier and supports the best in the biz lol
I like your thinking, that would definitely bring out the colour! :lol:

Me neither mate

 

[aggie13reef]

As I have nothing to show at the moment please enjoy a picture of towels and the supplements lol

:lmao:

 

[Hentz]

Wrangy, how were you liking ZEOvit during use and after stopping? Did you see any positive or negative results in your Acros after using ZEOvit?

I have been using it for 6 months now. While it is great and I enjoy it, I do miss having deep and dark colors.

 

[Wrangy]

Wrangy, how were you liking ZEOvit during use and after stopping? Did you see any positive or negative results in your Acros after using ZEOvit?

I have been using it for 6 months now. While it is great and I enjoy it, I do miss having deep and dark colors.

Hey mate
I really enjoyed zeo and was just starting to get some really good results from it but then I moved out and was only able to see the tank once every few days and over coming weeks it was down to once a week I saw improvements after stopping it but that was tissue saturation as we know zeo pales out acro's which is the aim. I have some more algae issues at the moment but that's due to a number of factors.

You could try upping the dosing of amino products or adding some zeofood which in theory should help darken the colours a little bit Maybe give that a go for a little while and see what happens?

 

[Wrangy]

To Abyzz the new tank or not to Abyzz, that is the question! Going to need to do some SERIOUS saving if I want one of those lol

 

[scrapz]

To Abyzz the new tank or not to Abyzz, that is the question! Going to need to do some SERIOUS saving if I want one of those lol

Not, imo a huge waste of money. Thats a luxury item, you could buy a whole new setup for almost the same price. Unless you a baller, then get your swag on. :dance:

 

[mhucasey]

To Abyzz the new tank or not to Abyzz, that is the question! Going to need to do some SERIOUS saving if I want one of those lol

If you want a nice, reliable DC pump and want to spend a bit, get the Vectra from Ecotech. The Abyzz is overkill and overpriced. About the only time it is truly necessary is if you have massive head pressure challenges to overcome. Just my opinion...

 

[reefmutt]

If you want a nice, reliable DC pump and want to spend a bit, get the Vectra from Ecotech. The Abyzz is overkill and overpriced. About the only time it is truly necessary is if you have massive head pressure challenges to overcome. Just my opinion...

Couldn't have said it better myself.

 

[scrapz]

Forgot to say, I have seen and heard them in person and they are impressive. There was a controller for the pump and another controller to control the controller for the pump.:eek1: It was silent and the flow was easily handling a 10ft raceway tank.

 

[Wrangy]

Not, imo a huge waste of money. Thats a luxury item, you could buy a whole new setup for almost the same price. Unless you a baller, then get your swag on. :dance:

If you want a nice, reliable DC pump and want to spend a bit, get the Vectra from Ecotech. The Abyzz is overkill and overpriced. About the only time it is truly necessary is if you have massive head pressure challenges to overcome. Just my opinion...

Couldn't have said it better myself.

hahaha a luxury item indeed! I'm not getting one due to the price $1500AUD, it's a month and a nearly the next half's rent :eek2:
If I had the cash to spare I'd definitely be getting myself one as they look like a pretty well made pump and well a 10 year warranty isn't something to laugh at lol. It's just one of those bits of equipment that would be nice to own :spin2:

My actual thoughts for an upgrade in return will be about a $500 spend and that will probably entail a Vectra M1 or potentially a RE RD3 if I can get my hands on a cheap second hand one, however it's a few weeks off as I'll wait to use the money from selling this tank to fund a new return and hopefully an XF150 too

Forgot to say, I have seen and heard them in person and they are impressive. There was a controller for the pump and another controller to control the controller for the pump.:eek1: It was silent and the flow was easily handling a 10ft raceway tank.

I haven't seen them in person but I've certainly watched a few videos and done some reading lol they look really nice and I would love to have one but waayyy out of my price range haha

 

[Wrangy]

Welp, plumbing is ordered 32mm overflow and a 25mm return line that will run over the back of the tank, all grey too which meant I had to buy from two different stores lol nearly had to do a Sewatec order just for grey 90 degree elbows :wildone:I was going to use a gate valve on the tank but the cost ended up meaning I went with a ball valve lol

 

[FloformAustria]

all grey? that´s the only color we get here... i would like white pluming...

haha yes the costs of every other valve then ball is insane.. wanted to change too but it was way to expensive!!

Flo

 

[Wrangy]

all grey? that´s the only color we get here... i would like white pluming...

haha yes the costs of every other valve then ball is insane.. wanted to change too but it was way to expensive!!

Flo

If I had it my way I'b be running black plumbing but dark grey is close enough :hammer:

I may change things up down the track but for the moment I'm happy with running a ball The other aspect is using a DC return, I can tune the plumbing and then fine tune it with the power of the return pump

 

[FloformAustria]

Dom dc pump is a good idea in any way ^^

Got a jebao, wouldn't buy again but it's doing the job, and the controllability is great.
Friend of mine is running the Ecotech Vectra and that is one amazing pump!! And so quiet! Saw the new Aquabee at Interzoo. I literally could but my ear on the housing and couldn't really hear the pump and that pump was used outside of the tank!!

Cheers,
Flo

 

[plyle02]

Dom,
Hope all is well with the build mate! I wanted to pop in and remind you that I am still holding my breath, no not really, I would be dead by now, lol... TEASER No, just kidding, patience is a virtue and an opportunity to fix some of our misses, kind of like break ups, we learn more about ourselves each experience, lol... I know you will only present a masterpiece and I eagerly await it's unveiling! Cheers

 

[Wrangy]

Dom dc pump is a good idea in any way ^^

Got a jebao, wouldn't buy again but it's doing the job, and the controllability is great.
Friend of mine is running the Ecotech Vectra and that is one amazing pump!! And so quiet! Saw the new Aquabee at Interzoo. I literally could but my ear on the housing and couldn't really hear the pump and that pump was used outside of the tank!!

Cheers,
Flo

I've nearly always used a DC return so I'm very used to them and enjoy having the ability to vary it up a little!
I'm not going Jebao for this tank, given the cost of some of the things I plan on adding this time around I'm trying to upgrade everything to some high quality stuff! A titanium Schego heater, XF150 gyre and new return are the first on my list of upgrades. The return is going to be, don't tell Andrew :lol:, most likely a Vectra M1 due to the ratings they're getting and my LFS can get them easy as I want to get everything from him

I am SOOO jealous you got to go to Interzoo :debi: it would be amazing to go to one of the big shows and MACNA and Interzoo are both on my pilgrimage lists lol

Dom,
Hope all is well with the build mate! I wanted to pop in and remind you that I am still holding my breath, no not really, I would be dead by now, lol... TEASER No, just kidding, patience is a virtue and an opportunity to fix some of our misses, kind of like break ups, we learn more about ourselves each experience, lol... I know you will only present a masterpiece and I eagerly await it's unveiling! Cheers

hahahaha I'm building immense suspense :lol: I hope I haven't killed too many holding their breath :hmm3:
I have the plumbing planned in my head, the sump is currently in the throws of design. I sent a rough draft off to Dave so we'll see what he does with it lol frag tank, ato and socks will be a part of this sump, I'm really excited about having a frag section and an ato that doesn't live outside the cabinet haha
The other nice thing about this build will be having everything hidden in the cabinet I'll be building a shelf or two so I can have the doser in the cabinet along with any controllers and electrical bits and bobs lol
I've always had a sh*tty sump and poorly design cabinet so having all this extra working room is going to be an absolute dream haha

 

[FloformAustria]

I've nearly always used a DC return so I'm very used to them and enjoy having the ability to vary it up a little!
I'm not going Jebao for this tank, given the cost of some of the things I plan on adding this time around I'm trying to upgrade everything to some high quality stuff! A titanium Schego heater, XF150 gyre and new return are the first on my list of upgrades. The return is going to be, don't tell Andrew :lol:, most likely a Vectra M1 due to the ratings they're getting and my LFS can get them easy as I want to get everything from him

I am SOOO jealous you got to go to Interzoo :debi: it would be amazing to go to one of the big shows and MACNA and Interzoo are both on my pilgrimage lists lol

mate if you visit the Interzoo in 2018 I´m going to be there as well! prevent you from collecting european souls :lmao:
the Vectra is great, it´s on my list as well but first i need a new skimmer...
but all your plans sound nice, Aquabee will also come out with another take on the gyre kind of pump. saw the prototype and it looked really nice... maybe something for me...?
ps.: i won´t tell Andrew :dance:

 

[Wrangy]

mate if you visit the Interzoo in 2018 I´m going to be there as well! prevent you from collecting european souls :lmao:
the Vectra is great, it´s on my list as well but first i need a new skimmer...
but all your plans sound nice, Aquabee will also come out with another take on the gyre kind of pump. saw the prototype and it looked really nice... maybe something for me...?
ps.: i won´t tell Andrew :dance:

haha I like the sounds of that!
I'm patiently waiting on all the articles to be released about all the new products that were there at Interzoo as it may mean I hold off on certain purchases
:jester:

 

[FloformAustria]

haha I like the sounds of that!
I'm patiently waiting on all the articles to be released about all the new products that were there at Interzoo as it may mean I hold off on certain purchases
:jester:

good idea!

but it wasn´t that much of a innovation...

Some LED and the new Triton Method, nice skimmers coming from Aquabee, new LED from Phillips looked nice...

Flo