New 200 Gallon Crystal Dynamics Build

[Smite]

Incredible work. This is going to be an epic and clean build, tagging along.

 

[Jimbo327]

Love this build. Even the remodel looks awesome. Super clean.

 

[christygirl]

Well, more updates to come this weekend.

My goal is to get the tank on the stand and get the stand / Tank into the alcove.

I have all of the equipment needed to do the lift.
(1) Johnny Lift - Lift the tank to the final height. Too Heavy to dead lift all the way up without an accident
(2) Labor saving Arm Lifts (to use for taking pressure off the leveling feet to level properly)
(5) Suction cups - To get the tank from the pallet to the johnny lift and then from the lift to the stand
(1) Pallet Jack to move the assembly into the alcove...
Last, but not least: 2' , 4', and 6' smart levels to fine tune the stand.

I hope that the lift goes well and if it does, Saturday night or Sunday sometime, I should be able to show a pic of the tank in its final resting place.

 

[christygirl]

Love this build. Even the remodel looks awesome. Super clean.

Thanks Jimbo! The house is actually a livable mess!

 

[christygirl]

First 3 coats of mud on the tank alcove:

 

[christygirl]

And.... for fun.... the fire place before and after

 

[griss]

Looking great Randy

 

[christygirl]

Ok. Staged to move into place later today. Waiting for neighbors to help me.

I have 5 suction cups and 1 johnny lift

 

[christygirl]

The tank is in the hole.... I have to level it and get it off of the blocks and then, I can start plumbing and getting it ready

 

[christygirl]

Ok. Installed the modular marine ghost overflow. It is really nice.

Bought the red pvc pipe and all new schedule 80 fittings (90's, 45's, couplers, unions, and 3/4 gate valves)

Completely cleaned my black sump.

Took apart my jbj artica chiller.

 

[christygirl]

I was going to sell my 180 leeward I had custom made for me around 8 years ago, but, I have decided to put it in my garage as a tetra / angel tank, or a cichlid tank.

Wife (the real Christygirl) is not too happy with me.... but, since I am putting solar on the house and since u air conditioned my garage, I figure it would be nice to look at.

I will use the sump and auto topoff that I bought from Discotu. I think I will use my ATB on the system in the garage. Which means I am going to get new lights for the new tank. I want 4 lights all LED, controllable for sunrise /sunset and with battery backup. So suggestions please......

 

[christygirl]

Leemar not leeward. Stupid auto correct.

 

[christygirl]

So, I think I will go from right to left
Sump
Chiller
Auto topoff
Add a refugium ( I think I could add one right next to the auto topoff with a deep sand bed and macro algae.)

Question is.... what do you do to keep the macro algae from getting to your tank?

 

[christygirl]

Forgot to post the pic

 

[griss]

Woohoo, love seeing the progress.

 

[Reefing102]

Awesome so far. Lights you can really do anything. Many LEDs have some form of built-in sunrise/sunset except for Viparspectra (I think).

You can go expensive with AI, Kessil, Radion, etc. or there’s mid price range such as the Reefi Uno Pro 2.0, Noopsyche, or similar or cheapest end something like SmatFarm (I have this light and it works but I haven’t found that perfect spectrum yet for good pop and the sunrise/sunset is very quick in my opinion

As for the macro algae question, most macro algae will not survive the return pump so that’s not a huge issue unless you use caulpera and it goes sexual.

 

[christygirl]

Reefing102. Great info. I definitely will not be using Calera.

Have you had any luck with some of the hydroponic lighting?

 

[Reefing102]

Reefing102. Great info. I definitely will not be using Calera.

Have you had any luck with some of the hydroponic lighting?

The hydroponic LED? I have not used them. Generally just from looking at a few, it looks like they use more towards the yellow/red spectrum instead of the blue spectrum. The blue spectrum is apparently more conducive for photosynthesis in corals.

I’ve heard hydroponic T5s are okay fixtures but may have rust issues and the reflectors are middle grade

Hydroponic halides. Halides are halides (I know I may catch some flak for that comment). While the reflectors aren’t the polished aluminum of Hamilton or ReefBrite, the hammered reflectors still do a decent job. It’s just getting harder to find quality bulbs in our preferred spectrum.

 

[christygirl]

Ok. Starting the plumbing.

This is my rough plumbing plan.....
Red is the sump, black is the chiller.

Schedule 80 check valves, gate valves, and most fittings.

No one seems to sell a 3/4 schedule 80 street elbow, so I am painting schedule 40 street elbows.

First coat is done, then wet sand, then another coat or so....

 

[solitude127]

Keep the update coming. Looking good.