250G DD SPS Reef

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Vern McCalla
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Updates 11/20/13

Some updates on the stand, and overall setup. Things are going well, no leaks just hoping I can get the overflows tuned to be silent. Also I have my fingers crossed that with the removal of the overflow things will still flow as they should. Anyway here are some pics. Im Almost there!
 

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hung

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Coming along nice and clean, what lights did you use for the sump area? I'm trying to find some LEDs for mine but haven't found a good solution.
 
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Vern McCalla
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Updates 11/20/13

As you can see got the tank and stand in the house, did a freshwater leak test and passed. I also decided to get it painted and added a small piece of trim which still needs paint but really helps with the overall look.

I am going to be running Ecobak pellets in a Cadlights Biopellet reactor. I currently use Ecobak with great success but am not to happy with the performance of my JNS alpha 2 reactor.

I am using Nature's Ocean Bio-Activ reef live sand, its a little small but it was the right price. So far 200lbs have been added and am waiting to see if this is enough to give me a 1.5'' sand bed. Hoping it doesn't turn into a sandstorm with the amount of flow I will be running through the tank.

Also my T5 retro kit arrived. 4x80w t5's run off a LET Miro DIY kit. Going to be using 2 Blue Plus and 2 True Actinic. Hoping I get the look I want paired with the Radion Pro's.

Starting the tank with Dr. Tim's One and Only, never used it but heard good things.

Decided to make some screen tops for the jumpers...
 

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Vern McCalla
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Updates 11/20/13

Here are some of the transformation shots of the sump. Got it from a buddy for free and spent about $100 on baffles and glue. Turned out great.
 

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Vern McCalla
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Updates 11/20/13

Here is the t5 kit and bulbs also the salt I currently use and will be using on the 250DD.. Hopefully next update there will be more tank shots with things to look at.
 

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Vern McCalla
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Coming along nice and clean, what lights did you use for the sump area? I'm trying to find some LEDs for mine but haven't found a good solution.
I Looked for leds for a while too, they all were battery operated which to me is a pain. These I got from HD, they are by Commercial Electric and are under cabinet lights. Not Led but very bright and easy to work with.
 

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Very nice and well done!
 

Sahin

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Subscribed. Nice build! :)
 

mtk

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Builds looking awesome. I know you already installed your under cabinet lights from HD. Here is a link to some leds you might like. You can also change the color of these. They have a few other styles also. The color change ones are not as bright white as the white only.
DIODER LED multi-use light - IKEA
 
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Builds looking awesome. I know you already installed your under cabinet lights from HD. Here is a link to some leds you might like. You can also change the color of these. They have a few other styles also. The color change ones are not as bright white as the white only.
DIODER LED multi-use light - IKEA
Thanks for the info!
 
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Very nice build, what return pump are you using?

Swore I took a pic of it before i plumbed the tank but i guess not. I am using a Diablo DC 10500, things a beast. Cause i took out the overflow i can only run it on the 3rd speed setting which in reality is just about perfect, the SeaSwirls can only handle 1300GPH.
 
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Updates 11/25/13

Just a few updates. I moved the rock in and aquascaped, i really wanted to main islands which will allow for a lot of fish space as well as a lot of coral space. Aquascaping is one of the hardest things for me becuase I feel like im never satisfied. I will just say im ok about how things turned out, I still may play around with some of the smaller islands as I think you can really do a lot of cool things with those. Tank has begun cycling as of night before last when the Dr. Tims was added. I ended up replumbing the return while I had time because of the noise and vibration coming from the pump. I used flex PVC and a couple square silicone mats used for pots under the pump. Now its dead silent and I can sleep again. I honestly have never had a tank this quiet before its pretty sweet. I also got both of the doors finished but of course one of the hinges broke and i will be replacing it tomorrow. Then I will hopefully be able to get going on the canopy and the lights. Now for some pics!
 

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YHSublime

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Nice job with the aquascaping. I think you might find you like it a little bit more if you raised one of them up higher than the other so they wern't so leveled. It looks like they are already a little offset, instead of centered from the front, but you might even create more dynamic pushing the left structure closer to the back wall and the right structure, and then pull the right structure up just a tad.

I'm looking forward to seeing how you stock and watching this one grow!
 
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Vern McCalla
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Nice job with the aquascaping. I think you might find you like it a little bit more if you raised one of them up higher than the other so they wern't so leveled. It looks like they are already a little offset, instead of centered from the front, but you might even create more dynamic pushing the left structure closer to the back wall and the right structure, and then pull the right structure up just a tad.

I'm looking forward to seeing how you stock and watching this one grow!

Not a bad idea, i know that the more I look at it the more i will want to change things around. Im really just glad i acheived what i did but i think the move to create a bit more depth will make it look more appealing. Thanks
 

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