SPotter
Active Member
So here I go again with another final upgrade build. This is my first build thread on Reef2Reef so I am looking forward to meeting some new members on here. Here is a little info on my previous system.... I had set up 72x36x28 in March of 2012 that was running until June 2013 when my wife and I decided to sell our home in NJ and move to SC. At which point I sold the tank, stand, sump and lighting as well as all of my livestock. We are now in the process of building a house that should be done February/March 2014 and if I have it my way, the new tank will be delivered the day after the closing….I've been going nuts not having a tank to tinker with. Now onto the new system……
Display: 96"x36"x24" still deciding on glass/acrylic and who will build the tank for me.
Stand: Steel
Filtration: Rubbermaid Stock tanks…100g sump, 100g fuge and 150g live rock bin
Lighting: Going old school with 4 x 250w Metal Halides and VHO Super Actinic.
Circulation: My wife asked that on this tank there be none to as little as possible equipment in the tank so I am going to go with 2 closed loop systems powered by DC pumps. My goal on this tank will be to concentrate more on chaotic flow patterns than on overall turnover rates.
Return Pump: Not sure yet
Skimmer: I will be selling my ATB 10.5 because it won't be big enough and will be going with an external skimmer. Based on some recent reviews and feedback by some reefers that I really trust I will be going with a Skimz skimmer.
UV Sterilizer: 120w Emperor Aquatics HO UV
Fish Room: Since there are no basements in the Low Country and I am not a huge fan of having the equipment under the tank I will be running 6 pvc lines from where the tank is, thru my crawl space and into my garage where I will be building a fish room. I thought about not building the fish room but the summers are hot with daily temps that start at 85 for the low and reach high 90's so cooling would be an issue. Dimensions of the fish room have not been finalized yet but it will have its own cooling system thru the use of a mini split ac system.
Water Storage: 2 x 165g water storage tanks
Water Changes: I will be doing daily wc's with a LiterMeter3 that I picked up with the water storage tanks. I will do a bulk water change every 3 weeks to vacuum the sand and remove detritus
Dosing: Given the size of the system two part will be very expensive. I will probably start with two part and then switch over to my MTC ProCal reactor when the demand becomes too expensive for dosing.
Stocking Plans: I haven't gotten that far yet but it will be a mixed reef tank. My plan is to do something different from what I did on the last tank and thats take it really slow. While it will be tempting I will not add any of the more difficult sps until the tank reaches the 9-12 month mark from when it has completed cycling and I am able to show consistent and stable parameters for an extended period of time.
Im sure that some of the items listed above will change between now and the time I flip the power on for this system but we will have a lot of fun between now and then. This build will go slow but hopefully by late March we will have some water flowing in the tanks. I will post more information tomorrow about the flow diverters in my next post.
Display: 96"x36"x24" still deciding on glass/acrylic and who will build the tank for me.
Stand: Steel
Filtration: Rubbermaid Stock tanks…100g sump, 100g fuge and 150g live rock bin
Lighting: Going old school with 4 x 250w Metal Halides and VHO Super Actinic.
Circulation: My wife asked that on this tank there be none to as little as possible equipment in the tank so I am going to go with 2 closed loop systems powered by DC pumps. My goal on this tank will be to concentrate more on chaotic flow patterns than on overall turnover rates.
Return Pump: Not sure yet
Skimmer: I will be selling my ATB 10.5 because it won't be big enough and will be going with an external skimmer. Based on some recent reviews and feedback by some reefers that I really trust I will be going with a Skimz skimmer.
UV Sterilizer: 120w Emperor Aquatics HO UV
Fish Room: Since there are no basements in the Low Country and I am not a huge fan of having the equipment under the tank I will be running 6 pvc lines from where the tank is, thru my crawl space and into my garage where I will be building a fish room. I thought about not building the fish room but the summers are hot with daily temps that start at 85 for the low and reach high 90's so cooling would be an issue. Dimensions of the fish room have not been finalized yet but it will have its own cooling system thru the use of a mini split ac system.
Water Storage: 2 x 165g water storage tanks
Water Changes: I will be doing daily wc's with a LiterMeter3 that I picked up with the water storage tanks. I will do a bulk water change every 3 weeks to vacuum the sand and remove detritus
Dosing: Given the size of the system two part will be very expensive. I will probably start with two part and then switch over to my MTC ProCal reactor when the demand becomes too expensive for dosing.
Stocking Plans: I haven't gotten that far yet but it will be a mixed reef tank. My plan is to do something different from what I did on the last tank and thats take it really slow. While it will be tempting I will not add any of the more difficult sps until the tank reaches the 9-12 month mark from when it has completed cycling and I am able to show consistent and stable parameters for an extended period of time.
Im sure that some of the items listed above will change between now and the time I flip the power on for this system but we will have a lot of fun between now and then. This build will go slow but hopefully by late March we will have some water flowing in the tanks. I will post more information tomorrow about the flow diverters in my next post.
