560g reef build (800g system)

[SB Reef Lights]

So the 265g is packed, time to upgrade. With my new private label lights coming out, I wanted a nicer set up to showcase the lights. Here is the journey, thanks for watching - Mike


Basic outline of the build

• TruVu 1" thick Acrylic Tank. 560g 96x42x32" Bare Bottom. Black back, and bottom. Bottom and back are 1.25" thick. 2 Overflows near both ends with 2x 2" drains in each. One "fake" center overflow with no keyholes, for pump returns. 2x 1.25" returns, feeding an over head manifold with 6x 1" nozzles.
• Custom sump from Evolution Aquatics. Black back, sides and bottom, clear front, neon green baffles and Yellow skimmer stands. 88x24x24" 175g capacity. Dual Fuges, one at each end with Red/Blue 120w equivalent Par38 LED lights. Dual 4" filter socks, one at each end. Sump flows from both ends to the center. One Fuge Chaetomorphan, the other decorator algae like dragon's breath. Center of both skimmer compartments will have a 2-3" live sand bed since the tank will be bare bottom.
• 2x Bubble Magus Curve 29 Skimmers. One on each side so they are running in parallel, not series. ie one skimmer is not skimming the output of the other. Both dump into a 2.5 gallon skimate locker. When full the ARCHON turns off the skimmers and sends me a text. Love automation. CO2 scrubbers used on the skimmers as well to help maintain pH. ARCHON will also pause skimming for 2 hours when dosing Phyto and Zooplankton in the middle of the night.
• 2x DCT12000 Jebao return pumps. Power levels controlled through the ARCHON so I can run lower power at night and pause when feeding.
• 3x 36w UV units.
• 2x AquaFX Large Media Reactors. GFO then Carbon.
• 2x Jebao DP4 Dosers, 8 heads plus 8 Acrylic dosing containers 1.5L each. Dosing Ca, Mg, ALK, I, K, Sr, Mo, Fe, B, Br, Koralcolor, AcroPower, Phytoplankton, Zooplankton and Revive.
• Full ARCHON (Reef Keeper) control system, Runs DT and both Frag tanks.
• 2x WP40 and 2x WP60 wave makers on ARCHON control.
• 10x SB Reef sBox Elite Pro 165w LED "*******" lights with improved spectrum. Controlled from the ARCHON for timing, ramping and spectrum.
• 2x 800w Finnex Titanium Heaters controlled by the ARCHON.
• 630 pounds of Live Rock. 430 pounds from the current 265g plus 200 pounds of new flat cut dry base rock.

Plus 3 40B frag tanks. Two plumbed into the main tank and one on it's own filter and skimmer. Plumbed tank is for outgoing frags harvested from the tank. The other 40B is for incoming corals to be QT'd, dipped and observed prior to adding to the display tank. All three 40B tanks have 32" 357w SB Reef Elite ramping ******* lights over them.. Allowing to gradually bring intensity up for new corals until they match the placement location of the Display Tank.


Everything is automated through the ARCHON, including 2 web cams. I can dial in from a hotel while on the road for 3 to 4 days a week and see my tank and change anything through the ARCHON. [HASHTAG]#totalreefnerd[/HASHTAG]


Skimmers are HUGE!! 2x Bubble Magus Curve 29s

Here is one of the two dosing pumps and 4 of the 8 containers on the current 265g. They will be moving over once the new tank is running. The 2 TLF 550 reactors and 36w UV plus the DIY sump, FUGE and 2 D700 skimmers will stay on the 265g, it will be a non-reef safe fish only tank.

 

[SB Reef Lights]

Dedicated Fuge sections are 16G and fed off a "T" and ball valve from the four main 2" drains. Using a 24W (120w equivalent) Red/Blue LED on each. Same as the 265g has now. Great light for Chaeto. Though I think the Home Depot 5000K 120w LED grows a little faster, it's not as cool to look at.

AquaFX Reactors going on the 560g. TLF go back on the 265g

 

[SB Reef Lights]

Tank arrived! Just waiting on the stand now. 96x42x32"

 

[SB Reef Lights]

Scary part is over. No more holes to drill. Return manifolds installed.

 

[SB Reef Lights]

Stand is finally done, off to powder coating then installing the feet.

 

[SB Reef Lights]

Stand is done!!



Sump is 94" leaving 1" on each end. Using 2x 3/4 Baltic Birch Plywood sheets to support the bottom of the tank. Glued together and pressed flat on the stand.



Moving stand into the house next weekend. Have to take the double sliding doors out, smallest dimension is 42". Tank the week after. Then a week to fill with water, need almost 800g and RO is 100GPD. Then move corals and rock over the week after. So a little less than 30 days to get everything up and running.

Added adjustable feet. 3/4" steel net welded inside with 3/4 threaded stock and 3/4" adjusting nut on the outside with 3" pads. Adding 3" polymer sliders to the bottoms of the slides to make adjusting easier.

 

[SB Reef Lights]

Stand and Sump in place.

560g is in the house! Finish plumbing tomorrow, then fill with RO for a week. The end is on sight. The 46BF is moving in a couple weeks, replaced by another steel stand with 3x 40B frag tanks. 2 will be plumbed into the DT for outgoing frags, 1 on its own for incoming frags. Still have to move the other dosing pump and 4 dosing containers, plus media reactors from the 265g. Plus the other heater and UV. Adding 2 more 36w UV for 3 total. Plus move the whole ARCHON control system over. Lots of work left before I can transfer corals.

 

[SB Reef Lights]

Trying to keep the plumbing simple and clean. Still need to add a ball valve going to the fuge line.

 

[SB Reef Lights]

I also had time to add automatic throat cleaners to my skimmers. Combined with the skimate locker, I should not have to touch the skimmers at all for months at a time.

 

[SB Reef Lights]

Keeping the plumbing simple and clean.

2nd doser and additional 4 containers.

200 pounds of rock doesn't look like much. Lol. The 430 pounds from the other tank should fill it in on the two sides, with a couple smaller islands in the front. For scale those are WP60s

 

[SB Reef Lights]

Tank is 3/4 full of RO now. Should be starting up the pumps and adding salt Saturday night. Then a couple weeks and it's time to transfer this over... Yeah fun times.

Side **** of the 265g

[HASHTAG]#noblues[/HASHTAG]

[HASHTAG]#nowhites[/HASHTAG]

 

[SB Reef Lights]

3" to go. Should have pumps up and running tomorrow. I'll let it run for a week, I have to fly to corporate next week. Then start swapping corals, Reef Keeper, and Lights the following weekend. So 2 more weeks until the big move.

 

[Ed Menard]

looking awesome so far...beautiful setup)

 

[Daniel@R2R]

I'm loving this setup! Can't wait to see how it grows out! Following!

 

[iReef86]

Outstanding! Cant wait to see it up and running!

 

[kschweer]

Wow. Looking good. I'll be following this one! Best of luck moving forward.

 

[tureefik87]

Wow, this set up is going to be amazing. This one I will be following to see the progression!

 

[JLman83]

This is amazing. Wish I had the funds to replicate! Definitely going to follow this one.

 

[hawkinsrgk]

Following looks great so far

 

[awdjosh]

Subbed, although I'm one of SB Reef Lights helper minions lol

Pics do not do justice to the size of the tank, can't wait to fill her up with coral to see the size difference!