Adamc1303's 250 Gallon Reef Tank Build

[Exotic Reefs of NJ]

What type of oscillating units (wave units) on the returns on the back of the tank do you have in the pictures ? Are they vertex units and if so what type ???

 

[Adamc1303]

They are the vertex moceans units.

 

[Adamc1303]

I got the lights temporarily up. I used ATI fiji purple plus for actinics and they aren't as blue as I thought they would be. I don't have the adapter cords for my ice cap ballasts yet so I only have one metal halide on. I had 3 ice caps but this fixture has 4 MH so I got one Aqua Medic ballast which I find a bit loud. Check out the pics.

 

[Adamc1303]

The system is almost 100% complete and I have begun testing throughout the cycle. As far as the setup goes I am pretty happy with how it turned out for the most part and how it's running. I still need to get my canopy and wood stand built for the tank. I also need to get the calcium reactor running and I am waiting for a solenoid and some RODI "Y" fittings to come in so I can get my water change making setup complete. Once I have a second solenoid and 2 Y's I would like to set up the rodi to feed my auto top off tank like it has been using a Buckeye High Low switch with a pressure float switch as a fail safe and at the same time be able to make water controlled by a timer or float switch as well.

Because of my ankle injury and not being able to move much I didn't do any of the plumbing on my manifold or any of the reactors that run on it. It was all done by an old friend who used to be a vendor here. Most old timers remember Leo from NACLH20! Leo did a great job with the plumbing and allot of other things to get the system up to his standards. Most of it is being fed with RO push fittings and valves to make adjustment and maintance very simple. Everything is unioned and easy to remove and swap out of needed and also setup on my controller. Here are the pictures.

 

[jackson6745]

Adam that came out awesome! Everything looks right. Just don't fill the tank up with a bunch of kenya trees and mushrooms!!! LOL

 

[Adamc1303]

Adam that came out awesome! Everything looks right. Just don't fill the tank up with a bunch of kenya trees and mushrooms!!! LOL

Thanks Rich! This tank wasn't designed to hold animals of that sort. Maybe some nice mushrooms though. You can't hate on nice shrooms.

 

[bruce922]

That is an awesome setup, I really like the fish tank room!

 

[Adamc1303]

Thanks! Still working things out before it's ready for sps. I have a micro bubble issue which may cause me to tear down and redo the return plumbing. I also swapped out my media reactors, I need to add another EB8 to my apex controller and I ordered an octopus neck cleaner, neck extension and skimmate locker. The Avast locker I have is too small for this skimmer so I figured I would try an octopus one even though I know Avast makes larger units. The micro bubble thing is really annoying!!!!!!

 

[Brando457]

That is awesome! I love how he did the reactors and everything. I am a bit jealous

 

[marklugo23]

more pics please

 

[SethKim]

Adam beautiful setup!
Very methodically planned and well executed!
Cigarretts in the sink!!! I love it~ i never met you, but I like you already!

Good luck~

 

[ClownAquatics]

A smoke a day keeps the algae away? lol coming along nicely

 

[Adamc1303]

Thanks for the kind words guys. I have been slowly adding fish to the tank. I also added a few corals today. My parameters are where they need to be for now. I ordered a bunch of more toys that should arrive this week. I got a few skimmer accessories (neck extension, neck cleaner skimmate locker). I also ordered the Genesis Reef System Renew advanced. I need to do a water change and I can't do it with a fractured ankle so this was the perfect excuse! I also have another Tunze power head coming and a clean up army not crew! I'll update more next week once I get all the new stuff setup.

 

[Adamc1303]

I hooked up the Genesis tonight. It took about 15 minutes. I had water prepared already so I let her rip. This thing is awesome! Anyone that's thinking of getting one definitely should. It really works flawlessly. I did a 30 gallon water change and watched it the entire time. I also want to get the auto top off they make now. If you use the one they make it connects to the renew system which will disable top off during water changes. I am sure I can manipulate my osmolator (which I have always used and really like) with the APEX to do the same but I am so impressed with this company right now and the quality of the product that I gotta try the Storm auto top off.

What I would like to have it do is perform a 3 gallon per day water change for 30 days which would give me 25% monthly. I have seen allot of tanks that used liter meters and other systems where they were always changing a little water every day and the tanks looked very good. I guess besides not stressing the animals with typical one shot water changes (not that I think it's major stress is performed and prepared the right way) it will also replenish trace elements in the water. I think this may be a crucial part of my filtration. I may go on for 2 weeks and off for 2 weeks too. I'll experiment and see what produces the best results.

 

[Hans24hrs]

Sump build

I have never used him but my buddy told me about melev's reef. Or at least that is how I think you spell it. I looked him up on google a while back and he had really nice stuff.

Does anyone know of a good acrylic builder? I need to get the sump built.

 

[Hans24hrs]

+1 to hat zingy said. The corner post should not be touching the bottom of you tank. It is like a wall, the studs always have a top plate to disperse the weight along the length of the span. You want the horizontal 2x?(what ever size you decide 2x4, 2x6,ect...) to be on top of the posts, with front and side rails being supported by the posts. This will evenly distribute the weight. Also with that size tank I would recommend at least a 2x6 rail and either 4x4 or 2x4 (L shaped) posts. Also a sheet of marine plywood across the top will help make sure the top is completely level so no corner has more stress points then the others.

Good luck with the set up, I can't wait to see final project. That is a beautiful tank even when empty.

 

[Adamc1303]

Here's an update. Sorry for the cell phone pics...

 

[Adamc1303]

I made an impulse buy today that I am beginning to worry about. I've seen many reef tanks with anemone's before and I came across a really nice one and got it. It's a long tentacle purple anemone. I am trying to get it to stay and it isn't really behaving. I first tried getting it to stick to a rock but I read that long tentacle anemone like the sand bed. It now (as of 5 min ago) moved on the sand bed right between a rock and the glass. I am OK with it staying there. I just read different things online where people have had great success and others say never to keep them in a reef tank period. I am worried it will wonder into a power head. If it does do that will it wipe out my entire tank? Am I just over reacting? Should I keep it or put it up for sale? It's a gorgeous anemone. I would love for this to work out.


Thanks,

Adam

 

[jackson6745]

Adam if it gets to your powerhead it will foul your tank horribly and probably kill everything unless you're there to correct it fast. I was at James place a few weeks ago when his was chopped up. He performed as close to 100% wc as possible to save his stuff. He was lucky because he was home to catch it happen.
BUT....... If it stays put somewhere it will look beautiful



How are the SPS responding so far?

 

[Adamc1303]

I don't like the sound of that because it's the type of thing I always be worried about. From my understanding they randomly move. I just checked it now and it seems to have found a spot away from everything. Right behind the rocks! I'm alright with that for now because it isn't in a power head. I'm sure it will be on the move when the lights come on.