New build: 57g RR Oceanic Illuminata

Dazed1

Active member
I started this tank a few weeks ago. Moved over from a 28G JBJ HQI to this. So most of the corals, water, rock, etc came from the "old" tank.

Some info might be old since I had this posted on another forum:
Info:
Tank: 57g Oceanic Illuminata RR
Sump: eshopps RS-100
Skimmer: reef octopus NWB 110 (waiting for a replacement pump)
Return pump: eheim 1260
Flow: 2 x vortech MP10 (wireless)
Light: Currently 1 x Kessil A150W, waiting for the A350W (this week :bounce1: )
Controller: Apex Lite (not yet setup)
Rocks: about 40-50ish pounds
Sand: 45 lbs


Onto pictures:
Picked up the tank from Chris @ Aquatic in SF. Jess got it home for me since my car is not big enough:
Tank + stand in its final resting place:
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Next to the "old" tank:
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The sump underneath the stand, all awaiting plumbing:
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Bag of sand (25lbs) and new rock (20lbs) from gulfliverock.com :
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Jess doing the plumbing:
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All done:
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The lazy method of transferring water from one tank to the other:
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This was the initial aquascape. I wasn't too happy with it. Wanted to keep some open space for fish and have places where they can hide:
(sorry for the crappy iphone picture)
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Then I moved things around to this:
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Few updates!
Finally got the rock the way I want it. Plenty of space for the fish to swim, and hide.
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Also connected my fuge light, added rocks to the fuge and some chaeto:
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Got my ATO working. This thing evaporates a lot of water!
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And, I got my Apex setup. Ignore the wires for now. Will clean them up this coming week. I need 1 more eb4 or eb8. Running short of power points :(
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And my first 2 days of monitoring pH + temp. Had to raise the temp and started my 2part dosing for now
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Now, this is current (as of today)

Progress you say? Well, I made lots over the last 1 week. Majority of the clean up was today. Very tired.

Additions made:
Lights: Got my Kessil A350W !
Dosers: added 2 BRS dosers to dose cal & alk - 1.1ml every hour from midnight to noon.

Livestock:
Red headed salon wrasse.
4 blue/green reef chromis.

Lets start with the most awaited addition, the Kessil A350W. Got this from Jess @ Diablo
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Pictures of my red headed Salon wrasse. Got this one from Divers Den
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FTS
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Left to right
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Right to left
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BRS Dosers. managed to do some tidying up in there too. Needs some more cable ties :o
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This is where you can see, no wires (almost) . I bought an Ikea book shelf, with a door. Since they come with the thin back side, i did not add it on. The EB8, Apex unit, and everything you see in there is mounted on the wall with screws, & cable ties. No loose wires :D
Ran out of EB8 plugs. Had to use a regular strip for the fuge light, ATO, and wifi.
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Everything that plugs into the EB8 has a "drop off" point here, behind the tank for easy disconnects. I'm using 3' cables to go single extension cables. Wish I had gotten 4' ones. The color at the ends, is color coded matching to what is connected at the EB8. So I can know which is which outlet by the color, lol.
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The controllers stay above the "cabinet"
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I also took this chance to move the heater, and the temp probe to the overflow. Figured, if the pump goes out, at least the heater won't be impacted.

One last thing is pending, the skimmer. I have the skimmer, but the new pump that I had from Chris is not working. waiting on a replacement. Hopefully should have one this week.

And oh, a screen. I have a screen from BRS. Need to make it. Probably some time during the week

Question, how often do you have to change the filter sock? how do you "wash" the old one?

I used up about 150 cable ties today, lol.
 
looks good. I hate messy wires everywhere!

As for the socks, when I occationally use them I just run the wasking machine once empty, then again with the socks turned inside out. Seems to get them real clean. Others use a high pressure hose if you have one of them.

cheers :beer:
 
everything looks great! I like the idea of all the electronic stuff in the separate cabinet

also I think You should try to put some unions in Your Drain/ Return piping as you might need it apart at one point
 
everything looks great! I like the idea of all the electronic stuff in the separate cabinet

also I think You should try to put some unions in Your Drain/ Return piping as you might need it apart at one point

Not sure what unions mean (noob to this), but the pump can be easily seperated at the base, is on a threaded pipe? Same goes for the drain.
 
nice tank man, i have the same tank and i need an LED upgrade. So just one of this small LED is enough for the corals in the tank like yours? I also have illuminata
 
Sweet build so far. One nitpick for you is the mp10 cables. The manufacturer recommends you mount the cables in the 12 o'clock position in case the wet side and dry side become uncoupled. The way yours are attached using the tabs if the dry side falls off it's going to swing, and may have enough slack to hit the wall.

Tell us more about the A350w!
 
Just started the exact same upgrade as you tank-wise. I was going to go with the Kessils like you, but a LFS was moving stores and selling off their fixtures, got a great deal on a 250w LED set-up. Gonna pick up a used MP40 they're selling too!
 
Sweet build so far. One nitpick for you is the mp10 cables. The manufacturer recommends you mount the cables in the 12 o'clock position in case the wet side and dry side become uncoupled. The way yours are attached using the tabs if the dry side falls off it's going to swing, and may have enough slack to hit the wall.

Tell us more about the A350w!

Nice catch. I had added one more cable tie after the pictures. However, I've tried the removing the wet side to see how much it swings. No touching the wall. Have also moved one of the mp10's a little.

The LED is good so far. Running at 50% since tuesday. Great coverage. Had to raise it up a little more. was at 4" had to go to 6".
 
nice tank man, i have the same tank and i need an LED upgrade. So just one of this small LED is enough for the corals in the tank like yours? I also have illuminata

It is.
You're in san jose, otherwise I'd say go over to diablo coral in concord. He has the different versions of the Kessil on his display 57 too (and has them in stock, I believe).
 
Nice looking setup. I have similar equip. setup with my 60 gall cube.

Two thoughts >>>
- Add some more rock
- Your wrasse will carpet surf without a lid. I've been there too many times ... hoped it wouldn't happen ... been safe for months ... and then :( If you want wrasses, then you have to have a lid.
 
Nice looking setup. I have similar equip. setup with my 60 gall cube.

Two thoughts >>>
- Add some more rock

- Your wrasse will carpet surf without a lid. I've been there too many times ... hoped it wouldn't happen ... been safe for months ... and then :( If you want wrasses, then you have to have a lid.

Rock:
I'm happy with the amount i Have. I have some more in the sump too. Its about 50ish lbs. Want to have enough swim space + space for colonies usually mounted on rocks.

Lid:
I agree. I made a BRS netted screen earlier this week. It leaves about 1" open at the back due to the kessil clamp, and its not tightly fastened yet. have to figure the fastening piece out.
 
Quick update.
Finally after waiting for 3 weeks, I got a my replacement pump for the skimmer. Although the old model, this skimmer is a beast! Its barely been 48 hours and its getting a lot of gunk out already.
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I added a bunch more of macro from 3 different tanks. Now i have chaeto, callapura (sp?), money plant
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After adding so much macro, my small JBJ glo led was not enough. Replaced it with a par38 bulb. Lights up well now
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Nice build thread.

I am truly amazed at how much coverage a Kessil a350 can handle. I currently have a 40 Breeder (36x18x16) and wondering if a single Kessil a350w will provide enough coverage.
 
Now that you've had it for a bit, thoughts on the Kessil?

I'm thinking about these vs the new AI Vegas's. I have the same tank.

How's the side coverage?
 
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