A Reef Tank in the Desert - +/- 1,400 gallon system - Page 4

danfeig · 05/19/2012, 11:54 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ladybugs

Your tank look nice

Quote:

Originally Posted by allsps40

Sweet. Dope sump you got and a sick tank. Now get to work I wan to see more

Quote:

Originally Posted by moore1811

Absolutely awesome vision and build, good luck on your journey! +1 Subscribed!

Ladybugs, Allsps40, Moore1811... thank you for your comments. I am glad that you are following my thread. Feel free to make suggestions and offer input. I am glad that you are here.

jarrett shark · 05/20/2012, 04:59 AM

Nice!!!!!

Ward1 · 05/20/2012, 05:30 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by danfeig

Thank you attaboy! It has been a long, long day. I am going with LED's and will add more information about them tomorrow. As far as the sump measurements, 6'x3'x2'.

As far as cleaning the glass... definitely some long sticks, strong magnets and a lot of elbow grease!

Glad you are following along!

I went back and forth trying different methods of clean my tank glass opposite the access side of the tank. Then a friend showed me a really simple device: http://www.algaefree.com/easy_blade.html

My wife was very pleased as she didnt have to stand there and spot while i stood on a ladder reaching with a scraper. I just go slow with it so I don't put scrapes on the glass...

danfeig · 05/20/2012, 10:17 AM

Several of you have asked what am I going to do about lighting. Especially with a tank that is 48" deep. Lighting is one of the primary issues that I have spent considerable time investigating, questioning and comparing.

At first, there was no doubt in my mind that I was going to go with 400 Watt Metal Halides. What other choices did I have with a tank this deep? Look at chingchai's and all of the other deep, deep tanks.

Then I started reading more about LED's. All of the reef and aquarium magazines were reporting on them and there were numerous reports written by Dr. Sanjay Joshi that made a strong case for options to MH. It was clear to me that the waive of the future was heading towards LED's.

I started weighing the pros & cons between MH, VHO's, and LED's. They were plentiful. Yes, my electric bills would be significantly higher with metal halides, but then there was the heat I would have to deal with; the additional fans and chillers. How about growth? How about color?

Cost certainly entered the equation but it was not the deciding factor. I really became impressed with a number of larger reef tanks that were using LED's. They weren't necessarily as deep, but, the colors of their tanks and growth of their corals were very rich.

I started contacting all of the LED companies along with the authors of the numerous lighting reports we have been seeing in the reef keeping and aquarium magazines. The question was asked, what would you recommend for a 48" reef aquarium?

I was very impressed with four different companies:

Reeftech
Ecotech Marine
Orphek
Ecoxotic Cannon

Each company offered many different benefits and all were confident that they could serve my needs. I was very close to pulling the plug with Reeftech and their Prometheus units. Bennytheblenny has been using them on his 36" deep tank and has been impressed. I liked their software controllability. They even offered to fly down to Tucson to install. Orphek has been updating their lines of LED fixtures. Nineball seems very happy with them on his "Coral Tank from Canada" build thread. Ecoxotic's 100 watt Cannon pendants are very, very powerful.

Who did I go with? I ended up choosing 12 units of Ecotech Marines XR30w's. Several reasons but they really stood out above all the rest. Most importantly, the company has been around for some time and stands behind their product. Their lights are upgradeable as technology changes. Wireless compatibility. The color spectrum that they offer is great! David00061 has been very pleased with his 12 units on his "Mixed 500 gal. A.G.E. build. 12 unit LED Radion lights" build thread and has documented some impressive growth.

Again, I recognize that I have a very deep tank. If I don't feel that I am getting enough light on the bottom of the tank or too low of PAR readings, it will be easy to add a couple of the 100 watt Cannon pendants.

[IMG]

[/IMG]

danfeig · 05/20/2012, 11:55 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ward1

I went back and forth trying different methods of clean my tank glass opposite the access side of the tank. Then a friend showed me a really simple device: http://www.algaefree.com/easy_blade.html

My wife was very pleased as she didnt have to stand there and spot while i stood on a ladder reaching with a scraper. I just go slow with it so I don't put scrapes on the glass...

Thanks Ward1! I will look into those. I am hoping that by going with LED's, I am not going to have as much algae buildup on the glass. Obviously, I am going to have some big strong magnetic cleaners. Glad you are following along!

TprMoore · 05/20/2012, 12:41 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by danfeig

[IMG]

[/IMG]

You had my attention before....now you really have it

A friend of mine has 4 Radion units over his 180 gal. and he's very happy with the results, it's not nearly as deep as your tank; he has his lights 10" off the surface and they're only at 70% intensity (he has no intentions of turning them up either). With that said his PAR readings and corals on the bottom are very happy so I'd imagine you'd be just fine.

Will we be seeing some MP60's as well?!

sillygoose · 05/20/2012, 02:05 PM

Once this is all up and running, you're going to have to have an open house for the Tucson reefers. I'll bring champagne!

EsrefCAN · 05/20/2012, 02:12 PM

Good job!!!!

brbrem · 05/20/2012, 03:09 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by sillygoose

Once this is all up and running, you're going to have to have an open house for the Tucson reefers. I'll bring champagne!

I second that! Very nice build. Soon to be Reef Central TOTM!

husslr187 · 05/20/2012, 03:35 PM

nice build iwas thinking about going with the same lighting over my 210 when i get it started. one question though, in one of your pics it shows your front door handle really close to the same height as the tank. is it possible for it to hit the tank? might just be the angle of the picture.

allsps40 · 05/20/2012, 03:59 PM

OMG dope I got to see this when its done.

thewire · 05/20/2012, 04:24 PM

That's ****ing nuts! $10k on the lighting LOL...very nice...

brettinteriors · 05/20/2012, 05:37 PM

Yes, yes, yes. I too vote for an open house.

Sent from my Galaxy Nexus using Tapatalk 2

Elliott · 05/20/2012, 06:13 PM

very nice work to date, subscribed

brettinteriors · 05/20/2012, 09:30 PM

Wow, one day down the line please post some dusk to dawn pics. I have always been intrigued by the ability of the radion's to simulate a dusk to dawn effect with both light intensity and spectrum. How did the plumbing go today?

TheFishTeen · 05/20/2012, 09:35 PM

danfeig,

how do you plan on mounting the Radions?

danfeig · 05/20/2012, 11:09 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by sillygoose

Once this is all up and running, you're going to have to have an open house for the Tucson reefers. I'll bring champagne!

Champagne???? I am going to want beer!

danfeig · 05/20/2012, 11:15 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by EsrefCAN

Good job!!!!

Quote:

Originally Posted by brbrem

I second that! Very nice build. Soon to be Reef Central TOTM!

Quote:

Originally Posted by allsps40

OMG dope I got to see this when its done.

[QUOTE=brettinteriors;20274198]Yes, yes, yes. I too vote for an open house.

Thank you guys. All right... Sometime after I am back from vacation this summer and introduce all of the fish and coral - we can plan an Open House. I'll let Michael and Cuong @ Symply Elegant (SEA) make all the arrangements.

Still a lot of work ahead!!

danfeig · 05/20/2012, 11:20 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by husslr187

nice build iwas thinking about going with the same lighting over my 210 when i get it started. one question though, in one of your pics it shows your front door handle really close to the same height as the tank. is it possible for it to hit the tank? might just be the angle of the picture.

Great observation husslr187!!!!

Yes, the door handle can smack right into the steel frame surrounding the tank and possibly glass. My handyman has ordered an extended door stop for the floorboard and I am also getting door stops for the hinges!

I appreciate you bringing this to my attention and for following along!

danfeig · 05/20/2012, 11:22 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by thewire

That's ****ing nuts! $10k on the lighting LOL...very nice...

I think that the lights will be one of my greatest investments for my system. That and my protein skimmer! The lights are going to save me a ton on electricity, not to mention that I most likely will be able to avoid using a chiller.

Thanks for joining in!

danfeig · 05/20/2012, 11:24 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Elliott

very nice work to date, subscribed

Thank you Elliott! I am glad to have you following along. Things are just getting started and it is all very exciting!

danfeig · 05/20/2012, 11:26 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TheFishTeen

danfeig,

how do you plan on mounting the Radions?

Michael from SEA will be designing and building a rack system utilizing Ecotech's new Radion hanging kit. I wanted some type of rack though that could be raised an lowered.

danfeig · 05/20/2012, 11:29 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by brettinteriors

Wow, one day down the line please post some dusk to dawn pics. I have always been intrigued by the ability of the radion's to simulate a dusk to dawn effect with both light intensity and spectrum. How did the plumbing go today?

brettinteriors... It went great! A long day. I will post pics tomorrow as I am dead. Everything has been scheduled and is going like clockwork. Who ever heard of plumbers being scheduled for a Sunday?

brettinteriors · 05/21/2012, 12:08 AM

I thought Mike was pluming it today

Sent from my Galaxy Nexus using Tapatalk 2

jjk_reef00 · 05/21/2012, 12:10 AM

Can you post some pics of the plumbing you completed? I want to get a behind the scenes feel for how this is set up in your fish room.

05/20/2012, 04:59 AM	#77
jarrett shark Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2008 Posts: 2,518	Nice!!!!! __________________ President of "NY REEF CLUB" OFFICE 300gal SPS reef tank with 400gal sump,150 GAL Frag tank,30gal frag= 890gal total HOUSE 400gal reef tank with 250gal sump = coming soon. 5x3x3 with 1" think acryli

05/20/2012, 10:17 AM	#79
danfeig RC Sponsor Join Date: Jul 2009 Location: Tucson, Arizona Posts: 1,747 Blog Entries: 1	Lighting - what to decide??? Several of you have asked what am I going to do about lighting. Especially with a tank that is 48" deep. Lighting is one of the primary issues that I have spent considerable time investigating, questioning and comparing. At first, there was no doubt in my mind that I was going to go with 400 Watt Metal Halides. What other choices did I have with a tank this deep? Look at chingchai's and all of the other deep, deep tanks. Then I started reading more about LED's. All of the reef and aquarium magazines were reporting on them and there were numerous reports written by Dr. Sanjay Joshi that made a strong case for options to MH. It was clear to me that the waive of the future was heading towards LED's. I started weighing the pros & cons between MH, VHO's, and LED's. They were plentiful. Yes, my electric bills would be significantly higher with metal halides, but then there was the heat I would have to deal with; the additional fans and chillers. How about growth? How about color? Cost certainly entered the equation but it was not the deciding factor. I really became impressed with a number of larger reef tanks that were using LED's. They weren't necessarily as deep, but, the colors of their tanks and growth of their corals were very rich. I started contacting all of the LED companies along with the authors of the numerous lighting reports we have been seeing in the reef keeping and aquarium magazines. The question was asked, what would you recommend for a 48" reef aquarium? I was very impressed with four different companies: Reeftech Ecotech Marine Orphek Ecoxotic Cannon Each company offered many different benefits and all were confident that they could serve my needs. I was very close to pulling the plug with Reeftech and their Prometheus units. Bennytheblenny has been using them on his 36" deep tank and has been impressed. I liked their software controllability. They even offered to fly down to Tucson to install. Orphek has been updating their lines of LED fixtures. Nineball seems very happy with them on his "Coral Tank from Canada" build thread. Ecoxotic's 100 watt Cannon pendants are very, very powerful. Who did I go with? I ended up choosing 12 units of Ecotech Marines XR30w's. Several reasons but they really stood out above all the rest. Most importantly, the company has been around for some time and stands behind their product. Their lights are upgradeable as technology changes. Wireless compatibility. The color spectrum that they offer is great! David00061 has been very pleased with his 12 units on his "Mixed 500 gal. A.G.E. build. 12 unit LED Radion lights" build thread and has documented some impressive growth. Again, I recognize that I have a very deep tank. If I don't feel that I am getting enough light on the bottom of the tank or too low of PAR readings, it will be easy to add a couple of the 100 watt Cannon pendants. [IMG][/IMG]

05/20/2012, 03:35 PM	#85
husslr187 Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2012 Location: perryville md Posts: 100	nice build iwas thinking about going with the same lighting over my 210 when i get it started. one question though, in one of your pics it shows your front door handle really close to the same height as the tank. is it possible for it to hit the tank? might just be the angle of the picture. __________________ 210 gallon FW tank w/ 125gal sump, reeflo super dart gold 2 oscars, pleco, & 5 tinfoil barbs

05/20/2012, 03:59 PM	#86
allsps40 Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2010 Location: Arizona Posts: 4,627	OMG dope I got to see this when its done. __________________ __________ Current Tank Info: Past reef tanks: 20H softy, 29G mixed reef, 55G mixed reef, 40B sps dominant mixed reef and 75G sps dominant mixed reef. No tank currently

05/20/2012, 05:37 PM	#88
brettinteriors Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2010 Location: Tucson Posts: 1,106	Yes, yes, yes. I too vote for an open house. Sent from my Galaxy Nexus using Tapatalk 2 __________________ Tucson Reefaholics anonymous meetings are every Friday 6pm behind Gary's fishorama 140 gallon half round mixed reef, 28 gallon Cardiff.

05/20/2012, 02:05 PM	#82
sillygoose Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: Tucson, AZ Posts: 1,092	Once this is all up and running, you're going to have to have an open house for the Tucson reefers. I'll bring champagne!

05/20/2012, 02:12 PM	#83
EsrefCAN Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2011 Location: Turkey Posts: 28	Good job!!!!

05/20/2012, 04:24 PM	#87
thewire Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2009 Posts: 191	That's ****ing nuts! $10k on the lighting LOL...very nice...

05/20/2012, 06:13 PM	#89
Elliott Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2001 Location: Scottsdale, AZ Posts: 3,849	very nice work to date, subscribed __________________ Rodney Dangerfield - "I worked in a pet store and people would ask how big I would get." TOTM, March 2015 Current Tank Info: tank video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=va1dI7mdnGU ,900g in wall mixed reef, another 500g sumps, 19 AI Sol LED's, 2 CL's w/VFD's controlled pumps to 24 eductors, 2 Tunze WB's, 2 Barr 5220's and RK2 25PE and BK500, etc

05/20/2012, 09:30 PM	#90
brettinteriors Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2010 Location: Tucson Posts: 1,106	Wow, one day down the line please post some dusk to dawn pics. I have always been intrigued by the ability of the radion's to simulate a dusk to dawn effect with both light intensity and spectrum. How did the plumbing go today? __________________ Tucson Reefaholics anonymous meetings are every Friday 6pm behind Gary's fishorama 140 gallon half round mixed reef, 28 gallon Cardiff.

05/20/2012, 09:35 PM	#91
TheFishTeen Registered Member. Join Date: Apr 2011 Location: Los Angeles, CA Posts: 1,677	danfeig, how do you plan on mounting the Radions?

05/21/2012, 12:08 AM	#99
brettinteriors Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2010 Location: Tucson Posts: 1,106	I thought Mike was pluming it today Sent from my Galaxy Nexus using Tapatalk 2 __________________ Tucson Reefaholics anonymous meetings are every Friday 6pm behind Gary's fishorama 140 gallon half round mixed reef, 28 gallon Cardiff.

05/21/2012, 12:10 AM	#100
jjk_reef00 Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: Tucson, AZ Posts: 3,476	Can you post some pics of the plumbing you completed? I want to get a behind the scenes feel for how this is set up in your fish room. __________________ I need more fish tank appliances! --Ed Current Tank Info: 375 FOWLR