Planning a 225g reef tank
- Thread starter DaveWC
- Start date
Waxxiemann
New member
I've said it before and I'll sat it again, looks AWESOME, Dave. Nice job.
I have a question about the starboard, it looks like there is a bit of a gap between the edge of the tank and the starboard (hard to see), did you do this intentionally and if so, why?
I am going BB on the 90 soon and I am kinda in the dark.
Cheers!
Ty
I have a question about the starboard, it looks like there is a bit of a gap between the edge of the tank and the starboard (hard to see), did you do this intentionally and if so, why?
I am going BB on the 90 soon and I am kinda in the dark.
Cheers!
Ty
Yeah, there's a gap. You've got to remember I did all of the planning for this tank before receiving the tank. I guess I could have ordered it larger and cut it to size but I didn't realize how easy it was to cut this stuff. I just used a jigsaw to cut the overflow box out. But it's ok that it doesn't go right to the edge, it's there to protect the glass from rock and there's no rock close to the glass. Plenty of room for my magnet cleaner to get by.
Waxxiemann
New member
I thought you may have wanted to leave a channel for syphoning out detritus or somthing along those lines.
Was it easy to cut it w/ the jigsaw?
Was it easy to cut it w/ the jigsaw?
Farrmanchu
New member
Wow, can't believe I found you over on this Forum. I hadn't seen an open stand shot, looks SWEET!
Today I made enough water to start the sump pump. Then I increased the size of the holes in the top of the dursos so they would stop cycling (rising & then crashing water in the overflow) and they became very quiet. They are both 1.5" pipes but one bulkhead drops down to 3/4" immediately and will go to my skimmer whenever it arrives. The other just drops into the sump. For now the skimmer hose is just routed to the sump.
I also connected the pump that goes to the UV to the ozone reactor. I connected all of the ozone gear, air pump, air dryer, carbon post filters and fired it up. There was a small leak on the carbon water filter so I shut it down after an hour and I'm sealing that. But otherwise it ran fine. I'm not sure if the air pump or the water pump have enough pressure for this thing. I figure I'll run it this way for a month or so and see what effect it has on the ORP.
I also connected the pump that goes to the UV to the ozone reactor. I connected all of the ozone gear, air pump, air dryer, carbon post filters and fired it up. There was a small leak on the carbon water filter so I shut it down after an hour and I'm sealing that. But otherwise it ran fine. I'm not sure if the air pump or the water pump have enough pressure for this thing. I figure I'll run it this way for a month or so and see what effect it has on the ORP.
That's great DaveWC!
For your Ozone. As long as you don't have any live stock in the tank. Crank your Ozone to 100%. Your controller will do the rest. When you are ready to add your live stock. Turn the Ozone right down to acclimate, unless you run Ozone on your existing tank. Then ramp it back up to 100% and let the controller do the work.
For your Ozone. As long as you don't have any live stock in the tank. Crank your Ozone to 100%. Your controller will do the rest. When you are ready to add your live stock. Turn the Ozone right down to acclimate, unless you run Ozone on your existing tank. Then ramp it back up to 100% and let the controller do the work.
Yup. None of it was cheap. The lights/ACLS were used so I didn't pay normal cost for them. The cost of the rest of the equipment is readily accessible on the net. I bundled the tank with the bulk of the equipment and got it all from AO in one order so I did get a decent discount on much of the stuff. I started with a budget and ended up spending $50 less then that amount. Mind you that won't be the case in a month or so.
rdmpe
New member
Hey DaveWC, nice setup! I love those light systems... You and Naka are really doing it up nicely.
I have a question about your UV unit. It looks like you have it mounted with the intake and the exit on the bottom. Do you think you'll have trouble with air collecting in there? I have always mounted mine vertical or with the ports at the top if horizontal so that air bubbles could not collect in them.
I have a question about your UV unit. It looks like you have it mounted with the intake and the exit on the bottom. Do you think you'll have trouble with air collecting in there? I have always mounted mine vertical or with the ports at the top if horizontal so that air bubbles could not collect in them.
WOW! Very nice project, love your attention to detail and the stand finish is incredible. Even, yes, inspirational. Especially since my tank sits on an unfinished stand because I can't figure out which way to finish it.
AND that rock is the best I have seen. One question; did you get any bad stuff from the rock at the bottom of your tub while curing it?
Anyways, great work. Carry on lad.
AND that rock is the best I have seen. One question; did you get any bad stuff from the rock at the bottom of your tub while curing it?
Anyways, great work. Carry on lad.
There was dirt at the bottom of the tubs but I didn't really look at it closely. After the first time I scrubbed the rock & replaced the water it stayed pretty clean. I was surprised. And now that it's been in the tank for 12 days it hasn't shed much at all. I'm loving the bb look of the tank too, very clean.
Ok, here's some shots. I jumped the gun on this tank I guess. I was patient for a couple of months during the build process and when I finally had water in the tank I lost it. The water never did register ammonia or nitrite though it did when I was cooking the rocks. So I assumed they were cured and the tank would be ok. So far that has paid off. There is still no nitrates so I hope I'm right. Either way the fish load is pretty minimal with just the 3 fish (Sailfin Tang, Yellow Tang & Copperband Butterfly). I started by moving some mushrooms & ricordia from my 67g tank to this one. They handled it well and settled in nicely so I moved a few more. Then all hell broke loose and I started buying stuff for the tank. The clams were placed in my 67g tank for a week until I was confident they'd do ok and they are. Most of this could fit back into my 67g if I absolutely had to but it's not been necessary yet. Here's some pics...
Here's my equipment side under the stand. It's pretty crowded but all fits. When I was planning this I didn't account for all of the hoses and the space taken by the hang on recirculating pumps. I might be able to fit a 10lb co2 tank in the middle and that's all I need. Until then the ca reactor sits idle. The skimmer started removing crap the second I turned it on and had 2" of brown/green crap in the cup in 2 hours. It has since settled down.
Here's an overall shot of the tank.
And left side closeup.
Middle.
And right side.
As you can see the algae is really rockin'. I'm sure it will settle down in a month or so. I just got the magnets for the two Tunze 6100s yesterday so the ones on the front/sides of the tank are newly placed. All of the 6100s are operating switching from 30% to about 50%. I also have two Nanostream 6025s at the back of the tank on each side of the overflow box pointed straight down. They blow all of the crap out from under the rocks. I was starting to get some cyano back there but it doesn't stand a chance now. I may put the 6025s on a timer and turn them on/off throughout the day and leave them off at night.
Here's my equipment side under the stand. It's pretty crowded but all fits. When I was planning this I didn't account for all of the hoses and the space taken by the hang on recirculating pumps. I might be able to fit a 10lb co2 tank in the middle and that's all I need. Until then the ca reactor sits idle. The skimmer started removing crap the second I turned it on and had 2" of brown/green crap in the cup in 2 hours. It has since settled down.
Here's an overall shot of the tank.
And left side closeup.
Middle.
And right side.
As you can see the algae is really rockin'. I'm sure it will settle down in a month or so. I just got the magnets for the two Tunze 6100s yesterday so the ones on the front/sides of the tank are newly placed. All of the 6100s are operating switching from 30% to about 50%. I also have two Nanostream 6025s at the back of the tank on each side of the overflow box pointed straight down. They blow all of the crap out from under the rocks. I was starting to get some cyano back there but it doesn't stand a chance now. I may put the 6025s on a timer and turn them on/off throughout the day and leave them off at night.
