RC 75 DIY Stand and Sump

CEBU Sun & Apex Autofeeder

CEBU Sun & Apex Autofeeder

The Radions were great lights, but I had trouble searching for the right adjustment for color and intensity. There were too many options. I felt I had to test PAR with each adjustment. I finally decided to go with CEBU Sun metal halide/ T5/ LED combo. At least now I can rule out the lights as a source of any coral issues (other than old bulbs).





Keeping up with feeding became an issue with changing schedules.

I set up an Apex auto feeder. Now I just keep it filled, but I still enjoy watching feeding with occasional nori.

I did not like watching uneaten food floating around then going into the overflow. Using a BAO feeding ring, this is how I modified and attached it to the Apex feeder.











This keeps all the food in place until consumed.





 
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Add Deep Sand Bed Refugium with mangroves

Add Deep Sand Bed Refugium with mangroves

This is one of two refugiums added to the system. Filled a 40G tank with 6" deep sand bed. Then turned the tank into a planter for 4 mangrove trees. Ultimately would like to see these grow into small mature branching trees.

It took many months, but now the deep sand bed keeps nitrates undetectable.

Also in the tank are a pair of clowns, red macro algae and bubble corals.



Lifereef overflow:





Return:



DSB with Mangroves:









Kessel Tuna Sun LED lights and Lifereef overflow. This refugium resides in the adjacent room about 10' apart. It's supply and return lines are tied into the Lifereef sump under the display tank, expanding the water volume to the system.
 
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Add another Refugium for algae

Add another Refugium for algae

The second refugium added to the system is a Lifereef 24" refugium. This is designed to be placed adjacent to the sump. Due to lack of space under the display tank, this sits below the DSB refugium in the adjacent room. This too is plumbed back to the Lifereef sump.







A Kessil Tuna Sun LED lights this refugium filled with chaeto macro algae. The cheat growth was slow at first, but now grows rapid. The flow in the refugium keeps the cheat ball slowly rotating, then stops spinning when it grows too big.

So far, this seems to keep my phosphates down, lower than they ever have (.006-.007). I thought this would be easy phosphate management, but it does require harvesting and cleaning the fuge at least monthly.
 
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Calcium Reactor

Calcium Reactor

In lieu of dosing pump and containers, I replaced using two part with a calcium reactor. This is a Lifereef LCR2 filled with Two Little Fishes ReBorn reactor media.









I replaced the stock CO2 Gage/Solenoid/Needle Valve Set with a Victor 2 stage CO2 regulator/Burkert solenoid/Ideal needle valve.





Also replaced the stock effluent valve with A Cole Parmer Masterflex peristaltic pump to regulate the effluent.





The new CO2 regulator and Masterflex pump is easy to adjust and accurate.

 
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Other adjustments

Other adjustments

Adding plumbing for two additional refugiums increased the need for water pressure. The BlueLine system pump was replaced with an Ecotech Vetra L1. The variable water pressure control was a significant improvement.

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The Lifereef sump had 1" diameter inputs, but the Vectra is 1.5" diameter. The water volume for a 1.5 diameter equals 3 x 1" diameter. Fortunate for me, Lifereef provides several extra holes in the sump. I made an 1.5" to 1" manifold adapter from Vectra to the sump.

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Small additions

Small additions

So with half the fish being herbivores, I added a second feeder for veggie food. Now one feeder on each side. Looks awkward, but it keeps the fish well fed, healthy and takes pressure off having to feed.




For vacation, I bought the largest size Avast Dave Jones skimmate locker to hold a weeks worth of skimmate while away. It was so nice not to empty the skimmate for a week at a time, that I kept in place. Its not attractive, but definitely worth the trade off.





The Avast locker has a pressure switch that auto shuts off the skimmer should it fill.
 
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Auto water change

Auto water change

Finally made the time to set up auto water change. Purchased a used Cole Parmer Masterflex peristaltic pump. The pump came with a double roller head, in lieu of stacking 2 separate heads. One roller discharges old saltwater while the other adds new saltwater simultaneously. The pump is controlled by the Apex, using a feed cycle as a timer. The pump speed is set to remove and add 6 gallons in about 2 hours.

There ia Masterflex thread on reefcentral that references all the parts needed.







I tapped a hole in the side of the sanitary line for the waste water.

 
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DSB Refugium with Mangroves rearranged

DSB Refugium with Mangroves rearranged

Repositioned the mangroves by spreading them out, using fiberglass rods to hold them in place. Added a second Kessil Tuna Sun LED light.



 
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update?

update?

How has this worked out for you? I love the design. Have you found any weak spots or any changes you would have made? a have a 90 G with the same foot print that I am ready to build a stand for. I may simply copy your design. Please let me know if there is anything I should be aware of before I start my build.
 
corystrawn said:
How has this worked out for you? I love the design. Have you found any weak spots or any changes you would have made? a have a 90 G with the same foot print that I am ready to build a stand for. I may simply copy your design. Please let me know if there is anything I should be aware of before I start my build.
Click to expand...

The stand has worked out well! I still like the clean and modern look. The key benefit is the equipment shelf. Hiding away all cords, plugs and transformers (except the controls) with easy access is huge. But you need to make the stand taller to accommodate this. I like to view the tank standing or walking by the tank, so the extra height works.

The one weak point was there was barely enough height for my skimmer. I ended up cutting out the shelf above the skimmer for easier access the skimmer cup. That's the only modification I would make.

Good luck with your build!
 
Your tank stand is amazing. Awesome craftsmanship. Did you sell your vibe? That thing makes zeovit that much more simple.
 
cflow said:
Your tank stand is amazing. Awesome craftsmanship. Did you sell your vibe? That thing makes zeovit that much more simple.
Click to expand...

Agreed — the vibe zeo stone shaker makes Zeovit much simpler! I ended up moving away from Zeovit. Even with a vibe, the Zeovit daily dosing routine became too much for me.

Zacktosterone said:
with that stand you built... would it support a 60" wide tank if made longer?
Click to expand...

Yes, I believe it would. The first time I saw a Marineland 220 gallon tank stand, I was surprised that it was nothing but plywood. That's what inspired me to use all plywood for my build.

 
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Macro pictures of the corals

Macro pictures of the corals









Cherry Corals RTBA



Cherry Corals Orange hammer, Gold hammer & Blue frogspawn.

 
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Thank you so much for taking the time to document your build. I am in the planning stages of my first build and it will be very similar to yours. How do you like the Life Reef set-up? I have put my name on Jeff's build list to get the same set-up you have with the addition of the refugium.
 
air2mag said:
Thank you so much for taking the time to document your build. I am in the planning stages of my first build and it will be very similar to yours. How do you like the Life Reef set-up? I have put my name on Jeff's build list to get the same set-up you have with the addition of the refugium.
Click to expand...

I like the Lifereef system a lot. Though known for their skimmers, I feel their all-in-one sump systems are overlooked. They are efficiently designed, easy to maintain over time and looks great. Another thing not known is these are almost turn-key systems that come with pumps, tubing, valves & fittings. Just add water :) I think you will like it.

 
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Jeff seems to be a great guy. He has called me twice already just to make sure he builds just what I want and need. You don't see that type of service much anymore. I did decide to add a refugium after talking to Jeff. Just staring out in reefing and turn key sounds good to me. I also plan to purchase the Avast locker since I do travel for business once in a while.
 
Same — in prep for vacation, I bought the Avast locker to hold skimmate while away. The locker works great and no odor. It needs emptying about 7-10 days. Once I realized no more than 3 cleanings a month, I have not taken it off line since.
 
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