My first build begins

[crsaz]

kinda, after half @$$ing my first build I have decided to upgrade to a 57 gal rimless and a 48"x24"x12" frag tank,sro 2000-ext cone, 60 gal sump. more info to come. I have a few Q's concerning lighting, should I opt for 2 250's instead of one? the tank is 36"x18"x22"
some goodies,sump, frag tank, skimmer and more lights will be here later in the week
the display tank
http://i45.photobucket.com/albums/f80/crsaz/PB160311.jpg
I will be employing 2(maybe 3 of these)
http://i45.photobucket.com/albums/f80/crsaz/PB160310.jpg

[krucial]

Nice!!! I love the tank.
If your tank is only 36" I recommend only one reflector. I have a 36X24X14 tank and I use a 20X20 reflector and it covers the spread very well. Good luck and keep us posted.

[ThurlowR]

Is that an Oceanic rimless ?

[kaserpick]

That tank looks great! I had a 65g (same footprint, just a few inches taller) by AGA, and I used 2 250w halides both in Coralvue DE reflectors. They're great reflectors, but given the depth, I would go with 2, not 1. I say this because if you don't plan your aquascaping carefully, you'll end up shading out areas that you could light with 2. Also, I've used 1 250w lumenarc reflector (16x16") on a 30BR (also same footprint, but 12" high) and was never truly satisfied with the coverage; I had shaded areas on the side.

Another option to consider (if you can take the ballast back because the reflector should be able to adjust for 400w) is using a single 400w. You could just keep it higher off of the tank. Hope that helps. :)

[iNfaMous_reeF]

Sweet!!! I will be tagging along with your build! I see that your thread is in the sps forum, what are your plans for flow? I am still debating on what I should do.

I dont know if you have taken that cardboard off yet, but I would check for cracks on the frame..

[crsaz]

For flow I am planning an mp40 maybe 2, I think I will start with one. Light and set it up so that I could add another at any time. Over the frag tank I will run one 250 on a light rail.

I unpack and inspect every tank at the store. Working at a lfs I've learned that shipping companies damage. A lot of tanks. I'm just using the card board to protect my table

[Ian]

Don't take this the wrong way but this is the SPS Forum, a place to discuss SPS corals.

I believe build threads under 180 gallons belong in the Reef Discussion forum...

[Ian]

Example...

http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?t=1740377

[kaserpick]

Don't take this the wrong way but this is the SPS Forum, a place to discuss SPS corals.

I believe build threads under 180 gallons belong in the Reef Discussion forum...

Please don't take this the wrong way either, but many post threads about phosphate problems, vodka dosing, and other water chemistry issues. Yet, we don't suggest that they don't post in the SPS forum or do post in the Chemistry forum. We help them.

The rebuttal to this fact would be that almost always the water chemistry questions in the SPS forum are, in fact, SPS related.

That being said, if he is planning an SPS dominated reef for this tank's future, then it's SPS related. It's nice and educational to see how people set up their systems in preparation for these beautiful animals; therefore, I find it is relevant to the SPS forum.

Furthermore, his questions will be better suited to our crowd of keepers, not the general group, making it very beneficial for him to post here. Let us not forget that the goal in this community is to learn from each other, and I am in no way saying that you've forgotten that goal. But, sometimes we lose sight of the main goal over trivial guidelines, including myself. BTW, Ian, thank you very much for your contributions to this forum. :D

crsaz: I'm willing to bet that you'll want two MP40's, but that's just my opinion.

[Ian]

Fair enough. It's just that posts like this resonated with me...

You mean there is still an sps forum? I didn't even realize it since I stopped visiting it so long ago. I think I gave up on it around the time that a bunch of other regulars and people that I would consider knowledgeable also stopped posting there. To me, at the time when I stopped visiting, everything had become a (insert male private area) measuring contest... I'm cool because I have a 1/2" frag of this or that, I just put this new piece of high end equipment on my tank but I don't know how to keep corals alive, etc., etc. That and the forum got way too bogged down with people making new threads on topics that had been discussed 100 times before, sometimes even on the same page. Some people will never be able to find that search button. I can say I really do miss the good ol' days of the sps forum of the past.

Whats really dissapoints me is what this forum has become :sad1:

People post a little of everything here and have cluttered it in a way that some of the most knowledgeable folks don't even want to bother anymore. Please people, this forum is for our obsession with sps corals ;)

I feel like the "knowledgeable" people mentioned in both posts are the people that guys like you and I can learn from but unfortunately no longer frequent the forum due to the dilution that you mentioned.

Crsaz, Im sorry I derailed your thread and Im sure Ill have some angry people after me but I just had to say something... Good luck with the build, it looks like it'll be a very nice aquarium...

[kaserpick]

Both are good posts, and I see both sides of the discussion. I hope this forum can stay away from little competitions, "I've got this new blah blah blah." And, I do completely agree that too many ask the same question instead of reading. This being said, while I do find this forum wanting at times, I don't feel like I'd post anywhere else. It's hard to find that happy median. Maybe a Build Sub-Forum in the SPS Forum would be good? I don't know...just a thought.

I'm not angry, whatsoever, and I hope no angry people come after you. :p Thanks for keeping a cool head about it as well. :)

And back to the thread...

[hatfielj]

I would go with 2 250 watt lights. I used to have a 36" tank and I tried the single 400 watt route and it wasn't the best option. You just get a better spread over all if you use 2 smaller 250 watt reflectors instead.
Those are nice tanks. I've seen them in person at Premium Aquatics and was very impressed with the build quality!

[BeanTown Salt]

For flow I am planning an mp40 maybe 2, I think I will start with one. Light and set it up so that I could add another at any time. Over the frag tank I will run one 250 on a light rail.

I unpack and inspect every tank at the store. Working at a lfs I've learned that shipping companies damage. A lot of tanks. I'm just using the card board to protect my table

Nice looking set up love the rimless look.

IMO I would start with 2 MP20 or one MP40 like you mentioned, (2) vortech MP40's will be more flow than you will most likely want.
I am running 2 MP40's myself and thought I needed 3 on a 210g. what a wave ripple.

All and all I think you will be happy with your pump choice.

[crsaz]

for now I will be using 1 mp40 and one tunze 6080 since I have one lying around, the thing I like about having 2 vortechs is that they can communicate and "work" together. more updates tommorrow when I build the stand and sump.

[khalid]

Nice looking tank cant wait to see it up and running. :)

[premilove]

wow that tank looks great

[bmw-legend]

Look good, I love it

[Algae Growwer]

that's the coolest set up hate the black and wood tone plastic on regular tank such a nice clean look AWESOME!

[gordon2726]

Looks great! I love 36" wide tank. Since you have a center overflow so most likely, you will have 2 islands like rockscape... I would go with 2 x 250w for even light spread.

[YTBJ]

Where did you get it?

[scaryperson27]

I would with T5 lighting. On this shallow of a tank, you shouldn't have a problem with them. 500 watts of like plus like 60~90 just sounds like a lot of heat involved.

Check this out :)

http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?t=1215102

[crsaz]

Since you have a center overflow so most likely, you will have 2 islands like rockscape
Im not sure on that yet, I have a few nice shelf pieces I've picked out at work(and hidden in plain sight in a display lol) over the past few months. I am also ordering a box of liverock this week. though Im not sure what kind I want. currently I have about 20lbs of fiji and 45lbs of tonga, Im thinking vanutu or bali. and yes I have decided to go with 2 mh over the dt and one on a light rail over the frag tank.

on the subject of lighting, does anybody know which workhorse ballast will power 2x39w t5's and 2x24w t5's?

[crsaz]

been sick in bed the past few days, but today I managed to scrounge up enough strength(mostly got extremely bored) to go to the lfs and order 2 more reflectors and ballasts and went to lowes and got some glass cut for the sump. and picked up about 75# of lr. its getting closer to being done:spin1: I'll have some pics soon

[crsaz]

sorry no pics today(hopefully tomorrow) I got the sump built today, and got my frag tank order 48"x24"x10" rimless, 3-6 week wait on the frag tank:( I also ordered my skimmer I went ahead and got the biggest I could since I dont believe in over skimming and I plan to upgrade in the future

link to skimmer
http://www.reefspecialty.com/Protein-Skimmers-Super-Reef-Octopus/c21_103/p460/Super-Reef-Octopus-6000-External-Protein-Skimmer/product_info.html

[jeffeg]

great start

[Fisher72]

For lighting, are you going with 10K, 14K or 20K. this will determine if one fixture will be enough. As for flow, 2 40 will be too much, I have 2 in my SPS 90 and they are running at 2/3 powder.

[crsaz]

I will be running radium 20k's as for flow I think Ill go with 1 mp40 and the mp10 I currently have

[crsaz]

borring update but its been a while since I've done anything so today I picked through 500lbs of tukani live rock that came in at work today(man working at an lfs has its advanteges, how can ya beat personally cherry picking through the live rock before anyone gets to even see and only paying $1.50/lb) and picked out a few nice pieces. anyways I picked up 1 mp40 to start off with. but theres also bad news, the skimmer wont be in for another 2 weeks and the frag tank has been delayed to the first week in jan.
anyways PICS finaly
http://i45.photobucket.com/albums/f80/crsaz/PC120344.jpg
diesel inspecting for pests
http://i45.photobucket.com/albums/f80/crsaz/PC120343.jpg
http://i45.photobucket.com/albums/f80/crsaz/PC120345.jpg
http://i45.photobucket.com/albums/f80/crsaz/PC120346.jpg

[crsaz]

yay, frag tank is done and scheduled for wendsday arrival, and since the skimmer keeps getting delayed I cancelled my order. and I will be ordering from reef specialty so now I am deciding between the 6000ext and the xp5000 cone cant decide so what would you go with? I will have the tank up and running within two weeks:bigeyes:

[crsaz]

its here!!!
Im still undecided on the skimmer, now its between the atb 840 and the sro 6000ext, any input??
dont mind my mess room, we've just recently moved in and haven't fully unpacked

http://i45.photobucket.com/albums/f80/crsaz/P1220015.jpg
http://i45.photobucket.com/albums/f80/crsaz/P1220016.jpg
diamond edge to match the iluminata
http://i45.photobucket.com/albums/f80/crsaz/P1220019.jpg

[eddie holland]

very nice can,t wait to see it running.

[crsaz]

I should have water in it by mid next week. and I am still undecided on a skimmer. its between th xp-3000 cone(10"cone/5"neck), sro 6000-ext(12" body/6"neck)and the atb 840 v1.5(8"cone/4"neck) they will all cost me the same(the atb would be $15 more) so you guys choose. some say I wont be able to develop a decent head with a lagre neck but I think with the combination of high bio-load, lots of feeding, and carbon dosing it will be alright.

[cpllongjk]

Hey Crsaz,

Very nice tank, both of them. I to am setting up a Illuminata.
I have the ATB 840 v1.5 and love it. Its got a lot of room for growth imo. You can interchange the large and small pinwheel depending on your skimming needs. Im going to run with the small wheel until I get a frag tank and then Ill switch over to the large. Shoot the small pinwheel might even be enough to take care of 120g-150g total volume.

All I know is I have run the ATB 840 v1.5 with the large wheel and have had issues with the foam head collapsing after 4-5 days. When I switched to the small pin wheel, I got consistant skimmate and the foam head didnt collapse.

About the Vortechs. My opinion is get 1 MP40w. I have 1 also, and had 2 on my 60g (48x15x17) and it was to much flow with 2 of them. With 1 youll be able to open it up nearly full throtle and get the use out of it. IMO MP20s are a waste because they are the same size pump as the MP40 just missing the better controller. I think your tank will be fine with the MP40w and the return pump. If you have 2 MP40w on a non BareBottom tank your sand will be blowing all over if you open the pump up.

With your frag tank, just get a bunch of cheap Tunze pumps and place them under your frag racks. You shouldnt need any surface agitation unless you want it. Just have the Tunzes blowing under the frag rack and youll have some crazy random flow.

Sorry for the book, hope it helps.

[mnellis3023]

tagging along

[crsaz]

finally after all the crazyness going on in my life, I got the system up and running. I still need to decide on how to hang the lights and skin the the stand. I still need to order an xp-2000 ext, but for now the moded g3 will have to do.

http://i45.photobucket.com/albums/f80/crsaz/IMG00082-20100426-1904.jpg
http://i45.photobucket.com/albums/f80/crsaz/IMG00083-20100426-1904.jpg