Marquiis's SPS Adventure

[Mwells]

Where to start... Well, my name is Marquiis, I have been in the hobby for a while now and after taking some time to enjoy my other hobbies I am back. I started with a 34 gallon Solona cube, and actually documented enough for an entire build thread, but I wasn't very pleased with the tank so for now those photos will stay with me.

I told myself that my next build would not be rushed or thrown together and it would have a build thread, so here I am. After using several different dosers, reactors, and a ton of additives I have decided to do a Zeovit tank.

This tank came to me along with over $4,000 dollars of equipment and supplies from a very generous reefer in north Phoenix who decided to leave the hobby. So a HUGE shout out goes to Troy for his generosity.

Okay, so here is everything after I unloaded it from the car.

Step one; cleaning. I started with a vinegar bath and scrubbing some coralline and gunk from tubing and equipment. Here is a pick of the first batch of things.

Crazy what some vinegar can do.

 

[Mwells]

Decisions, decisions.. I need to decide whether to use the trigger systems sump and use a internal pump, or use the ten gallon sump that's drilled for the external BlueLine Aqua pump.

I like the idea of running an external pump because for one; I already have a good one, two I want to keep heat down in the tank, Az is a very hot state, and three I can run all of my reactors off of this one pump and still have great turnover in the display because they handle head pressure better. The pump is rated at 1110 gallons per hour.

 

[champion6sigma]

Nice start!

 

[Acronic]

drill the trigger systems sump for the external pump!

 

[Tmeier]

Marquiis's SPS Adventure

Drilling trigger systems sump would be sweet if you have room!!

 

[reefmutt]

^
What they said!

Nice start.

 

[Mwells]

That's what I am thinking, but the inside of the stand is 34" and the sump takes up most of it. I also have a mag 7 and mag 12 but they put off a ton of heat. 12 more degrees when I tested them in a 5 gallon bucket. Any pump recommendations out there?

Quite and cool, looking for about 1000gph so I can plum everything to it

 

[champion6sigma]

Sicce is a Brand that's been recommended to me many times. I bought the new ecotech vectra. Can do 0 to 2000 gph. Quiet sleek programmable can be plumbed or use tubes. Can do close loop or regular. I love mine. Can follow schedule or feeding timers ramp up speed for power loss and various settings

 

[Mwells]

Yeah, I almost bought a vectra because there was one on the local for sale forum, but I couldn't justify it because the only time I would really use any of the features is when I turn it off for water changes.

Just out of curiosity have you seen it raise the temp in your tank? When fully ramped up does it vibrate viciously? I have never seen any actual tests performed with this pump against its competitors.

 

[Mwells]

Well in the works on plumbing the tank, stay tuned. Pics are on the way.

For now, however, what is your guys opinion on lighting. Should I run two Radions or the retrofit t5's. There really isn't room for both.

Or get a 6 bulb t5.

I love t5's because there is no shadowing and they are plug and play, but they do get very expensive when compared to LEDs.

 

[champion6sigma]

Yeah, I almost bought a vectra because there was one on the local for sale forum, but I couldn't justify it because the only time I would really use any of the features is when I turn it off for water changes.

Just out of curiosity have you seen it raise the temp in your tank? When fully ramped up does it vibrate viciously? I have never seen any actual tests performed with this pump against its competitors.

The thing is one of most solid built devices I've seen its heavy and doesn't vibrate whatsoever. The feet or base included is amazing. There is no noise from pump. I have two mp40's and the xr30 w so it was a no brainer for me , but the build was better than expected. Ecotech sells some plumbing for British to American conversion on brs. The only thing that makes noise in my tank is the skimmer. All of the ecotech products are silent .

 

[champion6sigma]

Yeah, I almost bought a vectra because there was one on the local for sale forum, but I couldn't justify it because the only time I would really use any of the features is when I turn it off for water changes.

Just out of curiosity have you seen it raise the temp in your tank? When fully ramped up does it vibrate viciously? I have never seen any actual tests performed with this pump against its competitors.

Sorry forgot other questions. No heat. I just touched it now. It's cold. My heater has to turn on all the time . From what I can tell my vectra doesn't give off heat affecting tank. Please keep in mind I do no run at 2000 gph. I range from 500 to 700 probably. It's hard to tell after calibration and headless exact flow. The calibration process allows for set mjn and max based on your tank capabilities . A lot of people may not ever get what they need or want cause of headless or other. Nice to be able to fine tune with product . Or lower during feeding , or night time. Or for water changes turn off like u say.

 

[Usernam Invalid]

Well in the works on plumbing the tank, stay tuned. Pics are on the way.

For now, however, what is your guys opinion on lighting. Should I run two Radions or the retrofit t5's. There really isn't room for both.

Or get a 6 bulb t5.

I love t5's because there is no shadowing and they are plug and play, but they do get very expensive when compared to LEDs.

I would sell the two radions and get nice ATI sunpower and have money left for a good DC return pump (ecotech waveline Jebao)

 

[champion6sigma]

I love my radions . ATI sunpower was also heavily recommended to me. A good choice. (I might have a problem listening to advice lol) if u get radions u can have fun like I do changing hues and intensity every week . I didn't like power supply size of the radions. I have a whole board of ecotech power supplies controllers wires. I have the reef link and the apex ecotech module. I like using ecotech live. Some weeks I like the deeper blues sometimes I'll go with a different preset. During acclimation it's ez to do. Or if I'm cleaning and need some serious light I can ramp up. I do also like the hybrid lights .....t5 and led. I think the radions are winners if you have two . . . I would use them if I were you.

 

[Mwells]

Yeah I have one on my bedroom tank, love how it is performing. Although I don't know if anything would necessarily be better with t5's.

I have seen beautiful tanks with both set ups. I mean if you don't follow the Tammy tank then you are missing out. If I owned ati I would have her tank on the cover haha.

 

[Mwells]

Some goodies

I have decided to use the external pump and a glass ten gallon sump. It will free up room for a ATO tank, and calcium reactor.

Also might put some pond liner and a 2x4 in the bottom of the stand to water proof it. Just as a precaution.

 

[Tmeier]

Good decision on glass ten gallon you will need all the room you can get!

 

[Mwells]

Well, sorry for the delays. Finally got all the plumbing parts I needed. Stay tuned for the finished project.

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