kresdfw's DSA 175g Build Thread

[kresDFW]

Originally Posted by screamingibis

Take some pics of your JNS skimmer. Once you get it up and running, let us know how you like it.

Here's some pics of it up and running screamingibis:

[kresDFW]

New toy to keep exclusively for the tank.


Tank is cycling.


Good news is my QT is done cycling. I might pick up my first few passive fish and QT them for 6-8 weeks while the display tank is cycling.

This weekend I will start building the frag tank stand so I can get that setup as well. I'm thinking of doing just the JBJ 20g frag tank and another AI Hydra 26 since I have the Director to control it.

I also had a 2nd internet connection installed by the tank so I'll need to do some cable management around that. Still lots to do...

[kresDFW]

I also got the screens built and into place for future jumpers.

[kresDFW]

So I've kept busy the last few days. This weekend I started building the frag tank stand for the JBJ 20g frag tank I picked up today. I also snagged another Hydra 26 from the LFS for the frag tank.

JBJ Frag Tank goodness:



Progress on frag tank stand:



This is what it should look like when it's complete:



For the display tank, today marks the 10th day of the cycle. I'm currently running lights out, however I am running my sump light with some cheato to help control phosphates. I had a small handful just about triple in size in 5 days. I think by the time the weekend rolls around, I'll be giving some back to the LFS for store credit.


This weekend I'll take a break from my projects to help a friend build a canopy for his tank. He should be bringing my 40g breeder I loaned him so I can finally get my other quarantine tank setup.

[d-man]

Looks great. Can always drill side of return line at the water line to stop siphon if pump goes out

[kresDFW]

Originally Posted by d-man

Looks great. Can always drill side of return line at the water line to stop siphon if pump goes out

Yeah, that is what I forgot to do. The next day I drilled the holes and they are just barely under water. The rest of the return line isn't as far deep in the tank as what it was as well.

[Wazzel]

Nice build.

[kresDFW]

Originally Posted by Wazzel

Nice build.

Thanks Wazzel, and thanks for the contribution to the RC Community as I always see you pop up with solid advice.

[Wazzel]

Originally Posted by kresDFW

Thanks Wazzel, and thanks for the contribution to the RC Community as I always see you pop up with solid advice.

Thanks, I have always hoped some of the experiences I share would be helpful to someone.

[yellowRubi]

Looks great!!

Subscribed!

not sure if I missed it or not, but where did you get that sump? and how long is it?

[kresDFW]

Originally Posted by yellowRubi

Looks great!!

Subscribed!

not sure if I missed it or not, but where did you get that sump? and how long is it?

Thanks Yellow. The sump is a Trigger Systems Tide 48 (48"x20"x16"). Reef Builders had a review on it that I'll link below. The only difference is Trigger Systems updated the model to have 2x 1.5" drains and 1x 1" drain.
http://************.com/2015/04/06/i...-series-sumps/

[kresDFW]

Tonight I'm going to try and transfer water from the display (on day 18 of cycle) over to the frag tank to get it cycling as well.

I still need to figure out what I'm going to do with all the power cords. I think since there will just be a covered ATO reservoir inside the stand, that I can mount a power strip inside.

[kresDFW]

I got a few things done over the weekend. I have water in the frag tank now and it's cycling with a few rocks from the display.



Main tank is on day 22 of the cycle. I started leaving the lights on last week so I can work my way through the various algea cycles.



I also built the 2nd quarantine tank stand (it will be my primary) from a 40g breeder. I got the water in it last night and the media has been cycling in the display tank.



I'm thinking of cycling a 10g tank that I would probably use with the frag tank to QT the clean up crew for 4 weeks before they go into the tank. I'm trying to be on the cautious side on this build to make sure everything gets an adequate quarantine.

[screamingibis]

congrats on a great looking system all the way around.

[Mark]

Nicely done. I'm enjoying the updates. How are you liking the skimmer so far?

[frankabagnale]

Looking really good!

[kresDFW]

Originally Posted by screamingibis

congrats on a great looking system all the way around.

Thanks screamingibis!

Originally Posted by Mark

Nicely done. I'm enjoying the updates. How are you liking the skimmer so far?

Thanks Mark. I'm very happy with the skimmer so far. It's been easy to dial in and fits perfectly with my water height at 10in.

Originally Posted by frankabagnale

Looking really good!

Thanks frank!

[Mark]

Good to hear about the skimmer. It's funny because I had settled on the same exact sump and skimmer for tank with same footprint before finding your thread(that sump review you mentioned was me). I'm setting up the DSA 225, same as yours just taller. I'm hoping there's room in my stand to have a Ca reactor and the electronics with the large sump. I might have to get creative.

[kresDFW]

Originally Posted by Mark

Good to hear about the skimmer. It's funny because I had settled on the same exact sump and skimmer for tank with same footprint before finding your thread(that sump review you mentioned was me). I'm setting up the DSA 225, same as yours just taller.

Haha.. how funny on the sump review. I spent a few weeks debating on the DSA 175g or the 225g. Since this is my first large tank, I opted for the more shallow tank since it would be easier to maintenence. At least if I decide to move or swap tanks later, the stand/canopy will accomodate the 225. I'll have to go find your build thread and follow along.

[Mark]

Good call on the shallow tank. The 225 is replacing a 180 that was 24" tall and I could grab stuff on the bottom with just my finger tips. I'm a little worried the 27" height on the 225g will make the bottom of the tank out of reach. But I also made it worse with a 36" stand(4" higher than my last) and adding a canopy to restrict access further! :P I guess I like to torture myself.

Honestly, I debated between the 175 and 225 a lot as well. I pulled the trigger on the 225 simply because I wanted more water volume than the 180 I had before, and I worried how the 15" tall canopy would look on a shallower tank. Ultimately, the 175 would have probably been a smarter choice.

[mknightryder]

Any updates? How are things progressing?

Man I love the look of your stand, and I am so glad I stumbled across this thread!!! I'm fixing to upgrade my 90g to a 5'x2'x2' 150g (going to LFS in the morning to order!!!) and I've been racking my brain the past few days as to how I wanted to SKIN the stand... Now I know! I plan to follow rocketengineer's design like I did on my 90, since I absolutely love not having a center brace in the way when doing maintenance. My front panel is held on with magnets and I plan to do the same thing with this new stand. I'm not a huge fan of a bunch of fancy trim work and was looking for something more modern, but simple.... and sexy!!! I guess something similar to an Elos or Red Sea S series style tank stand, but man You have knocked it out of the park!!! The suspended canopy is right in my wheel house too! love it!

Also, I run a 36" Trigger Systems Elite sump on the 90 and love it and plan on using the same sump on the 150g... I'm digging the new Tidewater series though.... Just be careful using that mag float on it! It's way to purdy (lol) to scratch!!!

.... And I'm diggin' the Hybrid led system you have going on. I think you'll be very pleased. I recently added two 39w LET Miro 4's (one on each side) to my Pacific Sun Metis Hyperion R2 150wx2 lamp. My corals were doing O.K., but I felt they would do much better with the added spectrum the t5's can put off. I basically built my own version of Pacific Sun's Pandora unit kinda sorta. Anyways, I've seen a very noticeable difference in the past month! I could never run my led's intensity over 56% percent or things would freak out... It was like they were getting too much of something and not enough of something else.... the added t5's have helped bridge that gap running two Ati blue plus. I'd bet a Coral plus would be even better, but I like a bluer tank.

Keep up the good work and I'll be following along!

[Cosmojo]

Would definitely like to see an update to this sucker.