LDog74
Active Member
Quick background... Been reefing for the past 10 years. Started out with a Red Sea Max 40. Then moved to a Cadlights 50 gallon cube. Ended up moving a year ago and my wife wanted me to set up a tank again in the new house. I really didn't think about it other than I wanted something simple and rushed out a bought a Waterbox 40 AIO. The tank is 8 months old & running great with a pair of clowns, salon wrasse & flame angel. I have a few SPS's & LPS a nice rainbow anemone. All is great right! But...
I wish I would have taken my time and really decided what I want long term. This hobby sucks you in and the more success you have the more you want in terms of fish & coral.
Well now I know what i want and that's a bigger tank with lots of SPS & cool fish
.
Note: If you are reading this and considering a new tank, picture what you really want that tank to look like and then buy. Don't go out and buy first.
So now I know I want to go big or what I believe is big in IMO. I start looking at the Waterbox 220.6, Red Sea XXL750, Red Sea XXL900 & a custom build Crystal Dynamics. I was leaning towards the Red Sea XXL900 because it's less expensive than a CDA custom. But COVID was just starting to hit. I didn't want to pay for something upfront and have no idea when it was going to come in due to COVID. I ended up going with Crystal Dynamics tank and so far really happy I did.
Zoya & Trent at CDA have been excellent to work with so far. Very responsive, knowledgeable & helpful. I should also mention I live about 20 min from CDA so I also like the fact they are local & we are supporting a local business during these strange & difficult times. Tank is to be completed week of May 4th.
Enough of the back ground & on to the build.
Tank:
Crystal Dynamics 78 x 28 x 26 Starphire glass /Eurobraced tank. Display is 225 gallons. Total volume is 265 gallons
Stand CDA steel frame wrapped with wood (Shaker Style) white semi gloss paint, electrical cabinet & stainless steel feet levelers
36” Modular Marine external overflow
1" Bean animal plumbing with 3 port manifold (went 1" due to quieter vs 1-1/2 )
Lifegard ProMax 55 watt UV plumbed by CDA (more for water clarity than protozoa but nice to have option for both)
Trigger 44 Sump with Kessil H380 refugium light
2 Neptune COR 20. One straight return & one for UV /Manifold plumbed back to tank. This allows for dual return pumps should one fail.
Skimmer Red Sea RS900 (hard to beat for the money based on reviews) This can always be changed out down the road if needed. The tank & a few other things can't...
Internal Tank Flow: Red Sea ReefWave 45 x 2
DD Jumpguard Pro
Monitoring
Apex Control System
Neptune Trident
Neptune DOS for KH & CA
Neptune DOS Automatic water change
EB832 x 2
Neptune ATK v2
FFM modules x 2
FS100 x 2 One for UV & the other for return pump
Neptune Auto feeder
FS50 x 2 for Manifold ports
Lighting
This was difficult... Do I go with Kessil, AI, EcoTech?? I don't want to be limited with the type of corals (mostly SPS) and obviously I want them to thrive. I read countless threads and the more you read the more confused you get. I will say however Reef 2 Reef is so helpful and everyone on here offers such great advise.
After a few PM's and doing some research I decided to go with @danlu_gt & Reefi lighting. The lights are like a piece of art, really nice looking.
4 each Reefi Duo Extremes
Daniel even pre-programmed them for me which was awesome.
I built a custom floating canopy that would hinge up. I got the idea from @Gablami and his 260 gallon build.
I will post some pictures of the canopy & lights soon.
Aquascape
Marco Rock assorted reef saver, shelf, foundation, I am guessing 100 lbs total. Reef scape has been built and has been cycling for 6-8 weeks 55 gallon water storage bins. Used E Macro 400 cement to build scape. Photos coming.
Sand 100 lbs special grade arag-alive.
New fish additions (Have been in quarantine tanks for past 4-5 weeks) COVID19 has been excellent for this. No way I could have done it as I usually travel for work often. Fish purchased from TSM Aquatics. I like that their fish are pre quarantined & to me worth the peach of mind.
1 Gem Tang
1 Powder Blue Tang
1 Whitetail Bristletooth Tang
1 Golden Rhomboid wrasse
1 Melanurus wrasse
1 Filamented flasher wrasse
Will add more color later but wanted to start with the Tangs for algae control
Additional add-on
TradeWind 1/3HP + drop in chiller
InkBird Heater Controler
BRS 600 Watt Titanium Heater
more to come.
Thanks for everyone who post on Reef 2 Reef it really does help more people than you know. And thanks to my wife for agreeing to this build!
Lance
I wish I would have taken my time and really decided what I want long term. This hobby sucks you in and the more success you have the more you want in terms of fish & coral.
Well now I know what i want and that's a bigger tank with lots of SPS & cool fish
.Note: If you are reading this and considering a new tank, picture what you really want that tank to look like and then buy. Don't go out and buy first.
So now I know I want to go big or what I believe is big in IMO. I start looking at the Waterbox 220.6, Red Sea XXL750, Red Sea XXL900 & a custom build Crystal Dynamics. I was leaning towards the Red Sea XXL900 because it's less expensive than a CDA custom. But COVID was just starting to hit. I didn't want to pay for something upfront and have no idea when it was going to come in due to COVID. I ended up going with Crystal Dynamics tank and so far really happy I did.
Zoya & Trent at CDA have been excellent to work with so far. Very responsive, knowledgeable & helpful. I should also mention I live about 20 min from CDA so I also like the fact they are local & we are supporting a local business during these strange & difficult times. Tank is to be completed week of May 4th.
Enough of the back ground & on to the build.
Tank:
Crystal Dynamics 78 x 28 x 26 Starphire glass /Eurobraced tank. Display is 225 gallons. Total volume is 265 gallons
Stand CDA steel frame wrapped with wood (Shaker Style) white semi gloss paint, electrical cabinet & stainless steel feet levelers
36” Modular Marine external overflow
1" Bean animal plumbing with 3 port manifold (went 1" due to quieter vs 1-1/2 )
Lifegard ProMax 55 watt UV plumbed by CDA (more for water clarity than protozoa but nice to have option for both)
Trigger 44 Sump with Kessil H380 refugium light
2 Neptune COR 20. One straight return & one for UV /Manifold plumbed back to tank. This allows for dual return pumps should one fail.
Skimmer Red Sea RS900 (hard to beat for the money based on reviews) This can always be changed out down the road if needed. The tank & a few other things can't...
Internal Tank Flow: Red Sea ReefWave 45 x 2
DD Jumpguard Pro
Monitoring
Apex Control System
Neptune Trident
Neptune DOS for KH & CA
Neptune DOS Automatic water change
EB832 x 2
Neptune ATK v2
FFM modules x 2
FS100 x 2 One for UV & the other for return pump
Neptune Auto feeder
FS50 x 2 for Manifold ports
Lighting
This was difficult... Do I go with Kessil, AI, EcoTech?? I don't want to be limited with the type of corals (mostly SPS) and obviously I want them to thrive. I read countless threads and the more you read the more confused you get. I will say however Reef 2 Reef is so helpful and everyone on here offers such great advise.
After a few PM's and doing some research I decided to go with @danlu_gt & Reefi lighting. The lights are like a piece of art, really nice looking.
4 each Reefi Duo Extremes
Daniel even pre-programmed them for me which was awesome.
I built a custom floating canopy that would hinge up. I got the idea from @Gablami and his 260 gallon build.
I will post some pictures of the canopy & lights soon.
Aquascape
Marco Rock assorted reef saver, shelf, foundation, I am guessing 100 lbs total. Reef scape has been built and has been cycling for 6-8 weeks 55 gallon water storage bins. Used E Macro 400 cement to build scape. Photos coming.
Sand 100 lbs special grade arag-alive.
New fish additions (Have been in quarantine tanks for past 4-5 weeks) COVID19 has been excellent for this. No way I could have done it as I usually travel for work often. Fish purchased from TSM Aquatics. I like that their fish are pre quarantined & to me worth the peach of mind.
1 Gem Tang
1 Powder Blue Tang
1 Whitetail Bristletooth Tang
1 Golden Rhomboid wrasse
1 Melanurus wrasse
1 Filamented flasher wrasse
Will add more color later but wanted to start with the Tangs for algae control
Additional add-on
TradeWind 1/3HP + drop in chiller
InkBird Heater Controler
BRS 600 Watt Titanium Heater
more to come.
Thanks for everyone who post on Reef 2 Reef it really does help more people than you know. And thanks to my wife for agreeing to this build!
Lance
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