RickMartin
New member
Thought I might share my next build with everyone. I doubt it will be as extravagant or as complex as a lot of the large builds, but I have a pretty good idea what works for me. I like a clean look with min rock-scaping. I am pretty much old school so thats how it will go. I know everyone likes pictures so I will try to accommodate
First I guess an introduction. I have been here a long time, but mostly just lurking. I really quit posting back before ReefCentral was even in existence. I used to be quite active when everyone one was on the newsgroups and Fishnet. I just got tired of arguing over stupid points with the "experts" who have read all the material and know it all, but can't keep a tank without crashing it. Anyway 20+ years reefkeeping, was president of the local club when we hosted the Western Marine Conference in 97. Had a retail and maintenance business specializing in reefs back in the 90s. Even had the first online mag for reef aquariums called Aquarium Net. Anyway a couple years ago I moved, tore down my tanks, gave away most of my stuff, dropped off a 240 LeeMar at salvation army. And of course about a year ago after I settled in, I decided to set up a new tank. I had an 80 I put together and started collecting frags for the build I am doing now
I ordered a 96" x 48" x 24" tank from ATM about 3 weeks ago. I should be getting it before too long. I debated with myself between glass and acrylic. I prefer glass, but a glass tank would way about 1000 pounds and I just didn't want to deal with moving that kind of weight. I have known the guys at ATM for years and they do quality work, so I know I will be getting a tank that will not fall apart at the seams. Wayde at ATM promised me some build pics so when I get them I will share. Oh have you heard they are going to be doing a TV series on custom tanks, I saw a piece of it and it looked very cool. They have done some very cool tanks over the years
The tank will be set up as a peninsula style. I will have a coast to coast overflow on a 4 ft side, slightly modified. The overflow will be shaped like a T (sort of). In the areas removed I will be able to put the power heads and hide them behind a piece of acrylic. If that makes sense to you. I really hate the way a recirculating system looks so I will not be going that route.
The stand will be 36" tall built in 2 8 foot sections to get through my doors. Built from 2" steel and powder coated. I will have to skin it later and am thinking of some type of magnetic panels for easy access. Everything will fit under the tank.
Lighting will be 3 x 400w MH running 20k radiums supplemented with 6 ft VHO. I have coralvue ballasts with lumenarc ( I think ) reflectors. I have 2 Ice cap 660s to run the VHOs. I will also have some room at the end to play with DIY LEDs and see how I like them. Here is the light frame being made.
For circulation I have 4 Tunze 6100 2 6105 and 2 6201s. I have a Tunze controller but will be getting an APEX.
Filtration. Real simple, killer skimmer, ozone, carbon, gfo. As you can see I have the ATB 1050 skimmer ready to rock n roll. I have a GEO reactor that I will make into an ozone chamber with the output going into carbon and then into gfo in separate NextReef MR1 reactors.
I have LeeMar building me a 100g sump 5' x 19" x22 or whatever the measurement is. I have 19 1/2 " between the steel frame so a 100g works perfectly, so perfect that I have another 100g glass tank I will use as a top off reservoir.
I am having a custom ca reactor put together, as I love my ca reactors. Lee our local DIY king is making the chamber for me.
An APEX will be used to control the ph in the reactor, the ORP in the tank, tunzes, lighting etc.
I guess that about sums it up. Oh no sandbed or refugium. I have 150 lbs of dry rock and about that much in live.
First I guess an introduction. I have been here a long time, but mostly just lurking. I really quit posting back before ReefCentral was even in existence. I used to be quite active when everyone one was on the newsgroups and Fishnet. I just got tired of arguing over stupid points with the "experts" who have read all the material and know it all, but can't keep a tank without crashing it. Anyway 20+ years reefkeeping, was president of the local club when we hosted the Western Marine Conference in 97. Had a retail and maintenance business specializing in reefs back in the 90s. Even had the first online mag for reef aquariums called Aquarium Net. Anyway a couple years ago I moved, tore down my tanks, gave away most of my stuff, dropped off a 240 LeeMar at salvation army. And of course about a year ago after I settled in, I decided to set up a new tank. I had an 80 I put together and started collecting frags for the build I am doing now
I ordered a 96" x 48" x 24" tank from ATM about 3 weeks ago. I should be getting it before too long. I debated with myself between glass and acrylic. I prefer glass, but a glass tank would way about 1000 pounds and I just didn't want to deal with moving that kind of weight. I have known the guys at ATM for years and they do quality work, so I know I will be getting a tank that will not fall apart at the seams. Wayde at ATM promised me some build pics so when I get them I will share. Oh have you heard they are going to be doing a TV series on custom tanks, I saw a piece of it and it looked very cool. They have done some very cool tanks over the years
The tank will be set up as a peninsula style. I will have a coast to coast overflow on a 4 ft side, slightly modified. The overflow will be shaped like a T (sort of). In the areas removed I will be able to put the power heads and hide them behind a piece of acrylic. If that makes sense to you. I really hate the way a recirculating system looks so I will not be going that route.
The stand will be 36" tall built in 2 8 foot sections to get through my doors. Built from 2" steel and powder coated. I will have to skin it later and am thinking of some type of magnetic panels for easy access. Everything will fit under the tank.
Lighting will be 3 x 400w MH running 20k radiums supplemented with 6 ft VHO. I have coralvue ballasts with lumenarc ( I think ) reflectors. I have 2 Ice cap 660s to run the VHOs. I will also have some room at the end to play with DIY LEDs and see how I like them. Here is the light frame being made.
For circulation I have 4 Tunze 6100 2 6105 and 2 6201s. I have a Tunze controller but will be getting an APEX.
Filtration. Real simple, killer skimmer, ozone, carbon, gfo. As you can see I have the ATB 1050 skimmer ready to rock n roll. I have a GEO reactor that I will make into an ozone chamber with the output going into carbon and then into gfo in separate NextReef MR1 reactors.
I have LeeMar building me a 100g sump 5' x 19" x22 or whatever the measurement is. I have 19 1/2 " between the steel frame so a 100g works perfectly, so perfect that I have another 100g glass tank I will use as a top off reservoir.
I am having a custom ca reactor put together, as I love my ca reactors. Lee our local DIY king is making the chamber for me.
An APEX will be used to control the ph in the reactor, the ORP in the tank, tunzes, lighting etc.
I guess that about sums it up. Oh no sandbed or refugium. I have 150 lbs of dry rock and about that much in live.
