So I want to start a SPS dominant tank.

[The_Crabman]

Hi folks

I've decided that I want to start an SPS dominant tank. In the past, I've only ever had small mixed reefs up to 25gal. All the problems that I've had over the last few years have been solved with water changes, a reduction of the photo period and many many hermit crabs.

I understand that water parameters, lighting and flow are the three most improtant things in a tank. I also have decided to get the hardware first, as opposed to get it "as I go".

My plan is this:

1. Build the system (as complete as I can before adding water)
2. Add water, salt and let the tank go through a cycle or two)
3. Add live rock,hermits and snails ( I will be putting 1.5lbs of rock/ gal)
4. let the system run for a couple of months to monitor parameters
5. Add fish, inverts (probably a tang, a mandarin, a couple of cleaner shrimp and a couple of others)
6. Start putting in SPS 1 at a time (probably one frag every couple of weeks or colony every month or so)
7. Upgrade

This brings me to the system and the reason for this post. I want to run my build by everyone here in RC to get ideas, tips and to ensure that i've not left anything out. The trouble that I've run into is that I've been doing so much reading over the last two years that I don't know what Ive read anymore. Iread something and think that its fantastic and the way to go, only to read something new and more fantastic again and again, only to find myself reading the same original post again and thinking that it was right all along. Vicious cycle I tell ya!

Anyway, I've started to aquire the major pieces of the system and would like to post them here for your coments.

My build is going to be three side viewable, sort of a room divider and not built in.
Here is what I have so far:

• 120gal (24x24x48) starfire on three sides, drilled.
• 40 gal breeder for sump ( baffles installed, including a fuge area)
• Super Reef Octopus XP2000 cone skimmer.
• Reef Keeper Elite complete with NET, ALC modules.
• TEK light 8 x 54w light, the reason I went with this is that I had spare "dimmable" ballasts that fit right into the TEK housing, hence the ALC module.
• 2 x MP-40's for flow.
• Heaters
• 300GPD RO/DI system

Questions:

1. What should I be looking at for a return pump?
2. What other components am I missing?
3. What else should I be considering?
4. Should I post pics of my progress?
5. What else have I left out?

Thanks
Dexter

 

[mark54321]

subscribed- I am in the process of getting things together for my 120g. build,I will be following. As far as return pump are you looking external or in the sump? I am thinking to go with Eheim 1262 for my 120 reason is dont want to much turnover and micro bubbles in the tank. Are you going to run any reactors like carbon and GFO? Also how will you supplement calcium and Alk? You might want to look into calcium reactor or dosing pumps for two part. Please post pictures of your progress. Good luck.

 

[djneedledamage]

Don't add a Mandarin until you have a good pod population. Probably a year down the road or so.

 

[jonnybravo22]

tank cant cycle with no rock / sand.

add the rock and sand when you add the saltwater.

by the way, welcome to RC!

 

[rogerwilco357]

nice so far so good

nice so far so good

I have the same system waiting to go up . same specs just need to get the basement area prepped for the tank . I don't know if i want a fuge or setup a 100 gallon rubbermaid ? Let me know how you go with the bed or no sand bed?

 

[The_Crabman]

Thanks Needle, I forgot about mot adding the mandarin until well established.

Johnny- your right too, I new this but it was 2am when I wrote this and I was a few drinks in...

Rwilco, yes to the sand bed.

 

[cthedaytrader]

Good luck,


Some other factors:

What type of tank are you using custom? What kind of stand are you building or having built?


Overflow design, corner center, coast to coast are another planning consideration.

Temp control, fan, chiller room ac etc.

Carbon and phosban reactor if you choose to run one or both.

Calcium/Alk maintaince, in the begining you will be able to dose by hand, but I would suggest with a sps dominant system you will have to choose an automated system via dosing pumps and two part or a ca reactor, or Kalk reactor combination.

ATO system

Are you going to use Live rock, or dry rock seeded with some live rock.

These are things you may have already thought of, but just some things to factor into the build, layout of the equipment, what pumps you decide to use, return etc.

 

[The_Crabman]

Good luck,


Some other factors:

What type of tank are you using custom? What kind of stand are you building or having built?

Yes the tank is custom, starfire glass on three sides. As for the stand I will be starting to build it this week,( I've just "redone" the basement with new carpet, paint and tile for underneath the bar/ aquarium area).
The stand will be 2' x 5' with the short side on the wall. I will be spraying the inside of the stand with 3 of 4 coats of marine epoxy as it makes for easy clean up of splashed water and saltcreep.
The stand will also have a small exhaust fan ducted to the exterior.

Overflow design, corner center, coast to coast are another planning consideration.

IMO coast to coast is the only way to go.

Temp control, fan, chiller room ac etc.

Temp control will be o natural, possibly just a cooling fan or two. I'll cross that bridge when and if it comes to it. I will have a couple of vents in the top part of the stand that coupled with the small exhaust fan in the bottom will ensure a constant floww of air over the system. My other tanks in the basement have only spiked at 78 degrees. So we'll see.

Carbon and phosban reactor if you choose to run one or both.

Phosban reactor...

Calcium/Alk maintaince, in the begining you will be able to dose by hand, but I would suggest with a sps dominant system you will have to choose an automated system via dosing pumps and two part or a ca reactor, or Kalk reactor combination.

Your right on the dosing by hand in the begining but will be looking into two part down the road. I'ts going to take some planning though as I will have to find room in the stand or under the bar which will be three feet away.

ATO system

Later in the summer when I plumb the wet bar I will be putting an RO/DI unit underneath. I will rig that up to be an auto top off.

Are you going to use Live rock, or dry rock seeded with some live rock.

Live rock all the way.

These are things you may have already thought of, but just some things to factor into the build, layout of the equipment, what pumps you decide to use, return etc.

I'll start posting pics on the weekend as I will probably have the stand or well part of it in place by then.

Cheers
D

 

[NaClCrocodile]

Later in the summer when I plumb the wet bar I will be putting an RO/DI unit underneath. I will rig that up to be an auto top off.

Now to me, that's dangerous. The best laid plans of mice and men... It's way too easy for one stupid pump to get stuck on and you get a nice freshwater tank. It happens, too, a local reefer (with an 800G tank) lost his system with a similar accident.

 

[Slim_jim989]

Hey for your setup go with a eheim 1262 pump I have the simlar setup 4'x2'x2' Oceanic tech tank i have a herbie style drain and with only one drain really. If I run it durso style way to many micro bubbles, when i run it herbie style i have to choke way back on the drain to allow my return pump (1260) to be able to match it. I plan on getting the new pump soon. I would look into dosing pumps but a simple two part by hand might be good at first, you just have to remember to do it lol. And when you get everything ready just let the tank cycle and when your parm look good wait another week and double check. Then add 1 or 2 small fish and then wait some time to let your tank adjust to fish poop lol and upgrading the biofiltration. then go from there, you can add coral once your setups cycled, but just go slow so you can monitor the cal/alk/ MAG consumption. You can get away in the begining by using lime water or kalk water as your top off water but with the more corals the more youll need. Hope this helps some.

 

[The_Crabman]

Now to me, that's dangerous. The best laid plans of mice and men... It's way too easy for one stupid pump to get stuck on and you get a nice freshwater tank. It happens, too, a local reefer (with an 800G tank) lost his system with a similar accident.

You have a point there Croc... suggestions are welcome.

I guess that I could put a reservoir, use the RO/DI as an ATO for that, then pump it into the system from there?

Now its just to find space for reservoir.


D

 

[The_Crabman]

Hey for your setup go with a eheim 1262 pump I have the simlar setup 4'x2'x2' Oceanic tech tank i have a herbie style drain and with only one drain really. If I run it durso style way to many micro bubbles, when i run it herbie style i have to choke way back on the drain to allow my return pump (1260) to be able to match it. I plan on getting the new pump soon. .

I have a Mag 9.5 lying around that I'm gonna try first. There will only be about 4' of head so that should give me about 800gph. I've had to throttle that back on a single 1.5" drain to address the micro bubble issue but will try is on the 2 x 1.5" drains and see

D

 

[rbredding]

tagging along.. I have just started to add some SPS to my 90 gallon

 

[swanny]

I run a mag 9.5 on my return on my 120. Great pump, quiet and efficient.

 

[hatfielj]

So you want to start an SPS system....

Step 1: Obtain at least $10,000
Step 2: Go online and spend it all on reef tank related stuff
Step 3: File for divorce

 

[The_Crabman]

So you want to start an SPS system....

Step 1: Obtain at least $10,000
Step 2: Go online and spend it all on reef tank related stuff
Step 3: File for divorce

Maybe for some but my wife likes playing a part in the hobby. She likes to do the aquascaping and naming of the fish and inverts.
And when I walk in the door with something new I look at her and say "What? It was only $20 bucks"

D

 

[phenom5]

You have a point there Croc... suggestions are welcome.

I guess that I could put a reservoir, use the RO/DI as an ATO for that, then pump it into the system from there?

Now its just to find space for reservoir.


D

That is exactly what you should do.

 

[The_Crabman]

Stand shots

Stand shots

Sorry I haven't posted pics yet, I've been away on a family emergency.

I started to build the stand for the system. I cut most of the 2 x 4's last night and assembled them this morning.
The stand will be 5 feet n length with the short side on the wall.

I used a jig to pre-drill the holes for the stand, here is what that came out like

I then used some latex caulking to seal the seams of the stand. This will come in handy after I spray a couple or three coats of marine epoxy on, it should hold water...

Here is where I'm at

No center brace on this side as I have to put the sump under before I install the brace.

I've put the top on it and now have to take it out to the shed to spray it.
I'll post a couple more pics later this week or next weekend after I bring it in the house. I have to construct the rest of it inside because It is half going under a bulkhead in the basement. On the upside of things the inside of the stand, well more so the hood will be air conditioned as the a/c vent will be closed in by the hood.

Cheers
D

 

[The_Crabman]

I've decided to scrap the two part system with a doseing pump and go with a Ca reactor.
This one...

http://www.vertexaquaristik.com/products/calciumReactors/rxSeries/rx-4.php

It has a seperate chamber for phosphate remover.


In an earlier post I stated that the cooling will be au natural, well not anymore. Their will be an a/c vent inside the hood.

D

 

[NaClCrocodile]

That stand looks awesome! Looks like it's build way up to spec.