Hi!
I'm Ken & that's Jen, & we have a reefing addiction
System Objectives:
To build a self contained marine Eco system capable of supporting Moo (our Magpie Sweetlips) long term
Room to expand our growing Chalice collection along with SPS & other corals
System Type:
Chalice / SPS mixed reef
Display System:
Strike up Date:
Hopefully wet in August 2015
Display Tank:
12 x 4 x 2.5 - 15mm glass (3660 x 1220 x 760)
Display Lighting:
As yet undecided
Stand:
75mm x 75mm x 5mm SHS, finished in dark blue Speedliner Topcoat 6
Hood:
Built in continuation of surrounding ceiling
Sump:
9 x 3 x 16" - 12mm glass (2700 x 1000 x 415)
Refugium:
None
Support systems:
System Water:
Natural salt water
Display Water circulation:
Maxspect Gyre 's
Return Pump:
2x Royal Exclusiv Red Dragon 3 Speedy 65w
Skimmer:
Royal Exclusiv Bubble King DeLuxe 500 internal
Evaporation Top Up:
AutoAqua Smart ATO
Controllers:
Undecided
Chemical Support:
Calcium Addition:
Randy's
Alkalinity Addition:
Randy's
Other Chemical Maintenance:
Custom made Sulphur reactor
Custom made Hydro-carbonate / Dolomite reactor
Custom Phosphate reactor
Start here!:
Here we go again. Don't you hate it when you finally have your tank set up, running well, everything is happy, then you decide to upgrade.
This will be our last upgrade & if Moo out grows this then it's lightly floured, a bit of lemon juice then pan fried!
As we won't be doing this again, we are trying to do this right the first time. The 10ft has been a huge learning curve, what we have learnt from running that for 4 years, along with info from other reefers will be transferred into the new tank. We have been collecting bits & pieces for the last couple of months, some of it is here, some we are waiting for & some we know where to get when we need it. This build will be using equipment that we feel will not need replacing in a hurry, once I have installed any item, I do not want to be going back next year & buying a replacement.
The stand, bigger then what I thought it would be! In fact, it's bloody big. Turned up at work on a car trailer & I thought to meself, Hmm, that's big!
That was back on 27th Feb. Each 3ft bay has been engineered to comfortably hold 1.5 tonne. Getting it from work to the painters, back to work & then home was an interesting exercise lol. The tank maybe 12ft, but the cabinet is 14ft long, weight wise it is around the 500Kg mark.
Cabinet will be lined with acrylic & silicone sealed to keep any spills & splashes away from the MDF sheets. The floor will have 18mm MDF covered with 6mm white acrylic, back wall will have 16mm MDF & covered with white 4.5mm acrylic & the roof will have 9mm MDF covered with 4.5mm white acrylic. 9ft will be for sump, 3ft will house all dosing & reactor equipment, the last 2ft will be sealed off for all electrical tank equipment. All lining has been finished on the floor & back wall but I haven't uploaded any pics yet. I cant finish the roof until the cabinet is in it's final resting place as I need to lift from the top frame.
We will be using 3x Red Dragon 3 speedy 65w pumps in this build. 2 will be for the return, 1 will be used to supply the reactors & anything else that may need a pump. These turned up at work a few weeks ago
John Guest 1/2" tube & fitting's will be used on all reactors.
The sump will be pretty basic, inlet, through to frag section, forward onto skimmer section, then in a holding area, back to the DT. The holding are will be used to hold any corals we buy until water change time, as that's the only time I will be able to place things in the DT lol. ATO holding will be built in to the rear of the sump. Sump will be ordered this week hopefully.
So that's about it so far! A few more bits turning up next week, few more bits to order next week lol.
We are open for any ideas you may have, bits you think we might have missed, a better way to do something or any feed back you have to offer.
Thanks for reading...
Ken & Jen
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Amazing potential for a tank this size!!!