A Reefaholic's 1000+ Gallon Mixed Reef System Build

@Moser, thanks for sharing. That's an absolutely BEAUTIFUL tank! That puts my build to shame:(

As far as lighting, it looks like he has 16 lights. With footprint comparison's I'd say I'd need 18-20 to get good coverage with the AIs and at $500 a pop that's $9000-$10,000. Based on some estimates I'm currently looking at with DIY I'm looking at $3000-$4000 which will provide much more intense lighting and more options with LEDs. Should something go wrong I can replace a component, not whole fixtures. That's likely the best tank I've seen with AI SOLs though. I've just not loved what I've seen with the AI SOLs in person as they were very "spot lighty".

Also, PraziPro is readily available at online vendors and I picked it up at Premium Aquatics which is about 30 minutes away from me:D

http://premiumaquatics.com/store/merchant.mvc?Screen=PROD&Store_Code=PA&Product_Code=HIK-AHK73254&Category_Code=
 
nrosdal said:
great build, check out this thread for lots on cheap leds...

http://reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?t=2110092&highlight=chineese+led&page=36
Click to expand...

I might consider something like these LEDs for frag tank, refugium, or ATS but I'm not so sure I have much faith in them.

Also, you have to look at the efficiencies and longetivity of these fixtures...Take a look at REEF LEDs article comparing the different LEDs and running cost.

Assuming you're paying $.12/kwh, a sample 60 LED fixture with Bridglux LEDs would cost $95.27/year to run 12 hours a day. Compare that to the XP-Gs and XP-E Crees and you're talking about $53-$60/year. You multiply that times ~10 fixtures in my case (for simplicity) and your talking about $352-422/year in energy savings a year. Compare that to a better life of the LEDs since they don't have to be driven as hard and in the long run, did cost really matter that much?
 
The e.shines are available with crees...seems like an inexpensive option as long as you don't want to run them with an after market controller
 
nrosdal said:
The e.shines are available with crees...seems like an inexpensive option as long as you don't want to run them with an after market controller
Click to expand...

Exactly, another problem...The eshine does not allow control from the Apex and would you want to control 10+ fixtures from each and every fixture?
 
Finally got the frag QT plumbed in and rack complete. Everything should be ready for my frag swap deadline as I only need to get a flexible light holder for the PAR38 LED bulb. Anyone know where you can pick up the flexible light holder? Nitrates are down to 5 as of yesterday and I should bring them down enough in the next two weeks:D

Fancy Frag Tank
IMG_0592.jpg


Frag Rack
IMG_0587.jpg
 
Tonight I did some cleaning up in fish room but did get the Ecoxotic Par38 LED bulb above the frag tank. Currently it's 10.5 inches off the surface of the water but going to have to do a little research to see what recommended height mounting I need it at and will likely use a flex rod into the socket to easily adjust and move it out of the way. Since I've got a Photobucket Pro account why not post a couple pics:clown:

Frag tank illuminated:
IMG_0610.jpg


Light:
IMG_0608.jpg
 
I really like your attention to detail and organization. Congratulations on whats turning out to be an amazing system.
 
matt9190 said:
I really like your attention to detail and organization. Congratulations on whats turning out to be an amazing system.
Click to expand...

Thanks a lot. Let's hope I can continue that trend as I'm already second guessing some of the planning that I've taken but you live and you learn, right? First big system build I've ever made so it's a process!
 
I've been researching coral dipping recommendations to prep for next weeks frag swap. I have some coral RX but it's 2 years old but never been opened but seem they only have a one year shelf life. That being said, after looking into what QT procedure I do on frags I came across Bayer bug spray being used for dippings and am looking into that. What does everyone do for coral dippings/QT procedures? In previous system I just dipped in CoralRX before adding to main system but want to dip corals before going into frag QT and then observe for a few weeks? I really want the feedback on everyone's coral QTing.

System update: Last night did some water testing and Nitrates are reading 5 ppm now. I decided I'll do a couple water changes this weekend to help bring that down and ensure it's down before the swap on the 28th...I started by doing a 40 gallon water change this morning which I pushed up to the fish QT tank so they got a ~50% water change and started them on 3rd dose of PraziPro. Unfortunately, I'm down to 8 Lyretails....One I could not find any reason and the other was being bullied constantly since added to system. I expected some bullying to happen and wish that was not an expectation:( All others are happy/healthy and no nipping from what I can see.
 
Personally I would not stress out over 5 ppm N. But that's just me. Worry about it if your corals start to look bad. I just tested my tank (which currently has no external form of filtration, just LR and power heads) and it's at 5ppm N and 0.21 P and everything is looking fine, just not growing fantastically (working on a few things)

As far as dipping, I use Coral RX and have had great success. I have never heard of using bug spray. Interesting.
 
Tank looks great. Havent checked in for awhile and you have made lots of progress. As dipping i use CoralRx followed by an iodine dip. I use the iodine to make sure any cuts they may have that we cant see are proactively treated and cleaned out. Makes me feel better. For SPS any kind i use ivermectin as treatment. Gets rid of all the little nasties they carry. If you have other animals the heartworm pills are the same drug
 
Depends on what species of coral/pest. Mostly use the following regularly:

Imidacloprid. CoralRx. Interceptor. Revive/Melafix. Iodine based dips i.e. TMPCC, Reef Dip, etc.
 
I ended up putting order in with PA for Revive, Flatworm Exit, and Kent Lugols solution. Also got some cupramine as Anthias have made it through 3rd treatment of PraziPro so I think I'll do water change tonight/tomorrow and start them on Cupramine dosing soon after.

The Bayer insecticide will replace the CoralRX but I'm still trying to figure out dosing and dip time. Only one species of acro has had a negative effect from this dipping method and all others seem to have been successful. I'm thinking this might be my Coral QT Regiment.

Before adding to Coral Frag QT:
- Dip in Bayer mixture, rinse with SW, place in QT
- After everything has opened up and seems to be healthy I'll treat Frag QT as a whole with Flatworm Exit
- Week 2 - Revive Dip
- Week 3 - Iodine Dip
- Week 4 - Another Revive Dip
- Week 5 - Before transferring to frag tank I'll do a last dip of Bayer and SW rinse before adding to frag tank

***I'll also be using a TLF Reactor filled with Carbon to take any nasty stuff from the coral out of the water column. During flatworm Exit treatment I'll be sure to aerate water well and then start carbon filtering.

Suggestions based on that? I know I'm OCD/Anal Retentive, Steve already told me that:spin3:
 
that seems like the most intense coral qt procedure i have ever read about. If anything nasty survives i feel like you should let them eat the coral out of pure luck that they survived
 
Waddleboy said:
that seems like the most intense coral qt procedure i have ever read about. If anything nasty survives i feel like you should let them eat the coral out of pure luck that they survived
Click to expand...

I said I'm OCD/Anal Retentive but anyone that wants to buy frags from me later on will know that I'm serious and they won't have to worry much about pests:beer:
 
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