Rod's Gyre flow, Natural light, SPS dominated Reef

[stylolvr]

Maybe install some tubular skylights instead of the MHs. I don't know where it is, but there is a thread that I read a couple months back where the guy saved quite a bit of $$$$ monthly after installing. And what better for corals than natural sunlight??

Just a thought.....

 

[Rod the Reefer]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=14266131#post14266131 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by Rod the Reefer
This meant that I could re-use my Sola Tubes/skylight

Rod. :thumbsup:

 

[ninja750]

Nice upgrade rod.

The neatness of the plumbing quite literally takes my breath away.

The solar tubes seems to have worked out really well for ya.

Hope all the best mate

 

[Rod the Reefer]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=14290499#post14290499 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by ninja750
Nice upgrade rod.

The neatness of the plumbing quite literally takes my breath away.

The solar tubes seems to have worked out really well for ya.

Hope all the best mate

Thanks mate. I'm very happy with the way it all came together.

Rod. :thumbsup:

 

[Rod the Reefer]

Update: Day 1 of change over.

Old tank empty and ready to move out.

Sumps

SPS and fish in their holiday haven

Live rock and more coral

And more

 

[Rod the Reefer]

Tank's gone!!

The result of a very busy day!

Next the aquascape.

Rod. :thumbsup:

 

[ninja750]

How much sand are you having in the new tank?

 

[Lowredranger]

Awesome looking setup i would never trust my plumbing skill with that tank. I am going to try the gyre technique with powerheads.

Keep the pictures coming.

Jason

 

[Electrobes]

Rod, you are a fine example of a well planned reefer. Great job! I love the use of the sola-tubes

 

[dgasmd]

I have been with tanks in just abut every form or configuration known to date. My words are simply from experience of me and others around. Simply take it for what it is worth to you. I don't want to derail your build thread, but if you REALLY want me to address in more details what I said above, I would be happy to PM or email you.

By the way, I couldn't give you enough complements on the solar system. Both present and planned one to run the entire system.

 

[ninja750]

I had a Grye laminar flow system in my last tank. 2x25mm outlets run of a close loop. The SPS's loved it. I was seeing much better growth. But the plumbing was my down fall. As well as redundancy on water level's, heaters etc.

My next tank (after l build a proper fish room) will be very similar to your system Rod, including the skylights and solar panels to run the tank.

 

[TRITON1]

This is a great build, very professional. Do you have any more info on the solar tubes, like pictures from construction or results with a par meter?

Id be interested seeing the build thread from your old tank too if you have one.

 

[Rod the Reefer]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=14291008#post14291008 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by ninja750
How much sand are you having in the new tank?

I scooped 3 buckets off the top of the live sand in the old tank (I left any thing that was grey or yuk). I put in 100 kg of new crushed marble in and then the LS on top, plus a couple of cups of LS from the nano.

Photos to come.

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=14293307#post14293307 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by Lowredranger
Awesome looking setup i would never trust my plumbing skill with that tank. I am going to try the gyre technique with powerheads.

Keep the pictures coming.

Jason

Thanks Jason. My mate Josh (aka Majesticangelfish) is currently setting his dad's tank up with Gyre flow using the new Tunze 12000 lph pumps. Should work very well in a corner tank.

Plenty more pics to come....

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=14293888#post14293888 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by Electrobes
Rod, you are a fine example of a well planned reefer. Great job! I love the use of the sola-tubes

Thanks. When I do something I like to get it right.

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=14294486#post14294486 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by dgasmd
I have been with tanks in just abut every form or configuration known to date. My words are simply from experience of me and others around. Simply take it for what it is worth to you. I don't want to derail your build thread, but if you REALLY want me to address in more details what I said above, I would be happy to PM or email you.

By the way, I couldn't give you enough complements on the solar system. Both present and planned one to run the entire system.

Thanks for your concerns, much appreciated.

I should re-iterate I guess that this journal is retrospect. The entire system was finished and has been running successfully now for a few months. I'm feeding in as much information and pics to this thread each day that I can afford the time to do.

There's plenty more to come...

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=14294845#post14294845 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by ninja750
My next tank (after l build a proper fish room) will be very similar to your system Rod, including the skylights and solar panels to run the tank.

Cool. Can't wait to see it in action.

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=14295719#post14295719 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by TRITON1
This is a great build, very professional. Do you have any more info on the solar tubes, like pictures from construction or results with a par meter?

Id be interested seeing the build thread from your old tank too if you have one.

Thanks TRITON1.

I do have threads on RTAW on the skylight/Sola tube installation and my old tank;

http://www.masa.asn.au/phpBB2/viewt...0&postdays=0&postorder=asc&highlight=skylight

http://www.masa.asn.au/phpBB2/viewtopic.php?t=173348&highlight=skylight

I'll put a couple of photos of the skylight install here if you like.

Rod. :thumbsup:

 

[Rod the Reefer]

Here are some pics of the skylight/Sola tube install on the old tank;

And here’s a pic of inside (Just sun light) ;

I have no Par readings, but I purchased a Lux meter to check just how much light I was getting. (Readings at 12 noon 10.9.06)

Under the 150 Mh â€"œ 150000 Lux (150mm from lamp)
Under the skylight â€"œ 190000 Lux (150mm from tube)
Outside in full sunshine â€"œ 160000 Lux

Observations :

Incredible natural dawn. (Mandarin and shrimp love it!)
Very natural fluctuations in light as clouds go overhead.
Amazing moon light.

Rod. :thumbsup:

 

[Rod the Reefer]

Update: Day 2 of change over.

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=14291001#post14291001 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by Rod the Reefer
Next the aquascape.

Rod. :thumbsup:

Ha, Ha, Ha, I put in 100 kilos of pool dust and three buckets of live sand and this is all I could see all day!

Oh well, on with the rest of the equipment;

Calcium reactor set up;

Solenoid for the auto top off;

Top off reservoir and feed for CaRxt

AND, thanks to Rusty1 (RTAW) for his inspiring design, I started the lighting frame/hood;

Placed inside hood;

And with T5's in place;

Should start the aquascape next.

Rod. :thumbsup:

 

[Rod the Reefer]

Ok, a few more pics, the tank was still murky at this point so I carried on with equipment;

I got the skimmer in;

And the Mh over the frag area of the sump; (Still to put a couple of Tunzes in there)

And to keep everything tidy I made up these;

Rod. :thumbsup:

 

[stylolvr]

Coming along nicely! Can't wait to see the aquascape!

 

[ReefingBuddha]

Great! I'm glad that you already have this finished and up and running so we get the sped up version of a tank build. All the fun in less time.... Awesome!

 

[Rod the Reefer]

Thanks guys.

Aquascape pics up soon.

Rod. :thumbsup:

 

[SolidDetail808]

WOW! Went through all 4 pages. Can't wait to see more. Great job in taking photos of your progress!