(First Reef Tank Ever) **** 600gal Display **** 1300gal System

[cbui2]

here are some more updates, tank is more clear now. i should have enough water by monday night to get skimmer and reactor online. all the outlet for CL is covered and few more pc's has been arrange around to make it look more realistic, but this will not be the final stacks as coral will be introduced.

Full Front

Left Side

Middle

Right Side

 

[Sparkss]

Looking good Bart.. nice rock.. but I still prefer to start with base rock any more on tanks . I envy your length on your tank.. make ours feel short

 

[smcskim]

It's stunning - nice photography! The light effects are impressive!

 

[Goodwin9]

Bart..Your rock layout looks great! Did you put your sand in first, then add the rock? Looks like you have added some fish?

 

[JRaquatics]

I have been watching this thread from the begining. This is a very impressive set up. CBUI2 great photos. How deep is that sandbed? How many pounds of sand did you end up using?

 

[tcmfish]

I think there is a shelf or something like a ledge in the front of the tank not just a huge sandbed. Its kind of decieving but I could be wrong.

 

[Sparkss]

His tank is inset into the wall, looks like the depth of the wall, so yea, there is an approximatley 4" ledge round the tank which would result in a 4" "shelf" on the bottom/front. In some of the pictures it does look like the sandbed is a DSB, but that is a trick of the eye and the camera .

Again, great looking tank Bart... I am super envious of your dimension and you have done a great job so far with the rockwork design and layout. I can't wait to see your final result

 

[savethereef]

really nice tank

 

[xinumaster]

Thank is a very nice aquascaping you got there Bart.

 

[cbui2]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=10118832#post10118832 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by Goodwin9
Bart..Your rock layout looks great! Did you put your sand in first, then add the rock? Looks like you have added some fish?

thanks Goodwin9, sand was added first then aquascape was done since adding water at the same time will be impossible to work with. added 10 1" Blue, 1 2" Triple-stripe and 1 2" Blue-velvet to help cycled.

 

[garrettm85]

I am amazed by your tank. You are doing a great job with this thing. Keep up the good work and I hope all goes well from hear on out. I just set up a 210, which I thought was huge. Now looking at this, I am in shock! nice!

 

[cbui2]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=10118935#post10118935 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by JRaquatics
I have been watching this thread from the begining. This is a very impressive set up. CBUI2 great photos. How deep is that sandbed? How many pounds of sand did you end up using?

thanks, about 4-5" i need aleast 200lbs more. 1000lbs was what i ordered.

 

[erics3000]

Wow looking great. Absolutlely Amazing. I love the big huge rocks.This is going to be TOM soon after a little growth.......

Not to Hijack butt... I have a little question? What is the difference between these bulbs and other mh? Do they consume the same power. My tank is only going to be 24 hi.

http://www.hellolights.com/index.asp?PageAction=VIEWPROD&ProdID=1325

I found a few of these at a decent price used and was going to buy 3. What are your inputs guys? Thanks in advance.

 

[cbui2]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=10120102#post10120102 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by Sparkss
His tank is inset into the wall, looks like the depth of the wall, so yea, there is an approximately 4" ledge round the tank which would result in a 4" "shelf" on the bottom/front. In some of the pictures it does look like the sandbed is a DSB, but that is a trick of the eye and the camera .

Again, great looking tank Bart... I am super envious of your dimension and you have done a great job so far with the rockwork design and layout. I can't wait to see your final result

thanks, yes my tank is 5" inset into the wall and 5" below the ledge and since when it comes time for cleaning i didn't want my magnavore 10 to have any sand particles risking to damage the acrylic. another reason why this was done is too to have a better view instead of bringing the tank all the way to the front of the wall. i will probably change the rock around a little more when corals are introduced.

 

[cbui2]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=10121107#post10121107 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by erics3000
Wow looking great. Absolutlely Amazing. I love the big huge rocks.This is going to be TOM soon after a little growth.......

Not to Hijack butt... I have a little question? What is the difference between these bulbs and other mh? Do they consume the same power. My tank is only going to be 24 hi.

http://www.hellolights.com/index.asp?PageAction=VIEWPROD&ProdID=1325

I found a few of these at a decent price used and was going to buy 3. What are your inputs guys? Thanks in advance.

no problem Eric, i am running LA3 much better spread IMO. depending how much space you have on the top.

 

[Sparkss]

I like how that link listed them as HQI reflectors (versus HQI ballast or bulbs ). While that is a nice, cheap lighting solution, I am with Bart in that LAIIIs are worth the extra money. Couple them with a decent ballast and you typically won't be regretting (or replacing) in a years time. Plus you are entering into that DE vs SE lighting arena that I personally feel is up to the individual to decide which one they want. We started DE and moved to SE, many have gone in the other direction (and some back again). Perhaps you should decide which one you want first, then start looking for the reflector and ballast : )

Sorry for hte hijak also Bart

 

[cbui2]

ok finally enough water is made to get sump, 1st fuge, skimmer and return online.
here are some more pic's, and i still cant believed the character in these Haitian Rocks.

Left Side

Middle Left

Middle Right

Right Side

 

[cbui2]

Side view

 

[melev]

It is coming along nicely. Look at all those fishies.

 

[Goodwin9]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=9633180#post9633180 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by cbui2
ok finally some new updates, some of the work past couple of days. all the plumbing for overflows, returns, skimmer and reactors are done. now that the sump is in place I will begin working on the intake for all the pumps, then water testing for all tanks will be performed this weekend to ensure fine tuning and hopefully no flaws, knock on wood and I do have plenty of them.
here are some pic's
don't forget deltec family, kalk is MIA i will find a place for him

Bart..Your water is clearing up nicely. It's been a while since you have posted any updates on the plumbing portion of your system. Can you bring us up to date with some shots of the plumbing photos above. Heck...your behind the scenes is as impressive as the tank itself..