Matt's 225g Custom Build - Page 4

.Renegade · 07/25/2015, 11:10 PM

i was gonna suggest the islands but your way sounds even better looking forward for the final results

mattr777 · 07/26/2015, 07:57 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by .Renegade

i was gonna suggest the islands but your way sounds even better looking forward for the final results

Here is one of the islands I made. It turned out awesome. The top piece is one of the ones I posted earlier and is 24" wide and almost 50lbs.

rovster · 07/26/2015, 08:24 AM

Very nice. One thing you might want to consider is taking a chop saw to the bases to make sure your bases are stable. If you are going sps dominant don't build structures too tall. Also consider adding some tonga branch to the mix. Most people didn't like it in my tank at first but now that it's all covered in coralline it looks great and makes for interesting forms and keeps things open so the flow just goes through. Check out jacksons tank in the sps forum....looking good, excited to see what you come up with. The above was just suggestions and my opinion of course

mattr777 · 07/26/2015, 08:33 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by rovster

Very nice. One thing you might want to consider is taking a chop saw to the bases to make sure your bases are stable. If you are going sps dominant don't build structures too tall. Also consider adding some tonga branch to the mix. Most people didn't like it in my tank at first but now that it's all covered in coralline it looks great and makes for interesting forms and keeps things open so the flow just goes through. Check out jacksons tank in the sps forum....looking good, excited to see what you come up with. The above was just suggestions and my opinion of course

Appreciate the feedback. Actually I love the tonga branch rock too and I have a bunch in my established 90 that will be moving over. I like the chop saw idea for a flat base for some of the other pieces but the one above is pretty solid. Got luck with how it sits.

.Renegade · 07/26/2015, 08:03 PM

looks awesome!! are you using pvc or acrylic rods in the middle?

mattr777 · 07/27/2015, 05:42 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by .Renegade

looks awesome!! are you using pvc or acrylic rods in the middle?

For the larger pieces I used PVC and a diamond hole saw to cut drill the rock. I also have acrylic rods that I will use for the smaller structures.

mattr777 · 07/28/2015, 11:41 AM

Well I made a mess today. Needed to evenly distribute power since I have two tanks running now. In the process of moving the apex and adding the second (new) tank to it. That way when I break down the old one I can just unplug everything and the new tank is still up and running for the most part. I may be short a few outlets until the old one is broken down but I can deal with that. Good thing my wife is out of town for work. Lol. I need to clean this mess up before she gets home.

mattr777 · 07/29/2015, 04:48 AM

Up and running. I made half the water and Tray brought me the other half.

mattr777 · 07/29/2015, 04:49 AM

This is not the finished rock work though. Still working on that.

mattr777 · 07/29/2015, 02:31 PM

Got some more rock today from Billy's Reef Connection.

mattr777 · 07/29/2015, 02:33 PM

Little more work on the control panel too.

Still have a few more things to add and wires to cleanup but this gives me the basics to cycle the tank.

reeksreef · 07/29/2015, 02:43 PM

I see you have both of your vortech controllers on your panel. Did you do anything to extend the wires?

Quote:

Originally Posted by AquamanE

They all look SPECTACULAR grasshopper. Keep up the good work so the old man can go over and raid you.

spin:

Good idea on keeping up with ALK. Make sure in your adjustments that you go ALK and CA in equal doses. That will prevent you from chasing numbers in the future. Remember they are consumed at equal basis. This is one mistake MANY make when 2 part dosing.

Funny you mention that Eddie, I actually use a little more Alk to Calcium.

Quote:

Originally Posted by mattr777

Little more work on the control panel too.

Still have a few more things to add and wires to cleanup but this gives me the basics to cycle the tank.

mattr777 · 07/29/2015, 05:50 PM

Yes I actually sent it to ecotech and had them extend the wires for me. Normally that would be something I would have done myself but just didn't have time.
[QUOTE=reeksreef;23902825]I see you have both of your vortech controllers on your panel. Did you do anything to extend the

AquamanE · 07/29/2015, 06:24 PM

Looking great Matt!!! Thanks for sharing.

mattr777 · 08/02/2015, 02:48 PM

Rock work is done. I'm not 100% sold on the left side but I have been working and changing the Rock non stop for a week so it will do for now. I have some established Rock I will be probably moving from my other tank later on so I can change it up a bit at that time if I decide too.

mattr777 · 08/02/2015, 02:48 PM

Got the lights up and running too.

mattr777 · 08/02/2015, 02:49 PM

tonyyloww · 08/03/2015, 02:41 PM

that looks great.

mattr777 · 08/03/2015, 02:59 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by tonyyloww

that looks great.

Thanks

gemini aquarius(t) · 08/03/2015, 11:39 PM

Very impressive

Ryanaquarium · 08/06/2015, 11:17 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mattr777

Thanks everyone. So now some of the good stuff. The equipment I chose. It's been like Christmas everyday here. My wife doesn't quite think it's fair though. Lol. I looked and researched quite a few different sumps. After speaking with David (I think that was his name) at Trigger Systems I decided to have them build me a custom sump. It was built off of their Emerald line sump with some modifications. For starters I wanted white and not the neon Emerald color plus I needed modifications for the three drain lines needed for the bean animal overflow I planned on using. They did a great job.

One question is that 3 4" filter socks can they handle the filtration of such a big tank ?

mattr777 · 08/07/2015, 07:22 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ryanaquarium

One question is that 3 4" filter socks can they handle the filtration of such a big tank ?

Honestly if I were to do it again I would have went with two 7" socks but I went with their recommendation I'm stuck with it. It does handle the flow of the bean animal siphon drain with no problem though. I will probably just have to change the socks more than I want too. The return is split with the other side which has a 7" so it does work fine with no problems.

tonyyloww · 08/07/2015, 11:07 AM

Man. That sump looks FAYA....

.Renegade · 08/07/2015, 09:41 PM

hey matt are you running a fuge on the main sump or the little one, i am thinking the same sump on a 300 and maybe running a separate fuge to make it bigger

mattr777 · 08/08/2015, 07:20 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by .Renegade

hey matt are you running a fuge on the main sump or the little one, i am thinking the same sump on a 300 and maybe running a separate fuge to make it bigger

I am running it on the main sump. I may add one to the second if I need it but not quite sure what I am going to do with that yet. I would get a larger sump than the one I had built for a 300. If I did it again I would have probably had mine made wider for more volume.

07/29/2015, 06:24 PM	#89
AquamanE Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2001 Location: Miami, FL Posts: 6,544	Looking great Matt!!! Thanks for sharing. __________________ Eddie Soler FMAS BOD Member MACNA 2013 Chairman "I'd rather die living than live to die" Current Tank Info: 200G mixed reef with 60G sump, Radion LED’s , Bubble King skimmer, blah blah blah.

08/03/2015, 02:41 PM	#93
tonyyloww Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2014 Location: MIAMI FL aka Carol City/Opa-laka Posts: 704	that looks great. __________________ REEF like a BO$$.......... FMAS team!!!!

08/03/2015, 11:39 PM	#95
gemini aquarius(t) Always Learning Join Date: Jul 2004 Location: Hollywood, FL Posts: 5,099	Very impressive __________________ -Xavier Blue Thumb Aquatix @BTAquatix

08/07/2015, 11:07 AM	#98
tonyyloww Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2014 Location: MIAMI FL aka Carol City/Opa-laka Posts: 704	Man. That sump looks FAYA.... __________________ REEF like a BO$$.......... FMAS team!!!!

07/25/2015, 11:10 PM	#76
.Renegade Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2013 Posts: 62	i was gonna suggest the islands but your way sounds even better looking forward for the final results

07/26/2015, 08:24 AM	#78
rovster Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: Miramar, FL Posts: 7,518	Very nice. One thing you might want to consider is taking a chop saw to the bases to make sure your bases are stable. If you are going sps dominant don't build structures too tall. Also consider adding some tonga branch to the mix. Most people didn't like it in my tank at first but now that it's all covered in coralline it looks great and makes for interesting forms and keeps things open so the flow just goes through. Check out jacksons tank in the sps forum....looking good, excited to see what you come up with. The above was just suggestions and my opinion of course

07/26/2015, 08:03 PM	#80
.Renegade Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2013 Posts: 62	looks awesome!! are you using pvc or acrylic rods in the middle?

07/28/2015, 11:41 AM	#82
mattr777 Registered Member Join Date: May 2012 Location: Deerfield Beach, Fl Posts: 208	Well I made a mess today. Needed to evenly distribute power since I have two tanks running now. In the process of moving the apex and adding the second (new) tank to it. That way when I break down the old one I can just unplug everything and the new tank is still up and running for the most part. I may be short a few outlets until the old one is broken down but I can deal with that. Good thing my wife is out of town for work. Lol. I need to clean this mess up before she gets home.

07/29/2015, 04:48 AM	#83
mattr777 Registered Member Join Date: May 2012 Location: Deerfield Beach, Fl Posts: 208	Up and running. I made half the water and Tray brought me the other half.

07/29/2015, 04:49 AM	#84
mattr777 Registered Member Join Date: May 2012 Location: Deerfield Beach, Fl Posts: 208	This is not the finished rock work though. Still working on that.

07/29/2015, 02:31 PM	#85
mattr777 Registered Member Join Date: May 2012 Location: Deerfield Beach, Fl Posts: 208	Got some more rock today from Billy's Reef Connection.

07/29/2015, 02:33 PM	#86
mattr777 Registered Member Join Date: May 2012 Location: Deerfield Beach, Fl Posts: 208	Little more work on the control panel too. Still have a few more things to add and wires to cleanup but this gives me the basics to cycle the tank.

07/29/2015, 05:50 PM	#88
mattr777 Registered Member Join Date: May 2012 Location: Deerfield Beach, Fl Posts: 208	Yes I actually sent it to ecotech and had them extend the wires for me. Normally that would be something I would have done myself but just didn't have time. [QUOTE=reeksreef;23902825]I see you have both of your vortech controllers on your panel. Did you do anything to extend the

08/02/2015, 02:48 PM	#90
mattr777 Registered Member Join Date: May 2012 Location: Deerfield Beach, Fl Posts: 208	Rock work is done. I'm not 100% sold on the left side but I have been working and changing the Rock non stop for a week so it will do for now. I have some established Rock I will be probably moving from my other tank later on so I can change it up a bit at that time if I decide too.

08/02/2015, 02:49 PM	#92
mattr777 Registered Member Join Date: May 2012 Location: Deerfield Beach, Fl Posts: 208

08/07/2015, 09:41 PM	#99
.Renegade Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2013 Posts: 62	hey matt are you running a fuge on the main sump or the little one, i am thinking the same sump on a 300 and maybe running a separate fuge to make it bigger