Gareth and Megans 265 Gallon Reef project.

[GDominy]

megan and I originally were running a 135 Gallon Reef not too long ago. We recently got a deal we simply couldnt refuse and started our new 265 Gallon (which replaced the previous tank).

The original 135 Gallon is here:

Gareth and Megans 135 Gallon

The tank swap took a whopping 14 hours for hte plumbing, canopy rebuild, and livestock transfer. At 500 Lbs empty, this sucker wasnt an easy move.

The tank itself has quite the story. We aquired this tank from an aquarist who was moving out of the province and needed to get the tank out FAST (moving in 2 days). The kicker was the tank was in teh basement, and the only way to remove it was by knocking out the stairs and lifting it, straight up, through the door to the upper level of the house. It took 7 guys to do and a lot of sweat, but we got it out in one piece.

So here it is after a month of running after the swap:

I apologize for the poor image quality, I snapped these about an hour after installing the arch so there was some sedement in the water.

Tank is lit with 18 (yes 18) 39 watt HOT5's, 4 GHL Simu Spot Pendants, 72 3/4w LED's for moonlighting, and soon a DIY LED rig that I am putting together (more on this later).

Fuge is a 120 Gallon tank lit with 5 x 54w HOT5's

The fuge is now, completely overgrown, and needs to be redone, this is an older photo. The fuge is currently packed to teh water line with Macro algae and is due for harvest (been holding off untill the tank broke in after the swap).

 

[RParker]

The tank itself has quite the story. We aquired this tank from an aquarist who was moving out of the province and needed to get the tank out FAST (moving in 2 days). The kicker was the tank was in teh basement, and the only way to remove it was by knocking out the stairs and lifting it, straight up, through the door to the upper level of the house. It took 7 guys to do and a lot of sweat, but we got it out in one piece.

Wow, you're insane! :lolspin: j/k

I remember when we brought my 265 in. Going down the stairs was bad enough there is no way I would have wanted to lift it out like that!

Looks like all your hard work paid off in spades though, nice tank!

 

[GDominy]

Thanks its been a fun build. I'm dealing with an Ich outbreak now from the stress of it all but its finally starting to bounce back.

The tank lift was crazy, and something I never, ever want to do that again!

 

[GDominy]

Well after 5 days away at Macna came home to find the aquarium(s) running smoothly. Not any deaths to speak of, with only a couple heads on a trumpet coral seeing some damage from getting stung.

So, we added more rock that we had curing for several weeks and filled in hte left side a bit. This tank is always changing and we are still trying to aquire everything we need to finish the build.

Video:

 

[BBLINKS]

:spin3:TANK LOOKS AWESOME. SUPER CLEAN, I REALLY LIKE IT. :spin3:
ANY CHANCE YOU CAN GIVE ME A RUN DOWN ON THE WHOLE SYSTEM.
I HAVE A 210 GALLON WITH A 100 GALLON SUMP, RUNNING BERLIN SYSTEM WITH 3 PART DOSING. DUE TO THE SIZE OF MY TANK, IT IS VERY SIMILAR TO YOURS, I AM THINKING ABOUT SWITCHING OVER TO A CALCIUM REACTOR, WHAT IS YOUR THOUGHTS ON IT? AND WHAT KIND OF ADDITIVE DO YOU ADD TO KEEP THE TANK LOOKING SO GOOD.

THANKS IN ADVANCE.

REGARDS.

RICH

 

[GDominy]

Sure thing! All tanks listed here are linked, and make up for 550 Gallons (ish) of total system volume. The main display is only 265 gallons so makes up about 50% of the system volume.

Main Display:

Primary Lighting = 18 x 39w T5's (8 x 14k from ATI, 6 x KZ Super Blue, 4 x KZ Fiji Pink)
Secondary Lighting = 4 x GHL LED Simu Spots, 72 3/4w Blue LED's for moonlighting (all profilux controlled)
Pumps = 4 x 12v Korallia 4's, 2 x Korallia 6's, 2 x Tunze Nano Streams (all Profilux controlled)
Approx 400 lbs of Live rock
2" Sand Bed, Sugar sized

Refugium:
Lighting = 5 x 54w T5's (2 x 6700k, 2 x 14k, 1 x Actinic)
Pumps = 1 x Korallia 3, 3 x Korallia 1, 1 x Korallia 2

80 Gallon Bedroom Display:
Primary Lighting = 5 x 54w T5 (2 x KZ Superblue, 2 x ATI 14K, 1 x KZ Fiji Pink)
Secondary Lighting = 24 3/4w LED's for moonlighting
Pumps = 2 x Korallia 3's, 1 x Korallia 2, 2 x Vortech MP10wES (soon to be Profilux controlled)

Sump:
Lighting = None
Return Pump (main display) = Mag 18 for 265 Gallon
Return pump (Fuge/Bedroom tank) = Mag 18 split between two tanks
Skimmer = Bubble Magus 220CS
Calcium Reactor = Vertex RX6 Duo, CO2 controlled via Profilux
Media Reactors = TLF Phosban Reactor 550 full of Carbon, TLF Phosban Reactor 150 full of Fauna Marin Ultra Power Phos.
UV = Emperor Aquatics 50w HOT5 (this is only used when introducing new fish, or if the refugium algae cultures go sexual)
Vertex Puratek 100GPD RO Unit w/booster pump


Electronics Breakdown (GHL Equipment and other automation goodies):

GHL Profilux IIIEx
- Controls automatic top off in the sump, resevoir automatically refills from the RO Unit
- Temperature control (turn fans on when extra heat, heater on when cold)
- Automatic flood prevention (pump shut off when top off runs too long)
- Automatic water change*** (almost done, just about ready!)
- CO2 Control for Calcium reactor
- Lighting control for 12 Illumination channels
- Thunderstorm Simulation
- Cloud Simulation
- Lunar Simulation
- Wave making for all controllable pumps
- Ph Monitoring
- Salinity Monitoring
- Temperature Monitoring

GHL Power Bars
- 3 x 6 Outlet Digital Power Bars (one for lighting in main display canopy, 2 for sump)
- 1 x 4 Outlet Analog Power Bar (Bedroom Lighting Controls)

GHL Expansion Box
- Ph Port for second probe (the one in the calcium reactor)
- Dimming control for several homebuilt LED fixtures (about to go live)

GHL View II
- Displays Aquarium Stats on the canopy of main display as the head unit is hidden

GHL Probes and sensors
- Platinum Conductivity Probe
- Temp Probe
- 2 x Ph Probes
- Optical Sensor (used for ATO and AWC)

GHL Lighting and other controlled Lighting
- 4 x GHL Simu Spots for Lunar Simu, Storm Simu, Cloud Simu, Sunrise/Sunset
- LED bars modified to dim using GHL Propellor control modules (12v control module)
- 1 x ActiveL Splitter to power the above simu spots

Wavemaking
- 3 x Korallia PumpControl Modules for wavemaking
- 1 x Vortech Control module (coming soon) for bedroom Vortech control

 

[GDominy]

As far as dosing, additives etc, I'm actually not the best example.

Previously I attempted to run a few different styles of ultra low nutrient systems. I started with the Zeovit method but switched to Fauna Marin, and while I had great results, the amount of time invested to get the results I wanted wasn't realy paying off (we like to run a heavier bio load, which is counter productive to an ULN system). The systems work very well for tanks built around them, mine simply was not.

I switched back to the more natural methods of denitrifying and phosphate removal. While I do run Carbon and Phosphate removing resins in my reactors, they are more as a backup, and run after the UV Sterilizer to pull out any dead organics after the UV has nuked them. Most nutrient export is handled by the 120 Gallon Refugium (packed full of several algae species).

Calcium and Magnesium are dosed via the Calcium reactor. Most of the better units these days can handle more then one type of media, the RX6 Duo can hold 3. The reactor I am running has Carrib Sea Arm (Course) in the main chamber, Fauna Marin Ultra Mag in the second, and Fauna Marin Power Ultra Phos in the third. All Ca media that are not made from synthetic matierals will release small amounts of phosphate, so I use the FM Phosphate resins to pull it out before it makes it way into the water column.

For dosing, I am probably not the best example. I use very few additives unless required. I do use a few trace elements from FM, but fairly infrequently. I handle most of my trace elements through regular, frequent water changes. On average I change about 100 Gallons a week, and will soon have this entire process automated so all I have to do is dump in my salt to the resevoir and the rest will be controlled by the profilux.

 

[MegsB]

it has been an interesting venture, but so far we are quite pleased with the result of the new tanks!! I will take and post some photos of the 80 gal bowfront bedroom tank soon, its still in "breaking in" phase, as it was mainy scrounged dead rock/sand, so has had a lovely algea bloom that is just clearing up. Most of the credit for the looks of the 265 and fuge have to go to gareths aquascaping and attention to detail, but the 80 is my baby (i enforce gareth be hands off on all aspects of my 80 quite strictly).

We will try to get some recent photos of the fuge and 80 up soon!

 

[Mr. Brooks]

What are the dimensions of the 265?

 

[GDominy]

84" x 24" x 32"

 

[BBLINKS]

Thanks so much for such a detailed reply. very much appreciated. I didn't realize you had another tank in your bedroom also. That is a great volume of water. I am a little jealous that you both have such a passion for the hobby. Although the wife is EXTREMELY understanding, even when I punched a hole in the wall to accommodate plumbing from the living room to the garage for my chiller. What she doesn;t know is the plan to eventually turn the garage into my fish room. Well, fish room\ her arts and craft room. hehe.:hmm3:
Any ways your tank looks great, can't wait for the bedroom tank pictures. If you guys ever come over the water to the mainland I would love for you guys to stop by and check out my tank and maybe give me some pointners.

Rich:beer:

 

[GDominy]

We actually travel to the mainland every few months for personal shopping etc, and every so often for business too. I'll drop you a PM the next time we are heading over! its always good to meet new fish peeps.

G.

 

[MegsB]

the bedroom tank was a long time in the making, as we replaced equiptment in the main display we saved the extras for the eventual setup of the 80, really the only "extra" costs we have added with this tank is 5 more bulbs to replace. It has been running for about 3 months now.

I am by no means artistic so the aquascaping so far is to the best of my ability, it is still being tweeked! I am also no photographer! I know Gareth could do better, but its my baby, so i took the best photos i could! without further ado...the 80...

inhabitantas are as follows...
-1 cleaner shrimp
-1 yellow tang (I have had since i started this hobby over 4 years ago, she was a "rescue" fish from a overwhelmed hobbyist, so excuse her poor fins)
-1 coral beauty dwarf angelfish (also had over 4 years, one of my first fish)
-1 canary wrassea
-1 leopard wrasse
-1 blue ribbon eel (3' long)
-2 mis-bar ORA clownfish
-1 conch
many many snails

 

[GDominy]

hehheh... Sorry about the mess around the stand and the unfinished canopy... I havent had time to complete the top of this unit yet. I built the stand in a rush but only had an old canopy I modified (hacked into) from an old 45 gallon to get the tank running.

Trying to build a curved front canopy has proved a bit challenging.. but I think I have it figured out, just going to take a little time

 

[mnswreefer]

Your tank look great. I love your aquascaping in the main DT. Keep posting pics

 

[GDominy]

Thanks Its actually a really challenging tank to aquascape due to the height. I think in the future I would definately have a tank wide then only 2 feet. That being said, the next tank will have to be built into the house. We'll crack the 1000 gallon mark when we have a home to put it in! lol.

 

[GDominy]

Coral Pics:

 

[GDominy]

More coral pics.. These were taken under LED's only, so its hard to get the colour looking right. It pics of hte flourescence nicely but really oversaturates a lot of hte background and creates a ton of purple fringing..

 

[farrowkc]

large tanks

large tanks

You have a very nice tank!:thumbsup: