New LED powered 150g SPS Tank in TX

[olaggie01]

Hi All,
I have been slowly purchasing equipment for a tank upgrade. This will be my 5th tank, ranging from a 10g in 2001 (complete disaster), 120g in 2005, 60g in 2007, 40g in 2009. I was looking at the downgrade trend and figured that I might as well go big while I had the chance.

Tank:
150g (36x36x27) - 1/2" glass, black silicone, 3x1" sch 80 bulkheads for Beananimal drain built by a Local tank builder in Dallas

Stand:

1" tubular steel stand fabricated by an Austin local

Stand/Canopy/Bookshelves
Since the tank is in my home office, I'd like to match the cabinets/doors (knotty alder) along with having 2 small bookshelves flanking the tank. This will allow me to store office/fish things but also provide some space where my ATO tank and electronics will be housed in the deadspace behind the bookshelves. (See sketchup below)

Layout with proposed sump:

Sump:
40g (24x24x18) Tamco Sump from US Plastics. I purchased a used sump from an Austin local but the layout of it wasn't right, so I'll be selling that soon. The Tamco sump will allow me to drill easily into the side of it for my return pump and allow me to have additional water volume for water changes, etc. I plan on running all three drains into the sump with a Beananimal drain system

Skimmer:
ATB 840 v1.5

Lights:
48 LEDs - Built by a Houston Electrician

22 NW – XPG

6 CW – XPG

20 RB – XPE

Assembled on 3 heatsinks, with 12 LEDs on 2 of the heatsinks, and 24 on the 3rd. The 2 – 12 LED heatsinks will flank the 24 LED heatsink along with 2x24w T5s (already had from a previous build)

I will control the LEDs with my Profilux controller in order to dim the LEDs to get a proper color.

During build:

 

[olaggie01]

Continued:

Operating LEDs at Marsh Christmas party:

Proposed layout in canopy:

Return pump:

Reeflo Snapper powering the main tank, reactors, water change and eventual frag tank through a manifold system

In-tank flow:

2 x Tunze 6105 controlled by the profilux

2x Tunze 6055s controlled by the profilux (from previous tank)

I also have 2 x Tunze 6025 if I have any dead spots (unlikely)

Controller:

Profilux EX II with EVG card to control LEDs and Tunze control

CA/ALK/MG:

Profilux 4 channel dosing pump controller

Avast Marine Kalk reactor

Top-off/ATO:

15 gallon square black Tamco tank (11.5x11.5x18)

Profilux float valve to control water level in sump

Aquascape:

Minimal rockwork in tank, bonsai style main island with 2 smaller islands highlighted by the LEDs

Coral:

90% SPS (tabeling acros along with some branching formosas)

10% LPS (chalice, acans)

Current Fish:

False Perc (already have)

Lubbocks Wrasse (already have)

2 PJ cardinals (already have)

Red Sea Pygmy Angel (already have)

Potential Fish:

Orange Shoulder / Powder Blue Tang

Copper Banded Butterfly

Scripps Rabbitfish

A pair of Angels (compatible with my Pygmy?)

 

[olaggie01]

Anyone have any thoughts on the fish that I have listed below?

My current fish are listed first. I would like to keep these, and possibly, find another perc in hopes of them pairing.

FYI, all pictures of the potential taken from LiveAquaria.

Potential fish:

Pair of these guys: (Depending on the compatibility with my pygmy)

Lamarcks

Or

Bellus

Always wanted one of these for valonia control

Maybe 1-2 wrasse(s) depending on how the personality with my Lubbock

 

[olaggie01]

Had one of these in my 120 and loved him

Maybe 1 tang:

Pair of Mandarins (likely ORA if possible)

Always liked CBBs (if I can find one eating frozen)

 

[olaggie01]

Should be getting my sump/plumbing parts today as well as the LEDs. Not sure when the pump will be here, hopefully tomorrow as well so that I can get this thing moved out of my garage.

Got some plumbing done last night, glued some of the drain and the return manifold. I need to get the sump and pump in place before I start gluing any more. Drain lines and return lines sketched out.

Also marked out where I want to bend the acrylic for my overflow and bent one side. I decided not to put the Tunze pumps in the overflow since it would not be easy to remove them to clean them due to the eurobracing on the tank.

Found a use for my old T5s though.

They used to light my tank, now they light the stand.

 

[Adam76]

Awesome setup, looking forward to see it up and running

 

[Troylee]

Nice build.... Keep the
Pics coming...1smile1

 

[olaggie01]

Nice build.... Keep the
Pics coming...1smile1

Awesome setup, looking forward to see it up and running

Thanks Troylee and Adam. I'm hoping to have water in it by next week. Perhaps even hang some Christmas lights on it. :)

 

[olaggie01]

Got a couple of packages in the mail today. Sump, plumbing parts (although not my gasket) and my top-off tank. Expecting my LEDs later today when FED-EX delivers.

Sump:
Has a bit of a bow to it, but I suspect it will straighten out once I get water into it. Plus, I'll only run the water level at 12" or so.

Sump in place:
Fits nicely with just enough room for my return pump

Plumbing parts:
2" true union ball valve, 1.5" TUBV, couple of 1" ball valves and a 2" gasket for the sump

Top-off tank with and without lid:
Thinking about installing a uni-seal on the bottom with a piece of clear acrylic as a sight glass

Overflow bent on one side:

 

[skinz78]

Looks great! I edited your last post so the first pic would show up.

Where did you get the top off tank from?

I have had Lamarks Angels before and they did well until they started nipping my clams. I didn't have them in with other angels though.

 

[olaggie01]

Looks great! I edited your last post so the first pic would show up.

Where did you get the top off tank from?

I have had Lamarks Angels before and they did well until they started nipping my clams. I didn't have them in with other angels though.

Thanks for the edit.

I got the top-off tank and sump from US plastics. Pretty nifty little tank. Hopefully it won't grown any algae, and hopefully I can figure out how to determine how much water is left in it once the ATO starts pulling from it.

I like the Lamarks angel and Bellus. I'll have to do some research to see if anyone else has any experience with them and Pygmy angels. Never had a clam, so I'm not worried about nipping. Now SPS and Zoas, that's different.

 

[olaggie01]

Got a 2nd package from Fed-Ex today. This time it was my lights. They were packaged perfectly. Only 1 optic fell off, amazing, considering I've seen our Fed-Ex guy throw our boxes up to the porch. This package was a bit heavy, so I doubt he could have thrown it far, but he could have played soccer with it.

Top of LED array with fan and project box with wire connections. Each array has at least 1 fan and a project box to connect to the main supply box.

Here is a picture of the small project box with the military style plugs

All 4 drivers are housed in this project box, as well as the power source and an on/off switch. Very nice and compact.

This picture shows the lines coming out of the project box, 3 larger wires are for connection to each of the LED array. The 4 inputs are for dimming via the 0-10v through my profilux.

Here is the inside of the project box. The other side of the project box is the same, 2 drivers mounted on the project box.

 

[olaggie01]

By the way, does anyone have any concerns about the stand? Someone on another board mentioned it. I don't think there is much of a concern, but just wanted to get others opinions.

 

[johnanddawn]

nice build - looks very well planed out

 

[_Alex_]

i dont see how could be much problem with the stand ... 1" tube steel is plenty strong in my opinion

also great build!! going to be very nice when finished

 

[hwntunda]

for the stand you say its 1x1 box tubing... thats a bit small for that size tank...what gauge tubing is it, 1/8...1/4"?

 

[redhanded]

I think you are fine with that stand. Im a welder and 1" box tubing is plenty. Just as long as his welds are good, I don't see any concern. The only thing I can think of that could be of concern is what did he use for the bottom of the legs?

Other wise, this build looks killer! I really like the led lights, those are sick!

 

[olaggie01]

I think you are fine with that stand. Im a welder and 1" box tubing is plenty. Just as long as his welds are good, I don't see any concern. The only thing I can think of that could be of concern is what did he use for the bottom of the legs?

Other wise, this build looks killer! I really like the led lights, those are sick!

Thanks Redhanded. The welds are solid. He used leveling feet on the corners. We will see how those work out. :tongue:

Got the lights up on the tank to see how they would work. I really like the look. I'm reconsidering how I will mount them though. May end up hanging them from the ceiling instead of a full canopy. Would help with any heat that the T5 produce.

 

[olaggie01]

nice build - looks very well planed out

i dont see how could be much problem with the stand ... 1" tube steel is plenty strong in my opinion

also great build!! going to be very nice when finished

Thanks guys. After talking with a few people, I'm not too concerned about the stand. I'll see what happens today when I get in it.

Also, the tank is sitting on a 3/4" plywood base. That should help distribute the weight to the corners.

 

[nixer]

personally i would of went 1-1/4" tubing, but its a cube so i dont see much flex