Reef Savvy Red Edition

tdhnry

tdhnry

Member
So after 5 months this baby finally made it home. I'm going to be moving everything over from my existing set (also a 125) into this one. I'm a softies/LPS kind of guy so not too many Stonies at first but we'll see in time.

When I visited his shop back in Feb it was like being at the Jaguar dealer deciding the options on a new XF. Here I was, after 20-25 years in the hobby and finally purchasing my first custom tank. Deciding the size, dimensions and drain/return system is a first for me. Felix is quite the innovator and he showed me his latest design. In addition to his phantom bottom and Ghost overflow he was experimenting with a red layer at the bottom. Although the design is strictly aesthetic it was enough for me to change my whole design. I had to have it. I really like the vertex color scheme and this right up that alley. This option had me change everything.

So the dimensions are 60"x24"x20 with 3/4 glass. I initially wrote up the order 72" like my old tank but I'm changing the location of the tank in my place. We could have gone 1/2 since I went down to 60" but he said the thicker glass will add structural integrity to the tank.

<a href="http://s1130.photobucket.com/user/tdhnry/media/IMAG0187.jpg.html" target="_blank"><img src="http://i1130.photobucket.com/albums/m539/tdhnry/IMAG0187.jpg" border="0" alt="Savvy tank photo IMAG0187.jpg"/></a>

One of the changes was a white stand instead of brown. I installed door the handles. Waiting to get the tank wet before I adjust the doors.

<a href="http://s1130.photobucket.com/user/tdhnry/media/IMAG0185.jpg.html" target="_blank"><img src="http://i1130.photobucket.com/albums/m539/tdhnry/IMAG0185.jpg" border="0" alt="Stand photo IMAG0185.jpg"/></a>

Sump and ATO by Building an Obsession

<a href="http://s1130.photobucket.com/user/tdhnry/media/IMAG0175.jpg.html" target="_blank"><img src="http://i1130.photobucket.com/albums/m539/tdhnry/IMAG0175.jpg" border="0" alt="Sump photo IMAG0175.jpg"/></a>

Installed a panel to the back of the stand. Needed a place to attach the AI rails to.

<a href="http://s1130.photobucket.com/user/tdhnry/media/IMAG0193.jpg.html" target="_blank"><img src="http://i1130.photobucket.com/albums/m539/tdhnry/IMAG0193.jpg" border="0" alt="Back photo IMAG0193.jpg"/></a>

Let there be light....

<a href="http://s1130.photobucket.com/user/tdhnry/media/IMAG0174.jpg.html" target="_blank"><img src="http://i1130.photobucket.com/albums/m539/tdhnry/IMAG0174.jpg" border="0" alt="AI Hydra photo IMAG0174.jpg"/></a>

Reef flakes

<a href="http://s1130.photobucket.com/user/tdhnry/media/IMAG0183_1.jpg.html" target="_blank"><img src="http://i1130.photobucket.com/albums/m539/tdhnry/IMAG0183_1.jpg" border="0" alt="Reef flakes photo IMAG0183_1.jpg"/></a>

More to come......[/QUOTE]
 
rovster said:
Sweet!!! Is 2 hydras enough coverage? Looking forward to this one:D
Click to expand...

I had the same concern but with the ghost on the back I didn't have much choice. I dont have a way of placing one in the middle and I don't really like the look of hanging it from the ceiling

<a href="http://s1130.photobucket.com/user/tdhnry/media/IMAG0202.jpg.html" target="_blank"><img src="http://i1130.photobucket.com/albums/m539/tdhnry/IMAG0202.jpg" border="0" alt="Plumbing photo IMAG0202.jpg"/></a>

Ran out of fittings and pipe so thats why the third line is missing
 
Setting up the Apex wall/door mount

<a href="http://s1130.photobucket.com/user/tdhnry/media/IMAG0207.jpg.html" target="_blank"><img src="http://i1130.photobucket.com/albums/m539/tdhnry/IMAG0207.jpg" border="0" alt="Apex mount photo IMAG0207.jpg"/></a>
 
tdhnry said:
I had the same concern but with the ghost on the back I didn't have much choice. I dont have a way of placing one in the middle and I don't really like the look of hanging it from the ceiling

<a href="http://s1130.photobucket.com/user/tdhnry/media/IMAG0202.jpg.html" target="_blank"><img src="http://i1130.photobucket.com/albums/m539/tdhnry/IMAG0202.jpg" border="0" alt="Plumbing photo IMAG0202.jpg"/></a>

Ran out of fittings and pipe so thats why the third line is missing
Click to expand...

Me no understand???:crazy1:

With your ingenuity and attention to detail, you can pull it off! Anyway, how were you planning on mounting the lights? What does the ghost overflow have anything to do with it? Love your electronics panel! Just one word of advice, and I say this from first hand experience. Make sure you can easily access and remove your skimmer and return pump cord for service. I also made my stand very neat, but shot myself in the foot in that removing these 2 pieces is going to be a PITA if you know what I mean. I never thought of that before hand:uhoh2:


Also, how big is your ATO container? Looks kind of smallish. I only mention it because I was shocked at how much my tank evaporates. My container is like 10-12 gallons and I blow through that in a week. Again, another thing I was not expecting, LOL! I hope you don't mind my remarks. Just passing on what I've learned the hard way on my own build ;)
 
Awesome tank and super clean build! My only question is how do you access that gate valve on the back?
 
rovster said:
Me no understand???:crazy1:

With your ingenuity and attention to detail, you can pull it off! Anyway, how were you planning on mounting the lights? What does the ghost overflow have anything to do with it? Love your electronics panel! Just one word of advice, and I say this from first hand experience. Make sure you can easily access and remove your skimmer and return pump cord for service. I also made my stand very neat, but shot myself in the foot in that removing these 2 pieces is going to be a PITA if you know what I mean. I never thought of that before hand:uhoh2:

Also, how big is your ATO container? Looks kind of smallish. I only mention it because I was shocked at how much my tank evaporates. My container is like 10-12 gallons and I blow through that in a week. Again, another thing I was not expecting, LOL! I hope you don't mind my remarks. Just passing on what I've learned the hard way on my own build ;)
Click to expand...

Lol. I'm not sure about that. Plus the 52's have a coverage of 36" so i think the spread will be ok. The lights are gonna be AI rails. I put them up last night. The ghost sits right on the back glass (pic to follow later) so there's no way for the rails to afix to the cabinet in the back. Yea I figured that I didn't want to block any of the cables or equipment in so I'm putting them in place running the plumbing and electrical cables and then removing them again so that I know that everything will be easily removeable.

The ATO Is 5-6 gallons. Yea it is a little small but with the location of the tank I can't have it sit outside the cabinet. And inside the cabinet is going to be a little cramped. I didn't realize how much space you lose going from a 72" to 60" for the equipment.

As for your remarks, please keep them coming. I appreciate them good or bad. You guys are the only ones I can talk to about this stuff. And as an accountant, working with my hands isn't exactly my strong suit.

Thanks
 
S13<3 said:
Awesome tank and super clean build! My only question is how do you access that gate valve on the back?
Click to expand...

Because of the thickness of the ghost, the tanks gonna sit about 5-6 away from the wall. Theres enough room to get a hand/arm to adjust the valve around the return line.

I measured it but now I'm going to actually place it against the wall and see.


Thanks for the heads up.
 
Didn't realize the coverage was 36, mind are 24. As far as the ATO, why not move the container on the other side of the sump and add height? Looks great now, but refilling that thing mid week would be a PITA for me;)

Oh, and +1 on the red layer:D
 
rovster said:
Didn't realize the coverage was 36, mind are 24. As far as the ATO, why not move the container on the other side of the sump and add height? Looks great now, but refilling that thing mid week would be a PITA for me;)

Oh, and +1 on the red layer:D
Click to expand...

Yeah, the spread is 36" by 36' with a depth of 24" on the 52's.

Filling the container wont be that bad since all I need to slide it forward a few inches to fill. We'll see. If it gets to be more of a chore, I'll have to get something bigger.

Here's the back with the Hydra's installed.

<a href="http://s1130.photobucket.com/user/tdhnry/media/IMAG0213.jpg.html" target="_blank"><img src="http://i1130.photobucket.com/albums/m539/tdhnry/IMAG0213.jpg" border="0" alt="Back of tank photo IMAG0213.jpg"/></a>
 
Did Reef Savvy build your stand and light rack as well? Did they also build the Apex mounting wall?

Thanks
 
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