Lost Reef of Atlantis - 65g to 90-gallon!

[Rennurdoar]

EDIT: This thread is a continuation of our first build thread here: 65-Gallon it has ended, but in case you wanted to see how we got here

Edit: Will update this with each current video, 11-07-23 Most recent video here:



Lights are 2 G5 XR15 Blues with XHO Reef Brights on each, also 2 Ai Prime 16HD's. Unknown PAR Level currently.

Start of build:

Well, we had been watching for a larger tank. Came across a 90-gallon that was barely used, only about 7-8 months. When I got there, they said I could have all the stuff in the corner. I looked and saw two sumps, and since I was needing one said, OK! There was also a black garbage bag full of stuff. I wasn't sure what it all was, just knew for $100 it was going to be worth it either way. We'll be transferring our 65-gallon in our other build thread into this tank. Can't wait for it all to be done and have a little more room!

When I got home, I looked to see what all we had in the bag, boy was I surprised! It included:

2 MP40's dry sides, 2 controller's, 1 wet side.
1 AI Prime fuge light
1 Sicce 4.0 return pump
1 Super Reef Octopus Skimmer SRO-2000
1 Oceanic 20-Gal Sump
1 Eshopps 20-Gal Acrylic Sump
1 BRS Carbon reactor deluxe (new in box)
1 BRS GFO reactor deluxe (new in box)
1 Coralife light

Anyway, we've started building the stand and cleaning the tank. We've put water in the tank, and it's held for a week. Tomorrow, I'll give it a good cleaning! We're staining the stand this evening. Here are some pictures for now!

 

[pandaparties]

Stands looking good! Excited to see how this turns out

 

[Rennurdoar]

Stands looking good! Excited to see how this turns out

Here's some staining pictures! Going with weathered gray color (Watco Greystone Teak Oil). The Fiance was nice enough and wanted to stain it, mainly because she thought I'd mess it up haha.

 

[Rennurdoar]

Decisions decisions... I know I have to upgrade our lights for the larger tank. Even though it isn't much larger. We're currently running a 24" T5 Hybrid with 2 AI Prime 16HD's. The HD's are mounted at the inside edges of the T5. So 6" on each side of the tank has no lights directly over, just the reflections and normal light spread.

Which is working fine in the 65-gallon. But on the 90 it won't, so I'm thinking of getting a 48" T5 hybrid, but should I stick with AI Primes 16HD and get 2 more, or get one 32/64hd or just take out the T5 Hybrid and Primes and go with 4 Xr15's or a mix of 15's/30's? I've seen some decent used prices on them.

@billyocean @pandaparties @Kasrift

What lights are you all running?

 

[Kasrift]

Decisions decisions... I know I have to upgrade our lights for the larger tank. Even though it isn't much larger. We're currently running a 24" T5 Hybrid with 2 AI Prime 16HD's. The HD's are mounted at the inside edges of the T5. So 6" on each side of the tank has no lights directly over, just the reflections and normal light spread.

Which is working fine in the 65-gallon. But on the 90 it won't, so I'm thinking of getting a 48" T5 hybrid, but should I stick with AI Primes 16HD and get 2 more, or get one 32/64hd or just take out the T5 Hybrid and Primes and go with 4 Xr15's or a mix of 15's/30's? I've seen some decent used prices on them.

@billyocean @pandaparties @Kasrift

What lights are you all running?

I'm running Noopsyche k7 pro v3s and love them. I think @tbrown3589 also runs Noops.
I know @billyocean uses vipar black boxes.

I'd definitely move on from Primes because I know people melt the lens when running them high.

 

[Rennurdoar]

I'm running Noopsyche k7 pro v3s and love them. I think @tbrown3589 also runs Noops.
I know @billyocean uses vipar black boxes.

I'd definitely move on from Primes because I know people melt the lens when running them high.

Yup, I got these used also, I'm a sucker for deals haha. But their lenses were burned/melted. I called Aqua Illumination on it, let them know I bought them used and the lenses were melted. They sent me two new lenses free of charge. Had them two days later. Just had to send in the serial number and a couple pictures. So, their customer service is good at least. But that's one reason why I was thinking of changing, and their PAR is a little lower than I'd like compared to others.

I don't know my PAR currently, but don't think it's much higher than 250 maybe at the top right under the Primes.

 

[tbrown]

100% Noopsyche on my 125. I run old school Viparspectra before the hype on my 110 FW and Nicrew on my 5 gallon FW. I'm happy with the old Viparspectra and Nicrew but the Noops are my favorite.

 

[pandaparties]

I have a mix of radions and reefi. Honestly the reefi is just an amazing light for the price. The interface is a little janky but the color/spread/spectrum seem even better than my radions for half the price

 

[Rennurdoar]

I'm running Noopsyche k7 pro v3s and love them. I think @tbrown3589 also runs Noops.
I know @billyocean uses vipar black boxes.

I'd definitely move on from Primes because I know people melt the lens when running them high.

100% Noopsyche on my 125. I run old school Viparspectra before the hype on my 110 FW and Nicrew on my 5 gallon FW. I'm happy with the old Viparspectra and Nicrew but the Noops are my favorite.

What kind of PAR are you all seeing with them? They're definitely priced right for sure! On sale at $195 currently. I could get 3 or 4 of them.

 

[tbrown]

What kind of PAR are you all seeing with them? They're definitely priced right for sure! On sale at $195 currently. I could get 3 or 4 of them.

So I don't have a PAR meter but my tank looks bright to me and I run only 10% on my whites channel. Using the Photone App I was at 231 at the water surface 14" below the light under my 90 watt. The new Pro IIIs have a more focused lens than the V3 so I would expect higher PAR with those.

 

[Rennurdoar]

So I don't have a PAR meter but my tank looks bright to me and I run only 10% on my whites channel. Using the Photone App I was at 231 at the water surface 14" below the light under my 90 watt. The new Pro IIIs have a more focused lens than the V3 so I would expect higher PAR with those.

Ok good to know! I know my lights now are 9" off the water, but I'm going to build a cabinet above the tank on this one. The lights will be recessed into the bottom of the cabinet and should be 12" off the water in the new tank. It's definitely going to look a lot cleaner than our current setup at least. That's going to make the Fiance happy lol.

I'm hoping my boat sells today, just had someone come look at it. If so, I'll have the new tank up and going this week while I'm home from work. They said they wanted it, just had to go get the cash, so we'll see.

 

[billyocean]

200-220 on the sand at 14" above water line at 78% blue only. Vipar 300s

 

[Rennurdoar]

200-220 on the sand at 14" above water line at 78% blue only. Vipar 300s

With these??



I don't figure, I can't find any other 300W. Found these 165w

 

[billyocean]

It's the bigger version of the 165. Apparently the brand new ones can only change in 10% Increments. Mine do 1%

 

[Rennurdoar]

It's the bigger version of the 165. Apparently the brand new ones can only change in 10% Increments. Mine do 1%

Good to know also! I was looking on Ebay but didn't see anything there either. I'll keep my eye out just in case. I saw some par readings on the 165's they put out some good PAR also.

 

[billyocean]

I don't think they make the 300s anymore and you can still find blentybof 165s that aren't brand new. The white light is not appealing on them so I just run blues mostly

 

[Kasrift]

So I don't have a PAR meter but my tank looks bright to me and I run only 10% on my whites channel. Using the Photone App I was at 231 at the water surface 14" below the light under my 90 watt. The new Pro IIIs have a more focused lens than the V3 so I would expect higher PAR with those.

I don't know par, but used this as a baseline based on what he runs. My tank being smaller is only 15" deep total, with a waterline of about an inch deep and a 1.5" sandbed, my tank isn't much deeper than some frag tanks, so I'm pretty sure I cook the sand bed. I run my blues at 80% and slowly ramping whites which are at 10%

 

[Rennurdoar]

Aaaaand the new tank is in its forever place! Now to plan out the sump tomorrow then plan out a day for the transfer this week! Oh, still have to finish the cabinet going above the tank... Gotta hide where the new outlet will be for the lights, and all the old holes lol

 

[Kasrift]

Aaaaand the new tank is in its forever place! Now to plan out the sump tomorrow then plan out a day for the transfer this week! Oh, still have to finish the cabinet going above the tank... Gotta hide where the new outlet will be for the lights, and all the old holes lol

Looks great. Are you going to transfer immediately or let the new tank settle in first?

 

[Rennurdoar]

Looks great. Are you going to transfer immediately or let the new tank settle in first?

I think I will transfer over immediately. From what I've been reading and everything, I shouldn't have much of an issue doing it that way. Should just be able to transfer all my rock over, and that will continue to be good enough for my current bio load. I will probably add some more rock, since this one is bigger than the 65-gallon.

Going to get all new sand and rinse it very well, then I'll fill the tank with new water. I'll use some old water from the tank also, not sure how much. Going to scrub and clean all my rocks really well also and rinse them in the old tank water. Hopefully that will help with the GHA that is in there from spreading to much to the new tank. I'm hoping to transfer it all this week but may end up being this weekend depending on what all I get done.