Prostar 200 Build

[rcpiv93]

So, after only three months with the Biocube (after a ten-year hiatus from the hobby) I've taken the plunge and ordered a Prostar 200. The tank is 60x26x24 rimless and comes with a 37x17.5x16.5 sump, as well as a small ato system.

I've ordered a pair of Nicrew HyperReef 200s (second generation), as well as a Curve 7 skimmer and a 40w Pentair UV sterilizer. I still haven't decided what to do about powerheads, but I'll make up my mind once I have the tank full and the aquascaping complete.

I'll use this thread mostly as a way to track my own progress...but hopefully it will be useful to others as well.

Here's a pic of my already crowded Biocube--and the reason for the quick and sudden upgrade.

 

[Kingsley_Reef]

Your going to love the new nicrew

 

[Gumbies R Us]

So, after only three months with the Biocube (after a ten-year hiatus from the hobby) I've taken the plunge and ordered a Prostar 200. The tank is 60x26x24 rimless and comes with a 37x17.5x16.5 sump, as well as a small ato system.

I've ordered a pair of Nicrew HyperReef 200s (second generation), as well as a Curve 7 skimmer and a 40w Pentair UV sterilizer. I still haven't decided what to do about powerheads, but I'll make up my mind once I have the tank full and the aquascaping complete.

I'll use this thread mostly as a way to track my own progress...but hopefully it will be useful to others as well.

Here's a pic of my already crowded Biocube--and the reason for the quick and sudden upgrade.

I can see why you are upgrading your tank! You’ve got a lot of awesome looking coral in there!

 

[rcpiv93]

Your going to love the new nicrew

That's what a lot of people have said. I was leaning towards the Meridians, but decided to give these a try first. They are so much smaller and less visually distracting.

 

[rcpiv93]

I can see why you are upgrading your tank! You’ve got a lot of awesome looking coral in there!

I definitely want to give some of them more room to grow! Plus, I'd like to clean up the sandbed in the biocube a bit. There are a few more corals down there since that picture was taken.

 

[rcpiv93]

Your going to love the new nicrew

They arrived today. I put one over my biocube just to get a look...and holy cow. Even the low-power presets were much brighter than anything I've had before. LEDs sure have come a long way since I first left the hobby.

 

[rcpiv93]

The rock came in today. Thoughts on the set up? There will be a solid 6” on both sides, left and right. And another 3” in the back and 6” in the back.

 

[rcpiv93]

And from above…

 

[rcpiv93]

And after a quick trip to the LFS, this is where we ended up.

 

[rcpiv93]

So, this is the equipment that I have settled on:

Prostar 200 Rimless tank and sump (3 filter socks)
Nicrew 200 Gen 2 (2x)
MP-40 QD Mobius Ready (2x)
Bubble Magus Curve 7 Skimmer
Pentair 40w UV run with a Sicce Syncra Silent 4.0
Sicce Synra Pro 7000 Return Pump
BRS 300w heater (2x) with IM Helio Controller
LifeRock Coral Tree (2x)
75lbs additional live rock
120lbs live sand

In the future, I plan to take advantage of the refugium section of the sump, run a light opposite of the DT, and begin to encourage a healthy pod population. I'm sure I will also add reactors...dosing pumps...all of that stuff when it becomes necessary. But for now, this simple set up should be more than sufficient as the tank gets set up and is left to mature.

I've got everything ready to go...except for the tank. Should be delivered by the end of the week :cool:

 

[rcpiv93]

So, this is the equipment that I have settled on:

Prostar 200 Rimless tank and sump (3 filter socks)
Nicrew 200 Gen 2 (2x)
MP-40 QD Mobius Ready (2x)
Bubble Magus Curve 7 Skimmer
Pentair 40w UV run with a Sicce Syncra Silent 4.0
Sicce Synra Pro 7000 Return Pump
BRS 300w heater (2x) with IM Helio Controller
LifeRock Coral Tree (2x)
75lbs additional live rock
120lbs live sand

In the future, I plan to take advantage of the refugium section of the sump, run a light opposite of the DT, and begin to encourage a healthy pod population. I'm sure I will also add reactors...dosing pumps...all of that stuff when it becomes necessary. But for now, this simple set up should be more than sufficient as the tank gets set up and is left to mature.

I've got everything ready to go...except for the tank. Should be delivered by the end of the week :cool:

Edit to the list above: Sicce Pro 7000 replaced with Sicce Syncra ADV 9.0. This will enable me to run two dual random flow generators by VCA.

 

[Anna K]

What settings do you have your NICREW set at for your tank out of curiosity?

 

[rcpiv93]

I don’t have it set up yet. But I will update you when I do.

 

[rcpiv93]

Here she is in all her glory

 

[Anna K]

Woot woot!

 

[rcpiv93]

It might take a minute to fill this thing….lol

 

[rcpiv93]

For those that are curious, I set my Nicrew lights to 100% blue and violet, 15% for white, and 10% for green and red. They turn on at 9am and go off at 11pm with a 2-hour ramping period.

I have two 200w fixtures on a five foot tank and this seems to be sufficient. I don’t have a par meter, though, so who knows. When it comes time for coral I will probably rent one and map out the aquascape.

 

[Anna K]

For those that are curious, I set my Nicrew lights to 100% blue and violet, 15% for white, and 10% for green and red. They turn on at 9am and go off at 11pm with a 2-hour ramping period.

I have two 200w fixtures on a five foot tank and this seems to be sufficient. I don’t have a par meter, though, so who knows. When it comes time for coral I will probably rent one and map out the aquascape.

Good luck on the renting one. I couldn't find one that didn't want to put a total of like a $500 hold on my card. It was easier to just buy one off of Amazon and be done with it. The one I purchased I broke it down on how to multiply it to figure out the correct par. This is what I have going for my par with my 200 nicrew

 

[rcpiv93]

Good luck on the renting one. I couldn't find one that didn't want to put a total of like a $500 hold on my card. It was easier to just buy one off of Amazon and be done with it. The one I purchased I broke it down on how to multiply it to figure out the correct par. This is what I have going for my par with my 200 nicrew

I’m ok knowing that the hold will be lifted when I return the meter.

 

[rcpiv93]

I really like how the aquascape turned out.