Glasscages 230G New Build

[JXNATC]

Hi all. I'm starting a build thread (gotta have that badge!) for what I am planning. I'm having a tank built by Glasscages for my office (thanks Joe Glass Cages!). I'm planning mostly livestock, possibly some coral and I definitely want at least one anemone. I plan on building a NSA aquascape and a 3" sand bed. I'll be using the Synergy Reef V2 Shadow overflow and their TS-60 Triton Method Sump and an ATO. Glasscages is also making the stand and canopy. I know pretty much every thing that I want, including LED lighting, but there are so many lighting options out there. The tank is 72"L x 24"W x 31"H. I'm interested in thoughts about the lighting and am open to suggestions. Thanks!

 

[blaxsun]

Everyone seems to like the Coral Care 2s. EcoTech Radion G5s are always a staple, and there's the new Neptune SKY.

 

[JXNATC]

I was looking at the Sky when I saw it come out. I forgot that I had been building a wish list on BRS and was just looking at something I had put on there a while ago:

https://www.bulkreefsupply.com/multi-light-rms-track-ecotech-marine.html?qty=1

to hold 3

Radion XR15 G5 PRO LED Light Fixture - EcoTech Marine (Discontinued)

Why does BRS recommend the Ecotech Marine Radion? Quite simply, Ecotech Marine Radions are the LED’s we most often choose to light our own tanks. With the chance to use just about any light we want, there are probably more Radions in use around BRS than any other LED fixture. Through years of...

www.bulkreefsupply.com

I think that the track should mount well in the canopy and three lights with 24" x 24" spread (though they recommend 18" x 18" spread) should cover the whole tank.

 

[JXNATC]

I ordered the sump from Synergy Reef today with a matching ATO. There's an 8 to 10 week build time so Merry Christmas to me! I think it will go great with the back graphic though not a lot of people other than me will enjoy it!

 

[JXNATC]

Still waiting on the sump, but I just ordered it. However, I picked up the tank at Glasscages yesterday and got it into the office today! I mean, it's ok or whatever...I'm not at all excited.

 

[JumboShrimp]

How long before your sump arrives?

 

[JXNATC]

How long before your sump arrives?

It should arrive mid-December!

 

[JXNATC]

I was looking at the Sky when I saw it come out. I forgot that I had been building a wish list on BRS and was just looking at something I had put on there a while ago:

https://www.bulkreefsupply.com/multi-light-rms-track-ecotech-marine.html?qty=1

to hold 3

Radion XR15 G5 PRO LED Light Fixture - EcoTech Marine (Discontinued)

Why does BRS recommend the Ecotech Marine Radion? Quite simply, Ecotech Marine Radions are the LED’s we most often choose to light our own tanks. With the chance to use just about any light we want, there are probably more Radions in use around BRS than any other LED fixture. Through years of...

www.bulkreefsupply.com

I think that the track should mount well in the canopy and three lights with 24" x 24" spread (though they recommend 18" x 18" spread) should cover the whole tank.

I still haven't decided on the lights. I'm considering two Photon-32 V2 Pros, two Neptune Skys, or the of the Radions. I really like the idea of gradient lighting but I would like it to be Apex compatible.

 

[JXNATC]

The stand was stained today. The color is "Fogstone Gray." That was a much harder decision than it had any right to be.
After far too long trying to figure out how I wanted to manage the two cords in the back, I settled on ordering some cable clamps from Amazon, peeling their adhesive off, and supergluing them to some magnets from K & J Magnetics (https://www.kjmagnetics.com/proddetail.asp?prod=BX8C6DCSPC-BLK). These magnets are almost the exact size of the cable clamp and will allow me to route the cables around the logo and under the overflow box...in theory. I tried using silicone but the grip was not enough. We'll have to see how the superglue works.

 

[JumboShrimp]

Super color choice, and very nice job doing an 'even' staining-- that can be difficult! If you have a hard time getting to the very bottom (because of the carpet) jam a playing card in between the carpet and the trim and go bit by bit. This will be a very cool tank!

Will you be going the 'lots of small fish' route, or 'a couple of large fish' route? ;Cat

 

[JXNATC]

Super color choice, and very nice job doing an 'even' staining-- that can be difficult! If you have a hard time getting to the very bottom (because of the carpet) jam a playing card in between the carpet and the trim and go bit by bit. This will be a very cool tank!

Will you be going the 'lots of small fish' route, or 'a couple of large fish' route? ;Cat

Thanks and thanks for the tip. I wasn't sure how I was going to do that. I REALLY loved my blonde naso tang 20 years ago. Another naso is a for sure. I envision a group of chromis to cruise the water column. I've never had a Mandarin and would really like to have a sufficient copepod population to keep a Mandarin, definitely captive bred though so maybe it'd eat . I'd like a blue tang and a couple of percula clownfish. Maybe a jawfish. These are high on my list anyway. I'm sure there are more.

 

[Chrisv.]

A reef tank will be therapeutic for your clients!

 

[JumboShrimp]

You need to check out some Saddleback Clown videos. They have the coolest swim pattern-- and especially if no anemone, they will usually cover more of the tank than other Clowns. ;Happy

 

[JXNATC]

A reef tank will be therapeutic for your clients!

That was my thought! I've been wanting back in for years and this office was the perfect excuse!

 

[JXNATC]

I took delivery on the sump yesterday. It looks awesome! It and a matching 10g ATO fit perfectly under the stand. The rock is the aquascape that I've been working on. The rock on the left is actually going to top the rock on the right. I mortared the rock yesterday. Today I'll glue the left on the right and mortar it tomorrow or Sunday after the glue cures. The aquascape that will go on the left is taking a bath in some RODI right now. I'll take that out on Sunday and plop the middle piece into the RODI bath when I take the other out. The plan is to soak that until Wednesday and then bath the piece on the right. The piece on the right has already broken on me once before the mortar. It's fairly large and awkward to move. It'll be even more awkward when it's topped by the piece on the left.

I'll be plumbing the overflow and the returns this weekend. I'll need to get a few more unions but hopefully I'll be getting the whole system wet next week to check for leaks.

 

[Chrisv.]

That sump is a thing of beauty!

 

[JXNATC]

It's a beast; I'm loving it.

 

[JXNATC]

I spent the weekend working on a controller board. I'm still waiting on parts to get the plumbing done so I went this direction this weekend. I didn't think that I'd need one this long but it's actually just about the perfect length. I stained it the same color as the stand. I ordered some cable extensions so that I can finish wiring. I have a 2nd EB832 coming which will be mounted beneath the one that is already mounted. The space next to the mounted EB832 is reserved for the modules that I have coming. I'm having difficulty getting the Sicce's connected. It says that I have an incorrect password which is wrong. One of the Hydros controllers is being difficult as well.

I have an electrician coming to put in a 4 gang box that will go below the controller board; that should meet all of my power needs. I hope to have it plumbed by next weekend and ready to start the cycle by the end of the month. I'm waiting to have everything that I want (hardware wise) before I get the tank wet.

 

[JumboShrimp]

Looking very nice!

 

[JXNATC]

Looking very nice!

Thanks!