SLS - HUGE Reef Tank *New Pic's 15/12/09*

[SLS]

Introduction:
Hey Guys,

I have been in this trade as the owner of Slippery Little Suckers for the past 9yrs, previously a hobbyist for 2yrs, and finally, I'm in the process of setting up my personal home tank. I have waited 10yrs to build this system, with many of the system componantry sitting in my second bedroom waiting for this day..

System Objectives: To succeed in a beautiful SPS Reef Tank, full of Colour, health, vitality and long jevity.. I have a passion for Colourful Stoney coral, and have been inspired by the TOTM on Reef Central for the month of Dec 2008, The MASA TOTY, as well as the runner up!!


System Type: As mentioned, mostly SPS, Acro, Monti, etc..

Display System:

Strike up Date: T.B.A

Display Tank: 8Ft x 2.5 x 2.5

Display Lighting: Sfiligoi Infinity 3x400W HQI + 8x39W T5's with 3xACLS HQI Dimming Systems. Currently fitted with 3x400W Sfiligoi SE Bulb's. I may replace the 2 outer bulbs for 250W?

Stand: Dalbarb Black Cabinet, 900mm Tall.

Hood: Dalbarb Hood

Sump: Aqua-Medic Riff 2000 Complete System.

Refugium: T.B.A.

Refugium Lighting: T.B.A.


Support systems:

System Water: Natural salt water or artificial salt water?? See later posts below.. lol

Display Water circulation: Still Looking?? Maybe Tunze, Maybe Rio Seio Pumps??

Return Pump: 2x Aqua-Medic Ocean Runners 3500

Skimmer: Aqua-Medic Turbo Floater 5000 Shorty

Ozone: Aqua-Medic 200 inc Aqua-Medic Air Dryer reactor.

Evaporation Top Up: Aqua-Medic, Part of the Riff 2000 System + Aqua-Medic Premium 150 R/O Unit.

De-Nitrate: Aqua-Medic Nitrate Reductor 1000, Inc SP3000 Dosing Pump, also part of the Riff 2000 System.

Chiller: AquaOne Arctic 1.5HP

Chemical Support:

Calcium Addition: Calcium Reactor 1000 inc SP3000 Dosing Pump. PArt of the Riff 2000 System. 20% of the Hydro Carbonate replaced with Dolomite.

Alkilinity Addition: SeaChem - AquaVitro range, Eight-Four and Balance.

Other Chemical Maintenance: SeaChem Range of Aqua-Vitro suppliments. Inc Ions, Calcification, Vibrance, and Fuel.

Aqua-Medic Phosphate Filter and Carbon Filter.

Controllers / Monitors:
Aqua-Medic AT-Controller System and Data Logging.
Modules:
Level Control
Density
Redox - Mv
pH
Temp
Conductivity
Wave Effect Computer
Automatic Water Changes
Tidal Effect Computer

Current Water Chemistry: Targets..
Nitrates: 0-5
Phosphates: 0
Alkalinity: 2.5-5milliequvilent
Calcium: 380-400
Salinity / Specific Gravity: 32ppt / 1.025
Magnesuim: 1250-1300


Images:

Many more to follow.

I am stuck on the decission of wether to add a UV Steriliser and what brand of chiller to choose?? The pro's and con's of using a UV for micro-organism propergation. I cant decide on choosing a Teco or Aqua-Medic chiller or if there is other recommendations to choose from. (Decission Made, Thankyou!!)

This journal will most likely be long and spread over an extended period of time, as there is no rush with this set-up. Im also contemplating the options of only using frag pc's which have been successfully grown by members who are willing to offer/trade these to me.

I am also endevouring to share my experiences using a closed system, extended water changes and supplimentation. ASW or NSW? Pro's and con's.

I hope this journal is interesting for the members.

Kind regards,
George

[damoztishfank]

That gear is outer control

[Siiri]

Hey George... Great to see you on the Forum

Can't wait to see this build progress !!! I'd also love to be there when you open your first electricity bill with all that lighting



Siiri

[warmunger]

Hey,
When it comes to purchase a chiller; have a look at the Aqua One Arctic 1200. I know off a couple of reefers who also have big tanks and think there great just like me.

Sean

[dougie]

nice gear, hope your tank turns out great

[StripestheEel]

Some nice gear there.

Looking forward to it getting wet.

[SLS]

Hey Guys,

Thankyou for the encouragement and kind words.

Thanks Siiri, Yeah, im kinda expecting a knock on the door, or maybe a battering ram with the drug squad looking for my plant room?? hehe I have the option of replacing the 400W bulbs for 250W bulbs if need be, and using the ACLS controllers allow me to dim the halides to reduce the consumption, but from what i have read and seen, the brighter the light, the better particually for SPS coral. It was also either the ACLS controllers for the movement of light from side to side, over deciding on a rail track with a 1000W pendant to move over the tank replicating the position of the sun over the reef.

Data i have read explain the microeinsteins intensity of lighting in the home aquarium is generally a maxium of 2000microeinsteins with 400W bulbs. Coral will adjust to lower lighting levels, as this level is reached at 8am by the sun and increases ever more. The aim is to use the HQI's in shorter hours to the T5's.

The idea of creating this aquarium has been a dream for some time, i really hope i pull it off. I'd like to believe my 10yrs of marine keeping will pay off with something really special.

The tank is now on the cabinet, the R/O Unit has been plumbed in, experimenting with the AT-Control system on a bench to understand and test the functions, overflow combs glued, now just trying to work out how and where to fit everything in the cabinet.. lol Thankyou to Ronnie, Elan, Eve and Phil for the lift!! My backyard is much happier as are my children to have the extra room to play, and the regrowth of my hair keeping the kids away from the tank...

Thankyou Sean for recommending the AquaOne Arctic Chiller, i'll certainly have a closer look at them. I maybe wrong, but i am quite dissappointed to hear many of the AquaMedic equipment now are made in china.. I only try to purchase AM equipment still made in Germany.

I decided on the AquaMedic AT-Control System over the Aquatronica, as i prefer the presentation of the Interfaces, even though it cost a little bit more, plus the probes are made in Germany.

I will be replaceing one of the return OR3500 Pumps with a OR6500, and try the second OR3500 as a wave effect, and thinking of adding a Eheim Pro3, either the 2078 3e for the surge feature, or the Thermo 2080 for heating??

Still want to hear your thoughts on the UV question - To UV or Not to UV??

More pics to come soon.

Kind regards,
George

[Louie]

Hi George,

can't wait to see your reef.

I used a UV, made no difference in my 3 footer. Good water quality is the key. Keep it as natural as you possibly can.

You can have my UV if you decide on installing one.

Good luck and have fun.

[KirTracid]

for the movement of light from side to side, over deciding on a rail track with a 1000W pendant to move over the tank replicating the position of the sun over the reef.

haha. I thought I was the only one who had this idea. I've had one of those lovely rails for years gathering up dust in my garage. If you do go with that I'd be very interested in your results.

Can't wait to see this one up and running, your equipt is looking verrrrry nice.

[SLS]

Hey Guys,

The plumbing is complete for the sump and R/O unit. AT -Control System is mounted just finishing the layout of the filtration dosing pumps, power boards, ACLS Lighting Controllers, and then we should be done and ready to fill.

I would ordinarily use NSW for the fill, but i think im going to go completely R/O and ASW. Reason for this is to get the balance right from the start, no phosphates or impurities, no bioload of plankton or micro-organisms. This way there should be no sign of cyno algae, or any other problematic issues with using NSW.

Im quite impressed with the controller system. It does everything i want it to do and MORE!!

Cycling will be with the use of a Bio-Starter (Nitrivec) for the first 10days, and then a couple of boxes of live-rock will be added. During the initial cycling, no lights will be used.





Kind regards,
George