1200 gallon reef at 9000 feet

[Hurlock]

I am into the 5th month of this set-up (took down a 600 gal into the 1200gal) and I am amazed at the flow created by 8 vortech pumps at one side in a dry boy built into the system.check out Youtube 1200 gallon reef at 9000 feet by Jake Adams. I recently added a Tunze 6301 to create a little more flow in the middle of the tank. The other major change was a Euro Brace on the top with two three inch cross pieces on a 10'X5" tank. These are powder coated and no restriction of light from the top. Running Prodibio addetives with not one spec of algae in 5 months. I feed the tank very heavy. Steve

[rob1991]

lets see some pics1!!!

[Hurlock]

Check out YouTube 1200gallon Reef at 9000feet'

[thor32766]

wow thats amazing!!!!

[Redds]

awesome good job

[TandN]

how about some pics ?

[Moser]

Nice tank!

What equipment are you using and how is the weir/ sump set up.
I guess the Vortech motors are in a dry chamber... how did you set that up?

Thanks
Mo

[Elliott]

very well done, would like to see the "back room". what skimmer are you using, do you have a refugium? thanks for sharing, wonderful tank, video was excellent as well :)

[Hurlock]

I have a 300 gal sump in a filter room off the side of the house. I ue a MRC skimmer with 4 becketts. the sump has three chambers, one is cheato (dying back because of the low nutrient with Prodibio and amino acids) the other has live rock and the third chamber is empty with that chamber returning water to the tank. I run an aquamedic Ca reactor (large one) Also I use the felt filter bags (2) as the water enters the sunp for mechanical filtration changed daily or at least every other day. The water running through the sump is only about 3200 gal hour. The flow is generated with a gyre effect with the vortech pumps. Four run on one side while the other is shut off. They alternate at about 5 min intervals. The dry box is iinside the tank as an extension of the overflow The bottom of the dry box is drilled for fan cooling but I have not installed the fans because the pump don't run hot. I have a four level house and the tank is on the second floor. We had to double -up joists 2/12 with a metal beam underneath. the tank. There is a bedroom underneath where my mother-in law stays when she visits. She is concerned about the 6 tons abover her head but I don't sleep there so it doesn't bother me. I'll try to send pictures of the filter room.The tank is really plumned pretty simple for ease of maintenance Steve Hurlock

[unbreakable]

^^ lol, keep the mother-in-law in the room under the tank, nice! great aquarium!

[Elliott]

well done Steve, even the tank placement, lol
hard to believe the vortechs can generate enough flow considering the distance/volume, can you run through your maintenance routine?

[jyesum]

The tank looks great.

It seems that you may need to consider Ozone? Or is that the quality of the camera that is causing your water visibility to be less than clear.

Other than that I think your tank looks amazing, alot of hardwork and dedication can be seen in your work. Congrats!

[myzislow]

Absolutely amazing!

[stunreefer]

WOW! Steve that is fantastic!!! Great job! :thumbsup:


Here's a link to the You Tube video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zh6Cz_H8Uhg


I'm still drooling over your pair of Naso's, and the giant colony of Blue Ridge is awesome!

...I've had to watch the video a few times to get my fix :D

[dougie]

great tank! i would also be very interested to see the sump, skimmer, ect. awesome job!

[leslie hempel]

pics please i cant acess youtube....

[rydr119]

looks great I love your rock work

[Hurlock]

In the picture the water was not very clear. The sand bed, 11/2 to 2" was new and not fully seeded with bacteria. The undertow of the vortedh pumps would pullsome of the sand off the bottom. After 5 months the sand bed is settled in with no mored discoloration in the water column.I have a pair of adult vamingi tangs as well as the naso pair. Also a large fully developed unicorn tang and a clown tang(these were from a tank that was moved and the fish were too large to take) It is pretty neat to see large tangs swim with some room. Very little bickering because there are places to escape. Steve Hurlock

[Jflip2002]

Thats awesome. Those 8 are creating some flow to say the least. That is a gorgeous tank.

[wayne3]

Awesome tank!

[Backinthegame]

I've got one word....WOW! AWESOME DISPLAY! I love the nasos too, but I'm pumped over the school of purple tangs...time to brek the bank! Keep up the great work!

[erics3000]

WOW .....

[thor32766]

yeah love the nasos!!!

[46bfinGA]

Heres another video of the same tank........http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Mz15R0gVMPA&feature=related

[bioneck47]

WOW!!! What's your filtration look like?

[REEF-n-Chicago]

simply awesome!

Very clean and nicely set up....

[Leonardo_]

Very nice tank, also LOVE the soundtrack (of the 1st video), saw them live last year :D

Leonardo

[hahmedR1]

Wow 8 Vortec's that is AWESOME you must print your own money! :D

[Moser]

Absolutely stunning tank .
Is it acrylic?
Can you give some details re filtration and what lighting you have on the tank?

Are you running Zeo/ Ultralith?.

How is the Tunze running in the system in addition to the Vortech's.

I might run Vortech's in my new 4000 L system after seeing your video.

Thanks
Mo

[miwoodar]

Awesome setup Steve. Even better than the last one!

Moser - http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?s=&postid=13889947#post13889947

[Moser]

Thanks. Don't know why I missed it. I guess I just kept watching the video and missed the thread update!!.....

What a tank. Would love a look at the filtration room....

Mo

[DamnPepShrimp]

Amazing tank! Just one question though... no angels?????

[Bax]

Amazing! Just, amazing!

[RedEDGE2k1]

Why would you located such a beautiful tank away from the living room? Is that in a basement?!

[miwoodar]

It's in his living room.

[porthios]

looks awesome steve. hope to see it myself someday.

i wanted to thank you again for letting me pick your brain on my tank build. i took delivery last weekend and it looks great. i'm stoked to get my vortech dry boxes running as well and it should provide for a nice clean installation.

i've lots to do before it's running but thanks for all you've done to get me this far.

btw, i can post some pics of how the dry boxes work if anyone's interested..

[Mark]

Hey Steve,
Incredible tank!
I visited you once during Christmas, before you were headed to Roatan. I stopped by with my wife Nicole. Did you dismantle the other two reefs? The bowfront you had was sweet. I also enjoyed your seahorse display.

[Hurlock]

Mark, the 600 had to go...12 years old and some seam problems. I still have the 550 bowfront but now more of LPS then SPS. Took sea horse down too many babies and a lot of work. I will get some pictures of filter room this weekend. Run a MRC Skimmer with four becketts (rated for 3000 gal tank) Run a prodibio system with weekly dosage of Bioptium pro,Biodigest Pro and Reefbooster Pro. Daily dose of 2 caps Amono acid and 3ml of Vodka. I believe the vodka aids a different bacteria then the Prodibio. The vortechs on one side create enough flow where the fish turn into the current and then change direction when the other side of the vortechs fire up. The tunze in the middle adds additional current to the SPS in the middle of the tank. The gyre created circulates the water completely one direction for 6 minutes then changes direction and turns the other four vortechs on the other side for 6 minutes. The undertow created adds turburlance in the middle of the tank. I tries all 8 vortech pumps at one time and they tend to work against each other actually creating less flow. I would have never believed it until I tried all 8 pumps at once. Steve Hurlock

[erics3000]

What kind of amino acids do you use?

[Hurlock]

Eric, Salifert Amino but I may switch to brightwell

[Hurlock]

Eric, Salifert Amino but I may switch to brightwell

[KEEPERZ]

real good stuff Steve-teach us how you keep your calc up in such a large tank-that reactor has got to be maxxing out-

[Moser]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=13915386#post13915386 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by porthios


btw, i can post some pics of how the dry boxes work if anyone's interested..


Yes please.....

Steve can you show yours too?.

I'm doing a large tank soon and may use your idea with the Vortech's


Thanks
Mo

[porthios]

hope you don't mind steve. here you go..

the overflow. you can see the chambers on either side..

http://i185.photobucket.com/albums/x10/p0rthi0s/overflow.jpg

the center chamber with the drain/return plumbing..

http://i185.photobucket.com/albums/x10/p0rthi0s/center-1.jpg

the right dry box. you can either drill the bottom to run power cords through, etc.. or leave them sealed and run the cords out the top..

http://i185.photobucket.com/albums/x10/p0rthi0s/rightbox.jpg

i believe steve's is the same but his is 60"w vs my 42"..

[Moser]

Thanks.... good stuff.

Is it possible to to cut the top of the back wall and silicone a box section to the back of the tank..... ie do what you did, but silicone the dry box and overflow to the back.... it would avoid drilling the base of the tank.

It would work well in my setup, as long nobody forsee's any problems with siliconing the box section to the back of the tank.....

Opinions?.... Jason? ..Steve??

Thanks
Mo

[Hurlock]

Mo, I think the problem is with outside boxes and overflows the vortedh pimps can only handle a certain tickness. My tank is 1 1/4' on the sides. The vortechs won't stick that thick. I drilled a hole in my dry box for a fan to cool the vortechs but I have not installed the fan because the pumps don't run that hot(they have a 5 min off cycle). They are run through a chevaut timer which is set to the on/off period. I do not like drilling the bottom of the tank either. Let me know if you need any more info. Steve Hurlock

[Hurlock]

Mo, I think the problem is with outside boxes and overflows the vortedh pimps can only handle a certain tickness. My tank is 1 1/4' on the sides. The vortechs won't stick that thick. I drilled a hole in my dry box for a fan to cool the vortechs but I have not installed the fan because the pumps don't run that hot(they have a 5 min off cycle). They are run through a chevaut timer which is set to the on/off period. I do not like drilling the bottom of the tank either. Let me know if you need any more info. Steve Hurlock

[Moser]

Steve

Is your tank glass or acrylic?

In the dry box, wouldn't there be a lot of pressure from all of the water in the tank, given there is only air inside the box?. Does it have thick walls?. The weirs are full of water, so the pressure is equalised.....

I'm thinking of going acrylic, but the thickness would be too great for Vortech pumps. The other method is the same as yours, but i wouldn't know what thickness of dry box wall I could get away with......

Any pics of the filter room?

This is one amazing tank!!

Thanks
Mo




<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=13889947#post13889947 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by Hurlock
I have a 300 gal sump in a filter room off the side of the house. I ue a MRC skimmer with 4 becketts. the sump has three chambers, one is cheato (dying back because of the low nutrient with Prodibio and amino acids) the other has live rock and the third chamber is empty with that chamber returning water to the tank. I run an aquamedic Ca reactor (large one) Also I use the felt filter bags (2) as the water enters the sunp for mechanical filtration changed daily or at least every other day. The water running through the sump is only about 3200 gal hour. The flow is generated with a gyre effect with the vortech pumps. Four run on one side while the other is shut off. They alternate at about 5 min intervals. The dry box is iinside the tank as an extension of the overflow The bottom of the dry box is drilled for fan cooling but I have not installed the fans because the pump don't run hot. I have a four level house and the tank is on the second floor. We had to double -up joists 2/12 with a metal beam underneath. the tank. There is a bedroom underneath where my mother-in law stays when she visits. She is concerned about the 6 tons abover her head but I don't sleep there so it doesn't bother me. I'll try to send pictures of the filter room.The tank is really plumned pretty simple for ease of maintenance Steve Hurlock

[Moser]

Jason

The top of the center box is lower than that of the weirs?.
Is the water level well below this?..... Where do the weir combs sit and what is the water height?

Thanks
Mo




<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=13936779#post13936779 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by porthios
hope you don't mind steve. here you go..

the overflow. you can see the chambers on either side..

http://i185.photobucket.com/albums/x10/p0rthi0s/overflow.jpg

the center chamber with the drain/return plumbing..

http://i185.photobucket.com/albums/x10/p0rthi0s/center-1.jpg

the right dry box. you can either drill the bottom to run power cords through, etc.. or leave them sealed and run the cords out the top..

http://i185.photobucket.com/albums/x10/p0rthi0s/rightbox.jpg

i believe steve's is the same but his is 60"w vs my 42"..

[porthios]

here's a pic with the adjustable weir installed at its lowest position. there are no teeth on my overflow. i believe steve had the same setup but ended up having to re-cut the overflow (deeper) to accommodate the crazy amount of flow he's running through his returns.

http://i185.photobucket.com/albums/x10/p0rthi0s/weir.jpg

[tonyf]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=13915386#post13915386 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by porthios
.... i'm stoked to get my vortech dry boxes running as well and it should provide for a nice clean installation ...

btw, i can post some pics of how the dry boxes work if anyone's interested..

I'd love to see the dry box pics ... I have a 10' x 3' x 2.5' tank with a full width end weir and I'd love to use Vortech pumps from the weir end ... just hate the TS48 kit which is a never ending source of equipment failure and frustration for the past 3 years.

Tone :)

[tonyf]

Ohh sorry, forgot to post my intended congratulations ... what a great tank!

[tonyf]

And now I've found the dry box pics too :)

[kev apsley]

I just discovered this tank and I must say it's my new favorite! The shear size is just overwhelming, you could literally go snorkeling in Steve's tank! not too mention that he is the only reefer that I know of that can actually replicate an authentic Ocean Gyre inside his of living room!! Then there is his livestock, the man obviously has good taste in fish and corals!

Steve be sure to keep updating us, I'd love to see how big some of your corals and fish get in that mamoth system of yours -J

[Moser]

Thanks, I got the weir and dry boxes the wrong way round.

What I don't know is how thick the walls of the dry box need to be. In Steve's tank, there must be a heck of a lot of pressure on the walls of the dry box. Isn't there a risk of the dry box collapsing?. I assume Steve's tank is 19mm glass (or is it 30mm acrylic??) and the weir/ dry box is around 10mm glass and covered in acrylic?

Thanks

Mo


<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=14045642#post14045642 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by porthios
here's a pic with the adjustable weir installed at its lowest position. there are no teeth on my overflow. i believe steve had the same setup but ended up having to re-cut the overflow (deeper) to accommodate the crazy amount of flow he's running through his returns.

http://i185.photobucket.com/albums/x10/p0rthi0s/weir.jpg

[Hurlock]

The entire tank is 11/4 acrylic with the dry boxes an insert off the built in overflow. The dry box is 3/4" acrylic. The dry box is not a structural support part of the tank. ADHI (built the tank) used euro support braces on the top that only have 2 3" braces accross the top of the tank(metal) that are powder coated to prevent rust. No more light trying to penetrate an acrylic top. I've got some great frags coming from Kev Apsley and more acan colonies coming. The tank is now into its 6 month and I will have Jake update pictures this month. I use the prodibio pro and amino acids and have to say the coral growth and color are better than expected. I have absolutely no algae and feed very heavy Regards, Steve Hurlock

[Moser]

Thanks Steve. Any worries with going acrylic; scratching etc.?. I'm just in the process of deciding on 30mm acrylic or 19mm glass on 6ftx8ftx3ft....what do you think?

Please could you show pics of your braces and the light set up?

Thanks
Mo

[Moser]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=14055945#post14055945 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by Hurlock
The entire tank is 11/4 acrylic with the dry boxes an insert off the built in overflow. The dry box is 3/4" acrylic. The dry box is not a structural support part of the tank.

What I was thinking was that the weir is usually full of water, in which case the pressure on each side of the weir wall is equalised and the force of the tank water is applied to the external walls of the tank. If the Weir is empty (ie full of air), there is no counter pressure from a volume of water and the force of the body of water is applied to the wall of the weir (or dry box). However, it seems the side walls of the dry boxes extend from the weir wall to the external wall of the tank..... in which case it is effectively braced. So I guess I just answered my own question.......

The braces ( side wall of the dy boxes) add the necessary support to stop it collapsing.

Great thread and tank!..... I can't get over the video on Youtube..... seen it a thousand times. Is there anyway to download it??.....

Thanks
Mo

[Hurlock]

I would have gone glass if I could Tank is on second floor of my house. It was 1250 pounds empty. I had to re-enforce the lower level with metal beams etc. I was guessing the system is about 6 tons now. I have a 550 glass oceanic bow frone in the same room and that weighted 1200 lbs empty. I would always choose glass if I could because of the scratching. There is no one in Denver to build a glass tank in place Hurlock

[Moser]

OK, thanks.

I was thinking of switching to acrylic, because of concerns with breakages.... maybe I'll stick with glass??

Mo

[kev apsley]

hey steve, how are the Vortech's holding up for you? had any issues with them at all? I just loved the way you did that, I'm telling you if I'm ever out in Colorado you'll have to give me a tank tour!

[EnglishRebel]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=14056788#post14056788 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by Hurlock
I would have gone glass if I could. There is no one in Denver to build a glass tank in place Hurlock

Steve
Check out this thread. Umm, Fish? (http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?s=&postid=14082498#post14082498) Umm, Fish? had his 430g L shaped built in place. He's in Boulder which is about 40 miles right?

BTW GREAT TANK :thumbsup:

[Lowredranger]

Awesome looking tank!!!

I am setting up a 280g with 4 vortechs. Have you tried the pulse mode with all 8 running and if so i assume you found the gyre as the best option. I was planning do have all 4 in pulse mode but maybe i should rethink.

Thanks
Jason

[Untamed12]

It is just possible that I like your tank more than my own. Love the 5 foot width!

[jacksandgo]

Great videos. Love tangs...had 8 large ones myself.

[Moser]

Steve,

How far apart are your vortech's?
How far from the top of the water is the upper pump?
How far from the sand is the lower pump?

Any problems with blowing sand around?.
Any problems with sucking air in from the top pump?
Any noise in the pumps, or do they run silent?

Thanks
Mo

[vareefer4life]

whose music is on the video that you made? Its cool!

[Moser]

Steve,

Any updates?
How's the tank doing?

Mo

[fragboy94]

dude i would kill to hav ur tank i hav watched the vid 46 times and every time i find somthin new tht amazes me how much is ur elec bill man 5000 watts in halides thts crazy you hav inspired me to get one when i get a permanent house imma prolly do like 800 to a 1000 imma prolly do more shorter like 2 feet tall

[bullitr]

Sir
I saw a recent video of your tank few months ago it's all grown very well and its a very good inspiration.
Anyway how many Tunze powerhead did you add?
Have you consider getting LEDs to save some electricity?
Thank you

[Omega_rains]

Heres another video of the same tank........http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Mz15R0gVMPA&feature=related




Amazing Tank!