(First Reef Tank Ever) **** 600gal Display **** 1300gal System
- Thread starter cbui2
- Start date
autofreak44
Active Member
that yellow tang has some nice color
maxalmon
Active Member
I'm curious, whats to stop the skimmer from overflowing and draining a considerable amount of water? Would some sorta monitor that would shut the system down, like having the skimmer sit inside a shallow container that has a water sensor. I'm shure the system has more high tech gagets than imaginable...Looks awesome
grubsnaek
Active Member
i believe once upon a time ago i read some where that there was a 100g frag tank. i cant wait to see the tanks on the right of the pics.
uh oh goodwin there some comp now. just kidding both of yous are big dogs on your blocks. kudos my man you took it to the next level.
makes me want to sell of my 3rd and 4th unborn child hahahah.
but seriously DAMN!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
uh oh goodwin there some comp now. just kidding both of yous are big dogs on your blocks. kudos my man you took it to the next level.
makes me want to sell of my 3rd and 4th unborn child hahahah.
but seriously DAMN!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
ooooooohhpeter
Member
one word . beautiful
cantbstopd
Member
just noticed that you live in the big easy......hope you got a generator and live on a very high hill. i hear that it still not fully rebuilt from katrina
. good luck this season, ill be keeping my fingers crossed for myself til november
.
cbui2
Member
jennythebugg -
ScubaGuy - thanks but no need to dream, one day at a time
exotich -
so addicting this hobby. we will do wahtever it takes to make it work.
Hefner413 - thanks, but no matter what tang you buy its their common cold. all tangs are fighter and will get through the ich without any problems.
autofreak44 - thanks grew about 3/4" to 1" already since he's eats everything in his path.
maxalmon - havent finished installing the float switch yet since my neptune controller isn't online. i will start on it soon but for now just taking a month or 2 break and spending with wife and kids. my wife is always at home and learn the process for the most part of the system which is label by the way. she help me labeled and have a general idea on the plumbing route.
stdreb27, grubsnaek, ooooooohhpeter & Wintrmte -
thanks guys, but just waiting for coraline to covered some of the rocks giving the tank a better pics.
cantbstopd - thanks but as of now 2 gas generator, but will be getting standby LP unit soon and havent yet deceided on what model number.
ScubaGuy - thanks but no need to dream, one day at a time
exotich -
Hefner413 - thanks, but no matter what tang you buy its their common cold. all tangs are fighter and will get through the ich without any problems.
autofreak44 - thanks grew about 3/4" to 1" already since he's eats everything in his path.
maxalmon - havent finished installing the float switch yet since my neptune controller isn't online. i will start on it soon but for now just taking a month or 2 break and spending with wife and kids. my wife is always at home and learn the process for the most part of the system which is label by the way. she help me labeled and have a general idea on the plumbing route.
stdreb27, grubsnaek, ooooooohhpeter & Wintrmte -
thanks guys, but just waiting for coraline to covered some of the rocks giving the tank a better pics.
cantbstopd - thanks but as of now 2 gas generator, but will be getting standby LP unit soon and havent yet deceided on what model number.
skypilot
New Member
I have just finished spending a great deal of time reading through this amazing thread. You apparently have done your home work in preparing for this project. Your equipment list have things I only dream of having someday.
We are in the planning stages of building our new home and I have a few questions for you regarding you new tank. I am a little confused as to what purpose the tanks to the right and left of you display are for. Could you explain the purpose of each and how they are attached in the over all picture of you system.
I like the idea of placing the chiller outside your garage (giant fish room), but am wondering how much of a temperature loss you are getting with such a long run back to the display. Are you planning on insulate the PVC to prevent warming of the cooled water? I would think that with all of lights, pumps, chiller & equipment, you electricity bill has skyrocketed…..
Your pictures show corals in your tank, but I can’t see from the pictures where you are running the Deltec CA. Is there another equipment section that you aren’t showing?
Are you using any mechanical means of filtration? (Filter socks, canisters, ect) Are you running, or planning to use a UV sterilizer in the system?
I am wondering if you can show some pictures of how you have your top off set up. I am guessing that you are using the Neptune controller in conjunction with the Litermeter dosing pump to top off the system, but can’t picture how you are doing this with so many tanks in the system. Do you have any thing set up to control the humidity in your garage?
Like you, we are looking at buying our new tank from the Aquarium Company. I have visited his factory and am most impressed with their work and designs. They have built some awesome looking tanks here in the cities. I would like to have one of his cylindrical tanks (5 foot), but the wife wants the tank next to an equipment room to hide my mess.
I, like you, am trying to do as much reading before starting our new home to be able to incorporate a new tank into the design. Now that you have nearly completed your project, what would you change if you had it to do all over again?
Now that you have added fish and corals to your tank, can we see some updated pictures of the tank? I was waiting for the page where I would say “WOW” and it seems that things have stalled out.
We are in the planning stages of building our new home and I have a few questions for you regarding you new tank. I am a little confused as to what purpose the tanks to the right and left of you display are for. Could you explain the purpose of each and how they are attached in the over all picture of you system.
I like the idea of placing the chiller outside your garage (giant fish room), but am wondering how much of a temperature loss you are getting with such a long run back to the display. Are you planning on insulate the PVC to prevent warming of the cooled water? I would think that with all of lights, pumps, chiller & equipment, you electricity bill has skyrocketed…..
Your pictures show corals in your tank, but I can’t see from the pictures where you are running the Deltec CA. Is there another equipment section that you aren’t showing?
Are you using any mechanical means of filtration? (Filter socks, canisters, ect) Are you running, or planning to use a UV sterilizer in the system?
I am wondering if you can show some pictures of how you have your top off set up. I am guessing that you are using the Neptune controller in conjunction with the Litermeter dosing pump to top off the system, but can’t picture how you are doing this with so many tanks in the system. Do you have any thing set up to control the humidity in your garage?
Like you, we are looking at buying our new tank from the Aquarium Company. I have visited his factory and am most impressed with their work and designs. They have built some awesome looking tanks here in the cities. I would like to have one of his cylindrical tanks (5 foot), but the wife wants the tank next to an equipment room to hide my mess.
I, like you, am trying to do as much reading before starting our new home to be able to incorporate a new tank into the design. Now that you have nearly completed your project, what would you change if you had it to do all over again?
Now that you have added fish and corals to your tank, can we see some updated pictures of the tank? I was waiting for the page where I would say “WOW” and it seems that things have stalled out.
cbui2
Member
rabbit_72 - pics are coming as new camera will be arriving shortly
grubsnaek - IMO no matter what you do ich is always there
gmflex - thanks
SkyPilot - welcome to SWF
3 tanks on the right of display
top tank 135gal - refugium overflow to main display and return from sump
middle tank 100gal - frag display overflow to sump and return from sump
bottom tank 180gal - water change sump reservoir. LM3 is used for continuous water change, as of now set to 8 gals a day.
no temp lost, my entire fish room is fully insulated except for garage doors. the complete house is done with foam insulation which by the way bring the temp down to 80-85deg in the attic during summer peak and is the best investment i made. also had additional fiberglass insulation above the ceiling in my garage also. i had removed 2 exhaust fans in my attic above the fish room since there was no need for them. as the chiller goes its actually a home unit converted to chiller from Tradewinds. no need to insulate my entire garage is cooled kenmore 12,000btu window unit runs 24hrs set at 72deg which keep my fish room (600sq ft)temp 76.5 deg daily even during hot summer days and with all the equipment running. my electric bill every month is less then $300. water $40 month...all the equipment are energy efficient.
havent installed ca reactor yet, but i will do this down the line. as of nowi have about 1000gals of water in my entire system and with continuous water change at 8gals a day keeping my waters parmaters pretty stable. with this amount of water i would have to placed about 30 large size colonies and 40 fish or more at a time to fluctuate my parameters overnight. i'm currently using red sea coral pro mixing 150gals of ro water at 76 deg to a 5gal bucket coming out everytime with no additional buffer elements 440 cal, alk 10.6, ph 8.4. by not doing weekly or montly water change IMO keeping my water parameters more stable. main display overflows to sump where 3 large 100 micron bags are placed keeping 3 liter of black diamond carbon in each bag and change out bi weekly, then running about 600gph through reactor which hold 3600g of phosban media is used. this probably last up to 3-4 months. no UV as of now.
no pics for auto top off, but i use
http://spectrapure.com/St_alc_p7.htm
the cylinder tanks are nice, but at 5' IMO how will you be able to get any work done. i guess that would be fun getting suit up for diving. hope this helps.
2 tanks on the left of display
this is completely separate from main display
top tank 135 gal - QT
bottom tank 90 gal - water change sump reservoir
grubsnaek - IMO no matter what you do ich is always there
gmflex - thanks
SkyPilot - welcome to SWF
3 tanks on the right of display
top tank 135gal - refugium overflow to main display and return from sump
middle tank 100gal - frag display overflow to sump and return from sump
bottom tank 180gal - water change sump reservoir. LM3 is used for continuous water change, as of now set to 8 gals a day.
no temp lost, my entire fish room is fully insulated except for garage doors. the complete house is done with foam insulation which by the way bring the temp down to 80-85deg in the attic during summer peak and is the best investment i made. also had additional fiberglass insulation above the ceiling in my garage also. i had removed 2 exhaust fans in my attic above the fish room since there was no need for them. as the chiller goes its actually a home unit converted to chiller from Tradewinds. no need to insulate my entire garage is cooled kenmore 12,000btu window unit runs 24hrs set at 72deg which keep my fish room (600sq ft)temp 76.5 deg daily even during hot summer days and with all the equipment running. my electric bill every month is less then $300. water $40 month...all the equipment are energy efficient.
havent installed ca reactor yet, but i will do this down the line. as of nowi have about 1000gals of water in my entire system and with continuous water change at 8gals a day keeping my waters parmaters pretty stable. with this amount of water i would have to placed about 30 large size colonies and 40 fish or more at a time to fluctuate my parameters overnight. i'm currently using red sea coral pro mixing 150gals of ro water at 76 deg to a 5gal bucket coming out everytime with no additional buffer elements 440 cal, alk 10.6, ph 8.4. by not doing weekly or montly water change IMO keeping my water parameters more stable. main display overflows to sump where 3 large 100 micron bags are placed keeping 3 liter of black diamond carbon in each bag and change out bi weekly, then running about 600gph through reactor which hold 3600g of phosban media is used. this probably last up to 3-4 months. no UV as of now.
no pics for auto top off, but i use
http://spectrapure.com/St_alc_p7.htm
the cylinder tanks are nice, but at 5' IMO how will you be able to get any work done. i guess that would be fun getting suit up for diving. hope this helps.
2 tanks on the left of display
this is completely separate from main display
top tank 135 gal - QT
bottom tank 90 gal - water change sump reservoir
gypsana
Active Member
I guess I have been just missing this thread until today. Maybe it is because I just had surgery and those pictures would have made me over exert myself.
This is a real tribute to brilliant foresight, research and learn as you go. I am so impressed I am truly at a lose for words, and being Italian that is a feet.
I can not wait to see more pictures!!
cbui2
Member
grubsnaek - no problem, i am in car audio and video. well for the past 10 yrs + my hobby was my 91 nissan 300zx t/t fully built motor and all the extra accessories you can imagine over 600hp, but when hurricane katrina came and took it away from me i just didnt want to spend another decade building another one so i took on a more harder and challange hobby. no frag lights just yet, but will do this few months down the line.
gypsana - thanks, but i cant believed i did this myself also.
ok i think its about time for some updates
some fishes and corals were added. here are some pics finally, hehe.
Full Tank Shot
Left Side
Middle
Right Side
gypsana - thanks, but i cant believed i did this myself also.
ok i think its about time for some updates
some fishes and corals were added. here are some pics finally, hehe.Full Tank Shot
Left Side
Middle
Right Side
reefer545
Member
AS always -- AMAZING! Great freakin work CBU. that xenia is gonna grow SO fast, you wont believe your eyes. Want to buy a GIANT piece of ACAN LORD that would look SWEET in your tank, and I would feel almost privaledged? If so, PM me. Congrats, adn best wishes. Keep the pics comin, I LOVE em.
cbui2
Member
thanks reefer545, do you owned a bmw 545 with that user name. my friend gave me that 3 weeks ago and probably grew double that amount. just temp on that piece as i will removed it soon when my friend setup his display. of course i dont want xenia to overcome my display. most of corals were giving to me from my friend to jump start my system, but as the fishes goes i purchased most of them.
reefer545
Member
Right on CBU. I was obviously just kidding with you. I am so jealous of your tank. I am also EXTREMELY impressed, and jealous, but I think I mentioned that. I am serious about the ACAN LORD though. It measures 12+ in X 7+ in. adn is growing too fast for my tiny nano. 24 g. I am also upgrading my lights as soon as I sell it cuz it takes up most of my upper half, adn I am clearing that area so I dont hurt it due to my selfish light needs. I am totally reasonable adn will sell it for less than I paid if you pay shipping. I have seen pieces half the size sell for more than I would expect anyone to pay. Under your lights, and in your sweet tank, it would flourish, have FABULOUS color, and grow even faster than it is in mine. It just grew too fast over the past 9 months. Your tank can handle it though. Unfortunately, I cant give it to you, as I cant afford that tank, let alone my bills. I am TOTALLY REALISTIC AND REASONABLE THOUGH. Once again, congrats. and I love the updates.