My SPS dominate 120
Hi my name is Carlos and I'm addicted to SPS. In my 3 short years of reefing I've transitioned from a 12gal nano, 36 gal bow, 37 gal SPS/LPS dominate reef. My current system(s) consist of a SPS dominate illuminata and a 60 frag/quarantine tank.
Links to my older tanks
37gal
http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?t=1647370
Rimless
http://www.reefcentral.net/forums/showthread.php?t=1805284
In my new build I will try and keep my equipment list minimal. The heart of my filtration will be a large skimmer (obviously ). I decided on a gen III vertex IN 180. The reason I purchased this skimmer is because I feel that it is great value, has superior build quality, and from my previous experience Vertex is a solid performer. I currently use the gen II IN 100 on my system and from what I read the gen III is a great buy. For those who are interested in its performance I will post updates. Another method of filtration will be a refugium. I know people have mixed opinions on how effective they can be, but I still want to incorporate one in my system. Regardless of having or not having a fuge, I will have a reverse light cycle for my sump; with that considered I might as well use that light to grow algae and help reduce nutrients. Along with algae, I will fill the fuge chamber with excess LR, feather dusters, and a remote DSB. After reading Leonardo's threads, and having a chance to speak with him about it, I decided to attempt a remote DSB for myself. Chemical/ mechanical filtration will be handled by media reactors filled with carbon & gfo. In the event that my proposed filtration lacks, I may look into bacteria dosing. I will use MB7 to start but only to assist me with cycling.
Flow on this tank will come from a mag 9, MP 40, and Tunze 6100. With this combo my turnover will be around 57x per hour. I may change out the tunze and replace it with smaller powerheads to help with achieve a random flow.
As far as lighting I decided to go with a 6x39 watt Tek Elite fixture. Choosing a light for this tank has been a headache. I knew I wanted T5's and active cooling was a must. I originally decided on a 8x39 watt fixture, but buying the ATI PM was not practical; and at almost a grand I decided to keep researching. It was then I discovered that both LET lighting and the ATI SP would soon be releasing 8x39 watt fixtures. From what I was told, the LET fixture had proven to be a great competitor, showing like ATI PM PAR. I know ATI SP is a solid fixture, but I getting a date of release soon became an issue. With all things considered, I decided to try the Tek elite. I chose this light because of its great price and dimensions. It has over 2" on the ATI SP, and that was appealing because I wasn't completely sold on a 13" fixture lighting a 24" tank. Being wider, and costing almost $200.00 less than the SP, and almost $300.00 less than the PM, the choice was easy. The Tek appeared to be a good value all things considered. I hope I don't eat my words lol! I'm not completely sure on the bulb combo I will use but I'm sure I will use at least 3 Blue +. I recently decided to try the KZ new gen bulb which I really like. I will use them in place of any aqua blue specials I plan on using.
To keep my CA & DKH in line I plan on using kalk. It will be dispensed through a aqua-lifter hooked up to my ATO. I'm not sure on what your feelings are on kalk, but from using it in the past I find it a reliable and cost effective way to maintain levels. I have a feeling I still may have to dose calcium in which case I have purchased 3 BRS dosers to handle any additional dosing.
So far my equipment list is:
RR All glass 120 gal (48" x 24" x 24")
40 gal sump/fuge
Vertex IN 180
TLF 150 reactors x 2
6x39 watt Tek Elite
Mag 9
MP40
Tunze 6100 on a 7091 controller
BRS Drew dosers x3
RKL
The SPS in my tank will either be grown out colonies from my existing setup or maricultured pieces. I would like to only have a few number of fgras in my tank but I can't promise you anything
. I have been collecting several divers den SPS as well as hitting up my LFS for any eye catching gems.
Here is what I have so far
Acro's
Millepora (Pink w/ blue polyps)
Millepora (Red)
Millepora (Green)
Rosaria (Green w/ purple corallites)
Suharsonoi (Yellow)
Tenuis (Blue)
Tenuis (Bright green/yellow)
Tenuis (Beige w/ blue tips)
Humilis (Green)
Formosa (Blue Tips)
Solitaryensis (Green)
Tortuosa (ORA tort pre hurricane blue)
Oregon Tort
Cali Tort
Acropora sp. (Purple tips, green corallites)
Tri Color
And a few others
Montipora
Digitata (Purple w/ silver polyps)
Digitata (Fire-n-ice white base red polyps)
Undata
Cap (Green w/ purple rim)
Stylophora
Pink
FHI Sour apple
FHI Neon Green
Seriatopora
ORA BOP
Neon Green
A few zoa's will be scattered about the base of some rocks, along with a few LPS. I plan to add some suncorals in shaded areas to give the tank some what of a mixed look; but over all it will be a pronounced SPS tank. In addition I want to add a enchinata, some bottle brush and tabling across to my coral list. My rock scape will be clean, minimal, and open. I had planned and sketched a two island layout but now I'm leaning more towards 3. I plan to scape my tank where no rock is higher that 2/3rds of the tanks height.
My fish stocking is up in the air but I really want to have a VERY large number of schooling fish. I will most likely have at least 25-40 red firefish! I know it may sound weird but I have had them in smaller numbers (5-7) and I really enjoy the schooling effect they bring to the tank. If I decide to go with less firefish I may try some of the odd ball jawfish in small groups along with anthias. But who knows. Well that's it for now. I have mid-terms and work going on this week but I hope to finish the stand by the weekend and get some pictures up. If any of you have suggestions please feel free to post them. Happy reefing!
-Carlos
Hi my name is Carlos and I'm addicted to SPS. In my 3 short years of reefing I've transitioned from a 12gal nano, 36 gal bow, 37 gal SPS/LPS dominate reef. My current system(s) consist of a SPS dominate illuminata and a 60 frag/quarantine tank.
Links to my older tanks
37gal
http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?t=1647370
Rimless
http://www.reefcentral.net/forums/showthread.php?t=1805284
In my new build I will try and keep my equipment list minimal. The heart of my filtration will be a large skimmer (obviously ). I decided on a gen III vertex IN 180. The reason I purchased this skimmer is because I feel that it is great value, has superior build quality, and from my previous experience Vertex is a solid performer. I currently use the gen II IN 100 on my system and from what I read the gen III is a great buy. For those who are interested in its performance I will post updates. Another method of filtration will be a refugium. I know people have mixed opinions on how effective they can be, but I still want to incorporate one in my system. Regardless of having or not having a fuge, I will have a reverse light cycle for my sump; with that considered I might as well use that light to grow algae and help reduce nutrients. Along with algae, I will fill the fuge chamber with excess LR, feather dusters, and a remote DSB. After reading Leonardo's threads, and having a chance to speak with him about it, I decided to attempt a remote DSB for myself. Chemical/ mechanical filtration will be handled by media reactors filled with carbon & gfo. In the event that my proposed filtration lacks, I may look into bacteria dosing. I will use MB7 to start but only to assist me with cycling.
Flow on this tank will come from a mag 9, MP 40, and Tunze 6100. With this combo my turnover will be around 57x per hour. I may change out the tunze and replace it with smaller powerheads to help with achieve a random flow.
As far as lighting I decided to go with a 6x39 watt Tek Elite fixture. Choosing a light for this tank has been a headache. I knew I wanted T5's and active cooling was a must. I originally decided on a 8x39 watt fixture, but buying the ATI PM was not practical; and at almost a grand I decided to keep researching. It was then I discovered that both LET lighting and the ATI SP would soon be releasing 8x39 watt fixtures. From what I was told, the LET fixture had proven to be a great competitor, showing like ATI PM PAR. I know ATI SP is a solid fixture, but I getting a date of release soon became an issue. With all things considered, I decided to try the Tek elite. I chose this light because of its great price and dimensions. It has over 2" on the ATI SP, and that was appealing because I wasn't completely sold on a 13" fixture lighting a 24" tank. Being wider, and costing almost $200.00 less than the SP, and almost $300.00 less than the PM, the choice was easy. The Tek appeared to be a good value all things considered. I hope I don't eat my words lol! I'm not completely sure on the bulb combo I will use but I'm sure I will use at least 3 Blue +. I recently decided to try the KZ new gen bulb which I really like. I will use them in place of any aqua blue specials I plan on using.
To keep my CA & DKH in line I plan on using kalk. It will be dispensed through a aqua-lifter hooked up to my ATO. I'm not sure on what your feelings are on kalk, but from using it in the past I find it a reliable and cost effective way to maintain levels. I have a feeling I still may have to dose calcium in which case I have purchased 3 BRS dosers to handle any additional dosing.
So far my equipment list is:
RR All glass 120 gal (48" x 24" x 24")
40 gal sump/fuge
Vertex IN 180
TLF 150 reactors x 2
6x39 watt Tek Elite
Mag 9
MP40
Tunze 6100 on a 7091 controller
BRS Drew dosers x3
RKL
The SPS in my tank will either be grown out colonies from my existing setup or maricultured pieces. I would like to only have a few number of fgras in my tank but I can't promise you anything
. I have been collecting several divers den SPS as well as hitting up my LFS for any eye catching gems. Here is what I have so far
Acro's
Millepora (Pink w/ blue polyps)
Millepora (Red)
Millepora (Green)
Rosaria (Green w/ purple corallites)
Suharsonoi (Yellow)
Tenuis (Blue)
Tenuis (Bright green/yellow)
Tenuis (Beige w/ blue tips)
Humilis (Green)
Formosa (Blue Tips)
Solitaryensis (Green)
Tortuosa (ORA tort pre hurricane blue)
Oregon Tort
Cali Tort
Acropora sp. (Purple tips, green corallites)
Tri Color
And a few others
Montipora
Digitata (Purple w/ silver polyps)
Digitata (Fire-n-ice white base red polyps)
Undata
Cap (Green w/ purple rim)
Stylophora
Pink
FHI Sour apple
FHI Neon Green
Seriatopora
ORA BOP
Neon Green
A few zoa's will be scattered about the base of some rocks, along with a few LPS. I plan to add some suncorals in shaded areas to give the tank some what of a mixed look; but over all it will be a pronounced SPS tank. In addition I want to add a enchinata, some bottle brush and tabling across to my coral list. My rock scape will be clean, minimal, and open. I had planned and sketched a two island layout but now I'm leaning more towards 3. I plan to scape my tank where no rock is higher that 2/3rds of the tanks height.
My fish stocking is up in the air but I really want to have a VERY large number of schooling fish. I will most likely have at least 25-40 red firefish! I know it may sound weird but I have had them in smaller numbers (5-7) and I really enjoy the schooling effect they bring to the tank. If I decide to go with less firefish I may try some of the odd ball jawfish in small groups along with anthias. But who knows. Well that's it for now. I have mid-terms and work going on this week but I hope to finish the stand by the weekend and get some pictures up. If any of you have suggestions please feel free to post them. Happy reefing!
-Carlos
