Zippy has a 120

[Zippy]

So I've been on this site for a while, mostly watching. Thought I would post some shots of my 120 bare bottom system with a 29 high for reef octopus skimmer and sand/macro algae attached to a 40 breeder with sand and macro algae, then back to display.

 

[Zippy]

More

 

[Zippy]

More

System has been up since February of 2014. Dosing 2 part at 185 ml per day. A lot of that is taken by the halimeda algae I grow. I do about 45 gal water changes in 15 gal amounts 3 times a week. Use IO salt and led lighting IT2040 4 units at 120 watts. Blue max at 85% 4 hours, white color at 55%. Sit 20 inches above water and temp,is at 76-77. Had a phos spike 3mos ago and still recovering color. I care less about named corals and more about what does well in my system. I even like so called ugly ones cause in gardening when placed against another they help each other pop out and look better.

Cheers,
Pete

 

[luke33]

Looks fantastic Pete! I agree on the named stuff, it doesn't really matter if it looks good.

 

[Zippy]

One last one... A nice shot with my I5 floating on a spy glass.

 

[duke62]

I would say 70 percent of my corals are wild corals and some look better then the names stuff /-) tank looks amazing dude

 

[Zippy]

Looks fantastic Pete! I agree on the named stuff, it doesn't really matter if it looks good.

Thanks, I'm in. Happy spot with it!

I would say 70 percent of my corals are wild corals and some look better then the names stuff /-) tank looks amazing dude

Thanks!

 

[914joe]

Nice and pretty!!! Tanks looks awesome and nice job with the clean sump.

 

[kschweer]

Nice to see you posting over here Pete. Tank looks great as usual!

 

[Zippy]

Here are my sump tanks now....not as clean but good with macro.

Here is my lighting, 4 IT2040 units

The way the tank works is water drains from the corner overflow in the DT, it flows down through the pipe in the upper left corner and through the wall.

It then dumps into the 29 high where a 200 micron sock filters chunks and then meets my skimmer.

 

[Zippy]

Once it passes through the skimmer section it passively flows through a pipe in the far left corner and gravity dumps into the 40 breeder below the DT. A return pump in the far corner sends water back to the DT. Doing it this way allows my system to be after rock work 158gal. The main DT sits on 2x6 floor joist parallel to length of tank. I was concerned with weight and made two knee walls in the below crawl space at either end. This way each side rests on a load bearing wall. The slab below is 5 inches atop gravel should be fine.

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The rock work is macro rocks with double cut sides so I could dry stack a step scape for maximum flat surface to grow coral. Once it's covered you never notice rock work.IMHO

Here we are today 11 months later

 

[SeahorseKeeper]

Your tank looks great!! Glad to see you posting over here!!

 

[Zippy]

Your tank looks great!! Glad to see you posting over here!!

Thank you Krista.

 

[Zippy]

I really like my spy glass and my i5 phone.

 

[Zippy]

Still my favorite

These are ok

 

[kschweer]

Love that echinata Pete!

 

[lionfish5740]

Gorgeous tank!

 

[dfm34]

Have you done bare bottom before. I am contemplating for my build but never did I always had sand do you find any issues with bb??

 

[Zippy]

Have you done bare bottom before. I am contemplating for my build but never did I always had sand do you find any issues with bb??

I had a 55 before with sand and had issues of it getting blown around. The bottom has a piece of starboard to protect the glass from the rocks and allows me to scrape trim corals encrusting on the floor. The system still has sand in the 29 gal and 40 gal sump. Overall I love the starboard bottom, coraline encrusts and blends in with the rocks.

 

[dfm34]

Thanks for the info I will look into the starboard. Good luck with the build I will follow along. Dan