DivineStler's 30 GAL LED "Rimless Lagoon"

[DivineStler]

I posted this on the main forum, but thought I'd drop it over here too, since alot of us stick to the local bored. I'll be picking my tank up from AoA in a couple days!

Taking the plunge into LED!

TANK:

24 x 24 x 12 Rimless Starphire
12 GAL Sump/Fuge

LIGHTING:

EcoXotic 23 1/2" Panorama LED Fixture (73W)
2 X EcoXotic 453nm Stunner Strips (12W)
Azoo LED Neo-Light for fuge (7W)

FILTRATION, HEATING, CIRCULATION, ETC:

Ecotech VorTech MP10
SWC XTreme 160 Cone Skimmer
QuietOne 2200 Return Pump
MarineLand Stealth Pro 150W Heater
JBJ ATO System
Digital Aquatics Reef Keeper Lite Controller

THE BUILD!!!!

Stand...

I originally planned on having a stand custom made, but after receiving a few pretty pricey quotes and reviewing the Reef Central DIY Stand Thread I decided I could take off my shirt and tie and give building my own stand a shot. I used 2 X 4 for the base and primed it black. I then skinned it with 3/4" Birch ply that I stained ebony and treated with poly. The front and both sides are held on with magnets, so I can easily get down to the sump. I still need to drill the hole in the top for the plumbing when my tank arrives.

Lighting...

I spent quite a bit of time researching the lighting. I knew I wanted to do LED, but wasn't sure if I wanted to build my own or buy one of either the Aqua Illuminations or EcoXotic Fixture. I liked the dimming and color control features of the AI, but did not like the power consumption (200W) or mounting mechanism. I want to be able to see down on top of the tank and the AI mounting legs obstruct most of the top. Taking the shallow depth of the tank (12"), modular design and adjustable mount of the EcoXotic fixture, I decided this was the light for me. I bought a second stunner strip to add a little more blue to the lighting. The total power consumption with the two stunner strips is 85W and PAR readings I've seen should be more than enough for my mixed reef with minimal SPS.

It's hard to get a real good idea of how bright this thing is without seeing it "in person", but let me tell you THIS THING IS BRIGHT!

That's it for now! Updates with the tank and plumbing to follow...

 

[DRC69]

Nice looking stand. Great job.

 

[OC CJ]

Looks very nice so far. Reminds me a lot of my own build with the leds, similar tank size and skimmer. All nice choices.

I like the magnet idea to hold the panels on the stand.

 

[DivineStler]

Nice looking stand. Great job.

Thanks!

Just noticed the quote in your sig. My favorite quote is also from TJ.

When the people fear their government, there is tyranny; when the government fears the people, there is liberty. - Thomas Jefferson

 

[DivineStler]

Looks very nice so far. Reminds me a lot of my own build with the leds, similar tank size and skimmer. All nice choices.

I like the magnet idea to hold the panels on the stand.

Cool. Have a link to your build? I'd love to see it.

 

[firereef]

That is going to be nice!! I wish I knew how to build my own LEDs. Unless you teach me. Heehee

 

[reefkeepa14]

damn, that looks good. makes me want to set up a smaller nano to that style!

 

[jediluke]

yeah I want LED light so bad. just too expensive now. I am waiting for new LED CAD light. they are testing now.

 

[savethereef]

That is going to be nice!! I wish I knew how to build my own LEDs. Unless you teach me. Heehee

He did not build them he bought those.

 

[firereef]

He did not build them he bought those.

It says he wasn't sure if he wanted to build his own so, I figured he knew how.

 

[DivineStler]

It says he wasn't sure if he wanted to build his own so, I figured he knew how.

It's not very hard to be honest. Basic soldering skills and a little electrical knowledge is all you need. I've read through all of evilc66's write-up's on Nano-Reef and they're pretty straight forward. I got a C- in electrical engineering and can barely wire a breadbox or do basic Boolean Algebra if that is any indication of the skill level required!

It just isn't that much cheaper to DIY when you factor in bulbs, optics, drivers, PSU, heatsink, wires/connectors, etc. etc.... not to mention buying the material and then fabricating a housing that looks remotely decent. Then of course there's all the time it takes to make something like that. I'll drop the extra 200$ and spend the two days drinking beer instead!

 

[OC CJ]

... and spend the two days drinking beer instead!

Amen brotha!!

 

[Spssteven]

This will be sweet, I want to change my nano to LEDs

 

[BeanMachine]

You might want to ditch that marineland stealth pro heater... just to be on the safe side.

http://reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?t=1817180&highlight=marineland+stealth+pro

There was another thread where the heater blew and cracked a sump. Could be a fluke but why take the chance IMO.

The tank should be sweet! Have fun with that! I'm still waiting on my led fixture so I can light my little nano up.

 

[DivineStler]

You might want to ditch that marineland stealth pro heater... just to be on the safe side.

http://reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?t=1817180&highlight=marineland+stealth+pro

There was another thread where the heater blew and cracked a sump. Could be a fluke but why take the chance IMO.

The tank should be sweet! Have fun with that! I'm still waiting on my led fixture so I can light my little nano up.

Yah I saw that thread and it made me a bit nervous! I've run a stealth in my JBJ12 for quite a while with no problems though. Truth told, nothing is fool proof (look at Toyota). Crap breaks... some people are lucky... others not so much!

ETA: Wow just checked the thread again and saw they did a recall now. Maybe I'll get a different heater afterall! Thanks for the heads up.

 

[bbandu]

great looking stand and lights. I have been to the ecoxotic office in San Marcos and they have some nice tanks set up growing both sps and lps corals.

 

[DivineStler]

I returned the Stealth Pro and picked up a 150W RENA Smartheater. Reviews looked pretty good for both the RENA and Jager heaters. Went with the RENA because it's a little more compact.

 

[shaunt]

how far does the Ecoxotic fixture and bracket stick out from the back of the stand? How much space do you need from stand to wall?

 

[DivineStler]

It requires exactly 2 1/2" inches between stand and wall.

Mounted all my electrical equipment tonight. controller, mp10, ato, power strips, lights, etc. etc. Picking the tank up tomorrow. Hopefully fill it up by Monday (fingers crossed).

 

[DivineStler]

So I spent the weekend with my buddy setting it all up. Was a bit tricky to plumb the overflow with only 12" of height. After a couple beers we managed the squeeze the durso and returns in. I added the sand, water and a little LR seed and fired it up! Going to add more LR from my current tank in a week or 2.

H20!

DAY 2... pretty murky still.

Sump... need to pick my ATO resevoir up from John. It holds about 2 1/2 gallons and sits in front of the sump. Currently Using a 1/2 gallon vase the wifey had laying around. It's been pretty hot and I've only been burning through about 1/4-1/3 a gallon a day.