Coral Tank from Canada (1350gal Display Tank)

[Patwa]

There's been a lot in this thread that has blown me away.....the size, the scope, the amount of $$ being tossed around here and there....yikes...keeps me coming back for more, let me tell ya .......and yeah, who doesn't wish it'll be them one day watching their tank being air-lifted through the back window of their house? LOL

That said, every time I read this thread, I get a bit more anxious about how this tank will pan out in the LONG run.

Then my heart starts racing harder when I read stuff like this:

The only issue for me is that I'm not able to properly distinguish good from bad when it comes to the diverse community of life forms living on or in my live rock. I think I'm probably going to take the associated risks with the decision NOT to 'cook' my rock, in an effort to enjoy the many varieties of species with this endevour.

You've been advised by many large reef tank keepers that it would probably be best to cook your rocks (especially for a super large tank!).....this is probably one of the biggest steps you can take to mitigate pest-related problems from arising in the future....and you're choosing to NOT do it??

You have no idea how fast those unwanted critters can multiply to the point where they stop becoming "interesting" and turn into something just plain, ugly, annoying or destructive.

I implore you to re-think this. That's all I gotta say.....you don't want these problems in the future....cook your rocks (all this fauna that seem to amaze you now can easily be re-introduced via quarantined stock - didn't someone mention this to you already??)...it takes time and patience to succeed in this hobby.....and this is how we do it.

I want this tank to succeed as much as you do, believe me....so, please don't cut corners (with the rock, at least!). Deal with the rocks in the way other large tank keepers - who've been THERE and done THAT - have advised.

No matter what, Peter's tank will be the exception.
A guy from nowhere, none of experience in this hobby, can achieve the most beautiful marine tank.
The reason he can do this. Why?
You guys all know the answer.

Be realistic, Ching. I don't know either you or Peter at all, but I can say you prolly know a helluva lot more about reef tanks/husbandry than him. Don't measure his success (the tank ain't even runnin' yet!!!) by yours, that's just foolish. Peter has a long way to go...and with a 1300gal tank, it'll be one helluva a long way.

You can't build a successful reef tank with money, good advice and support from the community, or even love. It takes the two P's to get there, Patience & Perseverance. These are two virtues you cant acquire from a forum, but a little help from your friends gets you through the small stuff.

THIS.

Shawn, as always, you tell it like it is....keep it up, man! (oh yeah, check your PM )

 

[dave.m]

Just some questions about the lighting, not to criticize, but because I am learning, too:

I see you are going for 10K lights. Is that because you too dislike the "blue tank" syndrome?

I have not seen anything about LEDs being powerful enough for as deep a tank as yours. So far, they have put 24" as their limit. Do you know that the LEDs you have chosen will meet your needs?

Have you considered plasma lights instead of MHs? I understand that they run much cheaper and cooler, putting most of their output into light instead of heat the way MHs do.

Thx,

Dave.M

 

[gig]

I know it's too late at this point, as lots of $$$$ have been spent on LR, but it might have been more cost effective and pest effective to go full on dry rock and seed the tank. Something like BRS dry rock, just to avoiod the possible headaches that 100% LR from the ocean can bring with bad hitchhikers, et al

 

[puffmaster262]

no not that but i know what i have into my 225 set up and i found the best price on eventhing and just hearing 1350 gallon make me think dam money buys happy fish...lol

 

[Reefski's]

Happy wife

Happy life!

150 watt fixtures will not be enough

Carl

 

[Antonais1391]

theres alot of good hitchhikers as well. i do agree tho that it is a tad of a gamble but i think its the way to go. ive had no problems with my fiji rock. do carfully inspect every thing 3 times i got cyano from a frag that i didnt clean and i payed in a 3 month long battle with the stuff. also peter be shure to get LED moon lights i love seeing what nocternal life there is every night. also interesting to see fish sleeping.

 

[elijaher]

At least 250 watts fixture is needed.

 

[Reefski's]

have you bought a PAR meter yet? for a tank like yours it will be an invaluable tool.

carl

 

[chingchai]

Peter. I recommend LED lighting for your tank.
You will be happy with it.
http://www.eco-lamps.com/pdf/KR92 leaflet.pdf

 

[Posidion]

peter
I dont know much about the HID lighting except they are bright as h@ll in the side mirrors of my T/A. there is a new light that has just come out recently. Its a LIFI plasma light that runs much more efficiently than other comprable systems. Heres the links.
http://************.com/2010/02/02/...g-out-soon-game-changer-gets-initial-pricing/
http://www.straylightoptical.com/products.shtml

If your not already committed to the lighting system yet i think this is worth a look. I will see if i can dig up some old research i found on a verry similar system a year or so agoe that was being used commercially for hydroponics with great results

 

[nineball]

Just some questions about the lighting, not to criticize, but because I am learning, too:

I see you are going for 10K lights. Is that because you too dislike the "blue tank" syndrome?

I have not seen anything about LEDs being powerful enough for as deep a tank as yours. So far, they have put 24" as their limit. Do you know that the LEDs you have chosen will meet your needs?

Have you considered plasma lights instead of MHs? I understand that they run much cheaper and cooler, putting most of their output into light instead of heat the way MHs do.

Thx,

Dave.M

Dave, your questions are good ones and I don't hear any criticism for sure. I wanted sufficient light coverage to handle the range of possibilities I might encounter with the aqua scape for the four masters. Since the tank height is 30" I figured I would loose 2" off the bottom at least and two inches off the top to allow for turbulence That gave me a sweet spot or range of about 26" and I wouldn't be too close with the coral to the surface(by a further 2") for all the reasons we all know about. That would give me about 24" of plant and animal life to worry about.

The aqaualife units have three parts, first the HID's which will give me 16 HID bulbs to work with. Two rows of eight in parallel. They are aim-able so I have some flexibility in how light will play on each of the four island structures throughout the tank. In addition I have 16 T5 HO 6 Lunar, 4 T5 HO 4 Lunar, 16 36" T5 HO 39W 420/460 Lamps, 4 48" T5 HO 54W 420/460 Lamps and 32 1 W Lunar LED's.

I also have the ability to add additional HI intensity LED's similar to the LED's you have seen in the examples of the exterior shots of the area surrounding the Display Tank. I'm holding off on those lights until I verify that I need them(I will break one of my own rules here NOT to discuss costs but the 100 or so feet will carry a $200 per foot cost). However, if I do need them I can choose whatever colour, light frequency and intensity I want and I can vary those specs on an as needed basis by the foot. That means I can have animal and plant life with differing needs throughout the tank and I can accommodate the diversity. Each 1 foot segment is addressable with it's own IP address.

The LED's that I have been using from Philips are commercial products that have not been marketed actively to consumers so anything I say about them would not necessarily correlate to products marketed to our domain. These products go from 100 lumens to 5000 lumens at 500 ft. so the answer would be yes the LED's can outperform MH lamps by a considerable margin in terms of operating cost, longevity and more important program flexibility but at a significant cost!!!!

I decided to start with 10K lights and move to 14 or 20 depending on the landscape and health benefits. I do prefer colour to the blue palette but The Four Grand Masters will determine the best fit.

Peter

 

[nineball]

have you bought a PAR meter yet? for a tank like yours it will be an invaluable tool.

carl

Carl, I haven't got a par meter yet but I have decided that I will be using the skill set of a professional to assist me in this effort..........I think that one of the members of this community will be of assitance in that regard. No Mr. Wilson, you may not have the keys to the wine bar in the Bentley!!!

Peter

 

[Padrino]

Happy wife

Happy life!

150 watt fixtures will not be enough

Carl

Could not agree more. When i started in this hobby i bought a big name brand fixture that was 150x2 with 4 x 54watt HO T5. I have a 90 gallon tank and before i put water into it i sold it and upgraded to a giesemann Infiniti 2x 250W 4x 54W HO T5 lamps.

150 watts will not get the light penetration which i s why i sold my fixture before i had water in the tank. My tank is only 22 inches deep . Not to be the bringer of bad news but i would strongly reconsider these lights. Sorry peter. I wish i knew before you bought them but i don't feel these will be adequate for your system.

I think most if not all would agree.

Rob

 

[Poeticlydead]

So this is what your looking into G12 - cool - will be interested to see some par numbers from this fixture. I know quality reflectors and lighting designs can bring greater par to deeper tanks but I'm am also concerned that they may not perform if you want light loving corals at the base of the structures. I think with the scope of the purchase your going to make you may want to call and get par test results at the type of depth your going with.

 

[Padrino]

The LED's that I have been using from Philips are commercial products that have not been marketed actively to consumers so anything I say about them would not necessarily correlate to products marketed to our domain. These products go from 100 lumens to 5000 lumens at 500 ft. so the answer would be yes the LED's can outperform MH lamps by a considerable margin in terms of operating cost, longevity and more important program flexibility but at a significant cost!!!!


Peter

Well now,
This is another dinosaur! If this is the case, you might be alright! In fact, i look forward to seeing this! Very excited. One thing i might do differently is use different spectrum bulbs . I would use a 20K bulb or a 14K at the very least.

Will you build a light rail so you can move the fixtures out of the way to get into the tank or do maintenance?

Rob

 

[nineball]

Peter. I recommend LED lighting for your tank.
You will be happy with it.
http://www.eco-lamps.com/pdf/KR92 leaflet.pdf

I will start with a mixed solution and have the full LED suite on standby if there is an obvious need. I will consult with you again on this subject soon.
I have already aquired the Aquatic life product and will augment it if necessary.


You are right, LED's are the future!!!!

Peter

 

[venom550pm]

I have a 48" aquatic life T5 setup on my tank, no MH. I have no complaints about the lights. i have some LPS doing fantastic on the bottom of my tank with this lighting. At my LFS they have the same setup and have SPS growing under them. The only complaint my LFS had about the Aquatic Life MH is they don't have fans, and they melted a cross brace on a 120g tank because of that and the angle they had the MH pointing.

 

[nineball]

So this is what your looking into G12 - cool - will be interested to see some par numbers from this fixture. I know quality reflectors and lighting designs can bring greater par to deeper tanks but I'm am also concerned that they may not perform if you want light loving corals at the base of the structures. I think with the scope of the purchase your going to make you may want to call and get par test results at the type of depth your going with.

actually Poeticlydead, I have already bought the lights as noted above. If the product doesn't perform then we should all benefit from the live test.

Peter

 

[nineball]

I have a 48" aquatic life T5 setup on my tank, no MH. I have no complaints about the lights. i have some LPS doing fantastic on the bottom of my tank with this lighting. At my LFS they have the same setup and have SPS growing under them. The only complaint my LFS had about the Aquatic Life MH is they don't have fans, and they melted a cross brace on a 120g tank because of that and the angle they had the MH pointing.

Thanks venom, that is very helpful. I am configuring the canopy to maintain a negative air pressure with a dedicated system to draw any heat or humidity into the purpose built HVAC system in the fish room which then takes it outside. Hopefully, without the ability to build up heat the system should behave......I hope. Thanks for the feedback and heads up.

Peter

 

[nineball]

Well now,
This is another dinosaur! If this is the case, you might be alright! In fact, i look forward to seeing this! Very excited. One thing i might do differently is use different spectrum bulbs . I would use a 20K bulb or a 14K at the very least.

Will you build a light rail so you can move the fixtures out of the way to get into the tank or do maintenance?

Rob

The light rail is already done and ready. I won't hang the lights untill the live rock is settled in the tank. I expect I will be swapping the T5's for 20K at some point. I may even run a mix as there are enough bulbs to work with.

Peter