A Reef Tank in the Desert - +/- 1,400 gallon system

[danfeig]

Originally Posted by techreef

i swear just looking at those pictures of all the new boxes of equipment and livestock gives me a rush! lol. This is a great phase of the new tank setup. Thanks for sharing Dan. Can't wait to see the pics of the tank once it clears.

Thanks Techreef!

I will shoot some pictures this weekend if not before!

[BigOldReef]

Well with only wrasse in the tank she was probably doing you a favor by not feeding. The chromis is not a big deal, under the most ideal situations they are initially not hardy fish.

I look forward to seeing a school of yellows... I have 9 are you going to outnumber me ?

Dave

[danfeig]

Originally Posted by MattyO

Never actually seen the filter u talked about a few pages back that needs darkness but can u put a dark sheet over it? That way it's protected from light but u can always peak to see what's going on

That is certainly an option. It is an approximate 4' high filter that will be used as a Fluidized Sand Reactor. I spoke with the contractor that tinted the windows in my house. He is coming back to tint two windows that I had replaced and I am going to have him put a dark tint on the reactor itself.

[danfeig]

Originally Posted by flakey

Dream build....

Thanks Flakey. It has been a long standing dream to plan this. It is still just in its infancy. Check back in a couple days!!!

[milonedp]

I found this window film from Tap Plastics that I'm thinking about using as a background for my upcoming build, they say I should be able to remove and re-apply which is something I want in my case. Not sure if its an option for you to wrap the filter...

http://www.tapplastics.com/product/w...ndow_films/272

[danfeig]

Originally Posted by Al Bundy

First off sweet a$$ build im only on page 9 but eager to get to the next page. In the mean time i found this gem of extremely use full info and i just had to thank BigOlReef, I think he may have solved my problem. So Thanks Dave.

Thanks Al Bundy!

Yeah, BigOlReef is full of useful information....

Thanks for following along!

[danfeig]

Originally Posted by Tank2379

This build is awesome I'm following along... Love all the Radions and once it's all said an done your investment will be worth every penny and your family will love you for it...

Tank2379.

Thank you for the kind words. I am anxious to get the lights fired up. Hopefully tonight or tomorrow night! I can't say whether or not my family will love me any more or less with my investment. I don't think they have any clue what I have into the system. I do know that they will be happy when I am able to spend less time working and more time enjoying!

Although I have to tell you, I have enjoyed every minute of the build!!!

[webersole]

tagging along just to see how it turns out!

[danfeig]

The Radions should be hooked up tonight! I have got all the lights hung, all of the ballasts mounted and all of the wires routed neatly away. I just need to buy a few DJ Power Strips this afternoon.

I shot all few pictures this morning before heading into work.

All of the fish are eating well and have showed no signs of aggression.

The Yellow Tangs, I added 4 smaller ones, are all schooling nicely together but were a little camera shy with me standing next to the tank. I will be adding a little larger tang from my 150 gallon tank on Saturday.

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I have one of the Purple Tangs in the display. I still need to get the other out of my 150 on Saturday. He appears to be as happy as can be.

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I added two Lieutenant Tangs (Acanthurus tennenti) whom appear to be best of friends. If they aren't hanging out together, they school with the Yellow Tangs:

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The Melanurus Wrasse didn't want to come out this morning. My two six-lines weren't the slightest bit shy:

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A couple other shots of some Purple Firefish and Wrasses that weren't too camera shy this morning.

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Saturday I will be adding a pair of Blue Hippo Tangs, Convict Tangs, Powder Blue Tangs, Unicorn Tangs, a pair of Blond Naso Tangs and many others. I am going to leave the Anthia's (except for those in my main display) a while longer in quarantine. I want them all to be eating well!

[BigOldReef]

YAY !!! Fish in the tank. Huge step forward. Congratulations !

[lostmyz]

Awesome finally movement to the huge tank! Love it!!! Glad to see someone from Tucson going big or going home!!!

Sent from my DROIDX using Tapatalk 2

[sh8g8delik]

Im so jealous.....So many tangs in one tank!!

[Newbie Aquarist]

I see you like to do things in deuces. I am looking for some schooling fish. I just wanna do something different other than the yellow tangs. Keep up the good work.

[danfeig]

They are installed!!!

After a few nights of working on the hanging kits, prepping the ceiling, setting up the ballasts, running the wires, installing the software, programming each fixture...

...We finally have LIGHT!!!! or lights that is... 12 of them. 12 EcoTech Radion XR30's...

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I am currently running the "Natural Light" program and have it set from 8:00 AM - 10:00 PM. It is a gradually phased on and off program meant to stimulate the natural environment. I am going to set the maximum light setting at 75% power when I put the coral in the tank (to hopefully prevent bleaching). I will gradually increase 3%-5% each week.

I installed two sets of six (6) ballast on each side of the tank.

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Finally, the finished product:

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[Newbie Aquarist]

D!!! I knew your tank was deep but dang. Everything is coming together slowly but surely. Saweeeeeeeeeeeeeeeet job.

[acorral]

Maaaaaan that's deep !!!! How do you plan to manage things far to the bottom of the tank? Scuba ?

[Commandoe]

Yo "D", A car guy would say" Lets see what you got under the hood"! Lets see some pictures of the sump and that monster skimmer working!

[S14Swap240sx]

i think adding 50 more yellow tangs would still leave that tank looking empty! haha wow its incredible.. i would really like to see an updated fish room photo shoot. im sure its changing daily!

im sure your going to have a good time setting light cycles with those radions. such a bad *** light

[BigOldReef]

Dan,

Did the fluidized sand filter come in yet... Curious to see what you got.

Dave

[danfeig]

Originally Posted by lostmyz

Awesome finally movement to the huge tank! Love it!!! Glad to see someone from Tucson going big or going home!!!

Sent from my DROIDX using Tapatalk 2

Thanks lostmyz!

It's a lot of fun right now! I already have one regret.... Not going even bigger!

[danfeig]

Originally Posted by sh8g8delik

Im so jealous.....So many tangs in one tank!!

Sh8g8delik, don't be jealous. Plan one of these!

I thought I had enough yellow tangs and then when Joe from Simply Elegant Aquatics came by today to assist me with moving my refugium and installing the ozone - he brought another small yellow tang that he just removed from a tank that had crashed. Oh well, I am glad to help.

[danfeig]

Originally Posted by Newbie Aquarist

I see you like to do things in deuces. I am looking for some schooling fish. I just wanna do something different other than the yellow tangs. Keep up the good work.

I do like pairs and schools. So far the pairs are all staying together too. I am hoping that the anthias are going to school together too!

[danfeig]

Originally Posted by acorral

Maaaaaan that's deep !!!! How do you plan to manage things far to the bottom of the tank? Scuba ?

LOL! I have jumped in 3 times and I am going to buy a scuba outfit. It is cold!!!

In all seriousness, I have 48" grabbers, a 48" gravel tube and a 48" scraper. I have also bought four magnetic glass cleaners so I don't need to keep moving the magnets.

[danfeig]

Originally Posted by Commandoe

Yo "D", A car guy would say" Lets see what you got under the hood"! Lets see some pictures of the sump and that monster skimmer working!

Originally Posted by S14Swap240sx

i think adding 50 more yellow tangs would still leave that tank looking empty! haha wow its incredible.. i would really like to see an updated fish room photo shoot. im sure its changing daily!

im sure your going to have a good time setting light cycles with those radions. such a bad *** light

Commandoe & S14Swap240sx:

Tomorrow I will get you some updated pics of the fish room. I spent the afternoon working inside of it and I should have some time tomorrow afternoon to shoot some pics.

Thanks!

[danfeig]

Originally Posted by BigOldReef

Dan,

Did the fluidized sand filter come in yet... Curious to see what you got.

Dave

The Fluidized Sand Reactor should be in next week. It's being made in Phoenix.

We hooked up the Ozone today. Did you install yours through one of the air holes in your skimmer?

We will also be finally installing the UV next week and the filter socks. We decided that the best way to assure against any overflow caused by clogged filter socks, was to make an acrylic border surrounding the socks, that would flow into the sump. As anal as I am, I doubt the socks would ever get clogged - except the possibility of when I go on vacation.