Doug's 300DD Starphire Reef Build

[Reef Happy]

Thought I would give an update. Just got my new Super Reef Octopus XP-5000 Cone Skimmer in today. I have had my eye on this skimmer for awhile and it is sweet. Pump is the Bubble Blaster. I will post more pics once I have it set up running on the system.

 

[cougaran]

I bought a 300 marinland also, just not setup yet. I'm looking forward to seeing how your Super Reef Octopus XP-5000 operates in the tank. I'm going to be setting up a 300 gal sump, so im not quite sure with fowlr setup and the extra sump gallons if I'm going to really need to step up to something a little bigger.

 

[TripleT]

I'm going to be setting up a 300 gal sump

Sorry? Come again?

:eek1:

 

[Reef Happy]

I bought a 300 marinland also, just not setup yet. I'm looking forward to seeing how your Super Reef Octopus XP-5000 operates in the tank. I'm going to be setting up a 300 gal sump, so im not quite sure with fowlr setup and the extra sump gallons if I'm going to really need to step up to something a little bigger.

Thanks for your visit.. So you are going to have a total 600 gal water volume? I believe the next step up is the Super Reef Octopus XP8000. It much larger and is rated at 1500 gal. I will post on the performance of the 5000. Updates to come...

 

[cougaran]

. So you are going to have a total 600 gal water volume?

Correct... I'm think with 600 gal water volume and possibly having a heavy bioload the next step up (Super Reef Octopus XP8000)might be the choice. I would like to see how yours goes first.. The prices on skimmers is crazy, especially since in the 5 years my 90 has been setup I have never ran one. However, the pricing seems to be more reasonable on these skimmers than other ones......

Although according to one web site the 5000 is Rated for up to 700g light load - 500g heavy loaded tanks, so i might be ok...

 

[Reef Happy]

I bet the S R O XP8000 is a beast for skimming up to 1500 gallons. I will post some skimming pics as soon as I have some good foam.. I am so far impressed with the cone octopus skimmers. Below is a thread on this same skimmer from a fellow reefer here in Oklahoma. This is some great skimming action.

http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?t=1559699&page=4

 

[prop-frags]

Lookin' good, Doug!

I jealous of your eurobracing! The scaping looks great too.You're gonna have tons of flow with that hammer in there driving it. SPS heaven!!
:bounce3:

 

[Reef Happy]

Thanks, Mike..

Actually I am adding to the scaping, need alittle more room for the SPS heaven. And yes not having the bracing in middle of the tank is very nice. My Oceanic had the 16" solid center bracing and it was a pain to work around...

By the way your build has come along beautifully. Good work.

 

[zxanth]

good looking tank...now i just need to see it in person. the 156 gallon you had before was awesome...this is going to be amazing. If you can need to post more pics.

 

[Reef Happy]

good looking tank...now i just need to see it in person. the 156 gallon you had before was awesome...this is going to be amazing. If you can need to post more pics.

Thank you sir, I will post some more pics soon. I have been so busy working and haven't had much time to get out the camera.

 

[MyMonkey]

Just found your thread here. I remember your tank from some frags I bought a long time ago. What an upgrade. Love that CL system and the rock wall. Looks great. I only hope I have the patience to do something close to that for my big tank.

JJ

 

[Reef Happy]

Just found your thread here. I remember your tank from some frags I bought a long time ago. What an upgrade. Love that CL system and the rock wall. Looks great. I only hope I have the patience to do something close to that for my big tank.

JJ

Thanks. How you been doing? You will have to drop by sometime. Do you have a big tank now or planning on getting one?

 

[Reef Happy]

It has been quite some time since updates and pics. But have been also working on the tank build just haven't had time to upload pictures. So here you go. My work has been pretty fast and furious. I continue to work on the scaping and placing frags and colonies in rock work. I will being placing some of the specialty colonies from the old tank, but going to be a little more selective on the coral that go back in. So I will be on the hunt for specialty pieces. So here are some pics of the progress and some pics of the fish. Some we already had that came from the old 156 and some that have been acquired from different sources.

 

[TripleT]

Is that a magfloat, turned into a seaweed holder? Good idea!

 

[Reef Happy]

We have a total of about 15 tangs.

 

[TripleT]

Those are some beauties. Do you see much bickering between them?

 

[Reef Happy]

Those are some beauties. Do you see much bickering between them?

Thank you.. No the tangs are pretty good together. I had the hippo and the powder blue first in the new tank. Then I introduced all the others at the same time. Just for a few days the powder blue picked on the powder brown, but then that was history.. I expected to have some problems with the new achelles tang, but to my suprise this one has become a great community fish with all the other tangs. Time will tell.

And yes, that is a mag float seaweed holder.

 

[PSU REEFER]

Love the tangs. 15 is awesome. Don't know if you QT them or not but if you did was there any problems w/ doing that many at 1 time. I want to add alot of tangs to my tank but to QT them is going to take forever if their done individually.

 

[pafc64]

Hi Doug
Are you using the closed loop yet?
If so how are the pump & flow going?

:beer:
Rick

 

[Reef Happy]

Love the tangs. 15 is awesome. Don't know if you QT them or not but if you did was there any problems w/ doing that many at 1 time. I want to add alot of tangs to my tank but to QT them is going to take forever if their done individually.

Thanks. QT together in holding tub. There were no problems there as they were all put together at the same time. I already had the powder blue and hippo in the main display. There was some problems at first from the powder blue. So I would recommend that you purchase them all at the same time and QT.

Hi Doug
Are you using the closed loop yet?
If so how are the pump & flow going?

:beer:
Rick

Hi Rick, Sorry I forgot to update on the question of the hammerhead gold. Yes, I have run the closed loop briefly at first. I am just running the tunze 6105's at the moment. I valved back the hammerhead at outlets 50% and still have more flow than needed.This hammer head along with the flow accelators really rock. I am considering dropping down to the dart.