Elos 160XL Re-Boot

[sirjohn]

Hi everyone. This Elos 160XL (215 gal) was formerly in my garage.

It was both a good and bad decision, but ultimately I wished I would have placed it in my main living area.

Fast forward 3 years and a move to a home closer to work, and you have an Elos 160XL reboot. This time, it's just off the main family room, in the dining room. You can't miss it now!

I'm exited to start this project over again. I learned much from the garage build, and looking forward to putting together a better build. I will post pictures of this reboot periodically, more often if there is interest.

Thanks for looking.

 

[this is me]

Excellent! Good to see you revive it. Such good looking tank should never be let dry.

 

[SPotter]

tagging along....looks good.

 

[Mark...]

Here is the original build...

http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?t=1739564

Love the tank design...

 

[sirjohn]

Thanks for linking my original build Mark!

I've been thinking about my goals for this build. here they are:

1) Simplicity. Avoid "gadgets" and stick to the basics of reef keeping. Lights, Return pump, powerheads, skimmer, controller, 2-part doser. No UV filters, no refugium, no calcium reactor, maybe not even a charcoal reactor (just some carbon in a bag).

2) Self-Contained. This tank is front and center, so I need to keep equipment hidden and out of view. (No chiller-babies hanging out next to the stand!)

3) Quiet. Need to keep sounds to a minimum, tank is close to this:

4) Colorful. The room needs a splash of color, so will match livestock and corals to provide color to the room.

(Have to clean up the mess--still moving in!)


5) Low Maintenance. The bane of every reef keeper. Must not take excessive amounts of maintenance to keep it looking good. I'm an attorney-don't have much free time to begin with.

6) Minimalist Aquascaping. I am not sure about this one. It appeals to me, but I also don't want an empty tank. This one is going to take some planning. Also probably going to have to sell a lot of my rock cheap (lucky someone living in Miami...) Already started looking for fiberglass / acrylic rods.

Suggestions on the above are welcome, including good links to thread on RC!

 

[Mark...]

Is your RO/DI holding tanks outside, just behind the tank? Maybe you can run a water line through the wall for water changes and top off. If you elevate them, you can gravity feed everything.

 

[sirjohn]

Is your RO/DI holding tanks outside, just behind the tank? Maybe you can run a water line through the wall for water changes and top off. If you elevate them, you can gravity feed everything.

Yes, one tank is RO/DI water and the other is salt water mixing. You can see the salt creep on the left tank. Thought about leaving them where they are, bit, but unfortunately there is no water access there and bringing water to that area will be a monumental task. I am thinking of relocating them to the south and burying John Guest water lines to my Litermeter 3. Will put up pictures later.

 

[jdantunes]

Awesome! I love the looks of an Elos tank. They are sexy!

Can I ask what happened in the first run?

If you plan to stick to the basics, I'm with you. But I feel that if you're not going to be running a refugium you will need a GFO reactor.

Keep us updated... I'm following

 

[sirjohn]

Awesome! I love the looks of an Elos tank. They are sexy!

Can I ask what happened in the first run?

If you plan to stick to the basics, I'm with you. But I feel that if you're not going to be running a refugium you will need a GFO reactor.

Keep us updated... I'm following

Thanks. What happened in the first run? We moved homes! It was actually a blessing Now the tank is going to be in the middle of the dining room, so the space is more limited than before. I'm making the best of it.

I hear you on the reactor. Trying to go as natural as possible. I have a NextReef MR-1 ready in case I need it. I am hoping not to, but we'll see.

 

[sirjohn]

Here are some updated pics. Not much of an update I know, but I ran into a few issues during the move. I think my RO/DI membrane may have dried out, so I've had to replace it. Also, my APEX base module died and needed repair. The Apex is now working and the new membranes, salt, sand, replacement T5s and some other stuff is on its way. I expect to have water and rock in the tank by next week. Can't wait.

Here is a picture of the tank empty with the lights on, water next week and some minimalist aquascaping. I know LEDs are all the craze, but MH/T5 combos will always look great to me:

I found this great little shed at home depot that held my twin 60 gallon potable water tanks perfectly:

And I even found a hose carrier that fits my RO/DI very well. See that hose connector on the side, you connect the hose to that and it feeds the RO/DI, which feeds the freshwater potable water tank with a float valve. That way the hose is not doing full-time duty when it doesn't need to:

So far so good, no major issues to speak up.

 

[sirjohn]

Just one picture tonight, but a significant one!

 

[jdantunes]

Here we go! :spin1:

 

[Mark...]

Looking forward to this one...Elos is my favorite tank design. As another member stated...rimless tanks are sexy.

 

[laredo300c]

great tank, is there a reason you switched from (3) mp40s on the right side, to the backwall, not that they don't look freaking awesome on the back, but were they not keeping your left side in motion?

 

[sirjohn]

great tank, is there a reason you switched from (3) mp40s on the right side, to the backwall, not that they don't look freaking awesome on the back, but were they not keeping your left side in motion?

The tank is in a different position now, with the overflow-right side exposed to the dining room. But I have to be honest, I didn't like all three MP40s on one side. The flow on the left side was not very strong and crap had a tendency to accumulate there. I think 60+ inches is just too far for the MP40s to get good flow to.

So, this time I put them on the back, covering each section of the tank. The downside is aesthetics. Since I'm not painting the back of the tank or using a background, you can see the wires. But I will live with them for good flow across the entire tank.

 

[sirjohn]

Okay, here's a good update!

1) Minimalist aquascaping is done--I think. I used fiberglass rods, a drill and lots of patience. I wanted different levels for different types of corals of course, and I think I nailed it. I'm pretty happy with it, but suggestions are welcome!

2) The ~1 inch sand bed is also in. I used Carib Special Seaflor. Great stuff. Milky like all of them even after a rinse, but it's getting better.


This is with the T5s on, 18 hours or so after rock and sand. Still needs to clear up alot. No carbon yet:

With 250w 10k DE Metal Halides: OLD SCHOOL!!! :spin3:

Just getting started...

 

[jdantunes]

Love it! Your aquascape is a work of art!

Why are not using a background? That kind of kills it for me...

 

[adddo]

Looking great, will follow this

 

[rpjaws74]

love the aquascape

 

[sirjohn]

Thank you everyone for your comments. Took forever to get those two pillars the way I wanted them, but I like the result. It will allow for corals at all levels of the tank, I hope.

Why are not using a background? That kind of kills it for me...

I haven't wanted to paint such an expensive tank. And I haven't liked any other "stick-on" background. More importantly, I lost the argument with the wife (she does not want it painted black--the only color I would consider). So I'll have to live with the MP40s...

Kinda mulling moving the center one, but then the flow won't be the way I want it. I think the more tanks I set-up, the more aesthetics seem to give away to functionality...


Water is getting more clear!