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Chin_Lee's 160 Gallon Reef
System: During the initial planning stage, the primary objective for my new tank was to make it look like it is part of the room. This was very important because I did not want the tank to seem out of place. My secondary objective was for three-sided viewing with two long sides and one short side. I waited eight months for my tank from Inter-American (Bow Valley) and I finally set up what I have today: outside dimension of 66'x24'x24' approximate volume of 160 gallon (total volume including sump 300 gallons) external overflow on a short side low-iron (Starphire) glass all around euro bracing polished and beveled edges
With my objectives in mind, I removed half of the banister and railing between the kitchen and sunken family room. I built the stand into the existing space with a small portion resting on the elevated kitchen side and the remaining in the sunken family room side. As you can see in the picture, the couch fits snugly into the space beside the tank stand. I also matched the brand and color paint for the stand/canopy with the railings/ mouldings in the two rooms.
Tank Chemistry: Specific Gravity: 1.024 Alkalinity: 9-10 dkH Calcium: 350-400 ppm Nitrates: 1-2 ppm Temperature: summer 78-82 F / winter 76-80 F Magnesium: 1200-1400 ppm Phosphates: Trace
Sump and Equipment: The 180 gallon acrylic tank that I had for the first FO setup was moved into the basement and became the sump. I had split the sump tank into three sections with a 3'x2' section on one end and the second half is split into two. The large 3'x2' section has a 4~5" DSB and this section is my refugium as well as my fish quarantine/isolation area and it is lit by a single 250W Ushio 10000K MH. For nutrient export, I keep chaetophora macroalgae and a floating basket of xenia. The xenia basket is basically a plastic basket from the dollar store that I put foam on the edges to keep afloat. I’ve removed all my xenia from my tanks and throw them into this basket where they eventually attached themselves. It floats around the sump absorbing nitrates and it allows me to stop the xenia from overtaking over my rocks.
Lighting and Photoperiod:
Feeding and Maintenance:
Tank Inhabitants:
Plans for the Horizon: I am in the process of starting up a 120 gallon 48x24x24 tank in my basement. This tank will be plumbed in between the sump and the display tank so the water will drain from the display tank into this new tank, from the new tank to the sump, and the sump back up to the display tank. My intention was to make this new tank a LPS dominant tank but considering my preference for SPS, I have my doubts. I will also be dismantling my display tank with the livestock being transferred temporary into the new tank. I would like to implement two ideas with the new display tank set up. 1) Bare bottom but with a fake sand bed by using a clear two part epoxy mixed with sand and spread on the bottom. This will give a sand bed look and I will be able to increase the flow through the tank without any sand flying nor sand shifting. 2) Decrease the amount of rocks in the tank. I currently have some rather large boulders of live rock in my current set up that restricts flow in the lower region of the tank. My plan is to build a PVC structure in the shape of an isosceles trapezoid the length of the tank. The sides and top of the structure will support the rocks in order to achieve the appearance of a wall of rocks and the area under the rocks will then be open space. I will place a Tunze or Seio on one end directing the flow through the PVC structure in ensure that detritus does not collect under the rocks. This will give lots of flow in the lower region and another Tunze near the surface will provide upper region flow.
I hope you have enjoyed viewing and reading about my tanks. I truly love this hobby and it is amazing to read how this hobby had evolved in the past 2-3 decades. I find it remarkable that we are now able to set up an artificial environment for these animals that were once considered impossible to sustain long term life in an aquarium setting. Not only have we exceeded beyond providing the necessities for life, we have provided an environment for them to thrive. In essence, we have successfully taken a piece of a reef and put it into our homes. This is a hobby that I will grow old with and I look forward to the new ideas and inventions of the future as I believe that it can only get better from herein. I also hope that the new inventions of the future will decrease the mortality rate of the animals we so often take for granted due to their availability at local fish stores. If I was to give one piece of advice to anybody starting this hobby, it is to research on the internet and various literature available. Do not make your decisions based on a single person’s perspective but of many who have the experience to support their views. Do lots of planning, then plan some more, and take time to go see other people’s tanks and their different setups….. and then start the planning cycle again.
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