Haffs09
Member
Hello everyone! I'm excited to share with you my build thread. After the urging from several members in my local forum, I decided to upload a bunch of pics (~120 pics only took 10hrs!) and start. Hopefully, over the next couple of weeks, I'll bring you current to where I am now... that's pretty much deciding where I want to run my electric and then hook up a ventilation system.
Anyhow, a little background...
I knew after graduating college and getting my own house, my next tank would be a big one. I had a 125gal mixed reef that was running well at my parent's house until it overheated while on my honeymoon. I also failed at one build attempt you can read here if interested. I ended up selling the 125 and condensed what was left into a 90gal at my house. The 90gal only has a couple huge leathers, a moon coral and a bubble coral. Sadly, I recently lost my t. derasa that I had for 7-8 years and grew from 3" across to 12".
I fell back on the advice I always gave folks while working at a LFS...buy the biggest tank you have space and/or can afford. My wife agreed to the space aspect, and it took me about 5 years to work on the financial aspect.
So, enough of the background and on to the cool stuff...
Total system volume will be in the 500-600 gallon range.
Tank:
94" x 30" x 30" by Miracles, eurobraced with an external overflow on a short end. The remaining 3 sides are starphire glass so I can set it up as peninsula if desired down the road (I hope I never have to move this thing!).
Stand:
Used the DIY stand thread as a guide. I teamed up with a friend from work who's a cabinet maker on the side and dressed up the stand with cherry doors and panels. It looks very sharp!
Skimmers:
LifeReef VS-36 and two LifeReef VS-24s that I picked up used and need some TLC. Initially, I was planning on a system of 300-400 gallons when the VS-36 was purchased. As the system bioload grows, we'll see how this setup handles it. I'll upgrade as needed.
Ca reactor:
I have a two chamber unit that came with the tank from my 1st failed build attempt. I'll figure out how to hook it up when my calcium demands warrant it.
Filtration:
Everything in the basement - 125gal tank for a sump, lots of liverock, 20gal RDSB and a 75gal refugium.
Circulation:
Reeflo hammerhead that I will try to supply the main tank, fuge, RDSB, skimmers and whatever else I need. If I can't feed it all, my sump is drilled with an extra 1.5" line to add another pump.
I have three vortech MP-40Ws that will be placed in the display tank.
Lighting:
2x400W halides on IceCap ballasts. I have never used metal halides, but I figured I'll start with 14K Ushio bulbs...Sanjay's tank looks great and I'm pretty sure he's only using these bulbs without supplementation. To try and conserve on my electrical demand, I'm mount these on a light rail, so they'll move ~3ft back and forth throughout the photo period. If this design works for a year, the rail would have paid for itself.
Controller:
TBD
Misc:
My house has baseboard H2O heat. Without central air, the humidity from that tank would wreak havoc in the house. I'll have supply and exhaust air running through the main tank's canopy. I'll address any issues in the basement as they arise.
Anyhow, a little background...
I knew after graduating college and getting my own house, my next tank would be a big one. I had a 125gal mixed reef that was running well at my parent's house until it overheated while on my honeymoon. I also failed at one build attempt you can read here if interested. I ended up selling the 125 and condensed what was left into a 90gal at my house. The 90gal only has a couple huge leathers, a moon coral and a bubble coral. Sadly, I recently lost my t. derasa that I had for 7-8 years and grew from 3" across to 12".
I fell back on the advice I always gave folks while working at a LFS...buy the biggest tank you have space and/or can afford. My wife agreed to the space aspect, and it took me about 5 years to work on the financial aspect.
So, enough of the background and on to the cool stuff...
Total system volume will be in the 500-600 gallon range.
Tank:
94" x 30" x 30" by Miracles, eurobraced with an external overflow on a short end. The remaining 3 sides are starphire glass so I can set it up as peninsula if desired down the road (I hope I never have to move this thing!).
Stand:
Used the DIY stand thread as a guide. I teamed up with a friend from work who's a cabinet maker on the side and dressed up the stand with cherry doors and panels. It looks very sharp!
Skimmers:
LifeReef VS-36 and two LifeReef VS-24s that I picked up used and need some TLC. Initially, I was planning on a system of 300-400 gallons when the VS-36 was purchased. As the system bioload grows, we'll see how this setup handles it. I'll upgrade as needed.
Ca reactor:
I have a two chamber unit that came with the tank from my 1st failed build attempt. I'll figure out how to hook it up when my calcium demands warrant it.
Filtration:
Everything in the basement - 125gal tank for a sump, lots of liverock, 20gal RDSB and a 75gal refugium.
Circulation:
Reeflo hammerhead that I will try to supply the main tank, fuge, RDSB, skimmers and whatever else I need. If I can't feed it all, my sump is drilled with an extra 1.5" line to add another pump.
I have three vortech MP-40Ws that will be placed in the display tank.
Lighting:
2x400W halides on IceCap ballasts. I have never used metal halides, but I figured I'll start with 14K Ushio bulbs...Sanjay's tank looks great and I'm pretty sure he's only using these bulbs without supplementation. To try and conserve on my electrical demand, I'm mount these on a light rail, so they'll move ~3ft back and forth throughout the photo period. If this design works for a year, the rail would have paid for itself.
Controller:
TBD
Misc:
My house has baseboard H2O heat. Without central air, the humidity from that tank would wreak havoc in the house. I'll have supply and exhaust air running through the main tank's canopy. I'll address any issues in the basement as they arise.
