A Golden Reef Tank
- Thread starter halmus
- Start date
ArmanS
Active member
Just finished the entire thread.
So sorry for your loss.
Your build is one of the nicest I have ever seen and your attention to detail is evident. Its builds like these that make websites like reef central such a valuable resource. Future Tank of the Month for sure!
I cannot wait to see progress! Subscribed!~
So sorry for your loss.
Your build is one of the nicest I have ever seen and your attention to detail is evident. Its builds like these that make websites like reef central such a valuable resource. Future Tank of the Month for sure!
I cannot wait to see progress! Subscribed!~
halmus
New member
Thank you for the compliments everyone. I do hope the display is worthy of the back end once it's finally running.
I cleaned the room again because we're having guests over in a week. It is a good breaking point.
I drained the refugium and removed the protective plastic coating on the acrylic.
I built a large cave network in the fuge. There is a closed loop on the fuge with outlets down in that cave network. This is a poor picture of the cave. It doesn't show the depth very well.
This is the back side of the fuge. The overflow section. The bottom pipe is the feed line to the DC closed loop pump.
And the pump.
Why a closed loop on a fuge? I won't be feeding a huge amount of water through from the main display. I want to make sure there is plenty of flow through that cave network. It will all be adjustable.
I cleaned the room again because we're having guests over in a week. It is a good breaking point.
I drained the refugium and removed the protective plastic coating on the acrylic.
I built a large cave network in the fuge. There is a closed loop on the fuge with outlets down in that cave network. This is a poor picture of the cave. It doesn't show the depth very well.
This is the back side of the fuge. The overflow section. The bottom pipe is the feed line to the DC closed loop pump.
And the pump.
Why a closed loop on a fuge? I won't be feeding a huge amount of water through from the main display. I want to make sure there is plenty of flow through that cave network. It will all be adjustable.
halmus
New member
And this is what the front of the tank looks like today.
The open area above the tank will have a wooden hood. The hood will be open to the back filtration room. Underneath, the wooden hood will be built on a frame of aluminum 8020 material.
The entire hood will be built on a center framework that will hold 60" full extension glides. That will allow the entire hood to slide out beyond the end of the front of the tank. That will allow full access to the tank when needed and easy access to the lights for maintenance. When the hood is in the normal position, I'll have small door access.
This is the model I've been designing to build from.
I'm building the whole sliding rack with the backbone to allow for future automation.
The open area above the tank will have a wooden hood. The hood will be open to the back filtration room. Underneath, the wooden hood will be built on a frame of aluminum 8020 material.
The entire hood will be built on a center framework that will hold 60" full extension glides. That will allow the entire hood to slide out beyond the end of the front of the tank. That will allow full access to the tank when needed and easy access to the lights for maintenance. When the hood is in the normal position, I'll have small door access.
This is the model I've been designing to build from.
I'm building the whole sliding rack with the backbone to allow for future automation.
BigBlueTang
Active member
Looks awesome man! Can't wait to see it wet!
Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
halmus
New member
Thanks to both of you.
I will have an open house once water is flowing.
Even at that point, I'll still have a lot of work to do in automating the system. I'll just be plugging pumps straight into the wall at first. Once that is running, I'll decide on the controller and start integrating all of that in while the system is cycling.
I'm closer to being wet than I was a year ago this time!
I will have an open house once water is flowing.
Even at that point, I'll still have a lot of work to do in automating the system. I'll just be plugging pumps straight into the wall at first. Once that is running, I'll decide on the controller and start integrating all of that in while the system is cycling.
I'm closer to being wet than I was a year ago this time!
halmus
New member
Any opinions out there on Reef Breeders Photon V2 lights? I want to put something over the QT tanks that I can dim down significantly for minimal light during normal fish QT but also ramp up to a level to support coral if I ever chose to hold them there.
I'm just looking at these for the three fish QT tanks with a 24" light over the 36" tanks.
I've also looked at Reefbrite XHO strips but I like the broader spectrum of the Photons.
I'm just looking at these for the three fish QT tanks with a 24" light over the 36" tanks.
I've also looked at Reefbrite XHO strips but I like the broader spectrum of the Photons.
halmus
New member
Thank you.
My wife refers to it as our own personal hadron collider. I'm smashing plankton together not particles but close enough, right?
halmus
New member
Thanks for the feedback.
I'm glad to hear they're working well for you. I've researched the MH vs LED issue to death, so that part was an easy choice for QT tanks. I just haven't had any experience with this brand. They seem to be a good middle of the road option and they're perfect for the footprint I'm trying to cover. Again, they're going to be dimmed down significantly 90% of the time for the incoming fish but it's good to know they can still grown coral if needed.
maxxII
Super Housemonkey!
I've got a single ReefBreeders Photon Gen 1 light over my frag tank. I've been using Radions prior to this, (Gen 1's through Gen 3's), and I'm impressed with the Photon lights.
Definitely a light to consider for growing corals, especially at a lower price point than Radions.
Definitely a light to consider for growing corals, especially at a lower price point than Radions.
halmus
New member
Thanks Max. I like the spectrum, footprint, and price point of the 24-V2's. I think it's settled for the QT tanks.
Rene Obergfell
New member
A living piece of furniture
brett559
New member
