EXT 170 Build

[Randomstylez]

Inside the IM stand or the 8020 cage?
12" cage leaves 9" clearance. Each 15 series is 1.5".
The cage mounts to the channel in the stand and does not affect the inside of the stand if thats what you meant.
My 170 the cage sits on the floor.

Inside the stand.

The IM100 is listed as 42" inner for the cabinet, I am trying to think if I created a raised floor inside frame if that would get me the extra 2 inches to house a 44inch sump.

This is someones build with the 3418, Id want to raise the inner part where the sump sits so that it now sits on the frame inside the tank to give me that last 2 inches

 

[X-37B]

Inside the stand.

The IM100 is listed as 42" inner for the cabinet, I am trying to think if I created a raised floor inside frame if that would get me the extra 2 inches to house a 44inch sump.

This is someones build with the 3418, Id want to raise the inner part where the sump sits so that it now sits on the frame inside the tank to give me that last 2 inches

The door stops would have to be removed and you only have 3/4" to the door on each side, so 1.5".
Not sure how the person in the pic did it. I would ask them.
I am happy with the 3 ext systems I run.

 

[X-37B]

I fragged the digi and may remove the entire piece or what I can.
Broke off a large piece of surf and turf bumping it while removing some digi.
I can make some surf and turf frags but the rest will go to lfs or anyone who wants to come and get them. If not then into the carx bin they go. I have quite a few others I need to clear out too.

 

[X-37B]

Nice growth in this area.

 

[tbrown]

 

[X-37B]

Couple garden shots.

 

[X-37B]

Today the 9430 dc started making noise. I replaced it with a spare.
The impeller magnet was chewed up. The barrel was gouged.
I was dripping kalk into the carbon basket directly above the pump.
That may have caused it.
I repositiined the kalk.
I removed the Tunze return, it was running fine for 2 years, and put in a new one and cleaned the old one.

 

[X-37B]

I filtered the return area through a 200 micron sock several times. Could not get it all and it left the tank milky looking. Interesting side effect was many of the corals showed massive polyp extension in the milk, lol.
Clear this morning.

 

[X-37B]

Couple pics. Slowly removing most of the digi.

 

[X-37B]

Urchin is almost completely covered in pieces of coralline from the back wall.

 

[X-37B]

This Monti grew from a small piece I broke off in the 15g.
It took forever to get going but it's doing well now.

 

[X-37B]

This frag was glued to the back wall about 1.5 years ago. I almost popped it off several times but always saw some color. Its now growing back over the dead area.

 

[X-37B]

Some random pics today after thinning out some coral.
System is growiing at a faster rate now that the corals are getting bigger.

 

[beardedman11]

Got the mdp 8500 glued and it's ready to go. I will install later today.
With the union I can use the Tunze as backup.
LifeReef 28".

How do you know which pump to use for these skimmer? I've seen a few of the lifereefs around but usually they don't have a pump.

 

[beardedman11]

2 years today. Where does the time go.

WOW!!! Your tank is truly remarkable. This is a prime example of being patience's in reef keeping. At first glance the tank looks empty and bare but the mastermind in knowing that all those sps corals will be growing up taller in a few years. Never really liked the the bare minimal aquascape but after this has changed my outlook. Definitely, wanting to try my luck with a sps tank next go around.

 

[X-37B]

How do you know which pump to use for these skimmer? I've seen a few of the lifereefs around but usually they don't have a pump.

They can be run on many different types of pumps. Go to the LifeReef website, they give
recommendations on pump size.
I prefer dc pumps for this type of skimmer. It makes adjustment easy.

 

[X-37B]

WOW!!! Your tank is truly remarkable. This is a prime example of being patience's in reef keeping. At first glance the tank looks empty and bare but the mastermind in knowing that all those sps corals will be growing up taller in a few years. Never really liked the the bare minimal aquascape but after this has changed my outlook. Definitely, wanting to try my luck with a sps tank next go around.

One of the hardest things to visualize in reefing is what your system will look like in 2 years and behond.
Give BB a shot. It may look plain when you start but in 2-3 years your system will be comming into its own.
My old 120 BB is another example at 2 years. Couple pics.