View Full Version : ooja3k's 57g Illuminata SPS Build
ooja3k
07/05/2010, 10:26 PM
Hi Everyone!
After a short hiatus from reefkeeping, I am ready to begin putting together my newest tank.
Some of you might know that I had a 30g long setup during college. Well I graduated this June and had to take the tank down months prior because of a number of circumstances.
Well now I am ready to begin work on a new tank, and after learning lessons from my first one, hopefully make this one a successful one from the beginning.
Here is a list of what I currently have:
Aquacontroller 3
1/10th HP Arctica Chiller
Aquactinics TX5
Vortech MP40w
Tunze Osmolator (Top Off)
Aquamedic Doser (Will be swapping out for a Litermeter III setup)
Here is a list of what Im adding:
Bubble Magus NAC6A
Ehiem 1262 Return (split for return and chiller).
700gph Glass-Holes Overflow
I ordered the tank today, and will be here Friday. Before it arrives I will be building a custom stand, based off the article and link HERE (http://freshwatercichlids.com/do-it-yourself-aquarium-stand).
I will also be ordering a 50lb box of cured fiji rock, and a 40lb bag of caribsea special grade seafloor substrate.
I am going to be doing a shallow sand bed, and a medium to light amount of rock, giving lots of room remaining for swimming and coral growth.
I will update this thread very often with pictures and updates from the build.
Let me know what you think!
ooja3k
07/06/2010, 11:22 PM
Well here is an update from today.
Got to Home Depot after work and got the necessary lumber.
I followed that guide i posted to above exactly, and it turned out amazing!
Tomorrow I will be putting on a thin high quality plywood veneer, as well as puddying, sanding and painting.
Thursday afternoon will be spent doing a second/third coat.
Here are a couple pictures from during the build.
http://i206.photobucket.com/albums/bb280/ooja3k/IMG_20100706_194805.jpg
http://i206.photobucket.com/albums/bb280/ooja3k/IMG_20100706_202135.jpg
http://i206.photobucket.com/albums/bb280/ooja3k/IMG_20100706_214326.jpg
ogre1231
07/07/2010, 04:47 AM
and so it begins.....good luck with your build
ooja3k
07/07/2010, 06:50 AM
Thanks,
Yeah im struggling to decide from where I should buy my LR.
I (think) i got it from premium aquatics last time I set up a tank and had a great experience. (Only super minimal dieoff and very few aptastias...)
So its between premium aquatics, or my local store... Premium aquatics 50lb box would be perfect as im going for an open looking landscape...
HHIreefer843
07/07/2010, 10:14 AM
loks good so far! good luck with the build!
ooja3k
07/09/2010, 11:00 PM
Well today was DRILLING TIME!
This was very scary, carving into an expensive tank.
Here it is all marked and ready to be drilled:
http://i206.photobucket.com/albums/bb280/ooja3k/IMG_20100709_191428.jpg
Part way through:
http://i206.photobucket.com/albums/bb280/ooja3k/IMG_20100709_192339.jpg
Part way through from the side:
http://i206.photobucket.com/albums/bb280/ooja3k/IMG_20100709_193728.jpg
WOOHOO! Now to do it again without cracking the tank!
http://i206.photobucket.com/albums/bb280/ooja3k/IMG_20100709_200141.jpg
Success!
http://i206.photobucket.com/albums/bb280/ooja3k/IMG_20100709_213721.jpg
Well, as an update for the stand. I will end up turning my DIY stand into a herb garden for the GF, and bought a stand from the same store where I got my tank from. I will be able to pick it up tomorrow. The cost of a DIY was approaching the cost of a cabinet maker built one (it will look better than mine).
Now lets see if it holds water overnight!
ooja3k
07/11/2010, 01:23 PM
Hey I have a question for you guys.
6x39 Powermodule or 8x39?
Thanks for the input!
ooja3k
07/11/2010, 01:30 PM
Small update:
Got the tank situated where we want it, and got the baffles installed in the sump.
A bunch or goodies arrive tomorrow and Tuesday, hopefully then we will have h2O on Wednesday!
http://i206.photobucket.com/albums/bb280/ooja3k/DSC_0328.jpg
reefermad619
07/11/2010, 01:35 PM
Looking good!
ooja3k
07/11/2010, 02:22 PM
Thanks!
Nebthet
07/11/2010, 02:52 PM
a 6x39w fixture is more than enough light for this size of tank. I have a 56g 36lx18x21h and some of the corals shy away from the lighting when placed mid tank. Even my BTA went into hiding in a shaded crack because the light seemed too much for it.
My sps grows nicely as do my zoas. It is the perfect amount of light for most corals.
ooja3k
07/11/2010, 04:02 PM
Thanks for the info Nebthet!
I was thinking of the 6x39 because of the cost savings, and the fact that it being a PM makes those 6 bulbs really shine!
But then again, I could keep anything even on the sand with a 8x39..... :)
And seeing as though Im going to be 85% sps, having room for SPS at any height within the tank sounds like a nice option, instead of having SPS usable light only in the upper half...
Johnny C
07/11/2010, 11:36 PM
Hey... that tank looks familiar! ;)
Looking forward to watching it progress- go with a six-bulb T5 fixture, it works great on this tank!
ooja3k
07/12/2010, 06:35 AM
Hey... that tank looks familiar! ;)
Looking forward to watching it progress- go with a six-bulb T5 fixture, it works great on this tank!
Thanks for the info on the Powermodule. Im definitely leaning towards the 6x39. The 8x39 sounds overkillish....
Also thanks for showing me that the drilling can be done successfully. I figured johnny c was able to drill and do the glass-holes.com kit so i can too right?
I really like the small compact look of the glass holes over flow compared to the stock reef ready one.. SOO MUCH SMALLER!
Today my Bubble Magus NAC6A, Eheim 1262, Sand, and Salt will arrive. Im still waiting on a couple last RO/DI parts to arrive before I put water in this bad boy and get the rock...
I will probably order the PM sometime today or tomorrow..
Getting closer...
Mr. Right
07/12/2010, 02:44 PM
Hey I have a question for you guys.
6x39 Powermodule or 8x39?
Thanks for the input!
I have the same tank and my ATI SP 4x39 does MORE than enough. I can keep/grow SPS wherever I want. Some actually lighten up when put to high. I have had to dose some AA’s to gain some coloration back. I have also had to cut my light cycle down some. My actincs are on 9hrs and my daylights are a little shy of 6hrs. My fixture is about 9’’ off the water line and I think I have a good light spread over the tank. If you decide to go with a 6bulb I’d monitor the corals, but IMO 4 bulbs is plenty.
ooja3k
07/12/2010, 04:34 PM
Well I went ahead and pulled the trigger on the 6x39 PM.
Thanks for the help with the lights guys. Your input definitely helped!
I will see if I can get some plumbing done tonight now that I have my return pump!
ooja3k
07/17/2010, 10:21 AM
Update:
Well its been a couple days since my last update so i thought i would post some new stuff.
I received the powermodule, picked up some rock, plumbed everything, and have begun the cycling process.
Here is a mediocre pic of an uncleaned tank.
http://i206.photobucket.com/albums/bb280/ooja3k/d64db655.jpg
I need to get a magnetic glass scraper (i forget what the brand name is.) I alsoo need to sit down and hook up the ac3 and the tunze ato.
Going to be a fun day!
For purposes of keeping track of the cycle, here are the curret params.
Ammonia - .25ppm
Nitrite - 0
Nitrate - 0
Ps this was posted on my Droid x.
ooja3k
07/17/2010, 10:41 AM
Stocking ideas anyone?
Im thinking:
True Perc Pair
Yellow/Purple Tang
A green/yellow coris wrasse (good success with them in the past)
Some other ideas?
nivram
07/17/2010, 11:07 AM
Stocking ideas anyone?
Im thinking:
True Perc Pair
Yellow/Purple Tang
A green/yellow coris wrasse (good success with them in the past)
Some other ideas?
Midas blenny :) One of my favorites. Fairy wrasse harem would be cool. But you'd want a cover on the tank. Or risk fish jerky.
ooja3k
07/18/2010, 09:57 AM
Ammonia- 1ppm
Nitrite- 0ppm
Nitrate- 2.5ppm
ooja3k
07/19/2010, 08:20 PM
So at what point can I remove the Decaying Shrimp? lol.
Ammonia - 2ppm
Nitrite - .75ppm
Nitrate - 5ppm
The cycle has kicked off certainly, but how much longer must I keep the ammonia source? The rock had been in curing vats for a couple months at the store before I purchased it... (The cycle should be minimal then correct?)
ooja3k
07/21/2010, 09:46 PM
Well I removed them... Woah.. just shrimp mush...
Yesterday's Test Numbers:
Ammonia - 1ppm
Nitrite - 1ppm
Nitrate - 10ppm
Todays:
Ammonia - .25ppm
Nitrite - 1ppm
Nitrate - 10ppm
I was hoping to be able to a CUC pack today, but looks like that will have to be ordered this weekend for a Tuesday delivery as my numbers didn't come down as much as I expected...
mavjoy
07/22/2010, 12:38 AM
Nice build and equipment:thumbsup: Might want to put a screen cover if you are planning on getting a wrasse 'cause they are known jumpers, my yellow coris jumped out last week and I wasn't home to save it.
daveonbass
07/22/2010, 04:47 AM
might want to raise that light too...others have had success on taller tanks, but many people, me included, have to raise our PM's up. Mine will melt corals at 12" off the water...i currently run it 14" off the water. Things are better in the tank now.
The Punisher
07/22/2010, 05:11 AM
How do you have the glass holes overflow plumbed? How quite is it?
ooja3k
07/22/2010, 06:08 AM
Nice build and equipment:thumbsup: Might want to put a screen cover if you are planning on getting a wrasse 'cause they are known jumpers, my yellow coris jumped out last week and I wasn't home to save it.
Yeah I have thought about that. I had to place a net over my last tank after my first yellow coris went flying... I might stay away from wrasses entirely as I really, REALLY, like the clean rimless look.
ooja3k
07/22/2010, 06:10 AM
might want to raise that light too...others have had success on taller tanks, but many people, me included, have to raise our PM's up. Mine will melt corals at 12" off the water...i currently run it 14" off the water. Things are better in the tank now.
Thanks for the heads up. I had to have my Aquactinics TX5 about this low on my 30g long build that I had a while back, so I don't know much better ;)
The Powermodule does look super bright! and I don't want to melt my corals once they come..
ooja3k
07/22/2010, 06:16 AM
How do you have the glass holes overflow plumbed? How quite is it?
I have the 700gph kit for the overflow and a 3/4" return kit.
I have the overflow plumbed straight with 1.5" spaflex from the glass holes elbow straight into the bubbletower in my sump.
The return is plumbed via 3/4" spaflex into a small "manifold" which branches off to my skimmer and return nozzle.
As for noise I would say after all the amazing reviews I have heard that I was expecting it to be dead silent. That wasn't the case at first. Don't get me wrong, it was probably quieter than all other options on the market. The only sound was from the water somewhat splashing through the teeth of the overflow box and into the other water waiting to go through the pipe (if that makes sense). And that sound was minimal at mos.
It has definitely quieted down even further over the last week or so, and you have to turn everything off in the room and stand to hear the overflow. Its a great design and I would totally recommend it. FYI you will never hear your overflow over the noise of your skimmer/return pump.
Hope this helps. :)
ooja3k
07/22/2010, 09:27 PM
Ammonia - 0
Nitrite - .25
Nitrate - 10ppm
I think a clean up crew is in line for this weekend!?
ooja3k
07/24/2010, 10:09 AM
Well I woke up and tested the water this morning...
And...
Ammonia - 0
Nitrite - 0
Nitrate - 10
Woohoo. I guess thats the benefit to using already cured rock. Minimal Cycle.
Today i will be making a trip to the local store to pick up some clean up crew, and get the life going!
ooja3k
07/26/2010, 08:36 PM
Update:
I purchased 10 scarlet legs, and 4 other hermits.
And I have also added a pair of True Perc Clowns!
Here are the pics.
http://i206.photobucket.com/albums/bb280/ooja3k/DSC_0357.jpg
http://i206.photobucket.com/albums/bb280/ooja3k/DSC_0360.jpg
http://i206.photobucket.com/albums/bb280/ooja3k/DSC_0352.jpg
http://i206.photobucket.com/albums/bb280/ooja3k/DSC_0345.jpg
PS. The Bubble Magus NAC6 is incredible!
PPS. Fish are very hard to take macro shots of... I can't wait till I can snap some beauts of some nice SPS!
sahin
08/20/2010, 12:34 PM
Hi there, you've got a nice setup. Can you do a small review of the BM skimmer please? A photo of the skimmate would be good:crazy1:
Also, seeing as this is a rimless, how thick is the glass and what is the length of the tank?
Many thanks.
gmr7494
08/20/2010, 04:06 PM
Cool tank. I have a similar setup (60 gallon) and I'm still in the process of purchasing the equipment. Was also wondering how the BM skimmer is working for you. Also, did you have to adjust the flow of the 1262 or is that enough flow for you?
Soggytoes
08/20/2010, 05:35 PM
how many pounds of rock is that? It looks great!
ooja3k
08/22/2010, 09:44 PM
Cool tank. I have a similar setup (60 gallon) and I'm still in the process of purchasing the equipment. Was also wondering how the BM skimmer is working for you. Also, did you have to adjust the flow of the 1262 or is that enough flow for you?
The flow is slightly restricted to both the chiller/tlf reactor and to the tank. I can open it up if I wanted to, but its definitely the right sized pump. Id definitely rather have more to go if I need it, and then restrict it to where I want it.
As for the BM NAC6. Amazing skimmer! This thing is a workhorse! Such dense dark foamy froth. Ill post some pics of everything here in a couple days. Ill include a nice skimmer pic!
ooja3k
08/22/2010, 09:45 PM
how many pounds of rock is that? It looks great!
Its only 50 pounds of rock. I wanted lots of sand room, so this ended up working perfect! The oversized skimmer more than makes up for the minimal rock in the tank.
ooja3k
08/22/2010, 09:48 PM
Hi there, you've got a nice setup. Can you do a small review of the BM skimmer please? A photo of the skimmate would be good:crazy1:
Also, seeing as this is a rimless, how thick is the glass and what is the length of the tank?
Many thanks.
The glass is 3/8" thick. The exact dimensions are 36" Long x 18" Wide and 20.5" tall.
As mentioned above the skimmer is the best decision I have made in this hobby besides starting reefing itself!!
ooja3k
09/18/2010, 01:45 PM
Time for an update!
Just 2 days ago, I switched my T-5 lighting up a little bit. My color was too 10k, and quite to powerful for many of my corals as they have started lightening up significantly.
I now have a more 14k look and I hope that the decrease in PAR and increase in actinic spectrums will help bring some of the more vibrant colors out of these corals.
As of now my stocking list includes:
Fish:
Watanabei Angelfish
Pair of True Perc Clowns
2 Orange Line Chromis
SPS:
ORA Frogskin
ORA Red Planet
ORA Ice Tort
ORA Blue Voodoo
TCN Super Blue Turaki
TCN 30,000 Leagues Lokani
TCN Orange Halo Green Slimer
DFS Super Blue Tenius
DFS Neon Polyp True Undata
DFS Rainbow Rosaria
I am looking to add some LPS/Zoas to help diversify the tank.
Here is a FTS of the current state of things.
http://i206.photobucket.com/albums/bb280/ooja3k/DSC_0458.jpg
FYI I am currently using Vertex Pellets (just this last week added the other half so I am now at full dosage)
I have started dosing Elos AA's.
Thats all for this update!
philosophish
09/18/2010, 06:47 PM
Nice build, cant wait till the rock colors up nicely.
Question on the drilling, did you drill all your holes on the same line, or did you put your returns higher or lower?
Johnny C
09/19/2010, 01:19 AM
Coming along nicely... I like the new T5 coloration. What is your bulb line-up? TIA
ooja3k
09/19/2010, 10:40 PM
Nice build, cant wait till the rock colors up nicely.
Question on the drilling, did you drill all your holes on the same line, or did you put your returns higher or lower?
I drilled the return at a level that allowed it to be completely submerged below the water line. So I kinda had to put the overflow box on, and then eye ball where I thought the water line would be.
Does this make sense? Hope it helps.
ooja3k
09/19/2010, 10:42 PM
Coming along nicely... I like the new T5 coloration. What is your bulb line-up? TIA
Thanks, I like the bulbs a lot more too. The corals are already starting to get some more vibrant colors back here in the last 5 days.
The bulbs are front to back:
ATI Blue Plus
UVL Super Actinic
UVL 75/25
UVL 75/25
ATI Blue Plus
ATI Blue Plus
It really is a perfect color for me and decreased the par at the same time, which is exactly what I was going for.
kellerexpress
11/26/2010, 11:42 PM
any updates on this tank?
ooja3k
07/31/2011, 12:05 PM
Sorry for the extremely long break...
The tank was taken down for a move and the timing worked out well as I was getting fed up with a battle with dinos...
I have just set it up again after going through the rock reincarnation process on my old rock and mixing it with some new Marco shelf rock.
Just this morning I added the shrimp for the cycle.
I will post a picture here shortly, but I am already loving my decision to go barebottom on this one..
marc49127
07/31/2011, 12:48 PM
The tanks looking good! Nice clown's and can't wait to see the SPS that you'll have in there!
ooja3k
07/31/2011, 01:41 PM
The tanks looking good! Nice clown's and can't wait to see the SPS that you'll have in there!
Thanks for the kind words.
The tank that you see in the pictures abovewas the old setup. I will post pics of the new setup here shortly
ooja3k
08/04/2011, 09:32 PM
Question for all of you.
The tank was filled with saltwater on Wednesday and was just circulated around until our Saturday family party was over (didnt was shrimp smell inthe house...) i added one piece of liverock that i acquired from another reefer in the area. (Thanks bigmike!)
I put 3 shrimp in a filter media bag on Sunday morning.
I have done tests Monday night throug tonight and each time no parameters have changed..
Ammo = 1
Trite = 0
Trate = 0
I should be seeing nitrite soon? Can freshwater bacteria (from sitting in ro water for a month) survive the transition to saltwater?
ooja3k
08/06/2011, 07:04 PM
Day 6:
Ammo - .75
Nitrite - .25
Nitrate - 0
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