Well, we’ve been out of it for a bit, a couple life changes with departed family members and a major remodel had gotten us off track, but I am at it building now finally. Our build COMPLETELY changed from what I originally posted last year.
I wasn’t going to start a build until the floors were replaced so we expected a delay. We ended up repainting the entire house with new floors and quartz countertops throughout and 2 new bathrooms. It’s a good thing I had most of the gear purchased before the remodel. It’s done and we are still married!!
My wife is working on the aquascape now and then all we need is water!!
I custom designed and DIY built a t-slot aluminum enclosed stand. 8020.net, quite a selection. It took me quite a while to design it, but I’m very happy with the way it came out.
We decided not to have a custom tank made and go with a new standard 75 with ¼” thick glass, a TopFin. Turns out they are owned by United Pet Group and still manufacture in the US. I’m sure we’ll be happy with it. I drilled the tank myself for an Eshopps Eclipse M external overflow with 2 two 1” drains. I also drilled two ¾” returns fitted with threaded bulkheads for Loc-Line returns.
- Trigger Systems Crystal 30 Sump with 10-Gal Crystal ATO reservoir.
- AquaMaxX ConeS Q-1 in-sump protein skimmer
- Flow, we are going Mixed Reef, probably softies/leathers, a few anemones, maybe a couple LPS and perhaps 1 or 2 select SPS in the best flow/lit area. We went with two IceCap 2K Gyres.
- Main Return: Reef Octopus VarioS-6.
- Aqua 15W UV Sterilizer on main return line (flow will eventually be set for algae management)
- Aux./Secondary return: Reef Octopus VarioS-4.
- Aqua 15W UV Sterilizer on main return line (flow will eventually be set for disease management)
- BRS Dual Media Reactor (GFO & Carbon - Aux./Secondary Return: Reef Octopus VarioS-4.
Hydros WaveEngine with dual IceCap Battery Backups to control the Gyres and both VarioS pumps.
- Lighting, 2 AI Hydra 32HD with an AI Prime 16HD Fuge for the refugium.
- Dual Finnex HMX 200S Titanium Heaters w/Inkbird ITC-306A WiFi Temperature Controller for redundancy.
No pics for a few months… sorry
Admittedly we are not going to build for a few months yet; I just figured it would be a great idea to login here drop some notes and see if others would chime in and head off any mistakes I might be making from the start, so just please feel free to drop ANY suggestions.
We are having a custom tank made by, most likely, Glass Cages to fit the opening of an existing pass through from the kitchen dining area to the living room/den. So, here goes:
Display Tank
- Custom 78.9 (call it 80) gal. rimless Peninsula-style with a divider wall overflow on one short end, plumbed with 5 bulk heads( 3 - 1” drains & 2 - 3/4” returns). 3 drains for a Bean Animal. But after reading threads re. the constant headaches some have with them, I am seriously rethinking going with 2 - 1” holes and a Herbie.
- Flow, we are going Mixed Reef, probably softies/leathers, a few anemones, maybe a couple LPS and perhaps 1 or 2 select SPS in the best flow/lit area, so I I’ve worked out a couple options:
- 1. Two RED SEA – REEFWAVE GYRE 25s with 2 smaller Neros or Current USA 1000+ flow heads to eradicate dead spots, this has become the leading solution in my book, or
- 2. Two EcoTech MP10s, again with 2 smaller Neros or Current USA 1000+ flow heads to eradicate dead spots.
- Lighting:
- Two - AI Prime 16 HD, or
- Two or three - 165W Viparspectra LEDs (as I now see, you can easily decimate a budget on lighting, ugh)
- We are in Texas, so as a small caution, I’ll add a GHL Propeller Breeze 3, 3 Fan Black
Sump
- 20 gal. Long DIY with Fiji Cube baffle kit with refugium section & filter socks.
- Red Sea Reefer RSK300 Skimmer
- Vectra S2 DC Return Pump (1400 GPH) - Ecotech
- Dual Finnex HMX 300S Titanium Heaters w/Inkbird ITC-306A WiFi Temperature Controller
- Aux. return loop:
- Syncra Silent 2.0 Pump (568 GPH), Sicce
- 40 Watt IceCap High Output UV Sterilizer
- BRS Dual Media Reactor (planned for GFO & Carbon)
- BioMaxx BioPellet Reactor - Standard, future use
- Hygger 20W 12-18" LED Refugium Light
I wasn’t going to start a build until the floors were replaced so we expected a delay. We ended up repainting the entire house with new floors and quartz countertops throughout and 2 new bathrooms. It’s a good thing I had most of the gear purchased before the remodel. It’s done and we are still married!!
My wife is working on the aquascape now and then all we need is water!!
I custom designed and DIY built a t-slot aluminum enclosed stand. 8020.net, quite a selection. It took me quite a while to design it, but I’m very happy with the way it came out.
We decided not to have a custom tank made and go with a new standard 75 with ¼” thick glass, a TopFin. Turns out they are owned by United Pet Group and still manufacture in the US. I’m sure we’ll be happy with it. I drilled the tank myself for an Eshopps Eclipse M external overflow with 2 two 1” drains. I also drilled two ¾” returns fitted with threaded bulkheads for Loc-Line returns.
- Trigger Systems Crystal 30 Sump with 10-Gal Crystal ATO reservoir.
- AquaMaxX ConeS Q-1 in-sump protein skimmer
- Flow, we are going Mixed Reef, probably softies/leathers, a few anemones, maybe a couple LPS and perhaps 1 or 2 select SPS in the best flow/lit area. We went with two IceCap 2K Gyres.
- Main Return: Reef Octopus VarioS-6.
- Aqua 15W UV Sterilizer on main return line (flow will eventually be set for algae management)
- Aux./Secondary return: Reef Octopus VarioS-4.
- Aqua 15W UV Sterilizer on main return line (flow will eventually be set for disease management)
- BRS Dual Media Reactor (GFO & Carbon - Aux./Secondary Return: Reef Octopus VarioS-4.
Hydros WaveEngine with dual IceCap Battery Backups to control the Gyres and both VarioS pumps.
- Lighting, 2 AI Hydra 32HD with an AI Prime 16HD Fuge for the refugium.
- Dual Finnex HMX 200S Titanium Heaters w/Inkbird ITC-306A WiFi Temperature Controller for redundancy.
Admittedly we are not going to build for a few months yet; I just figured it would be a great idea to login here drop some notes and see if others would chime in and head off any mistakes I might be making from the start, so just please feel free to drop ANY suggestions.
We are having a custom tank made by, most likely, Glass Cages to fit the opening of an existing pass through from the kitchen dining area to the living room/den. So, here goes:
Display Tank
- Custom 78.9 (call it 80) gal. rimless Peninsula-style with a divider wall overflow on one short end, plumbed with 5 bulk heads( 3 - 1” drains & 2 - 3/4” returns). 3 drains for a Bean Animal. But after reading threads re. the constant headaches some have with them, I am seriously rethinking going with 2 - 1” holes and a Herbie.
- Flow, we are going Mixed Reef, probably softies/leathers, a few anemones, maybe a couple LPS and perhaps 1 or 2 select SPS in the best flow/lit area, so I I’ve worked out a couple options:
- 1. Two RED SEA – REEFWAVE GYRE 25s with 2 smaller Neros or Current USA 1000+ flow heads to eradicate dead spots, this has become the leading solution in my book, or
- 2. Two EcoTech MP10s, again with 2 smaller Neros or Current USA 1000+ flow heads to eradicate dead spots.
- Lighting:
- Two - AI Prime 16 HD, or
- Two or three - 165W Viparspectra LEDs (as I now see, you can easily decimate a budget on lighting, ugh)
- We are in Texas, so as a small caution, I’ll add a GHL Propeller Breeze 3, 3 Fan Black
Sump
- 20 gal. Long DIY with Fiji Cube baffle kit with refugium section & filter socks.
- Red Sea Reefer RSK300 Skimmer
- Vectra S2 DC Return Pump (1400 GPH) - Ecotech
- Dual Finnex HMX 300S Titanium Heaters w/Inkbird ITC-306A WiFi Temperature Controller
- Aux. return loop:
- Syncra Silent 2.0 Pump (568 GPH), Sicce
- 40 Watt IceCap High Output UV Sterilizer
- BRS Dual Media Reactor (planned for GFO & Carbon)
- BioMaxx BioPellet Reactor - Standard, future use
- Hygger 20W 12-18" LED Refugium Light
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