Soulpatch's 150 SC build
- Thread starter soulpatch
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soulpatch
New member
I guess that depends on if you are planning on a refugium as well or just a sump?
For that price I would probably either save myself money and get a 40 gal breeder tank and build my own OR get a trigger sump and save for a custom down the line. Synergy sells a few sumps which are not much more then your $450 that I might consider but it depends on your goals.
I look at it this way. For my build I spent more for my ATO and dosing containers then I did for my sump and that is the lifeblood of the system. I want mine to be bigger and laid out a bit better. My top complaint is that the refugium section is in the rear which is a small pain to get to to swap things out. This is why I am thinking custom with a seperat plumbed refugium next. See Lifereef CLR II for an idea of what I am talking about.
For that price I would probably either save myself money and get a 40 gal breeder tank and build my own OR get a trigger sump and save for a custom down the line. Synergy sells a few sumps which are not much more then your $450 that I might consider but it depends on your goals.
I look at it this way. For my build I spent more for my ATO and dosing containers then I did for my sump and that is the lifeblood of the system. I want mine to be bigger and laid out a bit better. My top complaint is that the refugium section is in the rear which is a small pain to get to to swap things out. This is why I am thinking custom with a seperat plumbed refugium next. See Lifereef CLR II for an idea of what I am talking about.
Dang... the Lifereef CLR II is bad to the bone. I am wanting a refugium, love the floating refugium concept with the lifereef model. It seems like it comes in a whole package w/ skimmer pump, return pump etc. Looking at the total cost of the lifereef, I would almost be there assuming I went with a Trigger, $450 skimmer, $200 return pump... etc.
Thanks for the advice-
Thanks for the advice-
soulpatch
New member
Be careful with factoring int he shipping costs though.
And yes all said and done I was not far behind buying a full system. That said I found a deal on my life reef skimmer I couldn't pass up. I could sell it now for more then I bought it for. But yes once you add everything up you get close to a complete system. If I look at my purchases I spent:
130 for reactors (Life reef includes them)
240 for return pump
200 for skimmer
350 for sump (might have been less but we will say 350)
So right there I am at 920 and that doesn't take into consideration of the plumbing parts as well. So for another 500 or so I could have had a more robust complete system and if I had payed full price for the skimmer I would have been only 200 or so short of custom. Looking back I went the wrong direction BUT when I bought I was VERY limited on size as I was going to do a 30x30 cube and most life reef would not have worked.
And even now at this point while Lifereef has a ton of functionality the look is a bit lacking and I want a show sump. I think I will pay more for Synergy or BAO to do a custom look for me with colored acrylic. I really want orange in my equipment...
And yes all said and done I was not far behind buying a full system. That said I found a deal on my life reef skimmer I couldn't pass up. I could sell it now for more then I bought it for. But yes once you add everything up you get close to a complete system. If I look at my purchases I spent:
130 for reactors (Life reef includes them)
240 for return pump
200 for skimmer
350 for sump (might have been less but we will say 350)
So right there I am at 920 and that doesn't take into consideration of the plumbing parts as well. So for another 500 or so I could have had a more robust complete system and if I had payed full price for the skimmer I would have been only 200 or so short of custom. Looking back I went the wrong direction BUT when I bought I was VERY limited on size as I was going to do a 30x30 cube and most life reef would not have worked.
And even now at this point while Lifereef has a ton of functionality the look is a bit lacking and I want a show sump. I think I will pay more for Synergy or BAO to do a custom look for me with colored acrylic. I really want orange in my equipment...
soulpatch
New member
My clown who has always lived in the back left of the nano has moved his home to be on the right glass next to the big tank. I imagine he is looking through the glass to the tank like I do when I get to ride in exotic cars at the track and such. Well I think he will get his wish tonight and be moved over along with my tail spot.
Some of my corals that live on the sand bed will be moved over as well after dipping of course. I need to start to get the other corals I am keeping off of my rock work and might need to take a few pieces to my LFS so I can use his saw.
Need to get some peroxide tonight for dipping and get into it. The big tank is ready so it is time to complete the move. I need to remove some of the rock from it so I can fit my frag rack. Once the corals and fish are out I will dose the tank with peroxide to kill off remaining algae that would be on the walls, sand, or such in the tank.
Some of my corals that live on the sand bed will be moved over as well after dipping of course. I need to start to get the other corals I am keeping off of my rock work and might need to take a few pieces to my LFS so I can use his saw.
Need to get some peroxide tonight for dipping and get into it. The big tank is ready so it is time to complete the move. I need to remove some of the rock from it so I can fit my frag rack. Once the corals and fish are out I will dose the tank with peroxide to kill off remaining algae that would be on the walls, sand, or such in the tank.
soulpatch
New member
Thanks. Though as we all know the wait to get them in the tank is the worst part. I will be going up tonight to check on the fish, pay for it, and go over how I want the QT done with the owner.
My tangs and cardinals are all doing well in the current QT. Have another switch of the TTM tanks tonight which is the last tank they will go through for TTM. I will swap them into the final QT tank Tuesday night and begin the Prazi treatment. Then a period of observation.
MY LFS already knows to expect me tomorrow to discus the fish but also to give him my GSP and Paly rocks that I have so he can frag and sell. Should offset some of my costs slightly. Probably take my zoa rocks up as well to sell off whatever he wants off of them.
Excited to use his gryphon saw to get my acans off of the rocks where needed. Regardless my clown and tail spot should be going in within the next hour if I can catch them in the tank and my tests show I am still golden on my numbers. I will be moving over as much of my CUC as I can grab as well.
Water changes for everything tomorrow as I need to make up more water. This whole going through $50+ in salt monthly is new to me. So used to a nano where a bucket lasted for 6 months to now where it lasts perhaps a month depending on what all I am doing. Guess it is a good problem to have.
My tangs and cardinals are all doing well in the current QT. Have another switch of the TTM tanks tonight which is the last tank they will go through for TTM. I will swap them into the final QT tank Tuesday night and begin the Prazi treatment. Then a period of observation.
MY LFS already knows to expect me tomorrow to discus the fish but also to give him my GSP and Paly rocks that I have so he can frag and sell. Should offset some of my costs slightly. Probably take my zoa rocks up as well to sell off whatever he wants off of them.
Excited to use his gryphon saw to get my acans off of the rocks where needed. Regardless my clown and tail spot should be going in within the next hour if I can catch them in the tank and my tests show I am still golden on my numbers. I will be moving over as much of my CUC as I can grab as well.
Water changes for everything tomorrow as I need to make up more water. This whole going through $50+ in salt monthly is new to me. So used to a nano where a bucket lasted for 6 months to now where it lasts perhaps a month depending on what all I am doing. Guess it is a good problem to have.
soulpatch
New member
UGH I hate this stage of waiting while the tank matures and the livestock is sitting by in QT.
I did not have any luck catching my clown or tail spot as they ran into the rock in my nano. We are planning a full kitchen gut and remodel so things at the house are hectic and I did not have time to pull the rock and get my corals off.
Thankfully I should have some time tonight to start dipping in peroxide to get the process moving. I will be doing this with the coral encrusted rocks for the next couple days to nuke the algae. Couple of larger water changes in the tank and I should be good by Sunday to start to transfer.
It will also be a good test of my current refugium to be stripping the water faster then and spores left on the corals I transfer to take hold. I have had basically zero algae in the big tank thus far and wish to keep it that way.
All in all by the end of this weekend I will have the tank transfer finished from nano to big tank. Pics will of course be coming I promise.
I did not have any luck catching my clown or tail spot as they ran into the rock in my nano. We are planning a full kitchen gut and remodel so things at the house are hectic and I did not have time to pull the rock and get my corals off.
Thankfully I should have some time tonight to start dipping in peroxide to get the process moving. I will be doing this with the coral encrusted rocks for the next couple days to nuke the algae. Couple of larger water changes in the tank and I should be good by Sunday to start to transfer.
It will also be a good test of my current refugium to be stripping the water faster then and spores left on the corals I transfer to take hold. I have had basically zero algae in the big tank thus far and wish to keep it that way.
All in all by the end of this weekend I will have the tank transfer finished from nano to big tank. Pics will of course be coming I promise.
exoticfinder
New member
Use an old 55 gallon tank for refugium/sump- cheap plumbing parts and plenty of room for a skimmer/reactor...
exoticfinder
New member
soulpatch
New member
I am not sure what you are referencing Exoticfinder.
That said when I do eventually go to a different sump I would go with a custom build. I can't see myself ever using a stock tank and modifying it. I like my stands to look good and am willing to spend the money on that even if added functionality is minimal.
That said when I do eventually go to a different sump I would go with a custom build. I can't see myself ever using a stock tank and modifying it. I like my stands to look good and am willing to spend the money on that even if added functionality is minimal.
mav3rick478
Premium Member
Can't wait to see livestock in the new tank!!!
soulpatch
New member
I still have some more corals to make the move but as of right now those who have moved are slowly opening up. My brain is still being a bit difficult but at least his color is coming back in. My acans were all looking for food last night. The only potential loss I might have is a small ricordea and my one yuma. The ric popped off of the frag plug and is no where to be seen right now. The Yuma I damaged its underside removing from the one rock. As this point he has color so I am hoping he pulls through.
A couple of my acans had to have heads cut off of the rocks and as such they are a little upset. I suspect that I will leave on the sand bed for another week or so. I need them to adjust to the tank and being fragged so I dont want to worry about flow and lighting too much right now.
All three tanks had water changes over the weekend. Going to start my weekly big changes on the big tank with a mid week smaller change at this point to keep everything stable. Corals are too small to worry about calc and alk depletion at this point as I was able to keep up in my nano with 5 gallon water change and kalk.
The remainder of my fish in QT are looking good. All are eating a mix of pellet, LRS reef frenzy, and mysis. I can not wait to see them swiming in the big tank though. The prazi is done as it was 5 days today. Now just observation and water changes for another 3 weeks or so.
As for changes made to the tank....none this past week.
Updates coming - I still need to mount my electronics panel sliders to the stand. I just need time to break out my table/mitre/circular saws to cut some wood spacers.
I also want to change some things on my water station. Right now I need to flip pieces to pump water out vs. mix. I am going to swap out some of the pipe and get 2 more valves to to it right so I dont need to change out anything.
As an aside man glad I got the 6 stage upgrade kit to my BRS. I am able to completly bleed out a DI resin tube and when I start to see the second tube changing I can flip them and swap out the depleted one. Just a bit of cost savings being able to fully one DI resin. I need to swap one now actually... Making so much more water to keep up with demand means those savings will go a long way.
I might break out the DSLR for some quality pics later this week once the corals open back up.
A couple of my acans had to have heads cut off of the rocks and as such they are a little upset. I suspect that I will leave on the sand bed for another week or so. I need them to adjust to the tank and being fragged so I dont want to worry about flow and lighting too much right now.
All three tanks had water changes over the weekend. Going to start my weekly big changes on the big tank with a mid week smaller change at this point to keep everything stable. Corals are too small to worry about calc and alk depletion at this point as I was able to keep up in my nano with 5 gallon water change and kalk.
The remainder of my fish in QT are looking good. All are eating a mix of pellet, LRS reef frenzy, and mysis. I can not wait to see them swiming in the big tank though. The prazi is done as it was 5 days today. Now just observation and water changes for another 3 weeks or so.
As for changes made to the tank....none this past week.
Updates coming - I still need to mount my electronics panel sliders to the stand. I just need time to break out my table/mitre/circular saws to cut some wood spacers.
I also want to change some things on my water station. Right now I need to flip pieces to pump water out vs. mix. I am going to swap out some of the pipe and get 2 more valves to to it right so I dont need to change out anything.
As an aside man glad I got the 6 stage upgrade kit to my BRS. I am able to completly bleed out a DI resin tube and when I start to see the second tube changing I can flip them and swap out the depleted one. Just a bit of cost savings being able to fully one DI resin. I need to swap one now actually... Making so much more water to keep up with demand means those savings will go a long way.
I might break out the DSLR for some quality pics later this week once the corals open back up.
soulpatch
New member
No clue why but lost my powder blue today. He was eating as of last night and I came home today to see him in the fillter in the QT tank. Out of the warranty period for liveaquaria but such is life. My LFS is going to order me in 2 more tangs and I will figure out what to spend my LA credit on later. Probably use it to order in more particular CUC when I need.
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