Sirjohn's 92 Gallon Corner

[sirjohn]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=10546167#post10546167 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by chem-e
Yea, that was pretty slick how you were able to squeeze in 8 bulbs. I was able to get decent growth for my corals with 4 bulbs. With 8 bulbs, it should look sweet.

I am curious why you didn't go with a controller instead of all the separate timers and meters.

Lol, I still have no idea how I managed to fit 8 bulbs in there. Hope they get along, because they are tight, that's for sure I was concerned I would have dark spots, but I honestly can't see any with 8 bulbs.

As for why I didn't go with a controller... mainly because of cost. The cost of the stand and canopy killed my wallet, so I had to skimp somewhere! The 5 timers, temperature and PH meter together were still way cheaper than a good controller.

 

[hensleyrobw]

wow nice setup

 

[Kannin]

I am so impressed. The amount of time and patience needed to wire and set up a system like you have is inspiring. And, the wood... wow.

 

[ahoyhoy239]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=10548480#post10548480 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by sirjohn
Thanks Ahoy. The Eheim 1260 is doing fine so far. The overflow in the corner is only rated for 400 gph, I believe, so I figured a 1260 would be enough with the added head from the UV.

Also, I purposefully went with the 1260 instead of, say, the 1262 because I only wanted 3-5 times turnover in the tank, so as to avoid microbubbles. The main circulation will be handled by the 2 vortechs. The vortechs, by the way, are performing beautifully. When throttled under 50%, they are really quiet.

thats some good news, ill will hopefully be installing the 20H sump/fuge sometime this week with the 1260 after i finish with one more baffle and get a few PVC parts.

right now the main pump is an Iwaki wmd-40rlt and its noisy plus i think its the reason for the microbubbles, so hopefully the 1260 and the new sump will help eliminate this problem like you said

 

[kirkland]

All I can say is....WOW! I love love love your canopy! We have the same tank and got the sunlight supply tek light fixture for our 6 t5's which is suspended on cables. This is great for getting into the tank, but I am so in love with your canopy! I'll have to keep an eye on your progess. Great job so far!

 

[twomenandatank]

that is the cleanest/neatest set up for the sump. you must have taken some major time on that. your wiring and pump is totally better than my tank and my tank is hard plumbed. keep the hard/good work up

 

[sirjohn]

Wow guys, thank you for all of the nice comments. The stand and canopy took about 3 months to be built/delivered, and with nothing else to do, I spent that time planning the lighting set-up and the inside of the sump! The tank is in a working office/den, so everything needed to fit inside the canopy and the stand. Corner tanks are such a pain, but it was a fun challenge to get everything to fit.

Luckily, I found some very compact, yet great equipment, like the ADHI sump/refugium combo and the Tunze 9010. The Tunze specially, wow what a great performing skimmer in such a compact package. I'm still amazed at how small it is.

Once the planning was done, it took about a week to put it together. Ya know, measure thrice, cut once...

Sooo... are reactors still the "hot" thing or is popular opinion back to dosing 2-part? See, there's this little spot on the left in the stand that can use some more equipment!

New pics soon, been working late...

 

[bboersma79]

Nice,

I love the BRI corner stand/canopy, if anyone has a used one looking to sell let me know.

 

[King-Kong]

If you can, dose [home made] 2 part. No issues with phosphates from media, no co2 issues, etc.

 

[Pacific Reefs]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=10555805#post10555805 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by sirjohn

See, there's this little spot on the left in the stand that can use some more equipment!

Where is there room??? I really like that ADHI sump...I may have to get one since it has a built in fuge.

 

[Reefing102]

awesome sump.

 

[Husky_1]

Do you already have an Auto Top off into the sump? If not, I would use that room for a 5 gallon tank/bucket to top off fresh water. this way the salinity level stays very stable which is very important.

 

[Husky_1]

BTW, you could also put kalk in the top off reservoir water

 

[sirjohn]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=10592962#post10592962 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by Pacific Reefs
Where is there room??? I really like that ADHI sump...I may have to get one since it has a built in fuge.

What do you mean where is there room, I can fit another ADHI sump in there! :lol:

Thanks for all the suggestions. I was thinking about buying this 22 quart (~5.5 gallon) square container to hold the top-off water:

http://www.usplastic.com/catalog/va...y_name=29162&product_id=18445&variant_id=6572

Anyone happen to use one of these?

I would then buy b-ionic 2-part solution gallon jugs -- or go with Kong's suggestion and make my own. I could get everything into the sump with a Litermeter III, an extra pump and a water-top-off module.

The Litermeter III and the extra pumps are really expensive though... are they worth it?

 

[ahoyhoy239]

mix up the two part yourself, its so easy, the only thing you have to go out of your way for is the calcium, which you can buy a 50lb bag at pinch a penny for like $32 i think it was and it will last you for a looong time. so far ive barely put a dent in my bag.

the baking soda and epsom salt for magnesium can be found at publix or winn dixie. if you want the mag flake also, you can buy some online from two part solution dot com

it really beats paying $20 or whatever it is for two little bottles of c balance or b ionic that you can empty out in a month or less when you can get everything in bulk and do the same thing

 

[sirjohn]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=10598829#post10598829 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by ahoyhoy239
mix up the two part yourself, its so easy, the only thing you have to go out of your way for is the calcium, which you can buy a 50lb bag at pinch a penny for like $32 i think it was and it will last you for a looong time. so far ive barely put a dent in my bag.

the baking soda and epsom salt for magnesium can be found at publix or winn dixie. if you want the mag flake also, you can buy some online from two part solution dot com

it really beats paying $20 or whatever it is for two little bottles of c balance or b ionic that you can empty out in a month or less when you can get everything in bulk and do the same thing

Thanks Ahoy. So, all I really need is some Dowflake and Baking Soda for the 2-part http://reefkeeping.com/issues/2006-02/rhf/index.php ... amazing.

From that article, it doesn't seem like Magnesium is dosed too often (In my past reef, I dosed 2-part, but not Mag). I wonder if it's even worth making your own, when you can buy a Mag additive for relatively cheap... about $10 for a kilogram: http://www.drsfostersmith.com/produ...&Ntx=mode+matchallpartial&Np=1&pc=1&N=0&Nty=1

Edit: Apologies for the broken links to the pictures. I apparently exceeded the bandwith of my DSL provider... :lol:

 

[CaptNemo]

Hello there,
I was wondering what is your list for fishes and will this be a sps tank or mix reef?
Thanks

 

[sirjohn]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=10608352#post10608352 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by CaptNemo
Hello there,
I was wondering what is your list for fishes and will this be a sps tank or mix reef?
Thanks

Hi CaptNemo. It will be a mixed reef. Given the shape of the tank, I will be trying to replicate a pacific lagoon reef. That is, I plan on placing live rock along the perimeter of the right and left back walls and in front of the overflow, leaving a sandy area in the middle.

As for fish, I haven't settled on the list, but ideally I'd love a RBTA and a pair of mated clowns, a Purple Tang (my favorite fish), and perhaps a few anthias or wrasses. I also love eels, so perhaps I might even replace some of the fish above with a snowflake or zebra eel...

 

[chem-e]

The ATO will be a nice thing to fit into that spot. I use a peristaltic pump to deliver limewater into the sump during the night that keeps water level stable. I travel a lot, so I need something that is reliable. Now I can be gone for a couple of weeks and not worry about anything.

 

[sirjohn]

Here are some updated pics:


We have water (and sand)!

More water (and sand):

Look what I found, a mini-me brute trash can! 10 gallons.

Auto-Top-Off heaven. Does it fit?

Barely.

The 10 gallon brute will make the almost daily chore of replacing evaporated water to a 7-10 day task, depending on the time of year. BUT it takes pretty much all of the space that's left. I barely have any space left for the 2-part jugs, although there's space right behind the brute trash can for 2 half-gallon (or less) containers for the 2-part. It won't take a week to go through that much 2-part, so perhaps I'm business.


What do you guys think, does it take too much space to be worth it?