Author Topic: My 300 gallon starphire SPS tank w/125 gallon macro/mangrove refugium (Read 26464 times)

aquavista99 · « **Reply #50 on:** February 16, 2009, 22:38:54 »

Dirty skimmer pics. Looks like Guinness to me

JSLeedy · « **Reply #51 on:** February 16, 2009, 22:48:11 »

Mmmmmmmmmmmmm Guinness.

aquavista99 · « **Reply #52 on:** February 16, 2009, 22:54:43 »

I spent the entire weekend working on the plumbing for the new system. I used a total of 11 unions and 2 ball valves. My skimmer and calcium reactor will be located directly behind the 125 gallon macro/mangrove sump so the unions were installed to allow access to equipment for scheduled system maintenance.

aquavista99 · « **Reply #53 on:** February 16, 2009, 23:04:09 »

A few more pics from the weekend

aquavista99 · « **Reply #54 on:** February 16, 2009, 23:44:44 »

Quote from: JSLeedy on February 16, 2009, 22:48:11

Mmmmmmmmmmmmm Guinness.

It was a fine day for a Guinness after the plumbing project was finished.

bigfalcon36 · « **Reply #55 on:** February 17, 2009, 00:10:27 »

Nice job on the plumbing...are you making the drive to KC to help me with mine?

When are you set for Aquascaping and adding h2o?

aquavista99 · « **Reply #56 on:** February 17, 2009, 00:46:32 »

Quote from: bigfalcon36 on February 17, 2009, 00:10:27

Nice job on the plumbing...are you making the drive to KC to help me with mine?

When are you set for Aquascaping and adding h2o?

I would be up for a roadtrip to KC to help you plumb your tank! I plan to make 400 + gallons of new saltwater this week to test for leaks, etc.

bigfalcon36 · « **Reply #57 on:** February 17, 2009, 11:11:44 »

Sweet!

I haven't asked, but are you going to use sand on the bottom or bare bottom? with that skimmer and the flow your vortech's creates you have an ideal set-up for it. You could also by an Aquacontroller 3 with the Aquasurf addition and turn those Vortech's into wave making machines working together.

I dont know if you've played with the AC3, but it's a bad mother...the aquasurf option makes it sick too now that some one came out with the Vortech option.

One last thing, how much space does the skimmer take up with the three pumps?

aquavista99 · « **Reply #58 on:** February 17, 2009, 11:14:52 »

I think I am going to modify one of the overflows before testing for leaks. One overflow drain slopes several inches, then goes horizontal, then slopes again into the sump. I think I am going to modify the other overflow to allow it to slope another inch or so (to help prevent back pressure). Ideally, if I had the extra space, I would want a uniform slope of at least 1/4" per foot toward into the sump.

bigfalcon36 · « **Reply #59 on:** February 17, 2009, 11:22:05 »

Will one of the overflows be hard plumbed to the skimmer, or will you have a feed pump?

aquavista99 · « **Reply #60 on:** February 17, 2009, 11:24:43 »

Quote from: bigfalcon36 on February 17, 2009, 11:11:44

Sweet!

I haven't asked, but are you going to use sand on the bottom or bare bottom? with that skimmer and the flow your vortech's creates you have an ideal set-up for it. You could also by an Aquacontroller 3 with the Aquasurf addition and turn those Vortech's into wave making machines working together.

I dont know if you've played with the AC3, but it's a bad mother...the aquasurf option makes it sick too now that some one came out with the Vortech option.

I am going with a very, very shallow sand bed mixed with dead coral fragments. I haven't considered adding an Aquacontroller 3 to my system since each Vortech pump comes with a wireless wave driver. Per EcoTech Marine, "The EcoTech Wirelessly communicating Wave Driver will allow your MP40w pump to wirelessly broadcast to other MP40w pumps." Will you be running an AC3 with your Tunzes, Travis? The aquasurf option sounds really nice!

aquavista99 · « **Reply #61 on:** February 17, 2009, 11:26:10 »

Quote from: bigfalcon36 on February 17, 2009, 11:22:05

Will one of the overflows be hard plumbed to the skimmer, or will you have a feed pump?

I will have a Mag 7 feed the skimmer from the sump.

bigfalcon36 · « **Reply #62 on:** February 17, 2009, 11:40:04 »

Quote from: aquavista99 on February 17, 2009, 11:24:43

I am going with a very, very shallow sand bed mixed with dead coral fragments. I haven't considered adding an Aquacontroller 3 to my system since each Vortech pump comes with a wireless wave driver. Per EcoTech Marine, "The EcoTech Wirelessly communicating Wave Driver will allow your MP40w pump to wirelessly broadcast to other MP40w pumps." Will you be running an AC3 with your Tunzes, Travis? The aquasurf option sounds really nice!

Thinking about it...I have the options picked out that I want, but I just have to decide to spend the money. My thing is that I want my parameters to remain constant and I to be able to monitor stuff without having to own a share in Salifert. If I do the AC3, then I am going to rig it out.

Quote from: aquavista99 on February 17, 2009, 11:26:10

I will have a Mag 7 feed the skimmer from the sump.

Is it more wise to use a feed pump vs. gravity feed? I have never used an external skimmer before and I am just wanting to weigh options before this thing arrives.

bigfalcon36 · « **Reply #63 on:** February 19, 2009, 20:34:12 »

This thread sucks without the debate...

Had to say it.

aquavista99 · « **Reply #64 on:** February 19, 2009, 20:43:27 »

Quote from: bigfalcon36 on February 19, 2009, 20:34:12

This thread sucks without the debate... Had to say it.

On a serious note, there is no debate when it comes to running an oversized Deltec skimmer on your new reef aquarium. You will obtain fantastic results with or without direct feeding your skimmer.

JSLeedy · « **Reply #65 on:** February 19, 2009, 20:47:02 »

But if you direct feed it you will ......

. Seriously you will get great results no matter what you do. Lets get some new pics then we can get off the skimmer talk. You can high jack my build thread any time you want as pay back.

aquavista99 · « **Reply #66 on:** February 19, 2009, 22:14:27 »

Quote from: JSLeedy on February 19, 2009, 20:47:02

But if you direct feed it you will ...... . Seriously you will get great results no matter what you do. Lets get some new pics then we can get off the skimmer talk. You can high jack my build thread any time you want as pay back.

Not much to update at this time. I am in the process of making a lot of new saltwater. I hope to start moving the live rock and corals from the Rubbermaid tub to the new tank this weekend.

jungliztkruger · « **Reply #67 on:** February 19, 2009, 22:30:42 »

very nice

slandis3 · « **Reply #68 on:** February 19, 2009, 22:36:40 »

i think your a few gallons short.

aquavista99 · « **Reply #69 on:** February 19, 2009, 22:42:38 »

Quote from: slandis3 on February 19, 2009, 22:36:40

i think your a few gallons short.

I was going with the shallow SPS reef look but it did not work out so well.

aquavista99 · « **Reply #70 on:** February 19, 2009, 23:46:21 »

Quote from: jungliztkruger on February 19, 2009, 22:30:42

very nice

Thanks for the compliment, jungliztkruger!

aquavista99 · « **Reply #71 on:** February 22, 2009, 01:52:25 »

The new system is up and running with no leaks. I plan to work on the live rock layout tomorrow, then add the corals and fish during the week.

JSLeedy · « **Reply #72 on:** February 22, 2009, 01:54:24 »

You have the skimmer running?

Sorry man, I had to do it.

aquavista99 · « **Reply #73 on:** February 23, 2009, 11:02:37 »

The main system is skimmerless, but it is connected to a 125 gallon macro algae sump. The skimmer is still hooked up the the 300 gallon Rubbermaid tub until the end of the week.

aquavista99 · « **Reply #74 on:** February 28, 2009, 01:53:04 »

Quote from: JSLeedy on February 22, 2009, 01:54:24

You have the skimmer running? Sorry man, I had to do it.

If my skimmer's collection cup did not look like this every week I would seriously consider trying a different method to feed my skimmer. I am still skimmerless on my new display tank though. The live rock display on my new tank required over 40 sticks of Aquamend epoxy and super glue gel to keep the rock structure and corals attached. I had to make numerous trips to the Home Depot. I could not find Aquamend in stock in the Dayton area but purchased every stick Home Depot had in stock from the Northern Cincinnati locations (Liberty Township, Tylersville and Forest Park).

FYI- if you add alot of epoxy to your system at the same time, it will make your skimmer go crazy (overflow) ...hence the reason why I am still skimmerless on the new system

2024 Ohio Reef Frag Swap

Author Topic: My 300 gallon starphire SPS tank w/125 gallon macro/mangrove refugium (Read 26464 times)

bigfalcon36

bigfalcon36

bigfalcon36

bigfalcon36

bigfalcon36

slandis3