150G Build Thread!!! PIC INTENSE!

SteveNMegz · 02/22/2009, 04:56 PM

So we've finally decided to upgrade our current 65G to a 150G.

We have picked up most all parts used from local reefers.

We've now done some work and are on the way to having it up and running.

We want to get some opinions before filling the tank so if changes are needed it won't be a PITA emptying water out haha.

Thanks!

SteveNMegz · 02/22/2009, 04:57 PM

Heres our stand....

Some red mahongany stain on the oak.

jjmcat · 02/22/2009, 05:01 PM

Nice job on the stand.

SteveNMegz · 02/22/2009, 05:04 PM

Putting the lights together. 2x 250W SE halides, with 2x 48" VHO

Making sure the Hood fits...

SteveNMegz · 02/22/2009, 05:18 PM

excuse the mess haha

jjmcat · 02/22/2009, 05:23 PM

Have you considered drilling holes in the canopy?I have a total of 4 holes in my canopy for heat issues with running halides.Two of the holes are for the fans and the other two are for the heat to exhaust from the canopy.My temp runs around 79 with 3 250 watt halides.

SteveNMegz · 02/22/2009, 06:08 PM

Yup, we are going to be drilling holes.

Our idea for cooling the canopy are to put 3x 120mm fans on the left side, and cut a 10x14" hole on the other side with a powder coated grate (like you would see for your cold air returns inside your home). We're thinking this way it will disperce the light downward, and that side is next to a wall so you won't see much light spill.

Do you think this would work?

SteveNMegz · 02/22/2009, 06:11 PM

Would someone be able to tell me if the VHO are wired correctly?

Back of canopy

I had to extend this line to reach the ends of the VHO endcaps. It was either this or putting the ballast inside the canopy which I did not want to do. Is it ok to extend this?

Full shot of the inside of the canopy

SteveNMegz · 02/22/2009, 06:16 PM

Now the tank/stand are in their final place, with sump below and plumbing mostly hooked up...

Poisedon 3 return pump

SteveNMegz · 02/22/2009, 06:21 PM

As you can see int he pics the drain pipe splits up into a hose that feeds our skimmer and also a smaller line that will feed the fuge.

The sumpe has 3 compartments, one for the skimmer to drain into, then a spot for a deep sand bed and macro, then a return.

the return water section is pretty small, so we will need to setup an auto topoff. there is no ay of running any water lines or even r/o lines to the tank. But we do have an extra 10G tank.

the 2 options we see are to either

1. use the 10G tank as a resevoir with atuo topoff hooked up to a pump (not familiar with auto top offs, so correct me if i'm wrong.)

2. Use the 10G as a fuge, and knock out the baffles in the sump to make a extermely large return area.

suggestions or thoughts???

SteveNMegz · 02/22/2009, 06:22 PM

Just picked up a 100lbs of LR today that we have stored away....

jjmcat · 02/22/2009, 06:25 PM

Ive only used Ice cap ballasts in the past so I am no help on that subject.I would however get some individual reflectors of the halides.Your bulbs will be more efficient if you do.Your plumbing looks great as well.

SteveNMegz · 02/22/2009, 06:26 PM

Also pics of how our skimmer is set up, Octopus recirc 200... fed via the overflow

SteveNMegz · 02/22/2009, 10:53 PM

also looking for some advice on flow/ powerheads.

We plan on stacking the rock in the back right corner and then have a mountain shape on the middle left side. (Dont' know if this helps in making a choice or not?)

Thanks!

02/22/2009, 04:56 PM	#1
SteveNMegz Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: Port Colborne Posts: 1,140	150G Build Thread!!! PIC INTENSE! So we've finally decided to upgrade our current 65G to a 150G. We have picked up most all parts used from local reefers. We've now done some work and are on the way to having it up and running. We want to get some opinions before filling the tank so if changes are needed it won't be a PITA emptying water out haha. Thanks! __________________ Steve and Megz Current Tank Info: 55G Shallow Reef (30x30x14) - Equip: Ecotech Radion XR30 G3 Pro, 2 Tunze 6055, Vertex Omega 130 Skimmer, Ecotech Vectra M1 return, Vertex Rx1.5 Zeovit Reactor

02/22/2009, 04:57 PM	#2
SteveNMegz Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: Port Colborne Posts: 1,140	Heres our stand.... Some red mahongany stain on the oak. __________________ Steve and Megz Current Tank Info: 55G Shallow Reef (30x30x14) - Equip: Ecotech Radion XR30 G3 Pro, 2 Tunze 6055, Vertex Omega 130 Skimmer, Ecotech Vectra M1 return, Vertex Rx1.5 Zeovit Reactor

02/22/2009, 05:01 PM	#3
jjmcat Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Tulsa Posts: 4,249	Nice job on the stand. __________________ Oklahoma Marine and Aquarium Society Support your LFS and your local club. Jarrod Lee Current Tank Info: 110 reef with a 55 gallon sump,3 metal halides

02/22/2009, 05:04 PM	#4
SteveNMegz Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: Port Colborne Posts: 1,140	Putting the lights together. 2x 250W SE halides, with 2x 48" VHO Making sure the Hood fits... __________________ Steve and Megz Current Tank Info: 55G Shallow Reef (30x30x14) - Equip: Ecotech Radion XR30 G3 Pro, 2 Tunze 6055, Vertex Omega 130 Skimmer, Ecotech Vectra M1 return, Vertex Rx1.5 Zeovit Reactor

02/22/2009, 05:18 PM	#5
SteveNMegz Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: Port Colborne Posts: 1,140	excuse the mess haha __________________ Steve and Megz Current Tank Info: 55G Shallow Reef (30x30x14) - Equip: Ecotech Radion XR30 G3 Pro, 2 Tunze 6055, Vertex Omega 130 Skimmer, Ecotech Vectra M1 return, Vertex Rx1.5 Zeovit Reactor

02/22/2009, 05:23 PM	#6
jjmcat Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Tulsa Posts: 4,249	Have you considered drilling holes in the canopy?I have a total of 4 holes in my canopy for heat issues with running halides.Two of the holes are for the fans and the other two are for the heat to exhaust from the canopy.My temp runs around 79 with 3 250 watt halides. __________________ Oklahoma Marine and Aquarium Society Support your LFS and your local club. Jarrod Lee Current Tank Info: 110 reef with a 55 gallon sump,3 metal halides

02/22/2009, 06:08 PM	#7
SteveNMegz Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: Port Colborne Posts: 1,140	Yup, we are going to be drilling holes. Our idea for cooling the canopy are to put 3x 120mm fans on the left side, and cut a 10x14" hole on the other side with a powder coated grate (like you would see for your cold air returns inside your home). We're thinking this way it will disperce the light downward, and that side is next to a wall so you won't see much light spill. Do you think this would work? __________________ Steve and Megz Current Tank Info: 55G Shallow Reef (30x30x14) - Equip: Ecotech Radion XR30 G3 Pro, 2 Tunze 6055, Vertex Omega 130 Skimmer, Ecotech Vectra M1 return, Vertex Rx1.5 Zeovit Reactor

02/22/2009, 06:11 PM	#8
SteveNMegz Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: Port Colborne Posts: 1,140	Would someone be able to tell me if the VHO are wired correctly? Back of canopy I had to extend this line to reach the ends of the VHO endcaps. It was either this or putting the ballast inside the canopy which I did not want to do. Is it ok to extend this? Full shot of the inside of the canopy __________________ Steve and Megz Current Tank Info: 55G Shallow Reef (30x30x14) - Equip: Ecotech Radion XR30 G3 Pro, 2 Tunze 6055, Vertex Omega 130 Skimmer, Ecotech Vectra M1 return, Vertex Rx1.5 Zeovit Reactor

02/22/2009, 06:16 PM	#9
SteveNMegz Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: Port Colborne Posts: 1,140	Now the tank/stand are in their final place, with sump below and plumbing mostly hooked up... Poisedon 3 return pump __________________ Steve and Megz Current Tank Info: 55G Shallow Reef (30x30x14) - Equip: Ecotech Radion XR30 G3 Pro, 2 Tunze 6055, Vertex Omega 130 Skimmer, Ecotech Vectra M1 return, Vertex Rx1.5 Zeovit Reactor

02/22/2009, 06:21 PM	#10
SteveNMegz Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: Port Colborne Posts: 1,140	As you can see int he pics the drain pipe splits up into a hose that feeds our skimmer and also a smaller line that will feed the fuge. The sumpe has 3 compartments, one for the skimmer to drain into, then a spot for a deep sand bed and macro, then a return. the return water section is pretty small, so we will need to setup an auto topoff. there is no ay of running any water lines or even r/o lines to the tank. But we do have an extra 10G tank. the 2 options we see are to either 1. use the 10G tank as a resevoir with atuo topoff hooked up to a pump (not familiar with auto top offs, so correct me if i'm wrong.) 2. Use the 10G as a fuge, and knock out the baffles in the sump to make a extermely large return area. suggestions or thoughts??? __________________ Steve and Megz Current Tank Info: 55G Shallow Reef (30x30x14) - Equip: Ecotech Radion XR30 G3 Pro, 2 Tunze 6055, Vertex Omega 130 Skimmer, Ecotech Vectra M1 return, Vertex Rx1.5 Zeovit Reactor

02/22/2009, 06:22 PM	#11
SteveNMegz Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: Port Colborne Posts: 1,140	Just picked up a 100lbs of LR today that we have stored away.... __________________ Steve and Megz Current Tank Info: 55G Shallow Reef (30x30x14) - Equip: Ecotech Radion XR30 G3 Pro, 2 Tunze 6055, Vertex Omega 130 Skimmer, Ecotech Vectra M1 return, Vertex Rx1.5 Zeovit Reactor

02/22/2009, 06:25 PM	#12
jjmcat Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Tulsa Posts: 4,249	Ive only used Ice cap ballasts in the past so I am no help on that subject.I would however get some individual reflectors of the halides.Your bulbs will be more efficient if you do.Your plumbing looks great as well. __________________ Oklahoma Marine and Aquarium Society Support your LFS and your local club. Jarrod Lee Current Tank Info: 110 reef with a 55 gallon sump,3 metal halides

02/22/2009, 06:26 PM	#13
SteveNMegz Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: Port Colborne Posts: 1,140	Also pics of how our skimmer is set up, Octopus recirc 200... fed via the overflow __________________ Steve and Megz Current Tank Info: 55G Shallow Reef (30x30x14) - Equip: Ecotech Radion XR30 G3 Pro, 2 Tunze 6055, Vertex Omega 130 Skimmer, Ecotech Vectra M1 return, Vertex Rx1.5 Zeovit Reactor

02/22/2009, 10:53 PM	#14
SteveNMegz Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: Port Colborne Posts: 1,140	also looking for some advice on flow/ powerheads. We plan on stacking the rock in the back right corner and then have a mountain shape on the middle left side. (Dont' know if this helps in making a choice or not?) Thanks! __________________ Steve and Megz Current Tank Info: 55G Shallow Reef (30x30x14) - Equip: Ecotech Radion XR30 G3 Pro, 2 Tunze 6055, Vertex Omega 130 Skimmer, Ecotech Vectra M1 return, Vertex Rx1.5 Zeovit Reactor