250G's Return to SPS

[250G]

The time has come to get started on my new system.....

As some of you recall I sold my rather large system almost 2 years ago, and have been without a tank since. During this time I have been living vicariously though some of your threads......now it's time to get another SPS system up and running and I thought I would share some of the details here.


The tank:
As my accommodations are not permanent, my system will be smaller. A have been cycling a 55G 3-sided starphire peninsula tank for 4 weeks Thursday Dec. 8.

This being said, on Saturday December 3 I put down a deposit on a new custom built 90G 3-sided starphire tank with an external overflow. Oddly, I had no intention of replacing this tank due to size limitations. However in my ventures back through the LFS's I learned of another custom tank builder in Toronto, a person I have known for almost 10 years and I am confident will do a great job (as some of you know my Miracles tank pulled apart after about 9 months...). They have been building a shipping tanks for some time now so I figured why not, the 55 will be overgrown in no time....anyway the tank will also fit on my existing stand and the external overflow will ensure silent operation as the tank is in the living room. New tank will be 36l x 24W x 24h peninsula, 3-sided starphire. 55G will be sold in the new year.

The lighting:
36" Vertex Illumina 260 LED Lighting Fixture.

Despite my LOVE of halides, my confidence they achieve great results, and the fact I already have the ballasts for them....as soon as I saw this light in action at Advanced Reef Aquatics I had to have it. Saves electricity, no bulb changes, it will pay for itself in the longer term...I have had it for a week, look forward to setting it up in the next day or two. Have been cycling my tank with T5's.

Other Equipment:
Essentially all recycled from the old system. Will be using the MTC ProCal remotely from the basement. Medusa temperature controller, tunze's and controller, 1" sea-swirl...kept much of my live rock and it in the tank now.

Stocking:
Not entirely ensure of my approach, but I may go all frags. I look forward to getting in tough with many of the good people I met up with over the years and bought/sold/traded frags with. I only hope my PMs work - I have the worse luck with them....Dwayne for example! Sorry Man.

Anyway, stay tuned for pics and updates, charging up the batteries in the camera now.

Tank will be all SPS - only LPS will be a frag of my wicked torch if I can track one down! Cheers.

[Acronic]

its a celebration! I look forward to the new project

[sweet ride]

Originally Posted by Acronic

its a celebration! I look forward to the new project

Likewise!

[Telaverus]

Tagging along. Sounds exciting!

[Znut Reefer]

Always enjoyed your pics. Looking forward to the new tank!

[MammothReefer]

Congrats, my old 3x2x2 tank was one of my favorite shaped tanks. Digging my current 3x2x18" but sometimes wish I had that extra 6"

[clowndude]

Looking forward to seeing another on of your great creations. Your last tank was truly beautiful and I'm sure this one will be just as good if not better. Tagging along

[sahin]

Look forward to your new adventures with SPS and LED's. I think there will be many who will be particularly interested in your setup; it is obvious that your knowledge and husbandary of an SPS tank is high calibre and hence this will be a very good test for LED's for SPS - we know LED's grow SPS, but the colour issue is still uncertain even though there are a few LED lit SPS tanks with very good colour.

[Wayner2]

Look forward to your new , but the colour issue is still uncertain even though there are a few LED lit SPS taadventures with SPS and LED's. I think there will be many of an SPS tank is high calibre and hence this will be a very good test for LED's for SPS - we know LED's grow SPSnks with very good colour. who will be particularly interested in your setup; it is obvious that your knowledge and husbandary

Ditto! - I've been sitting on the fence with Led's for quite awhile - and really like the vertex also - the look is the best out there IMO - so will be following along quite closely

Like it was said above - your a proven sps keeper - so let's see those colors under the vertex ! - Good Luck!

[allsps40]

Following along on this one for sure.

[dvanacker]

return of the jedi...hahaha

[Allmost]

nice, looking forward ! may I ask who is making the tank ?

[inselaffe]

looking at the pics of your last tank then this ones gonna be great.

[aandfsoccr04]

wow your last tank was jaw dropping. The colors on your acros and size of the colonies was unbelieveable. I still can't believe you spent all that time and energy to fix the basement up just to your liking and then sold the house a few months after you finished it. Hopefully you like the house your moving into. I can't wait to see what you do with this tank.

[250G]

Thanks all - I am rather looking forward to getting the system going again........the last 4 weeks have been tough just looking at rock, water and diatoms.........I did get the chance to get some of the fish I wanted however. mystery wrasse, fire fish, dwarf golden moray, and some blue-eyed cardinals. Flame wrasse and a tang still planned........

regarding the skimmer - purchased a Bubble King Mini 200, in sump. MTC HSA is still in the basement, tough to ever want to sell it, but the time may come.

Planning on adding some SPS in the next week or so, suspect it should be safe after a month...

Regarding some of the specific comments:

Yes LED was not an easy decision, given the proven performance of MH. I would have never purchased one without seeing it in action. These lights are bright, so I don't understand why the corals should not respond accordingly.

Originally Posted by sahin

Look forward to your new adventures with SPS and LED's. I think there will be many who will be particularly interested in your setup; it is obvious that your knowledge and husbandary of an SPS tank is high calibre and hence this will be a very good test for LED's for SPS - we know LED's grow SPS, but the colour issue is still uncertain even though there are a few LED lit SPS tanks with very good colour.

I will be certain to keep everyone updated on my experience - I have certainly benefitted from other equipment pioneers in the forum. Still tough to justify swapping out existing lights given the price of the technology.

Originally Posted by Wayner2

Ditto! - I've been sitting on the fence with Led's for quite awhile - and really like the vertex also - the look is the best out there IMO - so will be following along quite closely

Like it was said above - your a proven sps keeper - so let's see those colors under the vertex ! - Good Luck!

lets be honest.............you are the current belt holder best I can tell, least in Canada!

Originally Posted by dvanacker

return of the jedi...hahaha

I retained Atlas Custom Aquariums, the design and construction side of Advanced Reef Aquatics in Milton. Honestly, had I not learned they now build I would have stuck it out with out the 55G. I saw some of their work in the shop, their commitment to top quality work is apparent.

Originally Posted by Allmost

nice, looking forward ! may I ask who is making the tank ?

[Acronic]

interesting choice with the moray, are you concerned for the cardinals? Im interested to see your success with it. How many longspine cardinals did you start with?

[miwoodar]

Woo-hoo! Always loved your stuff 250G.

[Flagswipe]

Good to see that you are diving back in. If you want to make the trek West my doors are open. I have many of the pieces that I bought years ago although I have had some setbacks and lost some as well.

I have a 260 over my frag tank but ATI over everything else, looking forward to you kicking my *** with your ability to grow stuff out !

Dwayne

[250G]

Well it is a dwarf golden moray, and they only get to be 12" full grown. Honestly, the single most impressive animal I have ever kept in my aquarium. I will see if I can find the pic of the pair I had (it's the background on my iphone). The cardinals I am speaking of are tje Blue-eyed cardinal (Apogon leptacanthus), I have not lost any, keep in mind the DGM will only eat what it can fit in it's mouth, and it's mouth is tiny. I have never lost a fish to one, to my knowledge.

Originally Posted by Acronic

interesting choice with the moray, are you concerned for the cardinals? Im interested to see your success with it. How many longspine cardinals did you start with?

Hey Dwayne. Been a while man. Tried to contact you on another board, but you know how that place can be. I saw your thread, good to see things are finally recovering and stabilizing. As a matter of fact I will be headed to the west end later in December and would love to see your set-up, pick up a frag or two if you have any available. I will send you a PM or post in this thread closer to the time.

How do you like the 260???

Dave

Originally Posted by Flagswipe

Good to see that you are diving back in. If you want to make the trek West my doors are open. I have many of the pieces that I bought years ago although I have had some setbacks and lost some as well.

I have a 260 over my frag tank but ATI over everything else, looking forward to you kicking my *** with your ability to grow stuff out !

Dwayne

[RynosReef]

Really looking forward to seeing your next tank! Whenever I need inspiration or a kick in the butt lol to keep up with everything, going to the past TOTM winners articles really helps. Your success has been very inspiring. Can't wait to see more!

[tfp]

welcome back to the sickness dave . lookin' forward to your build...

[blakers82]

Excellent news, Dave! I'm predicting a glorious thread. Bring on the new batch!

[Flagswipe]

Dec is busy of course but I look forward to showing off my "stuff"!

I love everything about the Illumina except for the fact that I havent been very successful up until recently. I had a 5' 200 that I eventually sold over my DT but couldnt make SPS happy, lost a bunch. Went back to ATI T5 as I know for sure it works. Then thru a new 24" 260 over my work tank ( a system 70Elos 30w x 24 deep x 24 tall) and proceeded to kill everything in there. Back to 250 on the work tank
Took the 24" 260 and put it over my Frag tank with test corals and started 30 30 30 and have ramped up slowly to 60 80 80 and everything is fine but colour takes a long time to develop.
So its a love hate thing. Im going to wait another six months for more technology to catch up LED wise before I try again over my DT. I cant take that again !

[Gondore]

Can't wait to see the new build...your last tank was amazing!

[250G]

Thanks Tim - going to TRY and keep the sickness in check. I am limited in size with the tank.....that being said all my old live rock is already drilled to facilitate pegging corals.

Originally Posted by tfp

welcome back to the sickness dave . lookin' forward to your build...

Thinking the week after Christmas if you are around.

Yikes - that light really had such an impact on your work tank? Seems pretty extreme but I have never owned one....I would suspect serious bleaching but death is pretty bad!

Perhaps I will have the distinct advantage of all new frags being introduced to the lighting from my 260 as this is a new tank??? Start them on the bottom and move them up approach. I hear a lot of stories about people having troubles when the attempt to swap out lighting with LED, guess I will see shortly.

I should be installing my LED over the 55G tonight, I will post some pics. Dave

Originally Posted by Flagswipe

Dec is busy of course but I look forward to showing off my "stuff"!

I love everything about the Illumina except for the fact that I havent been very successful up until recently. I had a 5' 200 that I eventually sold over my DT but couldnt make SPS happy, lost a bunch. Went back to ATI T5 as I know for sure it works. Then thru a new 24" 260 over my work tank ( a system 70Elos 30w x 24 deep x 24 tall) and proceeded to kill everything in there. Back to 250 on the work tank
Took the 24" 260 and put it over my Frag tank with test corals and started 30 30 30 and have ramped up slowly to 60 80 80 and everything is fine but colour takes a long time to develop.
So its a love hate thing. Im going to wait another six months for more technology to catch up LED wise before I try again over my DT. I cant take that again !