Calcium Reactor

I am going to run a calcium reactor again on this new tank. After some consideration, I have decided to do alot of SPS again. I know from my past experiences, that my SPS grew much better when I ran the Ca reactor, as it kept my Ca and Alk much more stable. On my previous tank, I had an Aquatic Systems Design reactor, but had sold it with my tank last time. Fortunatelty, one of my friends just happend to now be selling his reactor since he is switching to a fish only tank. I got his reactor, which was good for me since it is an Aquatic Systems Design as well, and I am very familiar on how it works. I will be running it on a 5 lb. CO2 tank with a Milwaukee regulator on it. I tend to run my Ca reactor between 6.6 and 6.8 pH. I like a drip rate of about 1 bubble count per second to a ratio of 3-4 drips per second into my sump from the effluent line. The pH probe is a lab grade Sybon that will be in the Ca reactor, and run from my ReefKeeper Lite Plus.

Return Pump

For my internal return pump, I am going to be using an Eheim 1262.

The specs are as follows:
•Pump Output: 900 gph
•Delivery Head: 11`6"
•Power Consumption: 80 W (120V/60Hz)
•Hose Connection (Suction Side): 1"
•Hose Connection (Pressure Side): 3/4"
•Dimensions: 8.6" x 4.6" x 6.3"
•Weight: 5.7 lbs


I chose the Eheim since it is a top quality pump, and is really quiet, moreso than other pumps such as a Mag Drive. I have had experience with several Eheims in the past and have always been happy with them. I have also found that the Eheim is more powerful than its competitors with similar gph #'s, and it not losing as much power due to headloss than others. The only mod that I may make to it will be to add some silicone drops ("feet") around the bottom of the pump to have something soft for it to sit on to make it even quieter. I will be using PVC hard plumbed into the pump, with a union and ball valve in the PVC near the pump to make removal for cleaning a snap. Eheims are a little more costly than other pumps, but I think it is worth it for the quiet running, power, and reliability (3 year warranty).

The Sump

This portion of my tank thread will cover the equipment that will be used on my new 120g tank.


I will start with the sump, since that is like the heart of running the system.
Maybe I should call it mission control... (or would that be my controller??) hmmm. Anyways, I digress and we will move forward.


The Sump:


I chose as my sump the Eshopps RS-200. It is 30x12x16.

There are a few reasons that I went with this one. It is a simple design, just having a drain section with filter socks, a skimmer section, and a return section. I wanted to keep things simple and easy to clean. I did not need a refugium since I am going to be running biopellets in a reactor. (More on biopellets in a later post) But it is my opinion that a small refugium does not make a big enough impact on a large tank to be worth the effort of having it. Biopellets make a much more profound impact. More on that later, but just sharing why I chose a sump without refugium space. I wanted to go with a 36" sump for more room, but I needed to leave some space in my stand for my Ca reactor and 5lb CO2 tank. As well as probably having to build a shelf in the stand for a topoff resovoir to sit on. Since the tank is sitting in the wall alcove, everything relating to the tank has to fit in the stand. No way for anything to sit next to it.

I tend to be OCD about my tank and equipment when it comes to keeping everything clean. I like to vaccuum out detritus from the sump, and scrape it down, and the simple design of the Eshopps sump makes it very easy to work in. I have had Eshopps sumps in the past and they are good quality and design, and I have always been happy with them. I prefer acrylic sumps over glass sumps, since glass can more easily be cracked if you need to drill it, and I have had problems in the past with siliconed in baffles on glass coming loose or leaking. The dividers in an acrylic sump are welded in and solid.

I have chosen to run an internal return pump for space savings and also found them to be quieter than external. I have had both internal and external pumps, and both are good in my opinion, but I just choose to go internal this time.

So, my sump contents will include:

1. filter socks
2. return pump
3. skimmer
4. heater
5. ground probe
6. pump for Ca reactor
7. pump for biopellet reactor
8. ph probe

Here is the Eshopps RS-200: (Sorry, it is still in the box...)

Eshopps has changed the design of their sumps, and I guess that I received the new model. It has two 1" drains that feed into 2 filter socks. These filter socks are different, as they have rectangular openings, and these rectangle plastic tops slide into little acrylic shelves that hold them. Very nice setup. I have a 1 1/2" drain line that I will probably split off into two 1" drains right at the sump, so that I can take advantage of the dual sock system.


Here is a picture of one of the socks and where they slide into place:

Starting my new 120g Reef

I have recently been out of the hobby for a short while, due to work related travel and responsibilities. I sold my 150g reef at the end of last year, and to be honest, it was a nice mental and physical break after 4 years of everyday maintenance and care. But, I have found that if you have a love for this hobby, you can't sit on the sidelines for long. Work has quieted down a bit, travel has lessened, and I have more time now to devote to getting back into the hobby. I will still have some travel, but I am going to teach my wife to run things on a short term basis. After getting back on Reef Central, and seeing some WTMRAC club members tanks recently, it made me realize how much I missed caring for a box of water. It can be a very relaxing and rewarding hobby, that can be enjoyed by anyone that comes over to your house and points fingers and asks "What that?".

My former 150g tank was on the upstairs level of our house, and usually I was the only one getting to see and enjoy it. With my new tank, I am putting it downstairs in the den, where everyone can see and enjoy it, from my family to visitors alike.

After some debate, I have decided on a 120g (4x2x2). It will fit perfectly into a wall inlet that we have in our den. Honestly, I would have preferred a 6 foot tank, as I love the longer size and ability to keep larger fish and have more creative aquascape opportunities, but we decided that this 4 foot wall inlet will be the perfect spot for it and really stand out in the room.

The tank itself is a 120g, a standard 4x2x2, but I custom ordered it with Eurobracing, black silicone, and a center overflow with a 1 1/2" drain. So I will have to excersize some patience since the tank is going to take about a month to come in (ordered on 8/4/11). I have spent alot of time planning this out, and exactly what equipment that I want to use this time around. Years of trying different things and learning from Reef Central, has allowed me to know what my preferences are for my style of reefing, equipment choices, husbandry, chemistry, and setup.

In the following posts, I will show pictures and outline my equipment choices, tell about each piece and why I choose it. At least that will give me something to do while I wait on the tank....

New Tank Location

I have found the perfect spot for my new tank in the living room. I am moving the entertainment center and putting the tank in its place in the wall recess. It will allow me to fit a 4 foot by 2 foot tank, stand and canopy.

Amazing Reef Video

In an ideal world, this is what I would like my new tank to look like. I love colorful SPS colonies, and lots of active fish.

Click here for SPS tank video

Out of Hobby, Then Back In

In the fall of 2010, I sold my 150g reef tank. I sat out for awhile due to work travel and other things. But, you can't stay out of this hobby very long!
I am in the process of putting together a new tank. I am excited about this one as I am going to use LED lighting. It will cut my electricity bill down, not add heat to my tanks water, and I won't have to replace lightbulbs anymore. LED's have about 50,000+ hour lifespan.

My new tank is going to be custom built, 4x2x2. It will be 120 gallons. It will fit into an alcove in our dens wall where our entertainment center goes. It will look great pushed back into the wall recess. It will have black silicone, eurobracing, and one center overflow.

I should have things up and running within the next 2 months or so. Will be updating with pictures and the building of it as I go along.  Yay!

A few coral pictures

Upgrading Biopellet Reactor

I have been running the Ecoback Biopellets for about two months now. It has been able to keep my phosphates about where they were when I ran GFO, but now dropped it down any less. With the GFO, I was at .03-.04, and that is where I am at now on the Hanna meter. The directions on the biopellets say for a tank my size, I need 750ml or more. I have about 180g total water volume, and it states 250ml per 50g. I started with 500ml as not to overdo it, but have realized if I want to drop my phophates even further, I will need to bump up to the recommended dosing. With that being said, I was running the pellets in a Phosban 150 reactor, and it would not hold another 250ml and still be able to tumble. So I got a NextReef SMR1, made specifically for biopellets. It is nice. It has blue clear acrylic to keep algae and coralline from growing in it from light exposure. It also has 5/8" tubing and fittings for more flow to better tumble the pellets. No sponges to get clogged, already equipped with plastic mesh plates to keep the pellets in. I hooked it up lasts night and it seems to work great. Will check back in a few weeks and see what my PO4 is after the bacteria has had time to develop from the new media being added.

I am trying my 250w's again since I already have all the equipment and liked the growth under them. To solve the heat and airflow issues, the spider type reflectors open things up a bit, and the bulbs aren't as close to the water as when in the Lumenarcs. I also added a big fan to the sump that moves alot of air. I have read that the best way to mount retro halide reflectors is perpendicular to the front glass, but I mounted them parallel to get more airflow down along through them. My tank is 2' front to back, so I doubt it matters on my dimensions anyways. (click on pictures for closer view)

Lights as is now: (Radium 250w SE, in Reef Optix 2 reflectors)

 

 The new fan:

 

Newest Front Tank Shot: