Canreef Aquatics Bulletin Board - A Reefer's Journey

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- - A Reefer's Journey (http://www.canreef.com/vbulletin/showthread.php?t=77349)

fooser

07-29-2011 04:40 AM

A Reefer's Journey

Way Overdue.

The main display is a 96"L x 30"W x 26"H (approximately 324.2 US gallons), 19mm starfire custom build with external overflow.

The sump was a custom design by a good friend in which I hope to upload the blueprint for to this thread when I can remember.

The stand is composed of 2 separate 4' metal 2" thick stand that have been powdercoated black.

Return pump is a Reeflo Hammerhead external pump, pumping water from the sump back to the display, as well as through my carbon reactor and BioPellets.

For the time being, here are the basic insides:
Lighting: Vertex Illumina 1800-260
Flow: 7 x Hydor Koralia 4 (goal is to upgrade to either 2 Vortec MP40 at ends of the tank with koralia in the middle, or 2 MP60 at the ends with 2 MP40 in the middle)
Skimmer: Vertex IN180 (plans to upgrade skimmer once this one is unable to keep up with the load)
Reactors: 2 x 2LF reactors (carbon & biopellets) with water movement provided by main return pump. Flow is controlled by adjustable valves.

Unfortunately at this time the overall aesthetics of the exterior is constantly at work as I keep thinking of ways to improve it. But the overall outside look was inspired by a tank in Germany that I had seen about 4 years ago. When I am on my other computer, I will add the link as well as a cheap drawing of my plans to the thread.

Uh, I know I am far from listing everything a good journal has, but I will add stuff as I think of it or find it...The drawback of not starting the journal from the onset....

The fishroom area behind the tank is approximately 11' x 5'. This area includes a laundry sink for the random tank maintenance and 2 x 30 gallon rainbarrels that will be used for waterchanges. 1 to circulate saltwater, and 1 to hold freshwater that will be drained either into the salt water container when needed or feed the auto-top off into the sump. The RO unit will provide water for the freshwater container. For water changes, the saltwater mixing container's pump will utilize a valve that can redirect water from mixing the salt to pushing water into the sump directly.

http://i412.photobucket.com/albums/p...l/DSC_0293.jpg
http://i412.photobucket.com/albums/p...l/DSC_0381.jpg
http://i412.photobucket.com/albums/p...l/DSC_0735.jpg
http://i412.photobucket.com/albums/p...l/DSC_0736.jpg
http://i412.photobucket.com/albums/p...l/DSC_0741.jpg

Then I misplaced some photos of the rest of the build in between and will need to look for them. So until I find them and put them here, I will just proceed with what I have.

http://i412.photobucket.com/albums/p...l/DSC_1206.jpg
http://i412.photobucket.com/albums/p...l/DSC_1233.jpg
http://i412.photobucket.com/albums/p...l/DSC_1231.jpg

fooser

07-29-2011 04:47 AM

fooser

07-29-2011 04:56 AM

fooser

07-29-2011 05:03 AM

lorenz0

07-29-2011 05:03 AM

dude I have got to come by and take a look. the corals are looking awesome!

fooser

07-29-2011 05:07 AM

fooser

07-29-2011 05:16 AM

eli@fijireefrock.com

07-29-2011 05:21 AM

with a little imagination:biggrin: i can see the steps you took to get from a bare side to what I call a very healthy and beautiful system :thumb:

fooser

07-29-2011 05:22 AM

lastlight

07-29-2011 05:50 AM

Frankenhalides are doing what they do best and that's grow sticks! Good to see you back although you've been at it under the radar for a bit it seems =) Looks awesome!

fishytime

07-29-2011 05:56 AM

welcome back Anthony......tanks looking killer mang!

Dez	07-29-2011 06:05 AM

Anthony! Wicked set up man. All you need is a foosball table beside it and I'll be in Calgary a lot more :)

fishoholic

07-29-2011 01:33 PM

Great pic.'s everything looks like it's doing really well now :biggrin:

kien	07-29-2011 03:34 PM

Looks sweet man! You still gotz the touch :-D

christyf5

07-29-2011 05:50 PM

Looks terrific! Love the rockwork, I wish I had had the patience to do that :biggrin:

fooser

08-05-2011 05:41 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by lorenz0 (Post 626728)

dude I have got to come by and take a look. the corals are looking awesome!

Honestly, I don't think there is much to see right now man. But once the basement isn't a giant safety hazard, come on down!

Quote:

Originally Posted by elias (Post 626732)

with a little imagination:biggrin: i can see the steps you took to get from a bare side to what I call a very healthy and beautiful system :thumb:

Yeah.....Unfortnately, I think I lost most of the build pics when the computer died on me and I lost pretty much all my pics except what was on one of my old memory cards. I do believe that there are some pics of my plumbing out there somewhere though on a friends camera that I am trying to get for this thread. But I am glad you can imagine it :wink: Thanks for the comments too! I think I may need to get some bulk supplies from you soon once I am out and these things start growing.

Quote:

Originally Posted by lastlight (Post 626736)

Frankenhalides are doing what they do best and that's grow sticks! Good to see you back although you've been at it under the radar for a bit it seems =) Looks awesome!

I have always been a sucker for halides.... but I think that will be a thing of the past after today! Thanks, I am glad to be back. Although my tank was "running," I never felt back, just depressed since it looked so brutal. Your build is looking intense! Can you come and from my basement for me after your done? My wife keeps asking me to do it but I am the worst at handywork.

Quote:

Originally Posted by fishytime (Post 626738)

welcome back Anthony......tanks looking killer mang!

Thanks Doug. Maybe once my sticks grow out, we can do some trades!

fooser

08-05-2011 05:47 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dez (Post 626740)

Anthony! Wicked set up man. All you need is a foosball table beside it and I'll be in Calgary a lot more :)

I wish I could have scored some of that crziness you had going there with your limited edition Dez colony releases! You can see how much 1 of those massive bad boys would have done in my open concept tank....as for the foosball table, I think that can be arranged:wink:

Quote:

Originally Posted by fishoholic (Post 626757)

Great pic.'s everything looks like it's doing really well now :biggrin:

Thank you! Not at the point where I am satisfied yet, but then again, I think most of us never are :twised:

Quote:

Originally Posted by kien (Post 626775)

Looks sweet man! You still gotz the touch :-D

No way Kien. I think I need to come take some lessons from you! Can't wait til end of summer! We can uh.. meet again....somehow that just does not sound right.

Quote:

Originally Posted by christyf5 (Post 626805)

Looks terrific! Love the rockwork, I wish I had had the patience to do that :biggrin:

Actually, I think my rockwork is pretty embarrassing, if you look closely, you can see some of the zipties that I haven't covered up yet until I know I like it that way for sure. And the back of the rockwork is not done yet either :( But I will still take the complement to motivate me!!! Thanks!

abcha0s

08-05-2011 05:58 AM

Awesome. That's all I can really say.

fooser

08-05-2011 06:07 AM

Ok, I don't know about other people, but I think marriage is the best thing that can happen to a reefer. Before I was married, my girl got me a Vertex skimmer for a gift. Now that we are married, she got me another Vertex... a Vertex I**u***a...
OK, pics say it better
http://i412.photobucket.com/albums/p...l/DSC_0262.jpg

Oh and also a special thanks to a friend who helped make it happen. Thanks buddy. Also Thanks to Dave at Concept for his kindness in shipping it over as well.
http://i412.photobucket.com/albums/p...l/DSC_0263.jpg http://i412.photobucket.com/albums/p...l/DSC_0271.jpg

This thing is Long! Yes, that empty tank in the back there is a 20 gallon, just for size reference.
http://i412.photobucket.com/albums/p...l/DSC_0280.jpg
http://i412.photobucket.com/albums/p...l/DSC_0281.jpg

Finally, a step away from ghetto. Good bye frankenhalides!
http://i412.photobucket.com/albums/p...l/DSC_0274.jpg

The Illumina is so slick, it is like you can't even see that thing in there! Where is it?????
http://i412.photobucket.com/albums/p...l/DSC_0339.jpg

Oh, there is it! Ok, So you can see it...
http://i412.photobucket.com/albums/p...l/DSC_0285.jpg

http://i412.photobucket.com/albums/p...l/DSC_0287.jpg

Before
http://i412.photobucket.com/albums/p...l/DSC_0275.jpg
After (with whites only at 20% to avoid bleaching my corals)
http://i412.photobucket.com/albums/p...l/DSC_0337.jpg

albert_dao

08-05-2011 06:44 AM

So, ummm, bad news man.

I have like a million pictures of your wedding and and all those shenanigans... and none of the installation.

I blame Apple (-_-);;

Nice light, BTW :D

lastlight

08-05-2011 08:50 AM

1) We lost another halider to the led-side. Nooooo!

2) What are those raised panels on the stand made of? Can you tell more about how you did all that it looks really cool.

3) drawer slides for the win haha! I recently redid my canopy and I mounted drawer slides to each other in opposing directions. This allows me to slide the canopy BOTH ways.

lorenz0

08-05-2011 02:32 PM

now thats an awesome wife!

Skimmerking

08-05-2011 02:50 PM

wow that is bright, I was looking at my 150 DE over my nano and looked at my 250's that are super dull compared to the 150. and now looking at the LED's hmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm i wonder.

fooser

08-05-2011 11:13 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by albert_dao (Post 628019)

So, ummm, bad news man.

I have like a million pictures of your wedding and and all those shenanigans... and none of the installation.

I blame Apple (-_-);;

Nice light, BTW :D

Noooooooo!!! It was so fresh and clean. Untouched by water! O well. i guess I can always just clean up the sump and salt on the plumbing and take it again :P, just doesnt have the same effect.

Oh, but uh.. shananigans? er, I don't know what you are talking about........

And yes, That IS a SWEEET fixture. I am only using like 30% right now to raise it up slowly by like 5-10 percent per day. Sarah Loves that thing too!
Good thing I have such good friends who can hook me up with the good stuff in life. The quality of this unit makes me really consider getting the Cerebra too and get the most of it.

Now all I need are re-fills of KZ additives since that tank uses them up 4 times faster than my old system.

fooser

08-05-2011 11:24 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by lastlight (Post 628029)

1) Im sorry, it was just so tempting, I just walked towards the light... literally haha. It was so sleek and sexy looking. and the halides even in my basement, made my house feel like a rainforest!! I even have a fan pulling air out enclosed in my canopy and pushing it outside the house.

2) They are actually just drawer fronts. I think they are ridiculously overpriced, but they are still cool. In the picture they appear blue, but that is because I have not taken the protective film off them (this was a trial, the real thing will require my entire canopy to be re-done, which is the plan). The panels are actually high gloss white, not as reflective as the black one (you can see yourself like a mirror) but I like white and so did the wife. Red was just too extreme and took attention from the tank itself. I then just drilled them in to my sliding canopy covers from the back and voila. As you can see in the pictures though, I have yet to finish covering the entire stand and canopy since I always do things half way and leave it. If you want to know more, just drop me a pm.

3) Heck yeah! Sliding rules, but if I could also incorporate my lights being lifted up and down in the canopy that would be even more awesome. You always gotta make it so fancy.. 2WAYS? haha that is cool, maybe i should redo mine... Right now the light rack in the canopy is only designed to slide back and forth, but up and down is cooler.. hmm seems to remind me of a certain tank build from a certain person with a name beginning with B..... wonder who that was....:lol:

fooser

08-07-2011 04:48 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by lorenz0 (Post 628049)

now thats an awesome wife!

I know it. I can't ask for much more than a better half that actually supports my hobby. She also seems to have better taste in livestock than me as well...

Quote:

Originally Posted by asmodeus (Post 628051)

wow that is bright, I was looking at my 150 DE over my nano and looked at my 250's that are super dull compared to the 150. and now looking at the LED's hmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm i wonder.

I used to have a 150 viper over a 28 gallon nano and always thought it was nowhere near the equivalent of my 250w Sunlight Supply HQI pendants. But so far with the LED's they are pretty bright (those pics are taken at 20% output from the light to allow corals to adjust) and even now I am only running at 40% 5 days later. Can't wait to see it at full power. The colors really pop, especially on all my LPS and zoas, to a level that no spectrum of halide I have ever tried has been able to accomplish. The fact that I cannot feel any heat between the unit and the surface of the water is definitely nice.

You should look into the Illumina as well if LED's spark your interest. I hear a certain Albert is quite knowledgable on this unit, and Dave at Concept is able to get a hold of these units as well :wink:

Skimmerking

08-07-2011 05:53 AM

Dude what is the length of that, u have a 8 footer too man and you are running that light. hmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm really please pm me the price of that light too $$ let me know how that is running for light on the ends too.

what is the difference in the 200 and the 260

albert_dao

08-07-2011 07:49 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by asmodeus (Post 628276)

http://www.jlaquatics.com/phpstore/s...ID=vt-ldss1800

SR200 - XPE
SR260 - XPG, about 30+% brighter

lastlight

12-02-2011 07:56 AM

You replaced 6 halides on an 8 foot tank with a 6-foot LED fixture with a somewhat narrow spread. Can you update us on how that's panned out so far?

fooser

03-12-2012 12:59 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by lastlight (Post 656219)

You replaced 6 halides on an 8 foot tank with a 6-foot LED fixture with a somewhat narrow spread. Can you update us on how that's panned out so far?

Hi Brett, Sorry, I did not even see that post, I put the reefing on hold for a few months there. The LEDs are so much better than 6 halides! I think it may be a worthwhile consideration for you to switch as well if you have not already, since you are running a large system as well and would need some pretty hardcore lighting. I cannot say how much my electricity bill has gone down exactly each month since the amount of things in a new house has changed the overall usage in my household, but I can say that I am still paying less than I used to, even including the fact that I am fully moved in now and so is my wife (compared to only me living here and hardly ever home before).

With respect to the corals, I increased the intensity far too quickly. Some of my SPS near mid level and upwards in the tank bleached out quite a bit (even only at about 70% intensity). I turned it down to about 40% on the whites and 50% for both Blue and Royal Blue. I have since slowly increased to 50% white, 70%blue and 70%royal blue (about 2 or 3% increase per week). I have not added any of the red LED modules so cannot comment on that. I did only mount my lights about 8" from water surface, so I added in a 24" glow T5 i had lying around on each end of the tank running back to front to cover the very last 6" of each end of my tank. I suppose that since I am not even using nearly 100% of the Illumina's full capabilities, I could also have raised the unit and allowed the spread of the LEDs to reach the ends as well instead of adding the Glo T5s.

Growth is good, colors are coming back on whatever bleached before, and corals on the ones that didn't bleach are popping. I like how you can really play with the Blues and white to configure the look you want. The ability to set how long your sunrise and sunsets last is kind of neat too so you can have things light up more naturally (really nice for new coral additions to not stress them out for the first while that you have them). The fact that you can adjust your LED intensity settings temporarily is also great for adding new fish and corals as well.

To sum it up; great choice, would not go back, also strongly recommend to others. Ballast is tiny, wires are easy to manage, easy to mount in a neat and clutter free manner.

Hope that helps Brett.

fooser

03-12-2012 01:27 AM

I guess pictures of the tank would have been a better way to answer your question, but I did not take any full tank shots prior to seeing that post, so that will have to wait 'til the next time I have a day off with the camera:p

For now, I thought I should finally put up some pictures of the unseen parts.

My little fishroom to contain the mess that my wife dreads from this hobby. The empty bottom tank is to be a future quarantine.
http://i412.photobucket.com/albums/p...l/DSC_1435.jpg
Frag system (if I ever get my corals big enough to frag again) or nursery for injured fish or corals that need extra attention)
http://i412.photobucket.com/albums/p...l/DSC_1418.jpg
Auto top off reservoir
http://i412.photobucket.com/albums/p...l/DSC_1417.jpg
Water change system (to be plumbed in) Top barrel is for fresh water, bottom is for salt water, a large external pump will power the salt mixing/pumping into the sump. One valve controls the freshwater that drains to the salt barrel below. Another valve controls if the water continues to cycle and mix in the bottom saltwater barrel or if it goes to the sump instead.
http://i412.photobucket.com/albums/p...l/DSC_1434.jpg
Eight circuit panel just for my tank related consumption
http://i412.photobucket.com/albums/p...l/DSC_1432.jpg

Return, Emergency backup overflow to sump, and Main overflow to sump
http://i412.photobucket.com/albums/p...l/DSC_1419.jpg
The heart. Hammerhead pump that runs the operation.
http://i412.photobucket.com/albums/p...l/DSC_1424.jpg
splits off 3 ways, first valve goes to frag tank, second valve goes to media reactors, the rest goes back to the display
http://i412.photobucket.com/albums/p...l/DSC_1425.jpg
Looks like a mess, but it works. Carbon and Bio-pellets
http://i412.photobucket.com/albums/p...l/DSC_1423.jpg
How it all comes down. Main drain goes deep into the water in the back section (as well as the frag tank's), the emergency hangs suspended over 1 of the filter socks but is used only in emergency. 2 filter socks hang suspended on a removable glass tray for easy access to clean the socks. Don't mind the microbubbles, those are no longer there now that I adjusted the herbie.No salt spray!
http://i412.photobucket.com/albums/p...l/DSC_1421.jpg
The float valve I took a blow torch to bend a 90 degree into and use to control the autotop off. Yes, the water in the sump is above the normal level as I just cleaned my filter socks and all the water that was clogged in there is now in the sump. Good thing the total water volume is so big that this has almost no impact on the salinity.
http://i412.photobucket.com/albums/p...l/DSC_1428.jpg
Super disorganized sump, yes, I do plan to take that useless live rock out, it was initially there as backup rock for future aquascaping, but I think I changed my mind)
http://i412.photobucket.com/albums/p...l/DSC_1429.jpg

fooser

03-12-2012 01:34 AM

Casey8

03-12-2012 02:02 AM

I don't know why I missed your building thread. You have a very beautiful tank, too many nice corals for me to drool over and a very nice group of wrasses too.

lastlight

03-12-2012 02:10 AM

Glad to hear things are doing well for you =) I won't have any budget for LED upgrading for at least a year but there are more success stories all the time which is nice. I've accepted they're superior than halides in almost every way except perhaps aesthetics. And obviously that's a personal thing... but a major thing as all of our efforts culminate in how the reef actually looks to our eyes.

I'm amazed the single fixture has enought front-to-back to keep everything happy do you have sticks growing nearer the from of the glass? Is the unit closer to the front of the tank?

fooser

03-12-2012 02:58 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Casey8 (Post 692603)

I don't know why I missed your building thread. You have a very beautiful tank, too many nice corals for me to drool over and a very nice group of wrasses too.

Thank you Casey. I am not surprised my thread got missed though with all these other amazing builds. I have a long way to come back. Also, I have not been actively posting or updating as I am not a very active member anymore :(. Maybe I need to go and start looking through some recent posts in other build threads to catch up!

Quote:

Originally Posted by lastlight (Post 692609)

I know what you mean Brett, after a major purchase or improvement to my system, I basically have to disassociate myself from all stores and stay off the forums since I know my weak will will break me if i see anything before I financially recover. Why do we pay to torture ourselves this way haha?

Yes, there does seem to me more and more advocate towards LED now than a year ago for sure. Yes, technically the one fixture is enough for the depth and width of my tank. I am super surprised as well as I was very skeptical about that even with a friend who knows the fixtures inside out re-assuring me it was more than enough. I should have expected that he was right though and he was. I do have SPS growing within about 2.5" from the front of the glass now. When my tank budget recovers, I plan to get 2 strips of the Illumilux as supplementals along the front row (probably just all blue LEDs like an actinic florescent kind of idea). The Illumina is currently hanging perfectly centered in my tank to the millimeter.

What can I say. I guess I am trusting my tank to Vertex to almost everything going forward....Good part is, all of Vertex's products are super nice looking aesthetically :) and they all perform over my expectation.

Oh, out of curiosity, what do you mean LEDs are better in every way to halides besides aesthetics? My impression was they had more even light spread, sleeker looking fixtures, and still maintain the shimmer effect?

fishytime

03-12-2012 04:45 AM

man you sure know how to keep a crowd waiting in anticipation Anthony........and you sure know how to update a thread......awesome pics mang.......with me making the decision to go LED it sure is reassuring to hear and see that the sky wont fall after I switch....

fooser

03-15-2012 12:40 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by fishytime (Post 692684)

Oh Doug, you are too kind, but I doubt anyone on here even knows I exist :p
I am finidng it much more difficult to get a good pic now that I have 19mm thick glass and most of my corals are placed pretty far back compared to my old little tank :(
Oh, which type of LED are you leaning towrds? A fixture or a DIY?

Here is something you don't see often...not a dendro?.. but sure does look like one. Note the flourescent green mouth and it has green stripes down the body. Aww, it even has little babies popping out now.
http://i412.photobucket.com/albums/p...l/DSC_1555.jpg

krazykarl

03-15-2012 12:57 AM

Very nice looking tank scape, corals and fish look forward to seeing the tank develop into a sweet reef!

albert_dao

03-16-2012 11:33 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by fooser (Post 693870)

It's a Balano, and I told you that when I busted off my colony :P

Damn Anthony, look what getting married has done to your memory, lol.

Anyway, nice fish room -___________-

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