Having trouble keeping SPS happy.

[Alex T.]

I was going to go with 250's, but at the end of this summer I'm going to be upgrading to a much larger in wall tank while my wife and kids are in Greece for 4 weeks. I was going to go more shallow...something like 24 inches deep and now considering 48" front to back and 72" long....roughly 360 gallons. My idea was to have T5's flank 3 large lumenarc reflectors and run 3 400's for only 4 - 5 hours a day in the middle. I know that the Lumenarcs cannot cover a 48" front to back footprint and this will actually work to my advantage where I can keep some LPS and maybe even some softees.

My first love will always be SPS but I miss some of the movement and colors of LPS and zooanthids. Besides, the larger footprint and smarter design will actually cost me less to operate than my current 150, so for me it's a no-brainer. For the wife, it's a big surprise when she gets back!!!!

 

[Alex T.]

P.S. Anyone who lives within driving distance is welcome to pick up some frags when I break down. I will be fragging everything just in case I encounter losses from the move to my mother colonies. PM me and I will let you know the dates as I pin down the schedule. OP, let me know what you may want as I can drop off to you when we head to HR.

I have the following corals:

ORA Pink Birdsnest
Superman Montipora
ORA Verde Acropora
Vivid's Blue Stag
ORA Borealis
Unidentified Yellow Bottlebrush (very fast grower in high light)
Wet Thumb Frags' Blue Flame Acropora
Wet Thumb Frags' Purple Poker
"""" """""""" """""" Royal Acropora
ORA Plum Crazy
ORA Bellina
Green Slimer
ORA Roscoe's Blue
ORA Hawkin's Blue Echinata
Red Montipora capricornis (very Red)
Blue Tabling Acropora
Vivid's Purple Nana
Tyree Aquarium City Red Millepora (more pink than red)
Wet Thumb's Blue Spike Stag (a rare growth form, very straight/blunt ends)
Strawberry Shortcake
ORA Purple Digitata (needs to be fragged monthly)
ORA Joe the Coral
Electric Blue Millepora (more purple than blue)
Blue Prostrata
Wet Thumb's My Jedi (grows like a bush, purple body with yellow polyps)
Pocillopora Damicornis (first person who wants the entire mother colony can have it. It has spawned and left SPS graffiti all over my tank and I don't want it anymore. It simply can't be killed!)

 

[JG1]

I was going to go more shallow...something like 24 inches deep and now considering 48" front to back and 72" long....roughly 360 gallons.

:eek1::eek1::eek1:

72x48x24........That's gonna be a monster!

 

[Alex T.]

Yeah, it's going to be as big as I think I can go comfortably in the six foot length footprint that I have to work with. Definitely not going rimless on this one. My pockets just aren't that deep.

I'm tired of the 18" width of my tank. I can't reach the sand bed anymore without an accidental fragging. There's so much more I want to do with aquascaping. I don't even think I'll be adding many more SPS. I want the stuff I have to grow into square foot colonies all over the tank with some more interest in LPS and zooanthids on the sand bed. Plus, I've been wanting a Sohal tang for so long I think I can finally give it a shot in this tank.

I hope to get a little more technically saavy by then so that I can post a total build thread from soup to nuts as I will be doing all the work myself. For God's sake I don't even know how to copy and quote someone in a reply!!!:hammer:This includes building the fishroom, but that can't be done until the tank is on the stand because it won't fit through the door I bought. I'm actually leaning more toward a local vendor....Coast to Coast out of Toms River. I can save a lot by picking the tank up myself with my truck and having a few of my employees help getting the tank into place. It's amazing how far pizza, wings and beer can go!

 

[JG1]

Yeah, it's going to be as big as I think I can go comfortably in the six foot length footprint that I have to work with. Definitely not going rimless on this one. My pockets just aren't that deep.

I'm tired of the 18" width of my tank. I can't reach the sand bed anymore without an accidental fragging. There's so much more I want to do with aquascaping. I don't even think I'll be adding many more SPS. I want the stuff I have to grow into square foot colonies all over the tank with some more interest in LPS and zooanthids on the sand bed. Plus, I've been wanting a Sohal tang for so long I think I can finally give it a shot in this tank.

I hope to get a little more technically saavy by then so that I can post a total build thread from soup to nuts as I will be doing all the work myself. For God's sake I don't even know how to copy and quote someone in a reply!!!:hammer:This includes building the fishroom, but that can't be done until the tank is on the stand because it won't fit through the door I bought. I'm actually leaning more toward a local vendor....Coast to Coast out of Toms River. I can save a lot by picking the tank up myself with my truck and having a few of my employees help getting the tank into place. It's amazing how far pizza, wings and beer can go!

Coast to Coast is VERY expensive. I wanna say they were approx 20% more then Miracles....and that included Miracles priced shipped.

However, with Miracles, they ship to a Depot in West Hampton (Leisure town on rt 73) and you have to pick it up from there. They load it for you so you don't need to bring help with you to pick it up.

I've heard Coast to Coast does do beautiful work though.

 

[Alex T.]

Coast to Coast was actually cheaper than Miracles on this sized tank and with me picking up.

 

[JG1]

Coast to Coast was actually cheaper than Miracles on this sized tank and with me picking up.

Wow, really?

If that's the case go with Coast to Coast...I've seen pictures of their tanks on the forums and they are works of art. Not that my Miracles tank isn't nice, but the Coast to Coast tanks really something special.

Are you going to do internal or external overflows?

 

[Alex T.]

(Two) 2" external overflows, each overflow 16" long, front starphire glass, back and side panels both black, 3 inch euro bracing necessary all around and two 1 inch holes drilled in the bottom panel for extra closed loop circulation that my vortech pumps can't reach as well in the middle of the tank. The holes and plumbing of course will be hidden behind rock structures. I want a lot more open space, much like SonnyX's new tank has with small rock structures interspaced throughout the tank. I love my clams and want a lot more, so an open sand bed affords me the opportunity to showcase these beauties.

As for the cost, they were within a couple hundred dollars of each other, so I went with the local guys. I don't want the tank until the end of the summer/early fall so they said they would call me when they started and I could pop in and out for some build thread photos to see it being built which was pretty cool. I'm sure that if Miracles was closer and I didn't have to pay the delivery that it may have been cheaper, but in this case it made more sense to go with Coast to Coast. Now I have to plan the transition to go smoothly. I'll probably go to Tractor Supply and get some agricultural Rubbermaid containers...one to house the fish and another for the corals. I'm going to use a lot of the same liverock and some sand to seed the new tank so hopefully there's not much of a cycle. One thing I've learned is to wipe down all the silicone joints with white vinegar and water which helps lessen the diatom bloom by removing most of the particulates that bind with the salt water when the tank gets its' initial fill.

As the date approaches I'll start giving out a lot more info. I'm excited for this build. I just want to minimize/eliminate any losses as much as possible by planning everything ahead of time.

 

[JG1]

(Two) 2" external overflows, each overflow 16" long, front starphire glass, back and side panels both black, 3 inch euro bracing necessary all around and two 1 inch holes drilled in the bottom panel for extra closed loop circulation that my vortech pumps can't reach as well in the middle of the tank. The holes and plumbing of course will be hidden behind rock structures. I want a lot more open space, much like SonnyX's new tank has with small rock structures interspaced throughout the tank. I love my clams and want a lot more, so an open sand bed affords me the opportunity to showcase these beauties.

As for the cost, they were within a couple hundred dollars of each other, so I went with the local guys. I don't want the tank until the end of the summer/early fall so they said they would call me when they started and I could pop in and out for some build thread photos to see it being built which was pretty cool. I'm sure that if Miracles was closer and I didn't have to pay the delivery that it may have been cheaper, but in this case it made more sense to go with Coast to Coast. Now I have to plan the transition to go smoothly. I'll probably go to Tractor Supply and get some agricultural Rubbermaid containers...one to house the fish and another for the corals. I'm going to use a lot of the same liverock and some sand to seed the new tank so hopefully there's not much of a cycle. One thing I've learned is to wipe down all the silicone joints with white vinegar and water which helps lessen the diatom bloom by removing most of the particulates that bind with the salt water when the tank gets its' initial fill.

As the date approaches I'll start giving out a lot more info. I'm excited for this build. I just want to minimize/eliminate any losses as much as possible by planning everything ahead of time.

Wow, I'm excited for you! Talk about a dream system.

Let me know if I can give you a hand in any way with that monster!

 

[Alex T.]

Thanks for the offer. Being a contractor and having a few rental properties that I own and manage, my crew is a bunch of mongoloids. Six of my guys should be able to handle that tank no problem. Two are Samoan and as large as a small shed. We made a joke one time in a high rise that we were working in that by themselves they exceeded the weight limit in the elevator even though four normal people could fit easily. I'm not even planning on touching the tank when it's time to get it in the stand.

As for equipment, I may eventually get a couple more MP40's....I have 4 now in my 150. I think I'll stick with the SRO XP skimmers. I've had the SRO XP2000 on my current tank for about 4 months and I'm very impressed. I'll be selling this one off when the time comes. Also, with a tank this large, I think I'm going to stick with three 400 watt Radiums and VHO actinic. To cover the footprint with 2 60" power modules would actually run more electric and bulb replacement would be cost prohibitive.

I'll definitely have you down to see it when it's completed, or even as it's being set up if you want. I know it's not too hard to get people to come to the shore in the summer. I'm 10 minutes to the beach over the bridge to Ocean City.

 

[DeathWish302]

....When I upgrade to a larger tank I may just go with 3 halides and large Lumenarcs for more spread rather than the penetration that the Lumenmax Elite reflectors give.....

I would suggest against that many Lumenarcs on a tank smaller than 200gal.

Edit - Sorry, I didn't read far enough to see your going all out. Heat exchange shouldn't be a problem either with that size and photoperiod.

My 58 Oceanic (18"x36") had a hard time coping with one 250W with a Lumenarc 5" from the water surface. Now that I'm running the 400W in a LumenBright, I'm capable of lifting the halide 18" from the water surface. I almost doubled the lighting and have little temp increase from 7hrs of photoperiod.

JME
:bounce3:

 

[Alex T.]

Actually, I'd love to keep my Lumenmax Elites but I just don't see the 15 inch reflector being able to cover that much area. I'm able to keep the Elites 12 inches off the water and could still go higher with no problems. The issue with the Lumenmax Elites and Lumenbrights is that I love my VHO actinics and the reflector would need to be raised too high, which would cast a shadow in the tank if I mounted the Lumenbrights higher.

 

[Alex T.]

P.S. I don't want to derail the OP's thread either. As I get closer and start tearing walls apart and working out the details I'll create my own build thread.

Sorry JG1.

 

[JG1]

Two are Samoan and as large as a small shed.

LMAO...

As for equipment, I may eventually get a couple more MP40's....I have 4 now in my 150.

Have you considered the MP60's? Probably do a much better job in that large of a tank.

I'll definitely have you down to see it when it's completed, or even as it's being set up if you want. I know it's not too hard to get people to come to the shore in the summer. I'm 10 minutes to the beach over the bridge to Ocean City.

Definitely. I'll be dieing to see that thing!

 

[JG1]

P.S. I don't want to derail the OP's thread either. As I get closer and start tearing walls apart and working out the details I'll create my own build thread.

Sorry JG1.

Don't worry about that at all. Feel free to post. That goes for others that have questions about their systems as well.

 

[Alex T.]

I thought about the MP60's but the tank being 4 feet wide is too much for just one powerhead. Also, I don't want a heavy flow stream across one section of the tank. I found that even with my MP 40's the corals a foot away directly in front of them don't seem to do as well. If my tank was 8 feet long and 2 feet wide or even 30 inches I would probably make the jump. I like having more power heads to even the flow out a little bit. I've even been thinking about a set of strategically placed Tunzes on a wave simulation along with the Vortech pumps.

I'll probably change my mind at least 100 times until then and then something new will come out a week after I set up everything.

 

[Alex T.]

Well, just when I thought my dream tank was going to finally take shape...a fly in the ointment.:thumbdown

Last night I got antsy and removed some of the dry wall in the garage where the tank will be located. It's sort of hard to explain but off of my laundry/heating room there is a door that goes to the garage and a wall to the left of the door in the garage that faces my family room. This is the only location that affords me the opportunity to have the necessary fish room that I will be building around the tank to house the equipment, sump and tank that will be an in-wall display to the family room on the other side.

After removing some drywall I discovered that the main heating duct that feeds my second floor is right in the middle of the tank's location. Also, to the right of that is a sewage line from an upstairs bathroom, and where a bracing support would need to go to hold up the wall (it's weight baring) is an electrical chase that takes wires to God knows where. I'm going to have to call a heating and air company, my plumber and my electrician to figure out what I could do and if it's economically feasible. I know from experience that moving these types of things can cost big money. Most of the time they hide these things in weight baring walls knowing that most people won't be trying to rip them down.

If cost is prohibitive (i.e. more than the tank project) then I may have to build an all in one fish room in the same location and call it my "man cave" or figure out the largest size tank that I can put in my current tank's location.
Nothing wider than 24 inches could fit through the doorway to my office so I may have to remove the wall behind my current tank, support it temporarily, bring the tank in through the wall and then re-frame and sheetrock the mess. Being that my office is only 12 x 7, a 72 x 48 x 24 would look pretty ridiculous and make it impossible to work in the back portion of the tank.:headwalls:

This sucks!!! My wife says someone's trying to tell me something. I told her she was right....we need an addition. :lol:

 

[JG1]

Last night I got antsy and removed some of the dry wall in the garage where the tank will be located. It's sort of hard to explain but off of my laundry/heating room there is a door that goes to the garage and a wall to the left of the door in the garage that faces my family room. This is the only location that affords me the opportunity to have the necessary fish room that I will be building around the tank to house the equipment, sump and tank that will be an in-wall display to the family room on the other side.

After removing some drywall I discovered that the main heating duct that feeds my second floor is right in the middle of the tank's location. Also, to the right of that is a sewage line from an upstairs bathroom, and where a bracing support would need to go to hold up the wall (it's weight baring) is an electrical chase that takes wires to God knows where. I'm going to have to call a heating and air company, my plumber and my electrician to figure out what I could do and if it's economically feasible. I know from experience that moving these types of things can cost big money. Most of the time they hide these things in weight baring walls knowing that most people won't be trying to rip them down.

Ugghhh. Reminds me of the time when I remodeled my kitchen and had ordered 36" cabinets because I was planning to remove a soffit that ran the entire length of the kitchen. No big deal, an empty soffit right? Well, there was so much stuff packed into that soffit it should have been called a pinata instead......plumbing, electrical lines. What a PITA that was. You never know what's in those walls until you start looking lol.

If cost is prohibitive (i.e. more than the tank project) then I may have to build an all in one fish room in the same location and call it my "man cave" or figure out the largest size tank that I can put in my current tank's location.
Nothing wider than 24 inches could fit through the doorway to my office so I may have to remove the wall behind my current tank, support it temporarily, bring the tank in through the wall and then re-frame and sheetrock the mess. Being that my office is only 12 x 7, a 72 x 48 x 24 would look pretty ridiculous and make it impossible to work in the back portion of the tank.:headwalls:

This sucks!!! My wife says someone's trying to tell me something. I told her she was right....we need an addition. :lol:

I'm sure whatever you decide on it's gonna be spectacular when finished. Just a little bump in the road.

 

[Alex T.]

Unfortunately I remodeled my kitchen this past October and ran into the same issue with the soffit in the kitchen.

I should have known better than to open up another can of worms.

 

[JG1]

Well I just sold my PowerModule.

I will be ordering a DIMMABLE PowerModule instead.

Reason being....having a hell of a time keeping LPS happy (I like chalices).

Just debating whether to go with an 8 bulb unit again or a 6 bulb fixture.....kinda leaning towards the 6 just cause the 8 on my 48x24x20 is such overkill.