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- Oct 10, 2014
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This morning I placed the final equipment order for my 80 gallon Deep Blue rimless upgrade. So, I figured it was about time to get a build thread going! My wife and I will be moving into a much larger apartment in April. Naturally, I took this as an opportune time to upgrade.
My current setup consists of an 18 x 18 x 18" cube with an 18 x 18 x 8" frag tank. The display and frag tank sit next to each to other on a Deep Blue Series II stand. The system has been running for about three years, and it has mostly been a success. I did suffer a decent sized crash post-honeymoon this summer, but its come back somewhat. Small tanks are fun and all, but it was about time to get back into something a bit larger. I have always liked the 48" x 24" footprint and ideally would prefer an 18" height, but the 80 gallon Deep Blue's 16" height will have to do!
This system will be strictly SPS. It was a tough decision to relinquish my love of zoas and palys, but ultimately I felt that it would be a greater success if I could focus on keeping just SPS satisfied. I have found in the past that it is too much effort to walk that tight line of maintaining SPS colors and zoa/paly health. I have spent a VERY long time planning this whole upgrade out, and short of buying all Royal Exclusiv, have aimed at buying top quality equipment. I also have a tad bit of OCD, and like the toys as much as the fish. So I planned the sump layout around a Red/White color scheme. The equipment I have settled on is as follows:
At this point all equipment has been ordered/received and stand completed. The tank and stand is currently being stored in my parent's basement, and I am going home to visit (I.E. work on the tank!) this weekend. My goal is to finish the electrical compartment, plumbing and the reefscape.
I'll throw up a few teaser shots of where I stand currently, and then I'll start uploading in chronological order.
My current setup consists of an 18 x 18 x 18" cube with an 18 x 18 x 8" frag tank. The display and frag tank sit next to each to other on a Deep Blue Series II stand. The system has been running for about three years, and it has mostly been a success. I did suffer a decent sized crash post-honeymoon this summer, but its come back somewhat. Small tanks are fun and all, but it was about time to get back into something a bit larger. I have always liked the 48" x 24" footprint and ideally would prefer an 18" height, but the 80 gallon Deep Blue's 16" height will have to do!
This system will be strictly SPS. It was a tough decision to relinquish my love of zoas and palys, but ultimately I felt that it would be a greater success if I could focus on keeping just SPS satisfied. I have found in the past that it is too much effort to walk that tight line of maintaining SPS colors and zoa/paly health. I have spent a VERY long time planning this whole upgrade out, and short of buying all Royal Exclusiv, have aimed at buying top quality equipment. I also have a tad bit of OCD, and like the toys as much as the fish. So I planned the sump layout around a Red/White color scheme. The equipment I have settled on is as follows:
- Display: 80 Gallon Deep Blue RR Rimless (48" x 24" x 16")
- Sump: Semi-custom Synergy Sump (Just altered the colors)
- Skimmer: Vertex Omega 150
- Return Pump: EcoTech Vectra M1
- Media Reactors: Vertex RX-U 1.5 L
- Additive System: GHL Profilux Doser 2
- Monitoring System: Apex Gold plus
- WXM
- ALD
- AFS
- Flow: 2 x MP40wES - May upgrade to QD's in the future
- 2 x MP10wES - have them laying around. May end up using them.
- Lighting: Elos Planet II
- MH: ReefBrite 14K 250 w DE bulbs
- T5: 3 x ATI Blue Plus, 1 x ATI Coral Plus
At this point all equipment has been ordered/received and stand completed. The tank and stand is currently being stored in my parent's basement, and I am going home to visit (I.E. work on the tank!) this weekend. My goal is to finish the electrical compartment, plumbing and the reefscape.
I'll throw up a few teaser shots of where I stand currently, and then I'll start uploading in chronological order.