The Reef Central Corner Club Thread

[boret]

Wow, i'm inspired after reading this thread!! I might be looking to downsize from my 125 to a 92 corner if I end up moving, and had a few questions for the corner experts if you guys dont mind.

I'm thinking I can use a lot of stuff from my 125 but just want to make sure before I pull the trigger and buy the tank. Would a pair of Koralia 4's be too much for a mixed tank with mostly LPS? is a 20 tall a good size sump for a 92 corner, or should I be on the look out for something else? would a mag 18 be too much as a return pump if it was also feeding my skimmer and phosban / carbon reactors? I saw a few details on how to DIY stand doors and light racks, but are there any other threads that go into more detail?

And lastly, lighting. I have 6 60" T5's over my 125 and i LOVE them. I saw a couple neat ideas on how to cram in bulbs, but how would you all recommend I go about this . . . if at all? It seems like the easiest thing to do for these bad mamajammas is stick a 14k 400w halide with a beefy reflector over it and call it a day, but I have never used halides before.

Thanks!

~Will.

Hi iLLwiLL welcome to the thread!

Corner tanks are tricky, unless you have limited space, rectangular tanks are easier to light, setup, provide flow for and photograph. The round glass make it a pain to take decent pictures!

If you are set on the 92, and if you are willing to deal with the challenges, then it can be rewarding.

You can see my build thread HERE. I go over lights, flow, close loop, canopy and other things in there and might help ya.

I think the Mag18 is too much. I was using a 9.5 successfully before I added a 75 gal sump, a 20 gal prop tank and a 20 gal fuge and decided to replace all of my internal pumps with an external Dart. Remember that you want the water to linger in the sump so the skimmer can be effective.

I am kind of against using the Return Pump to do much of the water movement in the main tank. I am very happy with the performance I get out of the Close Loop.

As far as lights, I am sure you can light the tank up with T5s but I have no experience with that. For me a single 400w MH is plenty. It is also cheaper to replace 1 bulb every year, instead of replacing 6 T5s. However, with Halides heat is an issue. The Mag18 you are using already adds quite a bit of heat to your water column. The MH will definitely raise the temp a few degrees. If your sump is going to be inside the stand then you will have problems with heat unless you use a chiller.

 

[iLLwiLL]

I realize the complications with these really awesome tanks, but i'm always up for a challenge. I heard a lot about the mags being noisy and running hot . . . I replaced an iwaki 40 wmd 40rlxt with this mag 18, and the only thing I can hear now is trickling water . . . and the real kicker is my daily max average temp dropped by 1.5*!!

The sump under my 125 is only a 20 tall, and for "filtration" I use a large filter sock, a bunch of live rock rubble the water is forced through via bubble traps, and a recirculating asm G3 fed from the drain (that and a LOT of live rock in the display). I dont really see "dwell time" as a problem going a little faster in my particular setup, but I could be wrong.

I like the way you think about the annual cost of bulbs, I probably will try a 400 watt halide at either 14k or 20k . . . I will need to see them in person to decide for sure tho. thanks for the link, i'll be sure to give it a read.

~Will.

 

[Michael]

welcome to the club will, go for it, imo flow is one of the hardest things to get right, hang on its lighting, umm- no maybe fitting in a sump, actually aquascaping is a pain haha, jk Will, you get my point, go for it, HEY JIM, hope things work out fella, all my best to you pal.

 

[reefscape15]

Thanks Michael. It's nice to have the support.

M.L. Fish - Your tank is really looking great! I love the column type rock work. It gives a great look into the dept of these tanks. It's quite hard to find a layout that will make the tank look as deep as it really is, but you've managed quite well to show that off!

 

[Misled]

Hey Jim, understand what you are going through, been there, done that. It isn't easy, but think of yourself.

Will, I'll get you a pic of how much crap you can get under a 54. I wouldn't have thought it possible to have as much as I do.

 

[charleskeller]

That setup is just perfect for that spot. It looks like the back of your tank is the longest dimension, which make me think it's even harder to manage plumbing and space issues:eek1: I was thinking the the rear corner was a 90 degree like the one I'm planning. Dropping the sump in from the top sounds like a great idea.

I'll look into "Perfecto" brand and see if their still around.

Just for a bit of a reality check, I got a quote from a custom tank manufacturer for the tank, stand, filtration, and lighting for.............................................................................................................wait for it...............................................................................................wait....................$9800.00!!!!!!:eek1::eek1::eek1::eek1::eek1:

WAY TO RICH FOR MY BLOOD!!! Much less trying to get my wife to swallow that kinda number! I need to do this on a reasonable budget.

$9,800 will buy a lot of corals!!! I had a custom tank quoted to replace this one and it only came back to be $350 or so. I think they are planning to build one for themselves with that price.

The back is a 90 deg, it sits off the wall about 1.75" side for the PVC drain elbow to come out of the side. you have the trim on the floor anyways that keeps the tank from going up all the way.

Just a shot from the hip but here is what I would guess on setting up a tank like this one...

Used Tank/Stand $200-250
Diamond Hole Cutter/Overflow Box $80
Used 250w Light $200-250
Custom Acrylic Sump $100-300 (depending on if you make it or not)
Return Pump - $60
Misc Plumbing parts - $40
Misc Equipment - $100
Skimmer $150
50lbs Rock - $150

Total - $1080-1380

I'll sell you mine for half what they are asking!

 

[M. L. Fish]

Thanks Michael. It's nice to have the support.

M.L. Fish - Your tank is really looking great! I love the column type rock work. It gives a great look into the dept of these tanks. It's quite hard to find a layout that will make the tank look as deep as it really is, but you've managed quite well to show that off!

Thanks Jim. I can't take the all the credit though. I just drilled the rock; the wife did the 'scaping. She's got a better eye for that kind of thing.

 

[Misled]

Under a 54.

 

[reefscape15]

Jesse - I really like your sump! Do you have any pictures of how you put it all together? I've been trying to plan mine out but can't seem to come up with much of a good solution. I have a 20gal high, but i don't think that would fit unless I cut out some of the stand. I can brace the outer and upper edges of the stand, which would allow me to cut some of the back out. Is it really worth the risk of collapsing the stand to get a 20gal instead of a 10gal? I only plan on putting in a skimmer and return pump. My fuge is HOB, and i'd like to move it into the sump, but if I don't have room, it will still stay HOB. I've also been thinking more and more of just heading to walmart and picking up the largest plastic tub that will fit in my stand. Skimmer will end up being as large as will fit in the sump. Height is really the only issue there.

 

[iLLwiLL]

Anyone tried a bare bottom in a corner tank? If so I would love to see some pics. Also, how do you guys clean the front glass? Do mag floats work, or are you stuck scrubbing and scraping it old school?

~Will.

 

[Misled]

Jim, the sump is a Tecnor. I picked it up from a local reefer.

The basic set up is still the same. The overflow feeds the skimmer through this thing I made.

I flipped sides for the skimmer because it gave me a little more room. Now the gate output just goes to the sump insted of to the fuge. A MJ 900 feeds the fuge and a MJ 400 feeds the 2 reactors.

This was the original plan. Just made the tweeks after I put it in.

 

[Misled]

Will, sorry I forgot. I haven't seen a BB tank, but why not???? Also I use a mag float and it works fine. Also use a single edge razzor for coralline.

 

[boret]

I use a Mag Float with the Razor attachment.

 

[reefscape15]

Thank you Jesse! It gives me a little bit of an idea on how i'd like to set mine up. I'm figuring around $300 for the skimmer, and everything else is pretty minimal cost. I've been looking into Vertex IN-280, SWC-250, Reef Octo Extreme-200. They are all pretty much just about the same size, and the SWC and Reef Octo are just copies of the MSX skimmers. I'm kind of in favor of the Vertex mostly because it uses a Seice pump. I think i'll end up just having the overflow dump into the skimmer section and have the skimmer output and the extra overflow water feed the fuge. Small section for return pump. I may end up doing dual reactors like you've done as well, but just the skimmer at first.

 

[reefscape15]

Jesse - is that your basement? And if so, what do you have a 8 or 10" water pipe in your home for?!?!?!?!

 

[reefscape15]

My bad it's the SWC and Reef Octo's that have the Seice pumps

 

[Misled]

I take care of a 9 floor high rise apartment building for my job. I also live there, or is it here?? Anyway, that's a 8inch fire main. I'll take a pic of the pump attached to it. I wonder how big of a skimmer I could put it on.

Hummmmmmmmmm.

 

[Misled]

So you need a pump that can put out 120 pounds of pressure 100 feet in the air!!!!

 

[Misled]

Jim, another thought I should have had is if you can, go with a skimmer that can be external. I have a bit of room on the empty side that one should fit in. I still may build a chamber for mine to go there.

 

[Hookup]

So you need a pump that can put out 120 pounds of pressure 100 feet in the air!!!!

You do not know how many times I've said.. .DAMN, if only I had a pump that can put out 120 psi at 100feet... :fun4:

Bet you can get one on ebay.