LEDSIXTYFIVE
Active Member
Hey Reefers,
I've been reef keeping for about 5 years now and I've always wanted a bigger tank. My previous set up was a AGA 65G which had a depth of 18". This really wasn't enough considering they type of aquascapes I enjoy. I've decided to take the plunge and go for my dream set up! It will fit in an alcove on the second floor of my town home. I really enjoy a contemporary feel so this aquarium will reflect that. I'm going to post up some pictures at the bottom of this post but first I'll list my equipment and plan.
The List:
--CAD Lights custom 1/2 inch starphire euro braced 110G, ordered through my LFS. Dimensions are 44x24x24.
--The sump is also CAD lights, 36x18x12, it has 4 chambers.
--I will build the stand and canopy with the help of family and friends. Its going to 44x44x24, I want the display to be eye level for most viewers.
I'm 6'3" So I may have to step back a little to stand comfortably. Honestly I'll be in the tank more than looking anyways!
--The canopy will be 44x20x24 with a custom hinge that pulls the door out and up away from the tank. This will be tricky since my tank will be built into an alcove.
-- I'm going to use a Eheim 1262 for my return pump. I've only read great things about their pumps and for my size tank it was the most recommended in my Google research.
It will be a 1" return line that will split at the overflow for two separate locline nozzles. I'm weird and picky with flow so I'll make sure to have lots of slack to adjust where I want water movement.
-- I'll be running a Two Little Fishes media reactor and a Coralife UV sterilizer off of the Eheim return pump. They will have their own shut off valves to control flow and make maintenance easier. I really wanted to have one pump that fed all of my equipment so I could lower power consumption, routine maintenance, and stress.
-- My skimmer was a hard choice but I decided, after much consideration, to go for the Bubble Magus Curve 5. I am so excited to get a quality cone style skimmer!
-- The heater will be a Eheim 250w.
-- My dosing system is an off brand called Marine Magic. It is very precise with its dosing and has kept my previous 65g and current 30g tank parameters consistent. I will be using this until it dies. I've had it running for almost 2 1/2 years and the only maintenance needed has been changing out the tubing because it gets salt creep.
--My options for additional flow are very limited. I have about a 1/2' on either side of the tank from the wall. I wanted to run a couple vortech pumps but they require more space. I though about cutting into my dry wall to make room when I discovered the Maxspect Gyre. The total space needed for the magnet on the outside of the aquarium is only .5"!! I was more than thrilled to find this pump days before committing to cutting the walls!
-- Lighting was probably the hardest decision of all. I wanted something reliable, consistent, controllable, bright, cool, etc. I've been using T-5 and LED since I started reef keeping, but always the cheap stuff. With a build like this I wasn't about to use cheap stuff! I read review after review, article after article. I watched videos and comparisons. I probably spent 24+Hrs doing research on lights. It came down to two LED products, which you could probably guess which they are. Ecotech G3 and Aqua Illumination Hydra 52 series. I was still on a budget when considering both of these amazing lighting systems. I was originally planning on running one light in the middle of the tank, 12-16" above the water line. After contemplating this choice, I instead determined that I wanted two lights. I had a problem because two of either brand rings in over $1,000. I wanted to budget $1,000 or less on lighting, which is ambitious. I noticed AI also made a little brother to the 52, the Hydra 26. I was looking at the PAR values for the 26 and they were impressive. I will arrange the lights so they get maximum coverage at probably 8-10" above the water line.
Longs story short, I bought two Hydra 26's and their director for $700!
Okay, okay, ok... enough reading, here are some pictures!
The stand frame.
Perfect fit!
I've been reef keeping for about 5 years now and I've always wanted a bigger tank. My previous set up was a AGA 65G which had a depth of 18". This really wasn't enough considering they type of aquascapes I enjoy. I've decided to take the plunge and go for my dream set up! It will fit in an alcove on the second floor of my town home. I really enjoy a contemporary feel so this aquarium will reflect that. I'm going to post up some pictures at the bottom of this post but first I'll list my equipment and plan.
The List:
--CAD Lights custom 1/2 inch starphire euro braced 110G, ordered through my LFS. Dimensions are 44x24x24.
--The sump is also CAD lights, 36x18x12, it has 4 chambers.
--I will build the stand and canopy with the help of family and friends. Its going to 44x44x24, I want the display to be eye level for most viewers.
I'm 6'3" So I may have to step back a little to stand comfortably. Honestly I'll be in the tank more than looking anyways!
--The canopy will be 44x20x24 with a custom hinge that pulls the door out and up away from the tank. This will be tricky since my tank will be built into an alcove.
-- I'm going to use a Eheim 1262 for my return pump. I've only read great things about their pumps and for my size tank it was the most recommended in my Google research.
It will be a 1" return line that will split at the overflow for two separate locline nozzles. I'm weird and picky with flow so I'll make sure to have lots of slack to adjust where I want water movement.
-- I'll be running a Two Little Fishes media reactor and a Coralife UV sterilizer off of the Eheim return pump. They will have their own shut off valves to control flow and make maintenance easier. I really wanted to have one pump that fed all of my equipment so I could lower power consumption, routine maintenance, and stress.
-- My skimmer was a hard choice but I decided, after much consideration, to go for the Bubble Magus Curve 5. I am so excited to get a quality cone style skimmer!
-- The heater will be a Eheim 250w.
-- My dosing system is an off brand called Marine Magic. It is very precise with its dosing and has kept my previous 65g and current 30g tank parameters consistent. I will be using this until it dies. I've had it running for almost 2 1/2 years and the only maintenance needed has been changing out the tubing because it gets salt creep.
--My options for additional flow are very limited. I have about a 1/2' on either side of the tank from the wall. I wanted to run a couple vortech pumps but they require more space. I though about cutting into my dry wall to make room when I discovered the Maxspect Gyre. The total space needed for the magnet on the outside of the aquarium is only .5"!! I was more than thrilled to find this pump days before committing to cutting the walls!
-- Lighting was probably the hardest decision of all. I wanted something reliable, consistent, controllable, bright, cool, etc. I've been using T-5 and LED since I started reef keeping, but always the cheap stuff. With a build like this I wasn't about to use cheap stuff! I read review after review, article after article. I watched videos and comparisons. I probably spent 24+Hrs doing research on lights. It came down to two LED products, which you could probably guess which they are. Ecotech G3 and Aqua Illumination Hydra 52 series. I was still on a budget when considering both of these amazing lighting systems. I was originally planning on running one light in the middle of the tank, 12-16" above the water line. After contemplating this choice, I instead determined that I wanted two lights. I had a problem because two of either brand rings in over $1,000. I wanted to budget $1,000 or less on lighting, which is ambitious. I noticed AI also made a little brother to the 52, the Hydra 26. I was looking at the PAR values for the 26 and they were impressive. I will arrange the lights so they get maximum coverage at probably 8-10" above the water line.
Longs story short, I bought two Hydra 26's and their director for $700!
Okay, okay, ok... enough reading, here are some pictures!
The stand frame.
Perfect fit!
