Need some help setting up high end tank.

[mane]

Its been a few years since I have been active, but I cant take it anymore and I need to set up a tank, even if its a small one.

Here are my two tank choices:

26x24x15 OR 36x24x15 I think I am going to have Chris at CTc Aquariums make it for me. 3 side starphire. I am not sure about the overflow, I am thinking corner. What size drain/return do you guys recommend?

For Lighting I am thinking of the Ecoxotic Panorama either the 23.5" if I go 26, or two 17.5" if I go 36".

Sump, not sure, I would like a pre-made option to simplify things, I dont have a lot of time to try to figure out what I would need. I am open to ideas!

Skimmer: KZ Revolution Small, not sure of pump, open need ideas (QUITE =)).

Return pump, unsure, hit me with some ideas....I need QUITE!

Controller: Thinking of Digital Aquatics Reef Keeper Lite Controller



Objective:

Looking two have a two small rock pile aquascape, lps and softies mainly, but I do want to have some sps on one of the islands. I am hoping that wont be a problem with the LEDS but from the two weeks of reading I have done its seems to do pretty good.

Looking to make the tank as clean as I can, as such I would like the over flow to house the returns for tank circulation, but am a bit concerned about flow to the front of the tank.

Any ideas you guys can give me to get this thing moving is very much appreciated. I dont have a lot of time to catch up, and Im getting impatient =).

I will post all updates to this thread so you can see what you help me build!

[SkyPapa]

I have a custom starphire 36x24x12 inch tank.
I like the L & W dims but I wish I would have gone 15 or 16 inch depth.
It is a good frag tank as it is.

I drilled one end for a Glass-Holes 700 gph overflow.
I run it from my main sump with an Eheim 1250 thru 2 3/4 inch lock line returns and it is lit by 6 39W T5 HOs in a home built suspended fixture.
Edit; I use a MP-20 on the opposite end for more flow.

Good Luck whatever you choose.

[chimmike]

Have the overflow built to handle doing a beananimal overflow........silent!

[anbosu]

Since your tank is on the smallish side and you are already having it custom built I would have an external overflow so you can save space.

[mane]

I have a custom starphire 36x24x12 inch tank.
I like the L & W dims but I wish I would have gone 15 or 16 inch depth.
It is a good frag tank as it is.

I drilled one end for a Glass-Holes 700 gph overflow.
I run it from my main sump with an Eheim 1250 thru 2 3/4 inch lock line returns and it is lit by 6 39W T5 HOs in a home built suspended fixture.
Edit; I use a MP-20 on the opposite end for more flow.


Ya, I was going to go shallow originally, but I have a 48x24x12 and its a great frag tank as you said so I want some more height. Though not too much. Any pics of your set up?

Have the overflow built to handle doing a beananimal overflow........silent!

Any info or a link to info on this? I want the set up in my bedroom so anything to help is great!

Since your tank is on the smallish side and you are already having it custom built I would have an external overflow so you can save space.

Would love to, but cant afford much more depth.

[chimmike]

google beananimal his website will come up. Great source of info

[SkyPapa]

Ya, I was going to go shallow originally, but I have a 48x24x12 and its a great frag tank as you said so I want some more height. Though not too much. Any pics of your set up?



Here is an old image from 1.5 yrs ago when first set up.
http://i296.photobucket.com/albums/mm161/skypapa/DSC_4544_edited-1-1.jpg

The glass-holes is cheap and easy but for a bedroom I would try the herbie method.

[Whisperer]

I just got my rimless 36x24x24 from glasscages last Saturday and I am very pleased with it. I had the overflow on top of one corner and the overflow box does not go all the way down to the floor just like Illuminata design. I have the entire 36x24 floor area for aquascaping.

[TampaReefer79]

Since your tank is on the smallish side and you are already having it custom built I would have an external overflow so you can save space.

Have the overflow built to handle doing a beananimal overflow........silent!


Great advice on both parts.

[SkyPapa]

Yea, sorry, brain fart, I meant the beananimal overflow.

[Indymann99]

I love the dimensions of 48x24x24.

I went with acrylic but that was my choice.

Herbie silent failsafe drain design (similar to BeanAnimal)

http://i300.photobucket.com/albums/nn10/Indymann99/Tank12132009.jpg

http://i300.photobucket.com/albums/nn10/Indymann99/Tankdoorsopen.jpg

http://i300.photobucket.com/albums/nn10/Indymann99/Basement52009.jpg

http://s300.photobucket.com/albums/nn10/Indymann99/?action=view&current=SNC00194.mp4

nothing fancy just a sustainable FOWLR that is my slice of the ocean.

[doakota1]

check out my build its a 36x24x16 high end setup
http://reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?t=1830308

[mane]

google beananimal his website will come up. Great source of info

Thanks, cant find his site bit did find some information.

Here is an old image from 1.5 yrs ago when first set up.
http://i296.photobucket.com/albums/mm161/skypapa/DSC_4544_edited-1-1.jpg

Nice and clean! I like that overflow how it doesnt go down all the way.


I just got my rimless 36x24x24 from glasscages last Saturday and I am very pleased with it. I had the overflow on top of one corner and the overflow box does not go all the way down to the floor just like Illuminata design. I have the entire 36x24 floor area for aquascaping.

Any pics?

I love the dimensions of 48x24x24.

I went with acrylic but that was my choice.

Herbie silent failsafe drain design (similar to BeanAnimal)

http://i300.photobucket.com/albums/nn10/Indymann99/Tank12132009.jpg

http://i300.photobucket.com/albums/nn10/Indymann99/Tankdoorsopen.jpg

http://i300.photobucket.com/albums/nn10/Indymann99/Basement52009.jpg

http://s300.photobucket.com/albums/nn10/Indymann99/?action=view&current=SNC00194.mp4

nothing fancy just a sustainable FOWLR that is my slice of the ocean.

Very nice clean tank!

check out my build its a 36x24x16 high end setup
http://reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?t=1830308

Thanks, thats a nice tank. Love the dimensions =P. How do you like that SWC cone?

[doakota1]

swc works great well worth the money

[mane]

swc works great well worth the money

How do you think it compares to the KZ Revolution S?

[chimmike]

http://lmgtfy.com/?q=beananimal

:D

[mane]

http://lmgtfy.com/?q=beananimal

:D

Heh, thats cool! Ya, I realized it was the first hit after that post the "Bar and Grill" immediately threw me off until I read the description!

[Matt Dean]

I went all out for my new tank. My tnk is in the middle of my Office/Recording Studio/ Home Theatre, so quiet was imperative. For pumps I bought Red dragons. I use an 8.2 for the closed loop and a 6.5 for the return. I have the pumps on switches and when OI turn them on and off I can't even hear them starting up or shutting down. %100 silent. And, of course, the quality is second to none. Not sure about the skimmer you mentioned. That,too, I went with Bubble King fir the noise level. very quiet, indeed.

I recommend the Reefkeeper Lite PLUS. For the extra coin, you get 4 more outlets to control and a PH Probe, plus the SL-1. I would cost 3 times that to add the extras to a Reefkeeper Lite.

I also went with a Herbie overflow and it too is silent. The noisiest part of my setup is me Vortech MP20.

good luck!

[mane]

I went all out for my new tank. My tnk is in the middle of my Office/Recording Studio/ Home Theatre, so quiet was imperative. For pumps I bought Red dragons. I use an 8.2 for the closed loop and a 6.5 for the return. I have the pumps on switches and when OI turn them on and off I can't even hear them starting up or shutting down. %100 silent. And, of course, the quality is second to none. Not sure about the skimmer you mentioned. That,too, I went with Bubble King fir the noise level. very quiet, indeed.

I recommend the Reefkeeper Lite PLUS. For the extra coin, you get 4 more outlets to control and a PH Probe, plus the SL-1. I would cost 3 times that to add the extras to a Reefkeeper Lite.

I also went with a Herbie overflow and it too is silent. The noisiest part of my setup is me Vortech MP20.

good luck!

Thanks Dean, what size is your tank? Sounds nice. How about lighting?

I do like the red dragons, but I bought one of the first external BK 500's in the country. It didnt work as it should and they changed it to a two pump system. They never did anything for me, regardless of the amount of money I spent on it. They basically said tough luck =(. So no I dont buy BK anymore.

[Matt Dean]

oops! double post

[Matt Dean]

Geez! I wouldn't buy BK either. That's too bad, but there are so many good skimmers out there. I still wouldn't buy anything but the Red Dragons, though.

My tank is a 5' x 2' x 20" 125 peninsula. I use a Tek 8 bulb T5 light. I would have liked a nicer light, but the look is perfect for my room - I have it hanging from two strings that allow me to lift the light easily. Very clean looking.

Here's a recent pic (can't resist showing it off, I'm so happy with it!) Also the tank i the room. I killed myself to make it as clean as possible. No wires, tubes, etc., except the light power cord, but that goes into the pillar, so you only see a foot of it.

http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/attachment.php?attachmentid=121174&d=1280247123

http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/attachment.php?attachmentid=121175&d=1280247219

http://www.mattdean.com/build/tvroom1.jpg

[chimmike]

Heh, thats cool! Ya, I realized it was the first hit after that post the "Bar and Grill" immediately threw me off until I read the description!

haha I know what you mean.

Bar, grill, aquarium drain device, lol.

[mane]

Geez! I wouldn't buy BK either. That's too bad, but there are so many good skimmers out there. I still wouldn't buy anything but the Red Dragons, though.

My tank is a 5' x 2' x 20" 125 peninsula. I use a Tek 8 bulb T5 light. I would have liked a nicer light, but the look is perfect for my room - I have it hanging from two strings that allow me to lift the light easily. Very clean looking.

Here's a recent pic (can't resist showing it off, I'm so happy with it!) Also the tank i the room. I killed myself to make it as clean as possible. No wires, tubes, etc., except the light power cord, but that goes into the pillar, so you only see a foot of it.


Ya, maybe Ill do that if they are that quite it may be worth it.

Thanks for sharing the pics, very nice and clean. You should be proud!

[Matt Dean]

:fun2: