Hello all,
My name is Keith and I live in Calgary, Canada.
I am starting another "watch me build my tank" thread but I hope this one will be a bit different.
I am the current owner of a low to midrange 90 gallon tank with some assorted corals and fish. While I love my tank I always felt that it could be so much more. Then I came across this thread on RC and was truly inspired by the design of the tank and some of the comments in the thread.
http://reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?s=&threadid=853513
My biggest "dislike" in reefkeeping is the look of a tank that that is simply filled with Live rock (one large hill in the middle) covered in coral with clams, frags etc all over the sand. I think it looks cluttered and very non reef like. I also think that coraline all over the back and sides of the tank takes away from the depth of the tank and should be eliminated. Last, I cannot stand the look of powerheads, heaters or anything man made in the tank. (I hope this does not offend anyone in any way, this is just my anal opinion anyway
)
Here is a quote from "steveweast" in the above thread that says it better than I can:
Greg (Bonsainut) posted the best example of aquascaping perfection. It's the one I always come back to for inspiration....and why ? ....because I believe the answer to all your aquascaping questions are right there in that pic..... you just need to notice its philosophies...
1) have just as much postive space (rocks and corals) as negative space (open water and sand)
2) Don't worry about creating nooks/crannies/caves/etc....they just will be eventually covered by livestock. Instead focus on the general rock shape that has both low and high points...perhaps even breaking the surface. Focus on large details...not small crevises (especially if you have a large tank).
3) Maintain an algae free back (and sides if possible) to create an illusion of infinite depth....contrary to what we'd all like to believe, coralline does not create an attractive back drop...only a distracting one.
4) hide all the things of man.....overflows...pumps...pipes....etc.
5) don't clutter the sand bed with a bunch of livestock....a clam or two...maybe...but that's it. Cluttered sandbeds just make the overall display look too busy. You can improve the overall display tremendously by just removing all the frags, zoas, blastos, etc that so many people seem to keep on the sandbed these days......it just distracting.
With this in mind I am going to TRY to create a new tank that follows these principals.
The tank will be 225 gallons (72 long, 30 deep, and 24 high). The 30 deep instead of the standard 24 deep 30 high should allow a few more aquascaping possibilities.
As for the equipment, on my 90 I went low to mid range for most of the items and was often let down.
For the 225, I am going to try to get only the best equipment and do this right.
Here are my equipment plans (I will put rough equipment costs in here in case anyone is interested) Opinions are welcome!
Water movement.:
Tunze TS24 Turbelle Stream Pump Kit - 2 x 6100 Pump + 7095 Multi Controller and a Wave Box. The pumps will be hidden on the rockwork by 2 Tunze Turbelle Stream Deco-Rocks.
Total $2000 CAD
(I did seriously think about a closed loop system, but I want to do some serious wave simulation and I love the nighttime, feeding, and total control that the tunze offers.)
Lighting:
72" PFO Professional Series Metal Halide
IceCap Metal Halide Ballast Add-On - 3x250W
3-250W 10000K XM Metal Halide BulbPFO Fixture IceCap Fan
Dual Fan
PFO LED Night Light Add-On
PFO Fixture 72" VHO Actinic Add-On (Dual) - 2x165W
Total $2000 CAD
Skimmer:
Euro-Reef RC500 External Protein Skimmer
Total $2000 CAD
Sump:
I am still not decided on the Sump. Currently my plans are to use my 90 for a sump/refugium combo but I do not think my skimmer will fit inside (I know it can go external but would prefer it internal) so I may have to order something custom.
Sand/Bottom:
I am going barebottom and have ordered my board from TheCuttingBoard Company. (2 - 1/2 inch thick 36" x 30" white boards.) $200
Live Rock:
I am going to go with a full Deep Water Tonga environment. I currently have 70 lbs in my 90 and have another 70 shipping out today. $500 per 70lbs
Filtration:
Other than the skimmer, I am going to have a ton of Cheato in the Sump, 2 Phosban Reactors running RowPhos and Carbon, and 3 custom plumbed pails (Like the Instant Ocean ones) that will be joined by PVC and bulkheads and fed from a pump through 2 unlit deep sand beds and 1 unlit miracle mud bed.
Due to many spills and floods from the 90, we are redesigning my den and putting down tile and laminate where than will soon be going.
Current progress. The pipes just go to the 90 for now and will be removed once I have converted to the new tank.
My equipment and Tank will be arriving this week so please feel free to comment with any opinions or suggestions as I move forward.
My name is Keith and I live in Calgary, Canada.
I am starting another "watch me build my tank" thread but I hope this one will be a bit different.
I am the current owner of a low to midrange 90 gallon tank with some assorted corals and fish. While I love my tank I always felt that it could be so much more. Then I came across this thread on RC and was truly inspired by the design of the tank and some of the comments in the thread.
http://reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?s=&threadid=853513
My biggest "dislike" in reefkeeping is the look of a tank that that is simply filled with Live rock (one large hill in the middle) covered in coral with clams, frags etc all over the sand. I think it looks cluttered and very non reef like. I also think that coraline all over the back and sides of the tank takes away from the depth of the tank and should be eliminated. Last, I cannot stand the look of powerheads, heaters or anything man made in the tank. (I hope this does not offend anyone in any way, this is just my anal opinion anyway
)Here is a quote from "steveweast" in the above thread that says it better than I can:
Greg (Bonsainut) posted the best example of aquascaping perfection. It's the one I always come back to for inspiration....and why ? ....because I believe the answer to all your aquascaping questions are right there in that pic..... you just need to notice its philosophies...
1) have just as much postive space (rocks and corals) as negative space (open water and sand)
2) Don't worry about creating nooks/crannies/caves/etc....they just will be eventually covered by livestock. Instead focus on the general rock shape that has both low and high points...perhaps even breaking the surface. Focus on large details...not small crevises (especially if you have a large tank).
3) Maintain an algae free back (and sides if possible) to create an illusion of infinite depth....contrary to what we'd all like to believe, coralline does not create an attractive back drop...only a distracting one.
4) hide all the things of man.....overflows...pumps...pipes....etc.
5) don't clutter the sand bed with a bunch of livestock....a clam or two...maybe...but that's it. Cluttered sandbeds just make the overall display look too busy. You can improve the overall display tremendously by just removing all the frags, zoas, blastos, etc that so many people seem to keep on the sandbed these days......it just distracting.
With this in mind I am going to TRY to create a new tank that follows these principals.
The tank will be 225 gallons (72 long, 30 deep, and 24 high). The 30 deep instead of the standard 24 deep 30 high should allow a few more aquascaping possibilities.
As for the equipment, on my 90 I went low to mid range for most of the items and was often let down.
For the 225, I am going to try to get only the best equipment and do this right.
Here are my equipment plans (I will put rough equipment costs in here in case anyone is interested) Opinions are welcome!
Water movement.:
Tunze TS24 Turbelle Stream Pump Kit - 2 x 6100 Pump + 7095 Multi Controller and a Wave Box. The pumps will be hidden on the rockwork by 2 Tunze Turbelle Stream Deco-Rocks.
Total $2000 CAD
(I did seriously think about a closed loop system, but I want to do some serious wave simulation and I love the nighttime, feeding, and total control that the tunze offers.)
Lighting:
72" PFO Professional Series Metal Halide
IceCap Metal Halide Ballast Add-On - 3x250W
3-250W 10000K XM Metal Halide BulbPFO Fixture IceCap Fan
Dual Fan
PFO LED Night Light Add-On
PFO Fixture 72" VHO Actinic Add-On (Dual) - 2x165W
Total $2000 CAD
Skimmer:
Euro-Reef RC500 External Protein Skimmer
Total $2000 CAD
Sump:
I am still not decided on the Sump. Currently my plans are to use my 90 for a sump/refugium combo but I do not think my skimmer will fit inside (I know it can go external but would prefer it internal) so I may have to order something custom.
Sand/Bottom:
I am going barebottom and have ordered my board from TheCuttingBoard Company. (2 - 1/2 inch thick 36" x 30" white boards.) $200
Live Rock:
I am going to go with a full Deep Water Tonga environment. I currently have 70 lbs in my 90 and have another 70 shipping out today. $500 per 70lbs
Filtration:
Other than the skimmer, I am going to have a ton of Cheato in the Sump, 2 Phosban Reactors running RowPhos and Carbon, and 3 custom plumbed pails (Like the Instant Ocean ones) that will be joined by PVC and bulkheads and fed from a pump through 2 unlit deep sand beds and 1 unlit miracle mud bed.
Due to many spills and floods from the 90, we are redesigning my den and putting down tile and laminate where than will soon be going.
Current progress. The pipes just go to the 90 for now and will be removed once I have converted to the new tank.
My equipment and Tank will be arriving this week so please feel free to comment with any opinions or suggestions as I move forward.
