Build Log v2.0 - 90g

[MTB]

Looks good!

[WinnipegDragon]

Another thought. If this is going to be an SPS dominant tank, will I have enough flow with the 1262 and the 2 K4s? I'm wondering if I should order another pair of Koralias...

[WinnipegDragon]

My J&L order is in! Wooooooo!

This lovely sight greeted me as I walked in the door after work:



Of course, I still have no tank, nor a stand upon which to place the tank, nor a finished basement in which to place the stand upon which I will place the tank. Still it feels like frikkin' Xmas at the moment

I opened everything to inspect for damage, and plugged in all the pumps for a half second to ensure they fired up. All is good.

I'm sure boxes of stuff is not exactly gripping reading or anything, but indulge me for a few minutes here.

Here's the 8x54w TEK T5HO fixture:



My EuroReef RS-180 skimmer:



The circulation components:



My phosban/carbon system:



Heater and moonlights:



And last but least, my AC Jr and Osmolator:



God I can't wait to get this tank running!

For any Canucks out there, once again I can't stress how happy I am with J&L. These guys and gals are really helpful, great prices, cheap shipping, good products... Super highly recommended, and a sponsor here at RC!

[P.Kelly]

jealous

[WinnipegDragon]

I'm jealous of your 92g corners Does that make us even?

[WinnipegDragon]

Well my calcium reactor just showed up:



And the pump doesn't work.

$(*&$#@$@*#&!!!

[WinnipegDragon]

Pump problem has been tracked down, and it appears as though the impeller is faulty. It physically can't turn on the ceramic shaft.

I've contacted the guy who sold it to me, and he is going to upgrade me to the 250g version, the H&S CR150-F2000. Hopefully I'll have better luck with it.

Also, the last thing I need to decide (and which is driving me crazy) is the substrate. To DSB or not to DSB? I figure if I have the 'fuge with Chaeto and a good skimmer, I should have ample nutrient export, right?

[Reefmack]

Looks like it's all coming together Dragon! Now all you need is the tank & stand! (and $$$$$$ LOL).

[WinnipegDragon]

Should be starting on the stand this weekend, and the tank will be ordered this week too. Just trying to get prices on the Oceanic and Oceanic Tech tank before I decide which one to buy.

[P.Kelly]

After looking at them both, I love the tech style, so if the price isn't to much different, my vote is for the tech!

[WinnipegDragon]

Yeah if the prices are even close, I'll take the Tech. Nicer overflow, Starphire front, no reason NOT to get it.

Having said that, tanks are really freaking expensive in Canada. I'm looking at about $700CDN for the AGA 120g Megaflow. I'm hoping the Tech is under $1k. If it is, I'm going Tech.

[stevedola]

winni,
id suggest have the fuge not have a direct drain from the tank. It tends to collect waste and debris (IME). I know if I were to set up my tank again I would have the sump designed so that the drain/skimmer chamber overflows into the refuge and then the fuge overflows through baffels into a return area. just my thoughts.

[WinnipegDragon]

I thought about that design as well, but with as much as 750gph through the overflow, I think it's too much flow for the fuge.

I might just have both overflows go to the skimmer, and then have the T off the return feed the fuge section like the first drawing.

Of course, I've been advised to go both ways, so I'll have to decide soon. Same as the substrate, I just need to decide what's best. Too bad there is not a consensus in either case.

[NanoGurl]

Go with the tech 120 =) If not for my tang that is the tank I would own!

[WinnipegDragon]

Yeah, still waiting for pricing from my LFS. My basement should be done by the end of August, so if he has to special order it, I want to get that order in right away.

[WinnipegDragon]

Small update...

I've revamped my sump plans, since I'll have an extra 6" or so of depth under the tank now. I've moved it to a 36" x 20" x 20" design, about 60g or so. I've also made the skimmer area larger to accommodate the larger RS-180 skimmer, so the return area is narrower. Still plenty big for the 1262 pump though.

I've also moved the probe holder to the return area, after reading about some issues with air bubbles screwing up the readings from a pH probe.

Here are the new drawings. Top:



And side:



Ordered a Purely H20 Optima Automated RO/DI this morning as well, along with a dual in-line TDS meter. It's a 75GPD unit, and comes with an ASO which is handy.

I also noticed that J&L has the Seio controller on sale this week. I'm very tempted to grab a couple of smaller Koralias (2s or 3s ) and that controller to get some wave-action in the tank. It's not in the budget, of course, but the budget seems very stretchy some days.

[Azazael13]

I assume you are still going to do a split return from the tank to the skimmer and fuge area?

[WinnipegDragon]

Yeah, the more I thought about it, that seems to make the most sense. I'm going to have to throttle back the 1262 anyhow, so I might as well do something productive instead of just making backpressure.

So, both overflows will drain into the skimmer area, the return will tee off to the refugium and a hose barb connection for water changes.

[WinnipegDragon]

Boo-urns. Looks like it's going to be the AGA for me.

According to my LFS he can only get up to 90g in the Tech series tanks, and only a 130g Oceanic (42x24x30) and I'm not sure my T5 setup will handle a 30" deep tank.

Not the end of the world, but still a pain.

[lavith]

How would you make bubble tower in the sump?

[WinnipegDragon]

It's basically a 2" x 2" square tube that you fill with golf-ball sized pieces of LR.

It's open along the bottom, and the theory is that your drains will feed into the tower, and the bubbles that occur from the water splashing down are broken up on the LR, and then it feeds into the sump through the gap at the bottom. You also get some super-oxygenated LR rubble out of the deal for good measure.

Melev has a bubble tower in some of his sumps, which is where I got the idea from. There's an example here .

[P.Kelly]

Winnipeg,

I'm still following your story. Can't wait to see how it turns out. I feel like we're a band of brothers who survived the evil RSM!

Anyway, here is a link to my new tank thread. I'll probably update a little less often than you, but thought you might want to check it out.

http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/sh...readid=1178621

Take care,
Pete

[WinnipegDragon]

I update too often with not much news

On the plus side, by the end of today I should have the frame for the stand done, assuming the rain holds off. I'll take pics and post them later.

[crvz]

Originally posted by WinnipegDragon
Boo-urns. Looks like it's going to be the AGA for me.

According to my LFS he can only get up to 90g in the Tech series tanks, and only a 130g Oceanic (42x24x30) and I'm not sure my T5 setup will handle a 30" deep tank.

Not the end of the world, but still a pain.

Whew, not real sure what direction you went here (if you've committed), but my T5s (granted I've got Icecap ballasts) are really too much light for my tank right now. I've had to cut my photoperiod down to 7 hours to keep everything happy. But, who knows? It would be extra trouble to do maintenance in a 30" deep tank, so the 120 may be a better choice in the long run.

[WinnipegDragon]

Yeah I'm already locked into the 120 AGA. I think my T5s should be okay, but I'm shooting for an SPS dominant tank with Clams as well...