Brotherd's 180

[brotherd]

Here we go.I started with building a basement sump room.http://i1311.photobucket.com/albums/s679/brotherd2/IMG-20130219-00034_zpsddbfd01d.jpg

[brotherd]

http://i1311.photobucket.com/albums/s679/brotherd2/IMG-20130219-00039_zps7643819f.jpg?t=1365807628

[brotherd]

http://i1311.photobucket.com/albums/s679/brotherd2/IMG_00000065_zps712bf277.jpg?t=1365811796

[brotherd]

Let's get some gear in that room.http://i1311.photobucket.com/albums/s679/brotherd2/IMG_00000083_zps99eb4f6a.jpg?t=1365812224

[Kryptic4L]

I see automatic water change stuff :)

[brotherd]

Hmmm.Need more gear.http://i1311.photobucket.com/albums/s679/brotherd2/IMG_00000070_zps84324094.jpg?t=1365812472

[lastlight]

Wow you aren't messing around! Genesis too... Sweet!

[frizzo1983]

Love my genesis ATO and just going to be putting a RENEW water change system on my new tank in the coming months. Nice looking build tagging along...

[The Grizz]

Let me just be the first to say...........IT'S ABOUT TIME!!! :lol:

[brotherd]

I know ,I know.I've been working on this for a very long time and finally got to pull the trigger.Time for more pics.

[brotherd]

I'm gonna need some way to manage water.I think I'll start with three 55 gal (new food grade never used) drums. Left will be waste water from the tank,middle will be ro di, right will be new salt water.http://i1311.photobucket.com/albums/s679/brotherd2/IMG_00000090_zps0748a468.jpg?t=1365867528

[brotherd]

I decided to go with Lifereef for several items. I had Jeff send me a 6 foot tall skimmer and a custom refugium.http://i1311.photobucket.com/albums/s679/brotherd2/IMG_00000080_zps5b561af6.jpg?t=1365868110

[brotherd]

Still not enough gear. Tap water is not gonna do it so I had Marc at Melevsreef.com send me a boosted 150gpd rodi system.http://i1311.photobucket.com/albums/s679/brotherd2/IMG_00000078_zpsf6d7aaa3.jpg?t=1365868996

[brotherd]

Back on the phone with Jeff at Lifereef.com,I settled on some Blueline gear.2 Blueline 70hd return pumps(one is for a back up just in case) and a 1000 watt heater with controller.The skimmer pump is a Blueline 40.

[brotherd]

One of the things I hated in my freshwater days was top offs and water changes so I got ahold of Kevin at Genesisreefsystems.com and settled on the complete Renew and Storm pro systems.

[brotherd]

So far it's been a lot of Canadian money being sent south of the border. Hey Dave at Concept Aquatics(here in Calgary if you didn't know) can you build me a nice 180 gal tank? Sure! When do you want it?(how about he made it for me almost 2 years ago but it took me this long to get it going).

[mrhasan]

Holy crap! That's a lot of gadgets!!!!! Gonna be one sweet system :D

And a 6' skimmer? :O I would give it to Kien along with a ladder ;) Will worth it more than putting it with any other tank :lol:

[brotherd]

http://i1311.photobucket.com/albums/s679/brotherd2/IMG-20130713-00174_zps0ffb7eba.jpg (http://s1311.photobucket.com/user/brotherd2/media/IMG-20130713-00174_zps0ffb7eba.jpg.html)

[brotherd]

http://i1311.photobucket.com/albums/s679/brotherd2/th_IMG-20130708-00167_zps84edd447.jpg (http://s1311.photobucket.com/user/brotherd2/media/IMG-20130708-00167_zps84edd447.jpg.html)

[brotherd]

http://i1311.photobucket.com/albums/s679/brotherd2/IMG-20130716-00193_zpsa3d6feef.jpg (http://s1311.photobucket.com/user/brotherd2/media/IMG-20130716-00193_zpsa3d6feef.jpg.html)

[The Grizz]

Sweet!! Its wet and salty!! How about a FTS dude?

[brotherd]

http://i1311.photobucket.com/albums/s679/brotherd2/IMG-20130717-00214_zps0a6d518b.jpg (http://s1311.photobucket.com/user/brotherd2/media/IMG-20130717-00214_zps0a6d518b.jpg.html)

[brotherd]

http://i1311.photobucket.com/albums/s679/brotherd2/IMG-20130717-00215_zps33431d1e.jpg (http://s1311.photobucket.com/user/brotherd2/media/IMG-20130717-00215_zps33431d1e.jpg.html)

[The Grizz]

Looks awesome there Big D :thumb:you sure snagged some like pieces of rock, is it Marco?

[brotherd]

Yeah it's Marco. Taking forever to purple up but I only have about 40#lbs live in the system. It's only 4 months since start up and I'm probably pushing it with sps but we'll see.

[brotherd]

My buddy Strauss hooked me up big time when he shut his tank down so the best pieces you see are his re homed.

[kien]

whoa! you don't mess around! Looking good man! What brand are those lights? I've never seen those before.

[brotherd]

The lights are the weak part. I bought them a couple years ago before I new what I would need. I feel I've made a mistake. They are bright as the sun. That's the problem. Not dimmable or adjustable except for height. I can choose bright or blue...there is a photo setting that looks good visually but is too dim to grow sps. The pics I've put up are not true to what I see due to crappy phone pics. I need to find a couple grand for the mitras units I'm drooling over. I'm also looking at pacific sun. The lights I have are Cherry Aqua Ocean from Korea.

[Coralgurl]

Awesome set up! You've been busy!

[brotherd]

Thanks. It's a bit trying to be patient. I'm really pleased that the swampy green wavy mass of algae and cyano is being replaced by purple coraline albeit ever so slowly and you can't even see it in the pics. On the plus side the skimmer pulls out monster garbage. I have to clean the cup every 4 or 5 days and the smell is a throat closing stench!

[brotherd]

I've had enough of my original led fixtures. New Orphek Atlantik units on the way. My old lights will be for sale after I get the new ones running.

[kien]

so, no Mitras then?

[brotherd]

Nope.While the Mitras units are outstanding, I can't spend that money on top of what I already spent on lights that aren't what I need.That said, my new Orphek units are here:):):):)

[brotherd]

Fedex paid me a visit.
http://i1311.photobucket.com/albums/s679/brotherd2/IMG-20130810-00230_zpsae8c81bb.jpg (http://s1311.photobucket.com/user/brotherd2/media/IMG-20130810-00230_zpsae8c81bb.jpg.html)

[brotherd]

http://i1311.photobucket.com/albums/s679/brotherd2/IMG-20130810-00236_zps836bae4f.jpg (http://s1311.photobucket.com/user/brotherd2/media/IMG-20130810-00236_zps836bae4f.jpg.html)

[brotherd]

http://i1311.photobucket.com/albums/s679/brotherd2/IMG-20130810-00233_zpsf1b9e785.jpg (http://s1311.photobucket.com/user/brotherd2/media/IMG-20130810-00233_zpsf1b9e785.jpg.html)

[mrhasan]

http://i1311.photobucket.com/albums/s679/brotherd2/IMG-20130810-00233_zpsf1b9e785.jpg (http://s1311.photobucket.com/user/brotherd2/media/IMG-20130810-00233_zpsf1b9e785.jpg.html)

Go easy on those...I heard they can burn through the skin at full power :razz:

[brotherd]

A quick test run on the kitchen table of 1 of the units!
http://i1311.photobucket.com/albums/s679/brotherd2/IMG-20130809-00229_zps786608b8.jpg (http://s1311.photobucket.com/user/brotherd2/media/IMG-20130809-00229_zps786608b8.jpg.html)

[brotherd]

When I hit the switch I actually jumped back!

[kien]

wow, that's quite an array of LEDs you got there!

[Trevor W]

Great looking build so far! Very eager to watch this evolve.

[Myka]

I see the light!! :lol:

[brotherd]

I see the light!! :lol:
So does orbiting satellites and certain helicopters..and the neighborhood...

[mrhasan]

So does orbiting satellites and certain helicopters..and the neighborhood...

Good to see that you can still notice that. I thought you are already blind :razz: Even that picture is too bright to look at.

[brotherd]

Haha, that was a cell phone pic but they really are that bright. Before I was blinded I did notice on the controller that it was at 60% on all channels.

[mrhasan]

Haha, that was a cell phone pic but they really are that bright. Before I was blinded I did notice on the controller that it was at 60% on all channels.

Don't point camera like that to such lights. The sensor might get burnt (for real). BTW I tried finding the dimension of your tank but probably missed it. What the dimension? 2 of those lights for the tank made me curious.

[brotherd]

Thanks for the tip.The tank is 72x24x24.After consulting with Orphek directly,2 units were recommended.I'm going to try and remove the old lights and get the new Atlantik units up and running today.

[brotherd]

swapped out my original lights for 2 Orphek Atlantik units. It's been 2 weeks and the corals are loving it and the nuisance algae,not so much:mrgreen: here's an almost night time pic.http://i1311.photobucket.com/albums/s679/brotherd2/IMG-20130816-00257_zps85b6e3ca.jpg (http://s1311.photobucket.com/user/brotherd2/media/IMG-20130816-00257_zps85b6e3ca.jpg.html)

[brotherd]

Here is an instal pic.I cut a slab of 3/4 plywood to cover the tank and provide a work surface for the light swap.http://i1311.photobucket.com/albums/s679/brotherd2/IMG-20130811-00243_zps8b90b185.jpg (http://s1311.photobucket.com/user/brotherd2/media/IMG-20130811-00243_zps8b90b185.jpg.html)

[kien]

Wow, those lights look slick!

[The Grizz]

So when is the up grad to a 8'er or even 10'er :lol:

[brotherd]

Probably when you do a 14' er. Then I'll take your 300;) I seriously have a lot more to learn before then.

[The Grizz]

Probably when you do a 14' er. Then I'll take your 300;) I seriously have a lot more to learn before then.

Well that will never happen as the wife will not let me get a bigger tank now, this is it for the big tanks.

[lastlight]

those look really neat with the illuminated acrylic bezel. does that edge just glow? I imagine it's not blindingly bright in the eyes or anything.

[brotherd]

Not bright at all. The Atlantik lights really pound the rays down but because they are pendants and the tank is canopy challenged the room is well lit...which I actually really like. The bezel is really the optic focus just in a sheet form. It is 90 degree but can be removed for 120 degree. So far I am extremely pleased with them. I'm considering ordering a third for a couple of things I want to try.

[brotherd]

Updated fts.http://i1311.photobucket.com/albums/s679/brotherd2/7526044b-b717-42d8-ba4d-6d0b75481e19_zps668709d5.jpg

[kien]

wow, that looks really good!

[zhasan]

That is an awesome looking setup! Great work! I must say, your tank is an inspiration for me as I've been wanting a 180 for a while now!

Have you noticed any difference in coral growth with the new lights?

[brotherd]

For sure. Water changes were not keeping up with calcium demand so I brought the calcium reactor online.The new lights are great!

[brotherd]

And thanks for the kind words too!

[Doug]

Looks pretty nice. How about somemore equipment pics in operation.....:D

[brotherd]

Pics coming this weekend:mrgreen:

[strauss]

I don't know how I missed this entire thread but that's awesome looking! You've done well with the coral. I need to see this tank again soon. Awesome job buddy.

[SeaHorse_Fanatic]

What a beautiful setup. Great job. Love that new fts.:wink:

[brotherd]

Thanks and you are welcome to visit any time. More pics this weekend.

[brotherd]

So this morning while the lights are still off,I see the Auriga butterfly stuck to the side of the left mp60. They were set on night mode so I know the flow was reduced to reduce the risk of just such an incident.I immediately shut the 60 off and the fish lifted off on its own.Badly stunned and weak it lazily swam straight into the Haddoni carpet nem.I wasn't really fond of that fish but what a grizzly end.

[WarDog]

Suicide run? Sorry for your loss.

[brotherd]

Maybe or too weak to know better. The nem wrapped it up and swallowed it whole in minutes.:croc:

[Stones]

Sorry to hear about the loss of the butterfly. Fantastic looking FTS though. I really like how slick your new LED fixtures look.

[brotherd]

Right then.Float sensor stuck on due to little white snails.Ato thinks water is low in sump.Pumps ro water into system untill sump overflows dumping i"m guessing 20 gal onto basement floor.And the external skimmer pump.Then gfci for that room pops.No pwr to system for several hours.Thats what I discovered at 10:30 am.Scrambling all day doing damage control and cleanup.

[brotherd]

No losses so far. Salinity dropped to 1.021 Thanks to Strauss for his support and guidance. System is slowly recuperating . Fingers crossed.

[brotherd]

I picked up a new Naso today. Fingers crossed that this one knows better than to hang out with the blue carpet anemone. Also picked up a couple more sps. One is a Reef Raft frag and the other an unknown acro. In total I glued up a dozen pieces today. The tank is coming up on its first birthday this month as well.

[brotherd]

After much deliberation and discussion with Orphek I've decided on yet another light upgrade.I've ordered a third Atlantik.This will be a v2.1b.
I've also ordered 2 new circuit boards and a tablet to convert my first to Atlantiks to wifi control.Always onwards and upwards in this hobby it seems:lol:

[michika]

:) sounds interesting. What is different about v2.1b?

[brotherd]

:) sounds interesting. What is different about v2.1b?
The v2.1 uses dual diode technology. That unit uses 97 led's compared to my v1 units which are 78 led's per unit. The v2.1b is special.All dual led's per lense.156 total. Can't wait to set it all up when it gets here.

[brotherd]

Does Chemiclean have an expiry date? I'm currently enjoying a wild cyano/dyno/pbiawa situation....

[brotherd]

Seeing as how I can't keep sps alive no matter what I do or how much $ I throw at the tank I've decided to go in a different direction. Sps, you're fired! The new direction includes plates,lps,brains,rics, and zoo's.(get ready Denny I'll be knocking on your door soon) any other suggestions?

[reefwars]

Gorgonians, ricordias, rock flowers , dendros, clams :)


But only after lots of zoo's!!!!

[brotherd]

Almost got a clam today. Traded my blue carpet for a plate and a welso brain. Gotta net my pearlscale butterfly out next. Then the Christmas wrasse. And a large black crab...

[brotherd]

Anyone in Calgary carry Tropic Marin Pro Reef salt?

[brotherd]

Reason I'm asking is my dkh is 11 all the time. Tested my new batch of saltwater (dd ocean pro plus) and it's 11. I run a calcium reactor and have it dialed way down. Problem is it clogs at that low of a drip rate and water changes don't keep up with calcium demand in the tank. Soooo I need a salt that's made to be used with calcium reactors. I'm not interested in dosing 2 part at this time thanks:wink:

[brotherd]

Lost my tank to a seam failure. How do you start over? Or do you? I've had tanks of some sort for almost 15 years but never faced this before. I managed to save most of my fish but all the sps and all but a hammer, a brain and two torches are gone. A few inverts made it too. I guess I'm looking for some feedback from those folks out there that had to deal with a situation like this.

[Myka]

Oh no!!! So Sorry to hear about this. When did this happen? Who manufactured the tank? How old was it?

[Evilweevil]

Hey brotherd I have an extra 180 tank and Stand and sump I just bought I got it for a good deal maybe we can work something out ? Are you just needing a tank for a few days ?

[michika]

Lost my tank to a seam failure. How do you start over? Or do you? I've had tanks of some sort for almost 15 years but never faced this before. I managed to save most of my fish but all the sps and all but a hammer, a brain and two torches are gone. A few inverts made it too. I guess I'm looking for some feedback from those folks out there that had to deal with a situation like this.


That is awful.

I'm so sorry to be reading this.


Sent from space while riding a T-Rex.

[kien]

Oh geez.. Sorry to hear man! :-(

[brotherd]

Hey brotherd I have an extra 180 tank and Stand and sump I just bought I got it for a good deal maybe we can work something out ? Are you just needing a tank for a few days ?

Thank you for the offer but I think I'm done for now. It's going to be a month before my home is repaired so that's my focus.

[brotherd]

I miss my tank. Badly. Soooo...Concept it is!

[brotherd]

And I'm going to have to start a new thread because it won't be a 180 ;)

[michika]

Going bigger?


Sent from space riding a T-Rex

[Myka]

Woohoo!

[brotherd]

Going bigger?


Sent from space riding a T-Rex
A little bit. Nowhere near Tibet though. There was a lot I wanted to change with my first tank.

[michika]

ETA so we can start posting demands for updates and flogging for photos?

Someone tell Kien to start up some popcorn.


Sent from space riding a T-Rex

[brotherd]

We finalized the sump design today. Steel stand is done. I have a lot of work to do still to get the living room finished so I asked that I not pick up the new tank,etc until mid November. What is really daunting is the plumbing I'm going to do. Just can't wrap my head around it. It starts with a Beananimal and drops 10 feet to the basement sump room. Then...I think I'm going to need everything in place to figure the rest out.