New project is underway:180g SPS w/ 150g macro sump

[Viggen]

looks great!

Have you decided which skimmer, pumps, etc you are going to go with?

[aquavista99]

looks great!

Have you decided which skimmer, pumps, etc you are going to go with?

Thanks, Viggen! I finally selected a skimmer, and will be ordering everything this week. I may go with two smaller return pumps instead of one larger one as well. It may cost more but I like the idea better.

[Viggen]

FWIW you have been a slacker!!!  I think the last 3 or 4 times I have been at Joel's shop you haven't been there??  I mean what's up with that  

Anyways, what pumps & skimmer??  or will we all find out when we see pics

I use 1 pump as a return however I almost always have a extra pump laying around somewhere that I can throw in there in case it fails because it does happen

 

[aquavista99]

FWIW you have been a slacker!!!  I think the last 3 or 4 times I have been at Joel's shop you haven't been there??  I mean what's up with that  

Anyways, what pumps & skimmer??  or will we all find out when we see pics

I use 1 pump as a return however I almost always have a extra pump laying around somewhere that I can throw in there in case it fails because it does happen

 

As for the equipment, you will have to wait until I post pictures because nothing is final until the check is in the mail. I stopped by Joel's shop to pick up 120 lbs of sand and a 30g  breeder QT tank
on Wednesday ....where were you? Today, I helped a friend set up a reef aquarium. I change my mind quickly...now leaning towards just one large return pump again for my new system.

[aquavista99]

I now have a sump! I decided to go with a 125 gallon sump instead of a 150 gallon version. I also ordered my new lighting system, return pump and skimmer yesterday. The skimmer will take a few weeks to arrive, maybe longer. I should have the sump up and running when the new return pump arrives.

Here are some updated pictures.....The reef was setup just a few days ago (last Friday).

[micki]

Very cool Tim!  I like how you have the tank aquascaped.  I think reefs look cool with the middle open. 

[Slicktrax]

it looks very nice!

[cbell]

not to down your skills as a photographer but the pictures don't do it justice. I have only seen one other sps tank that can compare.

[aquavista99]

not to down your skills as a photographer but the pictures don't do it justice. I have only seen one other sps tank that can compare.

Thanks again for stopping by last night, Chris. I hope those green birds nest frags work well for you ...they are very hardy and fast growing! I imagine my reef will see dramatic improvements once I hook up my new lighting system and calcium reactor. Right now, I am feeding the system  kalkwasser and turbo calcium.   

Thanks for the compliments, Micki, Slicktrax & Cbell! I really like the open look in the center of the reef as well. It looks better in person.

[micki]

Do you routinely frag the green birdsnest? 

[aquavista99]

Do you routinely frag the green birdsnest? 

Yes, I sold a lot of frags and colonies on Cincyreef over the past few months.. I attached a few pictures of some of the larger colonies I grew from small frags and sold to others in the area.   

[ohioreef]

Looking good!!

[micki]

I would be interested in a frag when you are selling again.

[aquavista99]

I would be interested in a frag when you are selling again.

PM sent

[Joel]

Things are looking great Tim.

Man, that new sump looks awfully familiar 

[aquavista99]

Things are looking great Tim.

Man, that new sump looks awfully familiar 

If you like the sump, you should check out Aquariums Etc. There is a guy who builds them at the shop and he does a pretty good job.....I can't remember his name, but he acts like he owns the place!

[aquavista99]

Update: I have my new lighting system installed....still waiting for Premium Aquatics to drop ship me another ballast though. I installed the new 400 watt Galaxy electronic ballasts with 14 k Hamilton bulbs. I really like the look of the 14k lamps (no supplemental lighting is needed in my opinion).

Here are a few updated pictures of my new lighting system ....still waiting on the return pump (arrives Monday), skimmer, and calcium reactor.

[micki]

Very nice.  I like the hamilton bulbs. 

[aquavista99]

Very nice.  I like the hamilton bulbs. 

Me too.  I think I found the bulb I will be using for a long time. Previously, I was running Ushio 10k lamps w/ supp. lighting. I had my canopy designed with a removable center top to allow me to run an open lighting system with lots of ventilation w/out the need of adding aquarium fans or a chiller. I still need to install another reflector and ballast, but here is a look from the top......love the design of the canopy.

 

[micki]

Cool!  I used XM bulbs which I thought I liked. Travis finally convinced me to try the hamiltons.  My corals started changing color immediately with the hamiltons!   

[slandis3]

I am really impressed with my blue line 14k. Theirs just enough blue theirs no need for atnics IMO. when we make our final decision on our new tank i will run the same bulbs

[aquavista99]

*****Updates******

I hope to finish the sump project this weekend. I also just received another 400 watt ballast for the display aquarium. My display has been running on two 400 watt MH lamps since last week. I hope to add the third 400 watt MH lamp this weekend as well.
 
The skimmer is being built right now (2-4 weeks for delivery???). I will be picking up the calcium reactor next weekend.

I think I am on week three without a skimmer and sump, and my fish and corals are doing great. Here are some updated pictures taken just a few minutes ago of my unfinished reef and sump project....More updates to follow....

[bigfalcon36]

I love the 180...looks great!  Can you give the specs on your sump, return pump, tunze set-up, heaters, and what you plan on doing with the different chambers of your sump.  Looks great though!

[aquavista99]

I love the 180...looks great!  Can you give the specs on your sump, return pump, tunze set-up, heaters, and what you plan on doing with the different chambers of your sump.  Looks great though!

Thanks, Travis! I have been working on this project since late December and can't wait until I am finally finished.  As for the specs... I am running two tunze 6100s (3,200 gph X2 )on a single controller plus another two tunze 6060s (1,600 gph X2). The return pump is an Iwaki MD RLT 55 (Japanese model...additional 1,000 + gph) . The sump is 125 gallons and will be used as a macro algae scrubber w/ cheato and mangroves. Will be using either one  175 watt or 250 watt MH  for the sump as well with a lumenarc III reflector.  I also added the new hydor theo heaters as well (two total at 400 watts x 2). The heaters will be moved to either the overflows or sump soon.

I am also building a 30 g QT system for newly added corals.

[bigfalcon36]

So you're going to use a slow flow sump, which is a great idea.  I am still trying to determine which return pump to get...I like both the Iwaki series and the Eheim 1262.  I am also wanting to get some more info/feedback on the Tunze stuff.  Since I am going with a 4' tank, I was wondering if 2x6100 would be too much for it or if 2x6000 would be enough?  Your thoughts would be nice...