My CAD Lights 100 Gallon Reeftank

[A13X]

Hello everyone. I'm still kinda new here. But I've been off and on.
Reading through threads and seeing how members react to post. And so far everyone seems to be nice and polite [emoji3]
Anyway, I've been in the saltwater hobby since fall of 2010. I've learned quite a few things from trial and errors.
And I'm happy to say that I believe I'm finally in a state where I can keep Sps alive, along with Clams. Which clams to me have never been easy to do.
When I bought my house I decided to go with a new tank. I wanted something in the midsize range and rimless. So I decided to give Cad lights a try.
I went with the "CAD Lights 100 Gallon Artisan II Aquarium".
I set it up back in December 27, 2015. So my one year mark is coming up [emoji3]

Here's a picture of when it was first set up and cycling.

At 155 days [emoji3]

At 200 days [emoji3]

And finally at today's date[emoji3]

It is stocked with a mix of Sps, Lps and softies.
Fish include an Achilles Tang, Purple Tang, Blue Hippo Tang, and Blonde Naso Tang. The smaller ones are a pair of Mated Clownfish, a pair Blue Green Chromis, a pair of Bangaii Cardinals and a Sixline Wrasse.

My whole system is controlled by my Neptune Apex. And run a variety of equipment.

I'm very pleased with how it's coming along right now. [emoji3]

 

[ethridge78]

Very nice

 

[Mebeknob]

Tell more about the system you run and what equipment you have and why you like it!

 

[Salty1962]

Very Nice! I love the clams. I can see your children love the tank as well, future reefers.

 

[revhtree]

Love it!

 

[A13X]

Tell more about the system you run and what equipment you have and why you like it!

Sorry for the late reply, but ill brake it down as best as possible.

Tank is lit with TwoXR30 Gen3 Pros and One XR15 in the middle. For flow there is Two MP40's and a small MP10. All Wireless controlled by my WXM module.

In my sump area:
1st chamber I run a 150 vertex omega skimmer, 2nd chamber is my small fuge with a mix of macro-algae ranging from Caulerpa, Chaeto, Flame and Grape Caulerpa, on the 3rd there is my return pump that also feeds my bio-pellet reactor. Another pump that feeds my Vertex RX-C 6D Calcium Reactor with an electronic CarbonDoser regulator. And a small Maxijet1200 running a BRS carbon reactor.
I run a ReefOctopus Kalk Stirrer to help with low Ph in my ATO and a DIY 3-3inch fan bar for cooling.
And I just installed a Pentair Aquatic Smart UV 40 Watt Sterilizer to help cope with an ich outbreak. Also replaced my Refugium light with the Kessil Halo H380.

Its kind of hard to explain why I like the equipment that I have. Because I've never really tried anything else so I can't compare between them. But I can tell you why I picked it over the other. My plumbing has to be simple. I use push connect fittings and Polyethylene tubing. Besides my Overflow and Return line that are actual PVC, everything else is push connected. I'm tinker like most of us in the hobby. So I need to be able to change something without having to tear everything apart. Hence the Vertex Calcium Reactor. I'm not limited to only running it one way, its open to modification.
It also has to be Apex compatible and since I've always been a fan of Eco-techs lights, and wave pumps. I've Never had the need to switch. Especially sine they can be controlled by my Apex.

My Apex is really the brain of the system, it literately controls everything. My ATO, Light/Flow schedule, Temperature. Everything's connected to it.

But overall it has to be reliable.
Like a well known hobby saying goes,
"You get what you pay for"

 

[A13X]

Very Nice! I love the clams. I can see your children love the tank as well, future reefers.

Thanks, and yes. My oldest has his very own 20gallon mini reef. He loves learning as much as I do.

 

[Berlibee]

Nice! Following !

 

[bknapp]

Very nice tank.

 

[Garrett W.]

amazing looking tank, absolutely love your SPS garden. ive been trying to decide if i want to do the 92G Versa or the 100G SAIO from cad lights.

 

[A13X]

Update Time!!!
Ok so my tank has officially been up for a year now. On DEC.26.2016 to be exact.
It's definitely has had some growth. My only battles as of now, has been trying to catch that pesky Chromis that keeps burrowing my corals and clams. But other than that, its been smooth sailing. (Keeping my fingers crossed it stays that way)

Full Tank Shot

Left Side... I had a chance to acquire one of the first captive bred Blue Hippos and she's doing great!

My Clam Garden. Along with a close up of my Blonde Naso. His colors are starting to come in. I got him when he was just under two inches and was all gray.

Right Side.. This is where I'm starting to get some Coral-War-Fare.
Growth has started to finally take off, and unfortunately the invasion of space also.

My clowns started breeding here lately. About Once every two weeks.

More Pics

Really wish I could capture the true beauty of my corals. But I suppose i need a better lens, and practice.

 

[Daniel@R2R]

Amazing reef! Love the clams!!

 

[A13X]

Amazing reef! Love the clams!!

Thanks... they can be finicky at times. But I do enjoy every bit of them.

 

[A13X]

Tank Update:
Its been up and running for 1.5 yrs now. Changed a few things and lost a few things. But i believe I'm in auto cruise now. My tank Maintenance consist of a weekly 10% water change, and ALK & CAL testing. Also every day i monitor the output of my calcium reactor to make sure it isn't clogging up.
I did loose some things due to me slacking off on my testing for a few months, and consequently my CAL dropped below 200ppm and ALK shot up to 13dkh. Lost a few colonies and clams.
Tank has slowly recovered and growth has slowly picked back up. My only PIMA right now is Aiptasia, i believe it sneaked in on a clam a while back and just now started reproducing. Anyway enough rambling, here's my tank shots.

 

[Salty1962]

Awesome growth for 1.5 yrs!

 

[ethridge78]

Beautiful setup you have got some camera skills too.

 

[a4edwin]

awesome tank! What made you add that third light?