Gooches tank 150g

[goochesfish]

I don't think I can call this a build since I have nothing to do with the building. The tank and stand were ordered through Vivid aquariums. The tank is a Lemar starfire with Eurobracing and a 2 inch drain in the center. Dimensions 60x24x24inches.
The sump is 36x17x18 and has a separate compartment running lengthwise for the refugium.
The stand is built in cherry with doors on each end. I wanted as much access as possible.

Because of the cost, it's taken me a year just to get this much done. I am hoping to get it plumbed, again by Dave at Vivid, in July.

 

[gooyferret]

Looks really good very nice stand and canopy! So what is the future plans later down the road? Reef? FO?

 

[inktomi]

Looks great so far! I just ordered a very similar tank from Leemar!

If you got eurobracing - why go with the canopy as well?

 

[goochesfish]

Thanks. I'm planning on a reef tank. Although I am having the big things done for me, I have always done all the maintenance and have done quite well growing corals in my prior tank. I painted the inside of the tank and sealed it myself so it can hold some water before hitting my wood floors.
Equipment so far:ASM G3, 1/3 hp JBJ arctica chiller

 

[goochesfish]

How can you tell it's from Leemar mine does not say Leemar anywhere on it? As for why the Eurobracing? I guess I do what I'm told, which was that it is stronger, better built.

 

[steve70]

I think you made a very nice choice. I like the side door. where you can put most of the electical equipment in.

 

[maroun.c]

Looking good.
what lighting are you planing for this tank?

 

[goochesfish]

I really would like LED's since heat is an issue in my house.

 

[AL915]

Nice tank.

 

[goochesfish]

Is it a bad idea to put an acoustic drum kit in the same room as this fish tank? This room is my living room and music room. I already have piano and electric guitars being played in this room. I wonder how fish and coral would respond to the drums?

I am impatient, even though this tank is not plumbed, I have set up a QT tank and have 2 clowns in it.

 

[goochesfish]

finally filled

finally filled

The tank was plumbed over a period of 2 weeks, then filled with about 200lbs of live rock and live sand. The return pump and chiller are in the pantry behind the tank.
http://reefcentral.com/gallery/data/1/180053August2009_024.jpg
http://reefcentral.com/gallery/data/585/180053August2009_026.jpg

http://reefcentral.com/gallery/data/581/180053August2009_032.jpg

 

[CeeGee]

Looking good so far. I don't think that G3 is going to serve you well in the long run though especially on that large of a tank. If you decide to replace it I highly recommend the i-Tech's.

Good luck with the tank as it is looking really nice.

 

[nanshaw2001]

Makes my 150 look like it came from the dollar store! Very nice and great start...congrats!!!!!

 

[bella127]

Looks great, nice start

 

[goochesfish]

lights I ordered are ATI PM's. How do I know when my skimmer is no longer adequate? I thought the G3 was rated fo an even larger tank.

 

[CeeGee]

I had mine on a 75 with a 40 gallon sump. It wasn't cutting it. I Replaced it with an i-Tech 100 which looks quite a bit smaller to the eye than the ASM did but the amount and consistency of nog it pulls is night and day. From your pics I would say that yours is doing a much better job than mine was as your skimmate is dark. I am just preparing you that in the long run I think you are going to want a better performing skimmer. I also had to constantly adjust the ASM to keep it working. Not so with my new skimmer.

From what I can tell it is basically that the ASM skimmers are older technology. The new cone skimmers take what they did and push it to the next level. There are many great cone skimmers on the market (ATB, Royal Exclusive, KZ) but for the money/performance ratio the i-Tech can't be beat. Plus they are made by a LFS right here in the USA!

Someone did a comparision on the i-tech 100 vs the ATB medium (a larger skimmer) and the smaller i-Tech was hanging with it. The smaller i-Tech's are now available with a Tunze pump which increases performance even more while being nearly silent.

For your tank I think you would want to run a 200 or maybe even the 400 if you plan on upgrading in the future.

The ATI PM light system is going to be spectacular on that tank. Good choice.

 

[goochesfish]

It is the 3rd week. Ammonia and nitrites are zero and nitrates =10
I will pick up a CUC tomorrow.
I have a phosphate reactor and phosphates are zero, why do I have cyano in the sump?

 

[BeanMachine]

Add a little flow to the sump.

 

[liquidfunk]

phosphates are zero with what kind of kit? do any of your LFS have a colorimeter? you might look at doing a little carbon dosing (not active charcoal, but vodka/sugar/vinegar) to finish up the cycle and remove the last of the nitrates and phos.

 

[goochesfish]

probably a very inaccurate phosphate kit but at least there's no cyano in the DT.
Got my light today. ATI PM with 8 bulbs, now gotta mount it. Then I'll get an algae bloom in the DT. It's been natural room/sunlight for 3 weeks.