Derek's Aussie 240gal Reef

[DerekR]

G’day from down under! :)

My name is Derek and with the help of my wife Trish we have started building our second and final reef system. We live in Brisbane in sunny Queensland, Australia.
Our first and current tank is about two and a half years old and is a 120gal mixed reef tank. Not a bad setup considering having no experience at all when we put it together, but from day one I was thinking about ways to improve it. After many months of planning, our new 240gal SPS reef system is starting to take shape.
Here is a link to my full tank build at “Reefing the Australian Way” forums - my username there is Deek.
http://www.masa.asn.au/phpBB3/viewtopic.php?f=51&t=208704

Tank:
Custom built 240gal tank measuring 78x30x24.
The tank will be euro braced and constructed from 12mm starfire (front/sides/brace) with polished edges.
It will have a total of 65” of overflow weir and an external overflow box with 4 x 1.5” bulkheads - 1 return, 2 siphons taking 99% of the flow to sump and a drain taking 1% of flow.
Tank has been ordered but not here yet…
http://img535.imageshack.us/img535/4044/finaltank1copy.jpg

Sump:
48x24x15 glass sump with 3 sections - first will have skimmer, removable DSB in a bucket, heaters, ozone reactor, second will have lots of live rock and third will have a bubble trap, media reactors (phosphate + carbon) and return pump suction.
The third section will also be used to dose supplements, do auto water changes, auto top-off and control the ozone via ORP controller.
Sump has been ordered but not here yet…
http://img268.imageshack.us/img268/2234/sumpn.jpg

Stand:
The stand is a custom built from 2” square steel section. It measures 100” in total length so there will be a bench on each side of the tank. It will be clad to match the kitchen so it is part of the furniture.
http://img534.imageshack.us/img534/9666/resizewizard3.jpg

http://img268.imageshack.us/img268/5391/img1532gg.jpg

http://img534.imageshack.us/img534/9246/img1542.jpg

...

[DerekR]

Lighting:
Light is provided by a 6 ft Giesemann Spectra - 3x250W + 4x80W. To start with we will be running 12.5 K megachrome MH, 2 x pure actinic T5 and 2 x aquablue plus T5 and see how they go.
I have hung the fixture from the ceiling and it looks great!
http://img40.imageshack.us/img40/3544/img1545l.jpg

http://img97.imageshack.us/img97/8245/img1557ps.jpg

http://img534.imageshack.us/img534/8058/img1564l.jpg

Circulation:
The return pump will be a Reeflo super dart gold which will most like also feed the chiller in the summer months. I will also have a tee and hose off this pump for detritus blow-off in the display tank and sump.
The display tank circulation will be via 3 Reeflo hammerhead gold pumps plumbed in 3 closed loops. Each pump will have one 2” suction and six 1” discharges. There will be a total of 12 outlets on the back of the tank and 6 on the bottom.
I think the little “Made in the USA” stickers are a nice touch.
http://img193.imageshack.us/img193/9839/resizewizard4.jpg

Filtration:
Skimmer: ATB medium internal skimmer running the airstar 1500. This skimmer looks great with all white plumbing and is running on our current 120gal tank at the moment.
http://img534.imageshack.us/img534/210/resizewizard2.jpg

http://img268.imageshack.us/img268/7136/resizewizard1i.jpg

Removable DSB: We are going to run a DSB in a bucket in the sump as I do not like the risks they have when not removable. Also, if my nitrates are too low I can take it out.
Phosphate media: I will be running phosphate media in a Phosban 150 reactor.
Carbon: I will be running carbon in a Phosban 550 reactor.
Ozone: Sander C200 with an American Marine ORP controller into an old skimmer or DIY reactor.

Maintenance:
Dosing: 3 part dosing (Alk/Ca/Mg) via a GHL 3 pump set with built in controller.
Water Changes: Auto water changes will be performed using a dual head Reef-Filler 15 gpd pump changing about 1% daily.
Salt water: D-D H2Ocean Pro+
Auto top-off: 4 stage RO/DI with Tunze Osmolator
Cooling: Aquamedic Titan 2000 chiller supplemented with 4 x 15w fans.


Thanks for reading everyone.
I hope to update this thread from time to time, but my projects usually take a while to build…

Cheers,
Derek. :beer:

[reefman66]

looking nice tagging along

[gary faulkner]

Looking good!

Any concern over the noise of all those external pumps or do you have a plan for quieting them somehow?

Thanks

[DerekR]

Thanks guys :)

To be honest I have not run these pumps yet or seen any running... so I am not sure.
However, the stand will be fully enclosed and vented outside. If noise is and issue I will insulate the stand with sound insulating foam or something similar, so hopefully that works.

Cheers,
Derek.

[DerekR]

double post

[tate1]

What do you think about your skimmer compared to others? I have been thinking about changing over to the same style you have for our 265.

[DerekR]

The skimmer is great!

Took a long time to get and cost a fair bit but it was well worth it.
The build quality is first rate and it pulls alot of foam.

My first skimmer was terribly undersized and terrible…
My second skimmer was a Marine Sources job and cost about 10% of the ATB, it seemed good compared to the first, but once I got an even better one I realised how bad it was.

[DerekR]

Bit of an update on this build...

We got our tank just before Easter and we have been doing alot of plumbing over the long weekend. :celeb3:

There has been a few mistakes on my part, but nothing we couldn't fix.
Plumbing is not all that fun, but when you get a pipe run finished, it's much better. :lolspin:

Here are a few pics since the last update.

Every plumber's dream
http://img194.imageshack.us/img194/8449/img1589e.jpg

Sump in position
http://img28.imageshack.us/img28/1779/img1746e.jpg

Ready for lifting
http://img709.imageshack.us/img709/879/img1750h.jpg

Lifting to balcony
http://img709.imageshack.us/img709/817/img1751ry.jpg

http://img706.imageshack.us/img706/5610/img1753w.jpg

Lifting off forklift
http://img52.imageshack.us/img52/987/img1754u.jpg

[DerekR]

Bulkheads in - all 26 of them!
http://img28.imageshack.us/img28/3515/img1757q.jpg

I love the starfire glass, we also got the eurobrace done in starfire. Looks great!
http://img28.imageshack.us/img28/7060/img1763xf.jpg

http://img202.imageshack.us/img202/4224/img1766x.jpg

These are the spa outlet fittings
http://img52.imageshack.us/img52/6295/img1765f.jpg

http://img709.imageshack.us/img709/3130/img1764w.jpg

[DerekR]

Plumbing going a fair bit slower than I thought it would, but here are a few pics I took today.

The black basket strainers are 2" and are the intakes for the 3 Hammerhead CLs. They will be hidden best the best we can with the aquascape.
The 6 PVC outlets will be covered with expander foam covered with sand/rock rubble to hide them. They should become part of the aquascape after a while.
http://img714.imageshack.us/img714/9026/img1782n.jpg

http://img94.imageshack.us/img94/6324/img1783s.jpg

The ATB skimmer was taken out of my existing tank about an hour before this shot. It is so easy to take apart to clean and it cleaned up like new, such a great design.
http://img11.imageshack.us/img11/4136/img1784ct.jpg

http://img32.imageshack.us/img32/6494/img1786e.jpg

http://img709.imageshack.us/img709/7286/sump1.jpg

[TheSurgeon]

Wow, that is a cool plumbing set up. I'd love to put all that together. Its like a giant puzzle. Nice looking build!

[DerekR]

Thanks mate,
My wife thinks it is like a giant puzzle too. It is starting to take shape like a good puzzle as well, I only have the two closed loop outlets on the back of the tank to go. Then the water will flow!!

[zaheda]

Very nice build. Massive Closed loop system you have.

[DerekR]

Cheers Zaheda!
It is massive... maybe I should have gone with high pressure/low flow pumps and used small bore plumbing... oh well.

I still have two more CL outlets to plumb and then I will never have to plumb again - ever!

[nanoreefbro]

Wow great looking setup so far... Keep us posted...

[ptan]

nice setup... so clean and looks fantastic... keep us updated with lots and lots of pictures...

[DerekR]

Unfortunately, there has been a little setback to getting it wet.
I have been working very hard to get all the plumbing done and I completed it all and started filling the tank at lunchtime today.
However... most of the bulkheads on the base of the tank had a slow leak...

I drained what water I had put in the tank and dried it completely. Then I sealed all the bulkheads on the inside of the tank using LOTS of silicone. It looks like a very good seal so it should be good once fully cured.

So I will let it sit and cure till next weekend then try again and see how it goes.

Cheers,
Derek

[DerekR]

nice setup... so clean and looks fantastic... keep us updated with lots and lots of pictures...
Sorry no pictures at the moment :(
But I will get lots when I fill it next week :)

[ptan]

Sorry no pictures at the moment :(
But I will get lots when I fill it next week :)


will definitely wait for your updates... your tank is so neat...

[DerekR]

Here are a few more pics

Back of the tank finished
http://img707.imageshack.us/img707/9003/img1794i.jpg

So much for a neat setup...
http://img163.imageshack.us/img163/6976/img1800z.jpg

Sump full
http://img85.imageshack.us/img85/48/img1799l.jpg

Bulkheads sealed
http://img683.imageshack.us/img683/4347/img1797t.jpg

Connections on back of tank sealed again just to be sure...
http://img695.imageshack.us/img695/4765/img1798c.jpg

[DolphinLVR]

Incredible setup Derek! I love how clean this all is! Very well done.

I look forward to following your build.

Jeff

[ptan]

Here are a few more pics

Back of the tank finished
http://img707.imageshack.us/img707/9003/img1794i.jpg

Thats a setup! nice plumbing! hope you can do my tank's pipework!

[eran]

how do you plan on adjusting the flow for each of the closed loops outputs???

[DerekR]

Thanks Jeff and ptan :)


Ptan, if you supply the plain ticket I will come and plumb your tank for sure!!


Hi Eran,

There are 3 CL pumps:

- CL1/2 pumps to the 6 outlets on back left/right
- These are about 1" holes through the spa ball outlets but the pipework is all 1.5". All the outlets are reasonably close together and each goes through a Tee so I assumed that the headloss through the outlets would be a fair bit more than the pipework itself. This design leads to reasonably equal flow through each outlet.

- CL 3 pumps to the 6 outlets on the bottom
- This one is a bit different, however, they are all 1” outlets again and the pipework is all 1.5” again. The outlets are spaced out a bit more so the far outlets have a fair bit more pipework to go through than the closer ones. Therefore I put a valve on the first 2 outlets, I will adjust the flow to these 2 outlets as they would get way too much flow without a throttled valve. The last 4 outlets are well spaced using similar pipe/fittings so I assume they will split the remaining flow reasonably equally.

However... this is all in theory...

So all the outlets should get around the same flow. And then if we need to adjust the flow anymore we can adjust the direction of each but not the flow splitting.

[DerekR]

We have filled the tank for a fresh water test. Found a couple of leaks but nothing major this time.

One is a solvent welded joint... out of close to 300 joints - 1 is not too bad ey? ;)

The return pump has some very good flow and is as quiet as I expected.
The overflow is silent without any bubbles and the siphon restarts automatically.

The CL pumps are a bit louder than I expected, but I have read that they are quieter after running them in for a few days as the bearing oil disperses.
Otherwise, I am confident the insulating of the cabinet will keep the noise down.

One of the Hammerheads had a broken fan.
Reeflo are sending a new fan, but I will tell you, the noise it made was very scary!!
I thought it was about to explode! But at least it was just the fan and not the motor/bearings.
http://img687.imageshack.us/img687/1872/img1825yv.jpg


Here are some more photos

Fill her up!
http://img685.imageshack.us/img685/5585/img1814c.jpg

Just the return pump running, we have taken out the CL to seal the connections tomorrow.
http://img687.imageshack.us/img687/926/img1818dg.jpg

This is the overflow at the moment.
We have turned the aqua-medic comb upside-down to create a combless weir and the water height in the tank is perfect.
http://img682.imageshack.us/img682/6085/img1828cn.jpg

The overflow box is working perfectly and the ball valves are easy to tune making the overflow silent.
http://img682.imageshack.us/img682/9626/img1820r.jpg

There is a fair bit of flow through the sump over the baffle, it makes a very small amount of noise.
Once we tee the return to the chiller, the flow will be reduced a bit.
http://img638.imageshack.us/img638/1120/img1823r.jpg

We spent the afternoon mounting the light ballasts and finishing off the timer setup.
The ballasts fit snugly up under the stand above the power panels.
http://img21.imageshack.us/img21/9384/img1822pk.jpg


Trish has re-done the aquascape totally! She has used the exact same rocks + 1 rock.
It is more lagoon/low profile, and has more hiding holes/caves I think. Looks good and hides the outlets better than before. :)
It is hard to get good photos of the new aquascape, but here it is from the right.
http://img59.imageshack.us/img59/806/img1832m.jpg

[StripestheEel]

Hi DerekR,

I have seen a similar tank design on another forum, have you copied this? (haha)

Good to see you here.

[ptr13]

Beautiful tank,love the plumbing work,so clean. Keep us posted:)

[DerekR]

Thanks alot ptr13
:thumbsup:



Hi DerekR,

I have seen a similar tank design on another forum, have you copied this? (haha)

Good to see you here.
:lmao:
Hi Matt! Slowly but surely, we will take over RC!

Even though these are my only posts, I am over here a fair bit researching and reading build threads.

[DerekR]

We have had some decent progress since our last update. We have all the aquascape done and we are very happy with the results. :thumbsup:

Here are some photos of what we ended up with. Very similar to the plan.

http://img59.imageshack.us/img59/8669/img1838gt.jpg

http://img59.imageshack.us/img59/8646/img1840a.jpg

http://img191.imageshack.us/img191/2075/img1839o.jpg

http://img94.imageshack.us/img94/9093/img1841w.jpg

We had thought of a few options to cover the CL outlets on the base.
In the end we chose to break up a couple bits on base rock and superglue little pieces onto the outlets.
This turned out to be a bit time consuming, but it is very easy to do and hides the outlets very well. :thumbsup:

From this...
http://img202.imageshack.us/img202/577/img1836g.jpg

...to this...
http://img94.imageshack.us/img94/5738/img1833r.jpg

... to this. :thumbsup:
http://img191.imageshack.us/img191/4390/img1842h.jpg

[zaheda]

The tank looking great, all the hard work paid of. I almost threw my Md 70 in the trash can after working a while and than stopping making a hellava noise. Thereafter my wife checked that the fan outlet was kind of blocked with fluff from the carpet and after she cleaned it its working fine. I hope thats my problem solved. My pump makes quite a noise.

[j-soler]

If youre end result looks anything like youre impecable plumbing, youre tank will be totm in no time! Very nice job thus far! tagging along

[camoausreefer]

good to see you here Derek coming along nicely :D

[ziyaadb]

Nice!

[TyroRuan]

WoW, very nice im planning out something very similar to this right now. Definitely tagging along

[DerekR]

Thanks everyone! And thanks Camo (is that you Ryan?)
It has finally come together, we got the tank wet a few days ago!

Here are some more photos of the finished aquascape.
The full tank shot shows everything hidden perfectly :)

http://img707.imageshack.us/img707/6779/img1849nl.jpg

http://img215.imageshack.us/img215/6560/img1845e.jpg

http://img266.imageshack.us/img266/2973/img1846ca.jpg

http://img18.imageshack.us/img18/1112/img1848xe.jpg

And here it is with water, still a little cloudy in these photos but is crystal clear now.
Sorry, I forgot to turn my TV off in this photo...
:thumbsup:

http://img576.imageshack.us/img576/3000/img1880t.jpg

http://img638.imageshack.us/img638/5599/img1886f.jpg

[Lyfey]

Absolutely beautiful!! I admire your skill and your accomplishment sofar!

Quick question. your intake strainers are very low. I thought at first your were going to be running a BB system. What are you going to do to stop sand from entering your closed loop? Fish will churn up alot of sand.

Beautiful though!!

-Chris

[DerekR]

Hi Chris, thanks for the comments mate.

Yes, the strainers a quite low, the sand is about an inch below the strainers at the moment, but you are right - if something disturbs the sand near a strainer, a little bit of sand goes through the pump.
If this becomes a problem with the fish, I will have push the sand away from the strainers and make a little rock wall around each strainer. Maybe 3 inchs tall with a 1 inch gap between strainer and rock.
I will try anything and everything before I remove the sand and go BB!! :lol:

Derek

[itzgtd]

Aquascaping turned out really nice. Good job!

[DerekR]

Been a bit slack on the updates, but better never than late... right?

We had a few leaks with the fittings on the back of the tank, so Operation Leak Buster was put into action. By all accounts, it was a complete success!

We have cycled the tank using the Prodibio products Biodigest and Bioptim. In addition we used some fish food and raw prawn. I left the prawn in the tank for too long though and had a big ammonia spike so the cycle has lasted a fair while. And boy, did that prawn stink!!


So on with the show!

This is before the cycle began, oh how I with it looked this clean forever...

http://img193.imageshack.us/img193/1560/img1892f.jpg

http://img3.imageshack.us/img3/4839/img1902j.jpg

http://img683.imageshack.us/img683/3081/img1894md.jpg

http://img85.imageshack.us/img85/3355/img1905k.jpg


Here are some algae cycle pics

http://img218.imageshack.us/img218/9172/img1914v.jpg

http://img707.imageshack.us/img707/2315/img1908p.jpg


And here are yesterday's pics. Gives you a good idea of what a base rock tank looks like when it cycles.
I need to clean the algae off the back panel.

http://img638.imageshack.us/img638/8494/img1948hk.jpg

http://img821.imageshack.us/img821/8283/img1955p.jpg


We are getting a few tufts of hair algae like this one pop up

http://img824.imageshack.us/img824/6796/img1952c.jpg


This is what the rock mostly looks like

http://img641.imageshack.us/img641/716/img1950wl.jpg

[DerekR]

We have put all the pumps on high density foam to reduce vibrations.
I don't know if it helped with the noise or not really. But don't they just look great!!?

http://img295.imageshack.us/img295/3311/img1897.jpg


We have added two TLF 150 reactors - one with Rowaphos and one with TLF Hydrocarbon 2. Both are teed off the return pump.

http://img189.imageshack.us/img189/4637/img1924ny.jpg


The ATB skimmer has been kicking some serious anus lately as well. It is pulling out about 3 cups on a good day (that is about 0.2 gallon for you Northern folk). Really happy with it.

http://img248.imageshack.us/img248/9922/img1921w.jpg

http://img28.imageshack.us/img28/3007/img1922t.jpg


Hope you all enjoy.
Derek
:)

[Tater11]

wow!!!!derek what a great build.very neat and clean looking forward to more updates.

[Reef 101]

:wavehand:looks great how do you like your ATB? what size feed pump is on it?

[cewoodall3]

Double post

[cewoodall3]

Looks great, tagging along. . .

[DerekR]

Thanks heaps guys! :)

wow!!!!derek what a great build.very neat and clean looking forward to more updates.
Hopefully we will be able to keep it this neat and clean... I can't wait to clad the stand - just need to save up a bit more money - the cladding will really top it off we think.

:wavehand:looks great how do you like your ATB? what size feed pump is on it?
The ATB is a medium internal model running an Airstar 1500. It is going really great. Looking forward to seeing how it performs with a higher bioload.
The things I really like about it are the build quality, it is amazing. Also the ease of fully cleaning the skimmer is a big plus as you can take it apart fully. The deluxe models look really cool though... maybe next time.

[DerekR]

Here are a few more recent photos :)

http://img13.imageshack.us/img13/8665/img2305p.jpg

http://img824.imageshack.us/img824/277/img2300.jpg

http://img824.imageshack.us/img824/7431/img2284i.jpg

http://img823.imageshack.us/img823/9145/img2287j.jpg

http://img819.imageshack.us/img819/8573/img2257m.jpg

[Reef Happy]

Sweet build and you are going to have plenty of flow.

[Rennsport]

Great build!! Just found this one. Great looking setup!!

[leslie hempel]

lovley, i can only imagine what this will look like in a couple months..

[Cannon7]

Very nice. Love the set up.

[cewoodall3]

Looking great!

[jackiechandc]

This is one of the best thought out and layouts I've ever seen in a tank. Everything looks so clean and precise. Great job!
Wei

[DerekR]

Thanks so much for your comments guys. :)

Trish and I are looking forward to stocking it. We have got our final fish list and final coral list. We have got a few corals being sent to us already, but it will be another month before we have time to start buying/QTing fish.

Fish list includes-
- Achilles tang (or Powder Blue if we have bad luck with the achilles)
- Kole tang
- Pacific Sailfin tang
- Emperor Angelfish
- lots of anthias (lori, dispar, bartlet, smith vanzi, sunburst, sunset)
- pair of bangai cardinals

Coral list includes-
- 15-16 SPS colonies - Mostly Acro and Monti. We might even remove a few once they grow in. We will grow all of these from frags from fellow reefers around the country.
- 5 Zoanthis colonies - We have a few really nice ones in mind, again mostly from other peoples tanks.
- 4 Ricordia yuma colours - not cheap, even from other reefers.

Cheers,
Derek

[DerekR]

Here is a little photo update for our tank.

We have got our first fish, a very small pair of occy clowns to replace the cardinalfish we had on our list.
The flow is intense in most of the tank and we don't think the cardinals will like it.

We have a few frags in the tank now. Rics, zoas, SPS and even a few LPS!
About 20 corals all up already, so I think my previous list is too small for this sized tank...

http://a.imageshack.us/img824/5238/47300132.jpg

The loud and hot engine room
http://a.imageshack.us/img822/4889/53648831.jpg

Our first fish :thumbsup:
http://a.imageshack.us/img820/1771/35101097.jpg

http://a.imageshack.us/img823/857/73854348.jpg

http://a.imageshack.us/img840/9708/35005399.jpg

http://a.imageshack.us/img840/6679/60970766.jpg

This is a really cool little branching hammer, you can see new branches at the bottom
http://a.imageshack.us/img823/2249/11797259.jpg

[ojafri]

Great set-up !!

[rpjaws74]

nice tank!

[Lyfey]

Wow that looks amazing Derek! How did you setup your refugium? Is that sand in a dedicated container?

[philbo32]

Wow, what an amazing set up!

[Italian stallon]

I can only say woooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooow
if you put the right corals it 'll be a mega fantastic tank

[DerekR]

Thanks everyone :D
We are trying our best with the corals, sadly the SPS we have access to here in Oz is nothing compared to you guys...

Yes Lyfey, we are using a few removable DSBs in the sump, just plastic containers full in fine coral sand. It means we can take them out and replace them very easy if they get fouled. The refugium is just more rock in the sump, but the DT has been a refugium for a while now - no fish 3-4 months = pods galore!


Here is a bit of an update...

We made a filter using filter wool and acrylic that slips over the baffle in the sump. Much easier to change out than a filter sock and seems to keep the water free of ... stuff... I change out the filter wool daily, takes a couple of minutes.
http://a.imageshack.us/img825/8549/img2145v.jpg

http://a.imageshack.us/img412/4916/img2146w.jpg


We also added 10 dispar anthias about 3 weeks ago. Only 8 remain now, lost one to fighting and one to not feeding. All the rest are going really great.
http://a.imageshack.us/img833/8991/img2165f.jpg

http://a.imageshack.us/img22/2403/img2161h.jpg

http://a.imageshack.us/img683/7410/img2154y.jpg

http://a.imageshack.us/img641/5117/img2150a.jpg

[DerekR]

Continuing the update, we took a few coral shots including some top-down shots using a big fruit bowl... sorry about the focus in some of them...
Getting some good growth and decent colour out of our SPS. Considering this is the first time we have ever tried SPS, we are pretty happy with the results. :)

http://img245.imageshack.us/img245/1964/img2182n.jpg

http://img831.imageshack.us/img831/7338/img2185i.jpg

http://img121.imageshack.us/img121/213/img2186s.jpg

http://img30.imageshack.us/img30/683/img2202bp.jpg

http://img545.imageshack.us/img545/2430/img2205u.jpg

http://img101.imageshack.us/img101/8224/img2207q.jpg

http://img255.imageshack.us/img255/7873/img2209n.jpg

http://img844.imageshack.us/img844/1528/img2210m.jpg

http://img838.imageshack.us/img838/2425/img2212j.jpg

[DerekR]

These are the most recent photos taken just a few days ago.
The tank is going very well, very happy with everything. :spin3:
Well, nearly everything... the power bill is a bit sad...

We have added some more fish to the DT - all the fish are getting 2 weeks in the QT at 10mg/L of quinine. The tangs will get longer than that, maybe 4 weeks.
We have added:
- pair of sunburst anthias
- pair of smithvanizi anthias
- pair of blue assessors
- pair of occy clowns
The sunburst are still a bit picky, but they are eating. All the other fish including the 8 dispar are eating very strong and seem to love the flow in the DT.

http://img819.imageshack.us/img819/52/img2221n.jpg

http://img97.imageshack.us/img97/3298/img2219p.jpg

http://img440.imageshack.us/img440/7467/img2233tb.jpg

http://img137.imageshack.us/img137/1517/img2229v.jpg

http://img808.imageshack.us/img808/622/img2232l.jpg

And one of our little Sunbursts :D
http://img267.imageshack.us/img267/3186/img2227ak.jpg

[n0rk]

Fancy seeing you here, Derek! :D tank is looking tops mate, given some time to grow out it'll be fantastic.

[DerekR]

Hi Ben!
I will be waiting a while for it to grow out though!! :lolspin:
Cheers,
Derek

[Last Version]

Nice started, taging along

[Michael B]

What a great build - been a pleasure to view & read through (all the best with your "piece of the ocean" & look forward to updates)

[DerekR]

Thanks heaps guys,
We will try to get updates up more regularly. :thumbsup:
Cheers,
Derek

[adddo]

Nice!! :)

[leslie hempel]

lovley..

[wtildens]

love the tank, and the removable DBS's are a great idea.

[lgndrympterry]

beautiful sir, I truly respect the Aussie way..I thought that you were gonna have a tidal effect with the way your over flow was built, but a you progressed i see exactly why you have it built that way.

Has anyone accomplished the tidal effect that they use at the Atlanta aquarium in a home reef? I mean I have vortechs that work great but the have actual wave like dumps of water from above, I understand this could cause some corals to break but it is how things are in nature. Im kinda interested in built my next tank to fit the most realistic parameters possible.

I really like that Brain it looks like someone splattered paint all over it.

on a side note:I now understand why people have told me i have too much rock in my 120. but it think all that rock will come in handy when i upgrade to a larger tank. corals might be kinda crammed.

[74Killer]

Hey Derek, any updates after 2 years?!!