Joemelo's 320 gallon system.... another Canadian

[joemelo]

After being in the hobby for almost 8 years I am finally upgrading to a huge tank like I've always hoped for. Look mom, I'm joining the big boys club on RC aha.


Currently I have a 140 gallon (72x18x24) with a 70gallon sump that is LPS dominated with a few zoas and softies (no intention of SPS... ever).

I have many inspirations to a few on here but thanks to all the Canadian big reef keepers on here (i2as kass, nineball, cougarman) for showing that even though we don't get good American prices we still keep kickin' along.

Pictures to follow. This skimmer is arriving today, stand was just built last night, and tank comes tomorrow. It's getting exciting now!

I will be upgrading to this (most equipment is being transferred over):

Display Tank
250 gallon (60x36x27tall)

Sump with refugium
70 gallon(42x20x19)
60lbs sand with rock rubble

D.I.Y. Stand

Lighting
Sunlight Supply Tekk Fixture- 8x54 watts
5 ATI blue+
2 ATI aqua blue special
1 ATI purple+

Return Pump
Lifeguard Aquatics Quiet One 4000

Flow
Various pumps for now including :
2-Hydor Korallia K4
1-Vortech MP-10
1- Tunze 6060


Reactors
Phosban 550 with maxi jet 1200 for use with BRS carbon ROX.8
Phosban 550 with maxi jet 1200 for use with BRS N/P Biopellets

Skimmer
Skimz E-series SM201 with ES5000 needlewheel pump

Heaters
2-400w Hydor Theo Heaters

Current Fish List:
1 Sailfin Tang
1 Fiji Bicolour Foxface
1 Mystery Wrasse
2 Blue Bar Gobies
2 Golden Sleeper Head Gobies
6 Chromis


Adding:
1 Leopard Wrasse
5 Chromis
3 Dispar Anthias

Possible Additions:
3 Jeweled Lyretail Anthias
1 Flame Hawkfish
1 Mimic Eibli Tang

 

[Allmost]

Nice Joe ! looking forward

dont forget pictures though

 

[joemelo]

Hey allmost,
Another Canadian!

My wife was generous enough to give me the unfinished basement that is to small to do anything else down there really except for this.... She did get an office and a whole spare bedroom for clothes and to get ready.


Just a few snaps of the current tank

this is where the magic happens, barrels full of ro/di

stand I built with another local member of my reef club

new skimz skimmer! right out of the box

all assembled

i love the construction, and the thought they put into this build
the bubble plate fastens right to the top of the pump

the collection cup actually sits and twists on the neck

Tank comes tomorrow! Good thing i'm only moving the tank a foot over haha

 

[Curtis72]

That skimmer is sexy!

 

[joemelo]

curtis, that skimmer is awesome for sure. the acrylic is thick all the parts have attention to detail. it's rated for 500 gallons light load. I got it online from a city 2 hours away, the price was one of the best on the market... and that's a canadian price

 

[joemelo]

My buddy came by about a month ago. He is a professional photographer. I don't know much about photography but I remember he had a Nikon D-300 with a 60mm and 30mm macro lens, and a reflector for the flash.

He got some great shots in my opinion...

 

[david00061]

cool another tank i can watch go up...
looking good

 

[joemelo]

My friend just corrected me, it's actually a 60mm macro and a 35mm

cool another tank i can watch go up...
looking good

thanks david, you sound like you have an awesome setup too PM me a build thread if you have one.

 

[david00061]

I am putting in coral as we type. My tank just cycled.
Here is my build
http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?t=2062544

 

[david00061]

Maybe I can learn how to take pics too.
Your pics look real nice. Do you use auto white balance?

 

[joemelo]

I remember that build david. the stand looks awesome! thankfully that guy didn't fall in the tank while he was sliding the canopy on ahah

the colours in those pictures are very true in my opinion

direct quote from Lubos (the photographer), regarding white balance:

"without flash, i pretty much pushed it over to the warm side as far as i could. with flash i kept it cool because it was so much warmer than the tank lights... i think eventually i gave up on flash because the colour temps varied too much.
and either way i pretty much fixed everything in Lightroom... i would say if your camera can shoot RAW files, just shoot on auto white balance and fix it on your computer. it's too much to worry about when there's so much else going on while you shoot."

 

[joemelo]

Okay so,.... I'm up
After a super tight squeeze the tank was finally in place at about 11 last night. got it from the fish store at 8:30. I tried to record video, and after going back and watching it I realized the language is NOT appropriate for this forum. Sorry folks ahaha. When you're trying to move a heavy tank like this, you say stuff you don't even notice until you go back and watch it

Thank you SO much to my friends/reef club members that are huge and helped me with this. We were never at first until my buddy said the famous saying, "You never know unless you try."
It was too late for pizza and some cold ones because every one had to work. But, believe me they're going to put a hurting on that liquor cabinet of mine ahah

 

[david00061]

wont be long now

 

[joemelo]

Well it's been a long weekend but every thing is done... almost every thing. It was kind of cloudy so I had to just put the rocks steady and call it a night.

Every thing has been running since last night with no problems. Just have to adjust a few valves, I'm getting the tiniest bit of water surging.

Leak testing

finished plumbing

I will get some better pictures of every thing with better white balance. these are just sent from my phone...



plumbing setup. had some leaks but I was able to fix them without tearing it apart. the glue on the outside worked

this is after it cleared.... filmy glass though. I couldn't see completely through to aquascape so I just tossed the rocks and corals in. I actually like the aquascape. Just have to adjust coral placement.

 

[joemelo]

What's going on guys! It's been a while. Just poppin in with an update. Had to sell the lavender tang, wasn't getting along with the chocolate. Got rid of the chocolate tang aswell. My mystery wrasse decided to jump too! that was about a month ago.

I got a few more chromis, and a tail spot blenny.

I had an issue with diatoms. Bertoni mentioned maybe the biopellets were causing it. I took out half my GAC and half my biopellets. Within a week diatoms were gone. Thanks Bertoni.

Here are some updated pics.
Just some quick ones the wife snapped while I'm at work. Sorry about the glass, it's been almost a week since I cleaned it...

I also like the idea of being able to view all 4 sides, every one I know says I should close the back in so you don't see all the stuff behind. I'm starting to agree....