ChromisDaddy's 201G In Wall

[chromisdaddy]

Here are a few pic's of my 201 gallon tank. I decided on 5' as my room dimensions allowed. The tank i 5' x 30' wide x 26" high. I opted for starfire front glass and have a 40 gallon sump (to be built). My prior tank was a 75 oceanic that I sold this winter for upgrade funds. I decided to go bigger with the inwall setup.

My wall has double 2x4's every 12" and the stand shown in the pictures. I used green board for the drywall and applied three coats of primer and two coats of exterior paint. I also protected the opening (drywall and studs) with exterior vinyl siding that I attached with construction glue and screws. The screws then were primed to seal and I siliconed all edges to prevent moisture from getting in. Trim work on the opening to come soon.

As for lighting, I have 2 250watt HQI halides installed and new bulbs for my icecap 660, will be installing three atinic 5' bulbs too.

I have viewed some of the aquascaping threads and plan on a "minimalist" natural look to allow for big coral growth and I think it does look more realistic.

I hope to have my current 12 gallon eclipse in by this coming weekend once the RO unit fills the tank.

The baby is born!

 

[James404]

Looks great so far, tagging along!

 

[James404]

By the way, who was the tank builder?

 

[chromisdaddy]

I purchased from Preuss Pets in Lansing, MI

The builder is Great Lakes Aquariums. It is a quarter full now, waiting on my RO/DI unit, will take about four days to fill.

More pics to come.

 

[award212]

Looking good. Following along.

 

[chromisdaddy]

Impatiently Waiting

Impatiently Waiting

Well, about a quarter full after a day and a half.

I have attached a few pictures including my current 12 gallon eclipse. I only have a couple of mushrooms and six line wrasse that will jump start the biggin'.

I went with Aragamax special grade reefsand for the more fine grade rather than the crushed aragonite currently in my twelve.

I have a 40 gallon sump that I plan on breaking into water receipt chamber with bioballs, a 20" refugium to house two heaters (I had a failure in the past and will not go without two ever again). Another skimmer chamber and the return. I know it is not optimal to skim after the refugium but I have to go with gravity.

Caulerpa is planned with a reverse daylight cycle for the refugium.

Plumbing is planned to be CPVC but am open to suggestions. I heard the flexible stuff is good for maintaining pressure.

James404 - I noticed your ReefOctopus skimmer, how do you like it?

I have a ETSS, but think it may be underpowered for the 201.

More to come.

 

[chromisdaddy]

Further Progress

Further Progress

Water is fully in, substrate (Aragamax Special Grade Reef Sand) and my dead "live" rock. I also built my first partitioned sump using a 40g long, acrylic sheets and GE 100% silicone. Was pretty straightforward, and other than the lumpy beads of silicone I am pleased.

Once the silicone sets tonight, I expect to get it plumbed tomorrow to get the water gurgling. Last thing will be to add salt.

I don't know if this qualifies as minimalist live rock, but I do like the trend getting away from a wall of rock. I hope to have acropora fill the open water.

 

[muttley000]

Your rock work looks great to me, however with that small a sump you are going to have a hard time getting enough rock to support your system. Are you planning another method of waste removal since you have already identified your skimmer as being on the small side? If you are going to go with an acro forest, you are going to want to ditch the bioballs and consider how you are going to limit nitrates. Looking forward to seeing this come together, the work you have done so far is very nice!

 

[chromisdaddy]

Sump Suggestions?

Sump Suggestions?

Muttley000 - thanks for the feedback. I have about 16 gallons that will be dedicated to live rock and caulerpa for nutrient export.

I do plan on montipora & acropora as primary focus. Given this amount of live rock and skimming, will I be nitrate heavy?

Thanks

 

[muttley000]

Usually you shoot for about a pound of rock per gallon. As for your question of will it be enough, I guess that depends on how many fish you want

 

[chromisdaddy]

Mr. Wrasse has arrived

Mr. Wrasse has arrived

Hello,

Yesterday I emptied the contents of my eclipse 12 into my tank. A six line wrasse, snail and blue legged hermit crab along with a couple of blue mushrooms went in. I emptied the well aged crushed coral into the sump along with some Halimeda (I think).

I enjoy the purple coralline growing on the existing rocks and hope they spread to the rest quickly.

My skimmer, although not terribly efficient, has pulled a couple cups worth of junk from the water. I am also running carbon to help clear up the water.

I intend to add a group of Chromis this weekend.

 

[chromisdaddy]

Chromis are here

Chromis are here

Took a trip to Preuss Pets in East Lansing, I love that store.

Picked up 5 chromis, a green montipora and some caulerpa for the sump.

The chromis add a ton of movement to the tank and the current tenant, a six line wrasse is out much more than before.

http://chromisdaddy.blogspot.com/2011/05/chromis-first-day.html

 

[lps1212]

Tank looks like it's coming along Nicely I would like to go with the tank in the wall concept one day

 

[muttley000]

Took a trip to Preuss Pets in East Lansing, I love that store.

Picked up 5 chromis, a green montipora and some caulerpa for the sump.

The chromis add a ton of movement to the tank and the current tenant, a six line wrasse is out much more than before.

http://chromisdaddy.blogspot.com/2011/05/chromis-first-day.html

I would love to check that store out sometime, think it would be worth the hour and a half drive, last time I stopped in east lansing I went to odies big 10 for microbrews:eek1:

 

[chromisdaddy]

Preuss Pets is an amazing store. I just picked up some turbo snails and clownfish and acro frag. All are doing well and I never have had a problem.

More updates on my tank to follow soon.

 

[chromisdaddy]

Tank Updates

Tank Updates

Here are a few updates.

Went through a few cycles of algae and now is getting stable after four months. I picked up 6 turbo snails and they are clearing house, including two large patches of hair algae.

Current fish:
5 chromis
2 ocellaris (young, same size)
1 sixline wrasse

Current inverts:
2 blue mushrooms
1 green montipora (has tripled in size in three months)
1 green star polyp colony
1 green acropora frag, I believe it is a staghorn
6 turbo snails and other various snails that seem to be appearing

Here are a few shots.