Obiwanthegoby's Downsize Build

[obiwanthegoby]

Alright so I recently closed down my 380 gallon display and sold off all of the equipment. It was too much of a chore and took the fun out of the hobby for me. All of the fish made it thorough the transition, unfortunatley mos tif not all of my SPS were lost. I still have some of the LPS coral left, some frogspawn and some Zoa's. But this will be a complete rebuild as far as coral goes.

I have broke down a built in desk that was in my kitchen to make room for smaller tank, centralized for the family and guests to be able to see. Make it a little more enjoyable for everyone. I was planning for a 120 gallon, as I have stand and canopy from a previous tank. But now I have 72.5" of room between the load bearing beams I had to encase in drywall. So wheels have been churning on whether to go larger, say 180 (probably cant squeeze it between the walls) or a 60 x 24 x 24 or 60 x 30 x 24. The wife has dictated NOTHING wider than 30" because she doesn't want it sticking out too far into the kitchen. THERE WENT THE Deep DIMENSION idea.... :headwalls:

Anywho, here are some pictures of where the tank will be going.

 

[obiwanthegoby]

As far as equipment goes

Skimmer - Depending on size SRO-XP2000I or XP3000I
Return - Either an Iwaki or Panworld 800 - 1200GPH
BRS twin GFO and Carbon Reactor
BRS Bio Pellet reactor


Im going two part this time around so Im looking at the Aqua House pumps with the built in controller or the BRS dosers, had too many hiccups with the calcium reactor on the big system.

Lighting.... I am up in the air about....

While LED's have came a long way I just don't know about them yet.... I have been thinking about a couple different hybrid systems (T5 and LED) Something to the effect of the following

2 - 3 AI SOL blues, and a quad of T5 bulbs....depending on final tank selection

or

An ATI Dimmable Sunpower or Normal Powermodule. (Up in the air on the dimmable thing, could be neat but it is a novelty more than a neccesity) with two Moonvue tubes on the back and front.

So... I will keep posting as progress is made....

Obi

 

[dubaygv]

Nice Knob Creek shirt. I'll be there for the fall shoot. Tagging along for this build!

 

[obiwanthegoby]

Ill be down range setting up targets!!!

 

[DevilishDukie]

Taggin along

 

[obiwanthegoby]

After some thinking today I am going to pull the trigger on a 120, strap hire front and sides. I got a good quote from a local fish store to custom order a marine land, with a lifetime warranty it's hard to beat, plus I already have the stand and canopy from my old 120 acrylic. So time to move forward.

Still n the fence on lights.....

Any suggestions?

I wish someone local had the sol blues. Or a radion......

 

[obiwanthegoby]

Ok narrowed it to AI Sol Blue with T5 supplement or Mazarra P series with T5 supplement.... Leaning towards the mazarra because its so customizable and the ability to swap out diodes. This has been one of my biggest issues with LED was the fact when you lost a diode it was gone. With the ability to replace, it makes LEDs a lot more attractive.

As for the tank, order is still not placed, but I think I am going to replace two pieces of drywall with 1/4" thick and it will allow for a 72" tank. Well see this weekend when I get it swapped out. If it does.... It's back to the 180 or 220.

Obi

 

[obiwanthegoby]

...ok go ahead and sum it up to RADIONS VS MAZARRA VS AI SOL BLUE ..... I think the last two will have to have T5 supplements.

TOO MANY CHOICES NOT ENOUGH INFORMATION!!!!

 

[reefsurfing]

Owned all three; Radions the best available of the three, my AI was built better than the Mazzara but the Mazarra has much better color. My vote is for the radion; two will cover that tank.

 

[obiwanthegoby]

Owned all three; Radions the best available of the three, my AI was built better than the Mazzara but the Mazarra has much better color. My vote is for the radion; two will cover that tank.

Of three I assume you have the radions? Would I be able to get away with 3 over a 6 ft tank or 2 over a 5 foot? What's your opinion?

 

[reefsurfing]

Two Radions over five feet can be done, it works, however it limits corals placement in my opinion. Now the other option 3 over six feet is perfect. I have two units over a forty breeder and a single unit will light the whole tank pretty well but im not sure what the par numbers look like in the corners and on the ends.

 

[obiwanthegoby]

OK So I thought I was going to be smart, and try to go to a bigger tank... I replaced the two interior pieces of drywall with 1/4" (from 1/2") thinking maybe I could squeeze in a 220 or 180.... wrong. Theres room now, 72.5" of room, enough for a tank and the trim, but when I put the corner bead on I lost that. SOOOOO its either modify the corner beads and pray to God my tank is the exact same dims as the tank at the LFS,... or step it down a little. So back to the drawing board.

On the thought list are the following:

Red Sea Max S-650 - speaking to Aviad on this currently, trying to figure out the lead time and availability.

Marineland 150xh with a starphire front.

or a custom 60 x 24 x 24 or 60 x 24 x 30.

I doubt Ill go the custom route, cant find any good glass tank companies in the KY area. So the S650 is very attractive. But the reality is I am a very impatient person.... so we'll see when I find out lead times ect. I may just end up with a 150XH on my 120 gallon stand....

 

[MammothReefer]

I had a 60x36x24 for a few years. I really liked that dimension a lot. Although it was hard at times to reach some stuff without getting getting half your body wet, and I had a rather tall stand. If I were to do that size again I would go shorter, or place it length wise. I wouldn't go 30 high on a tank that size you'll need scuba gear!

As far as the skimmer I'm running an SRO XP-2000 my current setup with about 80ish total gallons of water (65+Sump+Frag tank). It works really well on my size tank. I'm sure it would do "OK" in a tank that big, but a friend of mine is running a 150 and opt'd for the 3000 (she is happy with it).

As far as lighting will 2 vortechs really cover a 5' tank? I was able to cover mine with 2 halides and full size luminarcs.

 

[obiwanthegoby]

Does anyone have any experiances with CAD Lights systems or aquariums? Looking at possibly having them build me a custom rimless? Have heard a few bad thingsa mostly shipping time... that's something I can live with....

Obi

 

[hatfielj]

Check out Reef Savvy or Coast to Coast if you want a custom tank. They will be much higher quality and pricing is pretty reasonable.

I just ordered a coast to coast tank a couple of weeks ago and I'll be driving to pick it up in NJ. I got a great price on a rimless. They might still be having a sale.

 

[obiwanthegoby]

Checkin em out now... thanks!!!

 

[obiwanthegoby]

Ok,

bought a 56 Gallon Column to serve as my frag tank/Nem tank. I am looking at lighting options and after looking at many of the PAR graphs from Sanjays work I am definitly leaning towards the SOL's. Question is do I want to light the tank with 2 Sol Nanos, or 1 Sol Blue. I think with 2 Nano's I may get better coverage. But I like the Idea of having on module. Anyone have any experiance with the two?

The column tank is 30 x 18 x 24T.

 

[obiwanthegoby]

Finally got the Cajones to drill the tank, first time drilling holes in glass. Turned out pretty good. Pics below:



Still undecided on the big tank for the kitchen. Can't decide to sink the money into a Red Sea Max S series or just piece another system together. One of my biggest hang ups is the fact a 6 foot tank will fit in the gap if I trim the corner beads on the drywall..... Thought about and going and buying a 180 and making it fit.............. ::Snickers::

 

[obiwanthegoby]

Here are some shots:

Final Aquascape

Front

LHS

RHS

Iso

Sump area

Fuge Light on

Ordering my clean up crew tonight... should be here Wednesday if Reefcleaner's shipping estimate is right.

Obi

 

[obiwanthegoby]

Some updates on the Nem tank

Total stoking is now up to the clean up crew, a pink and blue prawn, two oscelleris, a yellow candy hogfish, and an RBTA. I plan to add a dwarf angel, a pistol shrimp and a cleaner shrimp.

I went with the Radion over the nem tank, a quiet one 800GPH return and a ev120 skimmer.