37 replies to this topic

[Paddy]

Hey guys,

Thought I'd keep the marine discussions going, steal a template from Masa and show some more of the marine side of things for the tropical guys

Introduction:
Love reef systems, have been running one or two other marine tanks for almost 2 years now, ready to do something bit bigger and get the system I want.

System Objectives:
Mixed Reef with some awesome coloured SPS, some tangs and hopefully a goby/shrimp combo

System Type:
Mixed Reef

Display System:

Strike up Date:
Tank has been wet and full of 160kg of Live rock for a week now - since 1st Sept

Display Tank:
Tank is a corner tank, 7” Front panel 5” on the two corner sides, 2.5” High.
The shape makes any planning (Sump, lighting etc) a constant challenge, but I think I’m getting there


Display Lighting: Lighting specifications.
Eco Lamps KR 92 (Brand new product should be in Aus in about a month)
http://www.eco-lamps...R92 leaflet.pdf

Stand:
Ugly but overdone Pine stand, Planning on building the entire things into the wall once its setup


Hood:
As above

Sump:
48x24x16H – Hopefully get the partitioning done this week, Racetrack style
Should point out too that the sump is external to the house, Tank was right next to a small window perfect for it so why not.


Refugium: In sump probably about 1ftx1ft, not sure on macro to grow yet
Refugium Lighting: Will be Bunnings stick on



Support systems:

System Water:Natural salt water

Display Water circulation: 4xVortech MP40W and Closed Loop of some desc, trying to figure out between a Reeflo/Panworld or Iwaki pump

Return Pump:10kLph Oase something.

Skimmer: 'Turbo' made Beckett style with a Laguna 9000 feeding it.

Evaporation Top Up:Auto Top up from 220L container (trying to figure out a way to make sure this can’t drain into the system)


Chemical Support:

Calcium Addition: CA Reactor

Alkilinity Addition: CA Reactor

Other Chemical Maintenance: None at this stage

Current Water Chemistry:
Nitrates: 0.7ppm
Phosphates: Can't remember, will fire up the Hanna meter tomorrow
Alkalinity:
Calcium:
Salinity / Specific Gravity: 1.026
Magnesium:

Pictures to come later tonight.

[Kieran]

Sounds good! Can't wait for pics esp on the exterior sump system.

[Warby]

Sounds awesome, definately looking forward to pics...

With the auto-top up. To avoid any possibility of all 220L draining into the main system & overflowing or throwing your parameters out, could you have say just a 5-10L (or whatever would be required) holding tank that does the actual top up, and a small pump on a timer set to run <whenever/whatever> to pump from the 220L into the holding tank? ............................ Probably over-complicating things but it sorta makes sense to my mind (note: Ive never even looked at an auto top up system, so if this suggestion is way off the mark the feel free to shoot me down in flames heh)

-Dave

[Paddy]

No any idea is worth thinking about Warby!!

I think at this stage a pump that is a (i think) peristaltic pump that only pumps ~10-16ml/hr on a float valve. In this way it would take many many hours before any adverse effects happened but would more than keep up with evaporation.. Pics are uploading

[Paddy]

Tank just filled and sand added



Dodgy Pic of Liverock at the moment



PVC pipes smashed together to get 900L of Freshwater out of the house after the FW Test



Tank as it is right now



Plumbing underneath. I have cut out the window and replaced it with a perspex sheet cut to how I need it.

No external sump pics yet as the sump isn't sorted... I'll get there

[regan]

looking good mate keep us posted. wat skimmer are you using and how many litres is it

[Paddy]

The skimmer on the front it just a Deltec MCE600 I had spare. The skimmer is a Beckett style that has been made to suit the sump outside so until it'ls plumbed up I can't use it (plus there isn't much of a bioload without any fish or corals in there anyway.

The DT is about 900L. Total system is about ~1200L

[Feesh]

Display Lighting: Lighting specifications.
Eco Lamps KR 92 (Brand new product should be in Aus in about a month)
http://www.eco-lamps...R92 leaflet.pdf

oooh, very pretty! Where do you get one of those and what's the ball park price ? $1000 ?

[Paddy]

Cost about 800 for a two ft unit by the time they got here, have three to go over the tank. Working on the rest of this over the weekend will post up some more pics soon!!

[Paddy]

Clownfish laid their first batch of eggs

[golden_dase]

Well done Kev! Maybe post up FTS?

[dazzabozza]

Cool photo! Would luv a close-up.

[Warby]

Any updated pics Paddy? I'd love to see a FTS and some sump/equipment/plumbing shots ...

-Dave

[Paddy]

Will do, in all honesty I'm sort of holding out because I bought a new star polyp coral and it is just starting to open up! Will def put up some more pics soon!

[scroogy1]

Theres nothing ugly looking about that stand.............................That a cover wont fix

[Warby]

fts fts fts fts ... you're still holding out on us Paddy

[golden_dase]

He's too busy playing games on his new PC... lol

[Paddy]

Busy as working!! Out diving all this weekend! Maybe next week

[Paddy]

This is one of the frags I picked up on Sunday, bit tough to photograph, will upload some pics later but for now a quick video.


Always a work in progress, need to look at filling it with some nice corals now

Clickity Click Click

[dazzabozza]

Hey Paddy

How accurate is the colour in the vid comapred to real life (seems to have quite a blue tinge to it)?

Cool to see all those diff tangs getting along together!


Daz