The_Rider - Zen Garden (~250g system)

the_rider

New member
I'm actually in the planning phase for my upgrade. I have a good idea of what I want but I would like to have your comments/tips.

I want to create a look inspired by Japanese Reef, so a lot of open space, minimum look in the display tank. I'm thinking about setting up a tank like that since mine was up, close to a year now. Since I was a newbie (still are), I didn't plan it perfectly. I'm really happy since my design didn't have major flaws but I didn't think about some details that are bothering me. So, in this setup, with my "experience", I know what and how I would like my setup to be, my preferences and etc.

1- My first tank was 48x18x30, I don't like that tall vs deep ratio. Tall is nice since when you are close to it, all of your vision field is cover by the tank (total Immersion lol) but since it's only 18 of depth, I have to create a big base and I don't have a lot of place for coral. For aquaspacing, in my taste, it's not ideal. I also found out that my favourite view was the side view where is 18 large x 48 deep, so I was planning of going all the way to a 48x48x20, after I receive my quote, I decide to downgrade a little bit :P lol

2- Second flaw is that I didn't plan a ATO, so I had a setup with a pump in the basement running a garden hose, but is a PITA to fold/unfold garden hose, bring up the stair, go down to start the pump hoping that i twill not fall on the floor, going up looking for it, going down closing it, going up to bring the hose down EACH DAY, so I'm topping at each 3-4 day with 10g of water approx. Less then ideal IMO. If it was automatic, will be less trouble :P

Went I was thinking about how to install an ATO without drilling my floor, the idea came up to my mind : Why not upgrade !!!! I can have what I want, better planning and etc.

The concept is to create a centerpiece/showpiece like it was a sculpture in a museum. A part of my basement will only be for the tank.

What I have planned :

Tank : 60x30x20 Rimless custom made by Miracles, central Internal Overflow,
Sump : In design phase, probably a MarineTech Sump custom made if I can afford it
Reservoir : 35g
Skimmer : I have a H&S replica, 2 pumps that I will use in the beginning, then I will upgrade later on to a ATB Cone or New deltec, didn't think about it yet
Controller : Profilux Plus II
Lighting : ATI SUNPOWER 6x54w
Phosban 150 x 2 : Charbon and maybe rowaphos.

I ran Rowa on my present tank, but since I didn't change it the last month due to my finals, I neglect the change, then when it was finish, I change the regular amount and my SPS bleach a little bit, due to the shock I suppose. 2 days after changing the GFO, I shut it down and my color came back 1 day later without any algae bloom. So I might only run GFO while I'm cycling then cut it down afterward, not sure yet.

I went with profilux because I want a ATO, which the profilux can do, I have a better controller that can do a lot more, that I can upgrade and etc.

The cost of it by selling my Jr, was 100$+probe to upgrade and I can control tunze pump as a +

I pick up the Profilux yesterday since they have a discount 599$ for the Profilux Plus II beginner pack instead of 699$. If I want to upgrade later on to a EX, the cost of the card is still less then buying the EX pack. The only down side was that I want the LAN pack but my LFS said we could work something out if I want to upgrade with a LAN card that would not cost me more then if I took the LAN pack in the beginning.

I'm planning to include later on :
Frag tank 22x22x12 or something like that
Balling Method with a profile doser

I tried to work something out with Sketch Up but it's not that great

OVERALL.jpg


And here some link about tank that I inspired from

Ed reef
http://reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?s=&threadid=1593987&perpage=25&pagenumber=1

Leonardo :
Formosa Reef
http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?s=&threadid=1216333&perpage=25&pagenumber=1
Lagoon
http://reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?s=&threadid=1421368

Glassbox design
http://glassbox-design.com/theglassbox/

http://glassbox-design.com/2009/the-alluring-reef-of-anagonbe/

I will try to detail as much as possible my build and why I went with a product instead of another. I really like to read build thread and to know why this person choose a product instead of another

English is my third language, so I may write some sentences that doesn't make sense mainly because either I'm trying to translate directly from French or because I don’t remember a word and I create a new one :P

I would really like any input from you guys , comments, questions, ideas, critiques


:D
 
Looks like you have a great plan already! :thumbsup:

If you follow those builds that have inspired you, you'll have an amazing reef :D

FWIW, I have an ATB cone skimmer, and it's the best thing I've ever purchsed for my reef! You will also be very happy once you have an ATO... it's makes life MUCH easier :smokin:

Other than that I look forward to watching your build!
 
Great start - just make sure you ask tons of questions and share ideas before it become too late and you're on the roll to a great tank !!
 
Thank you stunreefer, elijaher, ian and edreef !

I did read mcliffys2 a long time ago, will read it now :)

I was waiting to have my final quote before really asking questions :) should be tomorrow.
 
Just curious - based on your sketch-up, you have a great place for a inwall vs. peninsular??

Any reason why you decided on peninsular?
 
<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=15118110#post15118110 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by Ed Reef
Just curious - based on your sketch-up, you have a great place for a inwall vs. peninsular??

Any reason why you decided on peninsular?

I went with a peninsular because my current tank is setup as a peninsular and I like the fact that I can watch the tank from both long side + 1 short side. I have a couple of aquarium in my family (uncle(s)) and I really miss viewing it in peninsula, to my taste it's like something is missing.

Ideally, I would have gone like yours, central overflow, viewable 5 sides but I dont have enough space. When I will have my home I would probably do a 5 viewable sides.

I'm waiting for the quote for an external overflow atm, I would prefer external but I'm a little bit tight, will see how much it will cost extra.

I will keep you guys update on this hopefully today :P
 
<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=15118655#post15118655 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by Leonardo_
Good luck with the build! You have everything well planned already :)

Leonardo

Thanks Leonardo, I still have a lot to plan but with input by all you guys it should be a great tank :)

Update:
I got a quote on my stand which will be made out of 1.5" steel, powder coat and everything.

I'm working with my LFS to have a custom sump built out of acrylic with a unbreakable bottom made out of pvc, probe holder and everything

Will also go with a frag tank probably.

Here a question

How much height do I need for a frag tank ? dimensions will be 20x20 or 22x22 but im not sure of the height. Do I need more than 12 ?

I'm also thinking about putting a white material under the frag tank to reflect the light so that my color receive more light, any though on this ? Bad or good ?

It's suppose to be good since it will reflect like sand but a little bit better i think. My only concern is if I put my frag in there, they will acclimate to a stronger and more even light from top and bottom but when I will put then in my tank, I would have the same reflection and I'm scared that they will turn brown because of that.

Thanks :)
 
12" is enough for a frag tank IMO. You can go shallower but then it is harder to create indirect, turbulent flow.
I would always use white or reflective material under the tank if you keep it BB :) I think it won't be a problem afterward when you transfer them to the tank, they will adapt to the new conditions soon and I wouldn't be worried about browning out. The undersides of colonies always are a bit browner ;)

Leonardo
 
A little update, not on the tank but on future addition lol

I was taking on my LFS's forum and someone asked what I would like to keep ? I'm already happy with my fish list, I would like to add lyretail and couple of purple firefish but they seems to be jumper so I'm not sure ... I know that Ed add 2 to his tank to, so if his doesn't jump I might try some :P lol

For a long time, before planning to upgrade, I was wandering about maybe adding an angel or butterfly. Since i think im already fully stocked/overstock, I didn't really put much effort into it, but today I came accros the multibar angel (Centropyge multifasciata ), been researching on it and I think I found my new addition :o It will be a huge challenge but once my tank will be transfer and everything, I would as my LFS to order some, I think they are already planning to keep one in their personal 800g, they will have direct experience to guide me.

Does someone kept/is keeping a Multibar ? I read that they were somewhat reefsafe since they come from deeper water, they should nip a lot on SPS and long tentacles LPS ?

Thank, Quotes should be in later today or tomorrow so I will keep you guys posted :)
 
I hear they're very hard to keep long term... or even 6 months for that matter.....
 
I went to my lfs to talk about my tank and I had a great surprise went I arrive, A box was for me :)

DSC_0002-1.jpg


It's late so I will update this tomorrow but I'm really amaze by the quality !!
 
<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=15132821#post15132821 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by the_rider
Nobody have a multibar angel or any experience with them ? :S


Getting them to feed is an issue, from what I hear. Never tried them tho'
 
<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=15139821#post15139821 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by the_rider
I went to my lfs to talk about my tank and I had a great surprise went I arrive, A box was for me :)

DSC_0002-1.jpg


It's late so I will update this tomorrow but I'm really amaze by the quality !!



Hmmmm the 'guessing game' :lol: :lol: :lol:


Let me see....first it's too slim a box to be a skimmer so that's off my list. Next is too long a box to be a pump, so that's off my list as well. Next could it be your sump??


Oooooh wait a minute....could be your sump? No...they usually don't come packed this way and it's too slim a packagins so that's off my list too.



Now...could it be the ATI Sunpower?? :D
 
hahaha the guessing game was too easy :( lol

I'm so happy about my new fixture, I installed it on my tank couldn't really wait for the new tank lol and wow !!! I read a lot about it here on RC but in montreal I have the first fixture order by any lfs, probably someone got one but on forums and lfs I think I'm the first one to have a Sunpower. So I was really excited and didn't really know how it would come out.

Enough talking here some picture

DSC_0003.jpg


DSC_0004-2.jpg


DSC_0006.jpg


DSC_0018.jpg


Before
DSC_0048-1.jpg


After

DSC_0008-2.jpg


My fixture is around 20" above my tank right now and I'm missing one ati 12000k tube. The shipment was missing some tube and they sold so fast, so he gave me a 10 000k while he's waiting for the other batch to come in in 2 weeks.

My frogspawn is close because it was at night that I installed my fixture and I could resist to try my new light. I'm still in design mode for my tank but price wise I may go for an external overflow if I can find a way to reduce the cost a little bit ...

I will take some better picture tonight after work :)
 
Ooo I forgot to ask,

For the fan, do you guys receive a little power supply with 5-6 adaptors at the end ?? Which one I'm suppose to take because two are fitting (black and green) but neither one start my fans. Are they suppose to be always on ? Or only when it's getting hot ?

Thank you
 
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