My 46gal Bowfront

tazzmanian123 · 06/26/2007, 09:59 AM

Hello fellow reefers. Been a long time coming, & wife finally said set up tank or get rid of it. So

<<<<<<<< Been reading & reading & more reading for a long time, hehe.

Since my tank has been sitting in my living room for many, many years waiting to go, I found out that alot of the equiptment I had that was good when I bought them, are not the case nowadays.

So, I started a new money tank/pit of love somewhat. Need to know what you all think, & where I might need some improvements.

1) 46gal bowfront not drilled, & stand.
2) 192w pc w/atinic & 10k
3) Standpipe modified CPR CS50 overflow w/2 aqualifters-(case 1 gets plugged)
4) 24x10x17 pro refugium w/skimmer, pc light, & using Mag 7 as system pump.
5) 1/5hp chiller plumbed inline from return.
6) Custom made ATO. (This is gonna be remade with 1/4 acrylic, because I can't seem to get this current one to stop leaking).
7) 2 x Koralia 2's
8) Around 60lbs. of Carrib. live sand & 50lbs. of Fiji live rock otw. + 5-10lbs. dead live rock from my 1st attempt years ago.
9) Coralife digital power center, & normal power strip. Both plugged into new GFCI I installed
10) Lots of misc stuff & a lots of books.

Pix below of setup, & why its been semi monster proofed.
Open for advice.

http://s200.photobucket.com/albums/aa187/Tazzmanian123/

WaterKeeper · 06/26/2007, 10:38 AM

Hi Tazz

To Reef Central

For a 46 that is a good setup. I think you actually read all those books as I really think you are in good shape to get things going. It is always nice to see someone who does the research before setting things up.

sage_commander · 06/26/2007, 10:41 AM

I like it. Being in LV I don't blame you for getting the chiller. I have a clip on fan mounted above my sump and it's connected to an Omega controller along with my heater. For an el-cheapo setup it works great.

I like your stand too. Is that an open top? Seems like the lights are kinda close to the water otherwise.

Good luck to you. It's been lots of fun for me so far.

tazzmanian123 · 06/26/2007, 11:20 AM

Prob. going to convert to 6bulb T5 fixture sooner than later, but for the moment, this pc is new & never used. Tank has glass top, would love to open it up, but with 3 cats, & 1 of em being a poka dotted monster, cant have open top.

Even had to make housing for tubing coming on/off ato aqualifter pump, because a certain rusty kitty thinks its fun to chew on.

I hope the 1/5 chiller will be big enough for this setup. 200w heater plugged into chiller as well. After alot of research, it seems everyone has a reef tank set up with different water temp's.
So, I just assume an average temp of 79f should be good. What you all think?

sage_commander · 06/26/2007, 11:39 AM

Mine stays at about 79 too. I don't have any fish yet, but the corals and cleanup crew seem OK with it.

You're going to love a 6 bulb T5. Mine only has four with a single reflector and it's BRIGHT. You may end up with additional heat issues with that though. Does your house have AC?

tazzmanian123 · 06/26/2007, 01:34 PM

HeHe, Cant live in the desert without it. Only getting to 108F today.

sage_commander · 06/26/2007, 03:23 PM

You know, as soon as I hit "submit reply" I knew that was a dumb question.

That chiller ought to do the trick. Have fun!

kuoka · 06/26/2007, 04:27 PM

Great job! Are you going to consider MH for the money tank in the future? With a chiller, you don't have to worry about water temps getting too high.

tazzmanian123 · 06/26/2007, 04:34 PM

Have not considered HM because of cost versus pc, or T5's. When my pc need to be replaced in 6 or so months, gonna switch over to this http://www.aquariumspecialty.com/cat...1b4398f59e19e.

kuoka · 06/26/2007, 04:37 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by tazzmanian123
Have not considered HM because of cost versus pc, or T5's. When my pc need to be replaced in 6 or so months, gonna switch over to this http://www.aquariumspecialty.com/cat...1b4398f59e19e.

Very nice! They look like they'll emit a lot of light.

mg426 · 06/26/2007, 05:37 PM

Looks like an AOK set up.

tazzmanian123 · 07/16/2007, 02:23 PM

Been taking my time with this tank. Always reading all the great info here on RC. Did some more mods, and got live rock in tank.
Have another 20lbs of Tonga/marshal on order.

I read alot on diy forum, cause I enjoy making things better on the cheap. Case in point. I was using a glass top on aquarium, & can't find a cheap bowfront lid. I have 3 cats, so an open top is out of the question until now. Guess you could consider it semi open now. Eggcrate ftw.

Also thanks to diy. I made a spraybar for directional return flow.

Switched salt brands from coralife to tropic marin. Was having serious precipitation from coralife, even with r/o-di water. Will see how Tropic Marin does.

Original return from sump/fuge had no siphon break. Fixed with check valve & drilled hole 1" below waterline on spraybar return.
Also added a shutoff valve.

The skimmer that came with my Refugium is a cheap korean brand Finnex ps-1011 and already rma the pump because its dead. Had a rio 800 collecting dust in garage, so hooked up for temporary & seems to be barely adequate. 1st day, 1/4" very dark, nasty smelling goop in cup. 2nd day, another 1/4" half as dark goop in cup. I took notice that although skimmer is working, the chamber is not milky white with bubbles. So, after some more serious reading on RC, saw the mesh mod on needle wheel impeller. Have a genx 1000 needle wheel on order, will mesh mod it, & hope it helps skimmer out considerablly.

Should have scrubbed rocks way better than I did when they arrived, but I figured its a new tank, & its gonna take time to cycle anyways.

The water has been brown for a week & a half now cause of rocks. Not real bad, but still brown.

Bought an odyssea canister filter, & extra activated carbon to see if that clears up water. Need opinions on that.

Also modded the intake going into sump. Instead of saw cut slits in pipe, changed to a plastic intake strainer, & also ordered some filter socks.

Water tests:
1) ph-8.2
2) am-0.25
3) no2-0.50
4) no3-10
5) sg-1.025

,

Pixs below. What you all think?

06/26/2007, 09:59 AM	#1
tazzmanian123 Premium Member Join Date: Nov 2001 Location: Las Vegas, NV. Posts: 94	My 46gal Bowfront Hello fellow reefers. Been a long time coming, & wife finally said set up tank or get rid of it. So <<<<<<<< Been reading & reading & more reading for a long time, hehe. Since my tank has been sitting in my living room for many, many years waiting to go, I found out that alot of the equiptment I had that was good when I bought them, are not the case nowadays. So, I started a new money tank/pit of love somewhat. Need to know what you all think, & where I might need some improvements. 1) 46gal bowfront not drilled, & stand. 2) 192w pc w/atinic & 10k 3) Standpipe modified CPR CS50 overflow w/2 aqualifters-(case 1 gets plugged) 4) 24x10x17 pro refugium w/skimmer, pc light, & using Mag 7 as system pump. 5) 1/5hp chiller plumbed inline from return. 6) Custom made ATO. (This is gonna be remade with 1/4 acrylic, because I can't seem to get this current one to stop leaking). 7) 2 x Koralia 2's 8) Around 60lbs. of Carrib. live sand & 50lbs. of Fiji live rock otw. + 5-10lbs. dead live rock from my 1st attempt years ago. 9) Coralife digital power center, & normal power strip. Both plugged into new GFCI I installed 10) Lots of misc stuff & a lots of books. Pix below of setup, & why its been semi monster proofed. Open for advice. http://s200.photobucket.com/albums/aa187/Tazzmanian123/

06/26/2007, 10:38 AM	#2
WaterKeeper Bogus Information Expert Join Date: Oct 2000 Location: SW Ohio Posts: 16,147	Hi Tazz *To Reef Central* For a 46 that is a good setup. I think you actually read all those books as I really think you are in good shape to get things going. It is always nice to see someone who does the research before setting things up. __________________ "Leading the information hungry reefer down the road to starvation" Tom Current Tank Info: 130 Now out of service and a 29

06/26/2007, 04:27 PM	#8
kuoka Premium Member Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: NorCal Cali Posts: 713	Great job! Are you going to consider MH for the money tank in the future? With a chiller, you don't have to worry about water temps getting too high. __________________ They say don't talk about someone unless you've walked a mile in their shoes.. But if you do, at least you'll be ahead of them AND have their shoes! :) Current Tank Info: 72gal glass bow front reef, mostly LPS with some SPS, tangs, anthias, blenny, paired percula clowns, gold headed sleeper goby, red fairy wrasse

06/26/2007, 05:37 PM	#11
mg426 Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: maryland Posts: 6,923	Looks like an AOK set up. __________________ I found a way to make a small fortune running a reef tank. Start with a large fortune. Unofficial President of the SEACLONE haters club Current Tank Info: 125 mixed reef 110 lbs LR, 1x250watt XM 20K MH 2x175watt XM 20K MH on Magetics 2X96 watt actinic PC, 220 watt VHO actinic, 30 gallon refugium, closed loop system powered by Sequence Dart MSX 200 skimmer 38 gallon sump, Oceansmotions squirt

07/16/2007, 02:23 PM	#12
tazzmanian123 Premium Member Join Date: Nov 2001 Location: Las Vegas, NV. Posts: 94	Update on Tank Been taking my time with this tank. Always reading all the great info here on RC. Did some more mods, and got live rock in tank. Have another 20lbs of Tonga/marshal on order. I read alot on diy forum, cause I enjoy making things better on the cheap. Case in point. I was using a glass top on aquarium, & can't find a cheap bowfront lid. I have 3 cats, so an open top is out of the question until now. Guess you could consider it semi open now. Eggcrate ftw. Also thanks to diy. I made a spraybar for directional return flow. Switched salt brands from coralife to tropic marin. Was having serious precipitation from coralife, even with r/o-di water. Will see how Tropic Marin does. Original return from sump/fuge had no siphon break. Fixed with check valve & drilled hole 1" below waterline on spraybar return. Also added a shutoff valve. The skimmer that came with my Refugium is a cheap korean brand Finnex ps-1011 and already rma the pump because its dead. Had a rio 800 collecting dust in garage, so hooked up for temporary & seems to be barely adequate. 1st day, 1/4" very dark, nasty smelling goop in cup. 2nd day, another 1/4" half as dark goop in cup. I took notice that although skimmer is working, the chamber is not milky white with bubbles. So, after some more serious reading on RC, saw the mesh mod on needle wheel impeller. Have a genx 1000 needle wheel on order, will mesh mod it, & hope it helps skimmer out considerablly. Should have scrubbed rocks way better than I did when they arrived, but I figured its a new tank, & its gonna take time to cycle anyways. The water has been brown for a week & a half now cause of rocks. Not real bad, but still brown. Bought an odyssea canister filter, & extra activated carbon to see if that clears up water. Need opinions on that. Also modded the intake going into sump. Instead of saw cut slits in pipe, changed to a plastic intake strainer, & also ordered some filter socks. Water tests: 1) ph-8.2 2) am-0.25 3) no2-0.50 4) no3-10 5) sg-1.025 , Pixs below. What you all think?

06/26/2007, 10:41 AM	#3
sage_commander Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Poulsbo WA Posts: 646	I like it. Being in LV I don't blame you for getting the chiller. I have a clip on fan mounted above my sump and it's connected to an Omega controller along with my heater. For an el-cheapo setup it works great. I like your stand too. Is that an open top? Seems like the lights are kinda close to the water otherwise. Good luck to you. It's been lots of fun for me so far.

06/26/2007, 11:20 AM	#4
tazzmanian123 Premium Member Join Date: Nov 2001 Location: Las Vegas, NV. Posts: 94	Prob. going to convert to 6bulb T5 fixture sooner than later, but for the moment, this pc is new & never used. Tank has glass top, would love to open it up, but with 3 cats, & 1 of em being a poka dotted monster, cant have open top. Even had to make housing for tubing coming on/off ato aqualifter pump, because a certain rusty kitty thinks its fun to chew on. I hope the 1/5 chiller will be big enough for this setup. 200w heater plugged into chiller as well. After alot of research, it seems everyone has a reef tank set up with different water temp's. So, I just assume an average temp of 79f should be good. What you all think?

06/26/2007, 11:39 AM	#5
sage_commander Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Poulsbo WA Posts: 646	Mine stays at about 79 too. I don't have any fish yet, but the corals and cleanup crew seem OK with it. You're going to love a 6 bulb T5. Mine only has four with a single reflector and it's BRIGHT. You may end up with additional heat issues with that though. Does your house have AC?

06/26/2007, 01:34 PM	#6
tazzmanian123 Premium Member Join Date: Nov 2001 Location: Las Vegas, NV. Posts: 94	HeHe, Cant live in the desert without it. Only getting to 108F today.

06/26/2007, 03:23 PM	#7
sage_commander Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Poulsbo WA Posts: 646	You know, as soon as I hit "submit reply" I knew that was a dumb question. That chiller ought to do the trick. Have fun!

06/26/2007, 04:34 PM	#9
tazzmanian123 Premium Member Join Date: Nov 2001 Location: Las Vegas, NV. Posts: 94	Have not considered HM because of cost versus pc, or T5's. When my pc need to be replaced in 6 or so months, gonna switch over to this http://www.aquariumspecialty.com/cat...1b4398f59e19e.