Nature Boy's 270 gallon

[nature boy]

I did end up ordering a diablo dcs 250 int for my skimmer. They just became available at Bulk Reef Supply and I snatched one up. I will post some pictures of this when it comes.

Next project will be mounting my 3 lumen max elite fixtures. I want to do some kind of retractable cable suspension so I can easily raise and lower them for maintenance and such. Any ideas on this? I thought of an electric winch to raise the light bar up but then thought there might be an cheaper less complicated route. Any suggestions?

 

[nature boy]

Looking great Dustin!

Thanks, do you have build thread on reef central somewhere? Never mind, found you.

 

[leveldrummer]

love the 2 islands look.

 

[nature boy]

Well, this is what I came up with for my retractable lights. I bought a 110volt electric hoist from northern tool for $110. It is rated up to 440 lbs. That was the only money spent on this system. And the better part of a day in my labor. The hoist came with hooks and a pulley and a up down controller. I did all the rest with left over lumber/chain/parts. If I ever tear down I can put the hoist in the garage.

So the hoist was a significant cost but not too bad in the grand scheme of things. I wanted this to be accessible from both sides and fast and handy, so I don't skimp on maintenance. Good thing I put an outlet up in the ceiling. I was going to use this for something else but, hey it worked out.

Here is a shot or two and a couple of crappy videos.

 

[qwuintus]

Nice... Maybe you can install a pvc pipe vertically- say 1"- on the light rack and then have an outer 1.5" to your ceiling so the unit has a guide and doesn't shake around.

 

[nature boy]

Nice... Maybe you can install a pvc pipe vertically- say 1"- on the light rack and then have an outer 1.5" to your ceiling so the unit has a guide and doesn't shake around.

I actually thought of doing that exact thing myself. Great minds think alike. If this starts twisting or the shaking worse I probably will. How bad is a little shaking for metal halide bulbs?

 

[qwuintus]

Not sure, but if you can avoid it with some cheap pvc laying around then I'd say go for it.

Thinking about it some more I'd put the larger piece on the rack platform and have the smaller one on top so that way no salt creep can crawl up into the pipes.

 

[jason angel]

coming along nicely!

 

[Dashylock]

very nice build - taggin along!

 

[dave.m]

I'd rethink the PVC for light rack guides or else be really careful of how you place it. Since you've chosen metal halides you've got to be really conscious of heat. There's nothing MH likes better than the smell of melting plastic in the morning...

Dave.M

 

[nature boy]

Look what arrived. Diablo DCS 250 int. I put my old sro2000 in the picture for comparison. I would have fired this up but I need to build a stand to raise the skimmer up about 2 inches in the sump. I wasn't sure what skimmer I was going to be running so I made sure my skimmer compartment was deep enough for any skimmer.

Overall the build quality seems equal to the Super Reef line. The pump seems physically small for the skimmer but hopefully it performs.

 

[this is me]

Looking good. I'll be following this thread closely since this is the exact dimension tank I plan on getting next year.

 

[nature boy]

My skimmer has been working great so far. I have it on setting 4 of 6 total. Had some brown skimmate to start with but now is less and is getting mostly clear.

Which brings me to fish. I would like to start stocking soon. Here is a list the tangs I am interested in keeping. Not that I would start stocking with these. But trying to plan the long term.

Blonde Naso tang
Whitetail Bristletooth tang
Powder Blue tang
Whitecheek tang
Yellow tang

I would consider dropping the whitecheek or naso and then trying three yellow tangs instead of one. Any advice on this?

 

[dave.m]

Choose three tangs and stop. Your tank won't accommodate much more once the first three are fully grown.

Dave.M

 

[nature boy]

The naso does get big, but if I were to swap it out for a smaller one wouldn't a 270 gallon tank be able to hold more than 3 tangs? The bristletooth is a pretty small tang.

 

[dave.m]

You are going to have rocks and corals and other fish besides tangs in there. The tangs will fight constantly if you crowd them too much. They are not sociable fish. Consider how big they'll all be when they are adults and give them the elbow (fin?) room they need.

Dave.M

 

[tassod]

I'm getting the exact same dimension tank in acrylic built in next few weeks. What size return pump and returns are you using? I'm thinking of doing a perimiter return manifold with 6 returns.

 

[nature boy]

I'm getting the exact same dimension tank in acrylic built in next few weeks. What size return pump and returns are you using? I'm thinking of doing a perimiter return manifold with 6 returns.

I have two return pumps, both are the panworld 150ps. They are plumbed to the display separately with 1" pipe in the back two corners. I did this so if one fails, or if I clean one the system keeps going.

I should mention that one also feeds my fuge, and the other feeds reactors and the chiller so there is probably only about 1200 gph turnover in the display. Here is the best picture to explain

 

[nature boy]

Progress!!

Here is the new 110 gallon mixing tank plumbed directly to sump so all I have to do is open a valve and flip a switch to fill sump after a water change or add saltwater.



Sump is growing cheato and working well. Next project is to plumb in chiller.



And here are the new fish I decided to start with. Very healthy and all eating. Ended up with three for now in this first addition. All are about 3-4 inches. Blonde Naso Tang, Red Sea Sailfin Tang, Tomini Tang.

 

[nature boy]

I got a middle light fixture that fits better in the middle opening. Tank itself runs cool now. It is a sunlight supply fixture. Basically the older version outdated model that is smaller. Here are some pics. In case you were wondering, this is what a 20k radium looks like in the middle vs 14k ushios on the side. I have a third new 14k ushio bulb to put in the middle but always fun to compare. The radium looks so fake to me.

Eventually, I will try a LED in the middle spot, most likely a kessil, but this fixture I got for $30 and already had a bulb and ballast.