My 195 Build Thread...

[Alex T.]

Well, the time has come for me to step it up a notch. I will be retiring my 150 SPS/Clam system (72x18x27) for something a little more practical in keeping a reef. The width was difficult to work in and the height made it even more difficult to create good flow in such a narrow footprint.

On to the new!!!

I want to start this the right way and will be painstakingly planning every phase of the build. I'm a contractor so I'll be building the stand (which will be more than just a stand) and light hood myself.


The tank is a Coast to Coast Custom Aquariums 72 x 26 x 24 (195) Eurobraced, Starphire front, black on sides and back panel with one internal corner overflow in right corner with one 2 inch drain. All edges will be machine polished. I chickened out on a rimless tank because I wanted a 24 inch height, but fell in love with this size. Not too big, not too small. The tank will be located in my home office on a 7 foot wide wall. Obviously space is at a premium so I had to opt for an internal overflow rather than choose a smaller tank and go external. The sump will be neatly plumbed into an insulated box/equipment unit in the garage on the other side of the wall.

Since I have 6 - 8 weeks to wait for the tank, I was wondering what the SPS gurus thought in terms of the right skimmer for this tank, as well as a well designed sump. I will not be running a refugium. I may go modified Berlin or choose a carbon dosed system like MB7/Vodka. I already have 4 Vortech MP40's that will be used on this tank. The return pump will be an Iwaki 30 RLXT with approximately 1,100 GPH. The lighting will be three 400 watt radiums on Galaxy ballasts with Lumenmax Elite Reflectors. I love this combo as it allows the reflectors to be raised 14 - 16 inches above the water with excellent penetration much like the Lumenbright reflectors. I haven't needed a chiller on my 150 and don't want to change something that works so well. The Radiums will be supplemented with VHO Super Actinics. I've always loved this combo and want it on my new glass box. The aquascaping will be a minimalist approach, (probably no more than 120 pounds of rock interspersed into shallow reef islands that SPS can really grow out of. I want a lot of open sand space with a few choice Maxima clams here and there. Maybe even some acans and colorful zooanthids.

My fish stocking list will be on the low to moderate side. The only fish I plan on stocking are...

Yellow Tang (with me for three years)
Achilles or Powder Blue Tang (need a good one!)
7 ir 8 Resplendent or Bartlett's Anthias
Sixline Wrasse (with me for 5 years)

This really is all I wish to stock. I'm looking for opinions on choosing between the Powder Blue or Achilles. I'm currently running a Super Reef Octopus SRO XP 2000 internal but feel that the jump to 195 gallons may be pushing this skimmer's capacity. I also think I won't have the bioload to jump up to the SRO XP 3000 due to the size of its' skimmer neck. I'm sort of in the middle, so need some advice as to what you guys believe could work.

I appreciate anybody reading through, and would love to hear your feedback, concerns, opinions and recommendations as to what type of sump and skimmer I should be looking at as well as my stocking list. There's really no sense in posting pictures without anything to look at yet...but I foresee a lot of visuals as the weeks get closer...

 

[lotusstar]

Sounds like this will be a good build and great upgrade. Have any pics of the old system? Your stock list sounds awesome. I had a powder blue and it was a great fish. But think Achilles are my favorite fish, just don't have a tank big enough to accommodate one. Maybe one day. I think color contrast between different types of fish makes the tank more stunning but either tang you go with I think would contrast your other fish choices well. Anyway. Best of luck with the build.

 

[Alex T.]

Well...Coast to Coast Aquariums called me this week to let me know that I will have some progress pictures of the build to post up by the end of next week. I'm building my stand today out of 2 x 8 dimensional lumber (nailed, glued and tattooed). The inside will be 1/2 inch plywood skinned in melamine for easy cleanup and ease of viewing the cleanliness of the sump. I've decided to put the sump under the tank instead of in the garage on the other side of the wall.

The stand will be 40" tall so I can fit almost any skimmer I choose. Right now the skimmer is my toughest decision. I've narrowed it down to 3 models:

-Vertex Alpha 250 Cone
-Bubble King Supermarin 200
-Reef Dynamics INS350e

I'm really leaning toward the ReefDynamics skimmer right now. It's right in line with regard to price as the others, as well as pulling more air than the Vertex or Bubble King. Most importantly, I loved that when I had a question Jeff Macare (owner of ReefDynamics and former CEO of Euro Reef) picked up the phone and answered all my questions. It's nice to be able to talk to the person that owns the company and understands his product inside and out. Quality and American Made also is a huge plus in my book in these tough economic times.

So, as far as equipment the list appears to look like this right now:

-Tank (72 x 26 x 24) Coast to Coast Custom Aquariums perimeter
Eurobracing with one 1 1/2" drain on back right wall with 1" return (Black
on back and 2 sides)
- Sump (TBD) Most likely Coast to Coast will build it...simple Berlin Sump
- Protein Skimmer (most likely ReefDynamics INS350e)
- Circulation (4 Vortech MP 40's) (Iwaki 30 RLXT return)
- Lighting (3 400 Watt Radium Bulbs in Lumenmax Elite Pendants driven on
Galaxy 400 Watt Ballasts with two 60" Super Actinic VHO)

I'm trying to decide whether to continue with Vodka/MB7 or give the Zeovit system a try. If any of you have tried both I'd like to hear your thoughts/opinions on which worked better for you and why.

I know I need pics. Hopefully by next week I'll have something to show.

 

[Alex T.]

OK, I need help like a 2 year old. How do I post pictures from my album?

 

[ccradr]

I haven't used the reef dynamics skimmer but I have a similar tank. I have a 265 reef and I use the Bubble King SM250. I have had it for three years now, and couldn't be more helpful. It's reliable, silent, easy to maintain and pulls consistent nastiness out of my tank. My .02. Good luck!!!

 

[Alex T.]

OK...hopefully this works.

Hopefully what you see is a picture of the progress thus far with the build of my 195 starphire tank. The back and sides have yet to be coated black and Coast to Coast is waiting for silicone to set up before they install the overflow box...

 

[vangoghfish]

Yes Alex it works(the photo upload that is), hey you stepped it up to two tangs, thought the powder blue was the magic tang for this tank. Barletts are much hardier than the Resplendents from what I hear, you can do a mix, as long as there is only one total anthias male in the tank.

 

[Alex T.]

The stocklist you're seeing is from original post. Not going to be adding the Yellow Tang. Was thinking more along the lines of a small Tomini....like this little fella here:

http://www.liveaquaria.com/product/prod_display.cfm?c=15+43+334&pcatid=334

They always peeked my interest. Still debating about whether to go for the Achilles or stick with the Powder Blue. The Powder Blue may have more "pop" against the black background than an all black Achilles. If I went with Achilles I may only see the orange dot floating around the tank :lmao:.

 

[Matthew91]

I would consider a Kole tang. Beautiful fish

 

[Alex T.]

I had a Kole Tang before. It was definitely cool, but wound up jumping out of the tank and wound up between the back of the stand and the wall. Something keeps me from trying fish again that I've lost. Sentimental I guess.

Although I'm still wrestling with the decision to have an Achilles rule my tank once again!

 

[vangoghfish]

The powder blue would amazingly pop against the black background, that combo of baby blue and yellow is a killer for a fish. Although you know I am partial to achilles, you are probably right, I don't think the tomini will do it for you, could simply be a 2nd tang for you, they stay small, the smallest tang out there I believe.

 

[Alex T.]

Just to move this right along....

I started pulling rock out of my 150 and doing a 1/10 part bleach to water solution of my rock in RODI water for 24 hours. After that I let it dry and put it in a muriatic acid bath to remove any bound up phosphate on the surface. This is what came off the rock after the acid bath...



Nasty and foul.

 

[SPotter]

tagging along to follow a local big tank build.

 

[Alex T.]

tagging along to follow a local big tank build.

Didn't realize I was in the big tank realm.

Got the word that the tank will be ready for pickup on 2/7. Went up on Friday to go over some specs for the sump that they're building for me as well. I didn't realize how much sump space was necessary to get my BK Supermarin 200 in there!!!

Tank is all but done except for the back and side panels being painted black and some detailed silicone scraping. They're MO is to allow 3 weeks of silicone dry time before they allow a tank to leave their facility. I realize these guys are expensive but I love the quality and attention to detail that Chris and Pat put into their tanks. It's nice having them in New Jersey where you can see their work and speak with them directly.

I'm really excited but want to take it slow with this build because I want no regrets in components and ease of maintenance once I decide to turn the return pump on and begin this crazy journey.

 

[Alex T.]

Here's a picture of the skimmer in its' ceremonial white vinegar and RO rinse before it gets dried out and awaits its' new /Users/alextjoumakaris/Desktop/IMG_0232.JPG

 

[Alex T.]

Sorry. Still getting the hang of trying to incorporate pictures.

 

[SPotter]

I've been cooking some of pukani since before xmas and I used phosfree to strip the phosphates. The odor that came off of those rocks was unbelievable!!!!!

What did you decide on as far as lighting?

 

[Alex T.]

I've been cooking some of pukani since before xmas and I used phosfree to strip the phosphates. The odor that came off of those rocks was unbelievable!!!!!

What did you decide on as far as lighting?

I'm really torn on the lighting. I know that I'm not going to LED just yet. There's just too many unknowns right now, and nobody has an established tank to show off that was started with LED's.

I have three 400 watt Galaxy ballasts that I've been running Radiums on up until now with VHO actinic supplementation. I know this is MORE than enough light for my footprint. I'm not in love with the heat and electric generated by running this setup so I've been looking at possibly going to the dark side and getting an 8 bulb ATI Powermodule. The problem is losing the shimmer, and all too often I hear the stories about broken cooling fans, burnt out ballasts, yada yada yada. I've never had one glitch running my Galaxy ballasts. They're pretty much plug and play. The bulb replacement cost would actually be cheaper if I went to T5, since radiums are $85 a piece and I need three. Add that to the fact that the bulbs are being overdriven to 458 watts on a Galaxy ballast. That means they need to be replaced as often as 7 months.

I don't know. This is actually the reason I started the thread. I wanted people's opinions on this stuff....especially the lighting.

 

[lotusstar]

Sounds great. Going to follow along. 1 question though what is melamine? You mention skinning the stand in it. Looking forward to seeing pics of the stand build. Good luck!

 

[Alex T.]

Melamine is a sheet good sold in 4'x8' dimensions (usually white and 1/16 thick) that is used as a laminate on cheaper cabinetry, shelving and storage bins that you might find at Home Depot.

It's usually seen glued on particle board to give it the affect of painted cabinetry. I will be using just the laminated sheeting and hot-gluing/vacuum compressing it to 3/4" sanded plywood inside the stand where the sump will be located. It will make for a smoother, more durable surface than painted wood, and can be cleaned very easily since it's a plastic product.