Elos 120 Build

[Jordania89]

Hello guys and girls,

I will try my best to document my new Elos 120 build over the next few months. This will be my second tank, and I want to do it right!

I have been planning this tank for 8 months, ever since my previous 33 gal nano. It will be very similar to nates 100g build.

My elos tank should be arriving within two weeks...

Here's my current equipment breakdown:

Display: Rimless Elos 120 (90g)
Stand: Elos 120 Square
Sump: Trigger Ruby Elite 36 Sump 36x18x15 (Total Volume 41g, running volume 21g)
Skimmer: Vertex Omega 150
Lighting: 2x Ecotech xr30w pro
Circulation: 2x Vortech MP40ESw
Cooling: Ecoplus 1/4 hp
Heating: None.
Controller: Neptune apex lite, lab pH probe, WXM module.
Auto Top Off: Tunze Osmolator
RODI: BRS 75 GPD with TDS and Flush
Dosing: BRS 1.1ml/min dosers
Containers: BRS space savers
Reactors: 2x UF-15 Vertex Media Reactor
Media: BRS Carbon and GFO. May switch to biopellets if refugium can't handle nitrate load.
Return Pump: Eheim 1262
Battery Back Up: None yet.
Display Substrate: 100lb of Ocean Direct oolite
Refugium Substrate: Miracle Mud

[Jordania89]

The goods have arrived! Tank hopefully will be here soon....
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[dc]

This thread has been moved to the current forum....

[Signal151]

Nice! The ELOS tanks are so elegant. Mmmmmm... Radeons. I'm jealous!

[mv123]

Why did you choose not to use the elos sump and skimmer and pump system package? I am getting a 120 as well soon, and am on the fence about the system package.

Also, I may go with the elos LEDs / top. Radons may be overkill for me since I am doing mixed, not only SPS, but I think the Elos are pretty good for most mixed reef applications and probably look better.

Thoughts?

[D-Nak]

No heater?

[natedogg]

Ha. This build is almost identical to mine.
Looks great!

[Jordania89]

I decided not have a heater because I live in Miami and I figured my tank would always be over 78 celsius, so why bother getting it. But who knows.

@mv123, I decided to not go with the Elos sump and skimmer package for a couple reasons:
1) The elos skimmer and sump are priced at the high-end market. Though there are many sumps and skimmers out there for a lower price and perform better.
2) I didn't like the layout of the elos sump, it just wasn't for me. My trigger systems sump provides me with a decent sized refugium, enough room for my skimmer and reactors, and is an interesting layout. I had my eye on a MRC 36" reef sump, but that too was a little pricey.

As for the LED's, I looked at absolutely everything. I settled for the radions for a lot of reasons, but in short, the compatabilty, controllability, and broadness in spectrum of the lighting was a key seller. I wouldn't think the radions are overkill because you can just turn down the intensity, and maybe one day you will want more sps and will have the flexibility. Think longterm.

The elos lighting are beautiful, but it doesn't compare to some lights out there. Check out Kessil's a350 pendants, maxspect razor, and aqua illumination if you're not liking the radions.

[Jordania89]

just a little update. Tank should hopefully be here in one week. Jesse from Elos told me last week that the eta for arrival in New Jersey was today. so fingers crossed.

But disappointing news, I had ordered my apex lite system three weeks ago. Spoke to aquariumspecialty and they said it will be at least three more weeks. So tank setup will delayed again. Meh.

[cugly]

This is gonna be a great set up..

[Jordania89]

Hey guys, small update. Tank arrival was delayed, and is now scheduled to arrive tuesday. Finally. Meanwhile I have tryed to set up a few things.

Today, I planned to mount my radions. I bought the radion mounting and hanging kit and was ready to go. Everything was going smoothly and finished the build. Proudly finished, I stepped back to look at the fixture, and noticed that it was sagging slightly. This was frustrating as I would expect a $$ fixture to mount perfect.

On further inspection, I noticed that the right fixture was causing the sagging. It is hard to explain, and I haven't taken pictures, but basically the nut that holds the fixture to the rail kit was loose. I tryed to tighten it the best i could, and unfortunately snapped like butter. I didn't even realize. Looks like cheap aluminum and was a little dissappointed.

I will call brs in the morning to try and get a new fixture asap. As with all builds, we hit speed bumps but keep chugging.

Apex controller should be here in 2 weeks also!

[jbraslins]

Very cool! I am in the same shoes as u are. Tons of goodies on the floor, waiting for tank to arrive. So exciting.

[shaggss]

Great build so far! Pity about the hanging kit, hope you get it sorted?

[Jordania89]

So tank arrived last Tuesday. Surprisingly the cabinet came with no instructions, but got it done. Tank looks great though, I love the small details.

I mounted my RO/DI under my kitchen sink, completed my salt mixing container, and in the process of completing my plumbing. I will post more pics tomorrow.

As for my radions, I sent the fixture back to ecotech, hopefully I'll get a return within two weeks. Luckily I don't need lights for the cycle process. As for my apex controller, theres no sign. Hopefully will be here soon or tank cycle will be delayed.

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[Jordania89]

Plumbing completed and starting to mix salt. I may start my cycle without my controller as I will only need a few things running. Thoughts?
Sump Plumbing.jpg
Tell me what you think on the plumbing. I tried to keep it clean and use unions and valves where I thought necessary.
Drain & Return Section.jpg
For the Drain Section I didn't have much room so it was tough, but I think made a good solution. The ball valve below the T is to divert some of the water to the refugium section in the sump. The refugium line with blue ball valve is to control the noise.
Drain Section.jpg
You'll notice I also put a ball valve on my first sump drain which will help divert water to the second drain.
Sump Drain Section.jpg
My chiller runs independent out the back of the cabinet. And the return pump powers the reactors.
Chiller Pump.jpg

[jbraslins]

Excellent work. That looks fantastic Gorgeous tank too!

Mine arrived as well!

[Jordania89]

Thanks, I have been watching your build on the rimless thread. Its a nice setup you have there.

I have been mixing saltwater the last couple days and took the plunge today to start my cycle. All my plumbing looks good, I felt I don't need my controller right now and will hopefully be here in a week or two. Ecotech has already repaired my fixture and should be back here tomorrow! great service ecotech.

So I ended up using 120lbs of Caribsea Ocean Direct oolite. Ive got around 2-1/2" and happy with the result. I then placed my first 30 gallons of saltwater and rushed down to the lfs for liverock. The store had some great caribbean liverock. Its very porous, lots of interesting angles and surfaces for corals. I ended up getting around 65lbs.

I got my rock right away because I want the bacteria in the sand and rock to both be at there highest numbers, which I feel will speed the cycle up. Im currently leaving just 30gallons of water in the tank with a couple powerheads until the water clears. Then I will add more water.
Cycle Start 1.jpg
Cycle Start 2.jpg
Also added brightwell aquatics koralagoon refugium sand. I really like the range of particle sizes, and little shells, etc. Looks nice. 2" in the refugium.
Refugium Sand.jpg
KoraLagoon Refugium Substrate.jpg

[Jordania89]

Small update. My controller should arrive next week, which means i'll be able to start dosing I also purchased a Kessil A150 Amazon Sun led light for my refugium. My theory is that the chaeto will love the intense 6700k light. Not sure about mounting yet.

Tank has been cycling for just over two weeks now. The lights have been off, skimmer was on periodically for the first week, and has been running constantly since. Inside the main display there has been lots of die off, nearly all the sponges, coraline, and bits of life have perished. Which consequently has been fueling the cycle.

The omega 150 skimmer has absolutely no microbubbles and pulling out very sticky, thick, foam. Beautiful to watch, and near silent. Cabinet is still a little bit of a mess because the controller has arrived yet, but will post pictures soon.

I'm going to make a run to the aquarium store tomorrow for some inverts and snails. Small, localized portions of hair algae are starting to appear on the rocks, so I believed my phosphates and nitrates are going up. I will do one waterchange next week and add my carbon and gfo.

[Jordania89]

Here's a couple photos I took. Please forgive me for the quality, and the mess of cables. It will get sorted!

Sump Setup Week 2.jpg
Tank Cycle Week 2.jpg
Protein Skimmer Cycle Week 2.jpg

So far plumbing works great, leak free, and near silent.

[jbraslins]

What diameter PVC are you running to your reactors?

[Jordania89]

I'm using 1/2" pvc for the reactors. My return is 3/4", therefore I found a 3/4"-1/2" T-Joint to divert flow to the reactors. Hows the tank coming?

[Jordania89]

I have recently been dosing a little Nitromax, its a bacteria and oxygen supplement for the water which helps with the denitrification process. I usually avoid these kind of products. But I was willing to give it a try. I have been testing my water, and ammonia and nitrite are at 0 ppm.

So, its been three weeks, and the levels are down. I will conduct my first water change and put some carbon and gfo in the reactors. Fish will also be added. Thinking of getting a bluespot jawfish and some blue chromis to start.

Will post pictures tomorrow.

[natedogg]

Looking good. I keep thinking i'm looking at my sump in your pics! ha. Have you adjust your drain valves to make it silent?

[Jordania89]

The drains are near silent, still a little tinkering to do with valves to get it perfect. Though I won't play with them until the tank is running stable. So many changes lately! I like how the rock work turned out.
Tank Week 4.jpg

The apex is finally installed. It took all afternoon and the cables are still a mess. You can see I installed the unit in the upper left corner of cabinet. The kessil-amazon sun looks crazy in the photo, but its actually a strong yet soft, white light.
Apex Installed.jpg

[Jordania89]

Week five already, tank is breaking in nicely. Here's a full tank shot. I still need to move a few things around, and tidy things up.

Week 5.jpg
Full Tank Shot.jpg

I mixed some brs rox carbon and gfo with a 3:1 ratio and placed that in one of my reactors. I'll try to change this every few weeks. This should help with the algae that is popping up.

Carbon-GFO.jpg

I picked up some caulerpra algae from the lfs (they didn't have chaeto). Im not to worried about it going sexual or anything. It will be running on a reverse light cycle.

Refugium.jpg