Rice Reef's 120 SPS Reef Tank
 

New home means new tank! I am going to be setting up a new 120 gallon tank (replacing my old 90 gallon) and have decided to invest in a new tank, stand and lights. The new tank, along with a newly build stand should be arriving tomorrow and I have just picked up a 40 gallon sump from a friend that does not need it anymore. The sump will be on the sidelines for a while as I need to replace one of the baffles.

For lighting, I have decided to replace my 2 x 250 MH (had them only for seven months) with the Ecotech Radion LEDs. I never thought I would be switching sides but after seeing all the hype and recently posted videos of other peeps tanks and reading the information of LEDs and the types of LEDs out on the market I really think the Radions are the best choice for my new SPS dominant tank. Thanks to Modular LED, I have four new Radions sitting in my garage patiently for this very moment. Three of them will be going over the tank while the fourth may be saved for a frag tank.

For water movement in the tank I will be using one Ecotech MP60 and two MP40s... hope this will generate a decent flow and if not, I will add a couple of Koralia Evolutions.

Earlier today, I went to a local plumbing shop with a buddy to buy all the necessary plumbing parts and before sunset I went to pick out some new LR from a LFS and will be sharing some potential scaping I took with my Iphone with you all soon.

Anyways, that is all for now... hope to add more details and pics before the end of the week.

Rice Reef signing off.

the excitement begins.
Don't hold back give us some photos :biggrin:

Will do! I regret that I did not do so the last time. Certainly helps to see how ones tank progress over time.

:eek:

I'd say that's going to be more than enough! Hope you're going bb?

I won't be having them going at 100%. I am currently running one MP60 and one MP40 at 75% so I figured if I go with two MP40s, I can run them at 50%. If it is too much then I will save one of the MP40s for the future frag tank.

Here are some Iphone pics of the rocks I am considering for the new tank

http://i406.photobucket.com/albums/p...k/IMG_1295.jpg

http://i406.photobucket.com/albums/p...k/IMG_1294.jpg

http://i406.photobucket.com/albums/p...k/IMG_1293.jpg

http://i406.photobucket.com/albums/p...k/IMG_1298.jpg

The only pic I have of the new stand being built



http://i406.photobucket.com/albums/p...k/IMG_1303.jpg

Sent to me by Cade.

Looking good wayne. Sound alike to going to be killer! if you do go with sand for the love of god stay away from sugar sand.

why may i ask?

With that much flow, it won't stay on the bottom!

Update...

Went shopping for plumbing parts on Nov 28th...
http://i406.photobucket.com/albums/p...k/IMG_1306.jpg

The tank arrived on the 29th...
http://i406.photobucket.com/albums/p...k/IMG_1308.jpg

The partially finished stand arrived later in the evening...
http://i406.photobucket.com/albums/p...k/IMG_1318.jpg

Tonight, I finally unboxed the Radions...
http://i406.photobucket.com/albums/p...k/IMG_1324.jpg

My buddy, Chris Lewis (Out of the Blue Creations) then came over and worked on the sump and plumbing.
http://i406.photobucket.com/albums/p...k/IMG_1325.jpg
http://i406.photobucket.com/albums/p...k/IMG_1326.jpg
http://i406.photobucket.com/albums/p...k/IMG_1327.jpg

Room was quite tight in the left corner so we decided not to add a gate valve.
Working on the return plumbing...
http://i406.photobucket.com/albums/p...k/IMG_1332.jpg
http://i406.photobucket.com/albums/p...k/IMG_1336.jpg

After the plumbing, we tried one of the lights...
http://i406.photobucket.com/albums/p...k/IMG_1339.jpg
http://i406.photobucket.com/albums/p...k/IMG_1340.jpg
http://i406.photobucket.com/albums/p...k/IMG_1343.jpg
Boy, they are bright!

The tank is now ready for water...

Looking good...Glad to see someone else joining the LED club!.

Thanks! I am still in the MH club for now as I am still in the planning stage in how to hang three Radions. I have two Ecotech Radion hanging kits and Martin of Modular LED custom made a hanging bracket that will hold all three Radions together but I am uncertain of how to hang this over my tank. I will most likely open to others for their opinion when that time comes as I will provide my details then.

Here is another update...

water and live rocks in the tank. I have acquired a few more rocks (man made live rocks) from Blue World Aquariums...

http://i406.photobucket.com/albums/p...k/IMG_1347.jpg

My skimmer in the sump...
http://i406.photobucket.com/albums/p...k/IMG_1352.jpg

Finally... livestock in the tank...
http://i406.photobucket.com/albums/p...k/IMG_1353.jpg

I have decided to run the MH over the tank for now until I have figured out how I am going to hang the Radions...

Stay tune for more to follow soon...

Wow im a week behind, Looks great Wayne although your going to need a bigger tank once all those frags grow in. is that the alpha 170?

Looks great!!

that looks like alot of work placing all those frags!!

Very nice Wayne - glad to see you have some room for more frags.:wink:
Seriously though, can't wait to see it completed & the corals grown out.

Nope, it is the 200 and thanks!

Thank you and I am still working on the frags...

Gregg, thank you! Now that I have a journal set up here I will be able to see the frags grow over time. Many thanks to you! Will be posting an update in the near future. I've had the flu and has set me back two weeks. The parameters are out a bit as I've not had the time to set up the doser. Still working and planning in how to hang the three radions... Until then the MH remain.

Looking forward to some nice top down macro's of the frags.

looking great so far! All those Radions would have cost a lot lol ;)

WOW look great man all the frags that are in there . that is going to fill up quick Well done

Just a minor update... It's been 50 days since i moved and switched everything to the new tank and i have finally gotten around to check on the parameters and it looks like I still need to tinker with the DKH, Ca and Mg levels.
CA 400- Would like to get back to 450
MG 1280- would like to get back to 1425
PH 7.7
Temp 78
DKH 7- would like it at 7.7
PO4 0
NO3 0
SG 1.026

Corals are gradually adjusting to the new tank and Colors and are bouncing back from the shock due to the move. Still using MH but I do see some new growth on a few sps but more noticeable with the zoas.

I think next week is going to be an exciting week for me as I've planned to have the Radions hanging over the tank! Stay tune for more...

Hey buddy, Looking GREAT! I will be coming over this week so we can get started on finishing up that stand for you.

I wrote you an email with the details, I cant wait to see the tank up and running!!!

Finally made time to hang the new Radions... Here is a quick update... took a few pictures with my new Iphone 4s... Boy, what a huge difference compared to my old 3gs. sharper images and not as grainy as the new phone now has a built in flash.

http://i406.photobucket.com/albums/p...t/716E5082.jpg

I have not taken down the old lights yet but the MH will be gone tonight!

http://i406.photobucket.com/albums/p...t/6CF620F5.jpg

Sweet! Can't wait to see those fired up

I wonder how you could clean up the cords hanging off the back when using pendants? Maybe one of those plastic coil thingys?

FWIW, as a LED hater, I was really impressed seeing Shelley's Radions. Really nice light and no noticeable disco ball effect.

Just a question, what are the dimensions of the tank? I am working on getting my 120 set-up & am planning on 2 radions, I am hoping that will be enough. I see you ahve 3 set-up.

What's the dimensions of your tank? I have two Radions over a 4ft x2ft tank and it lights it well.. It would not be enough if my tank was any longer.

Mine is 48x24x24

I had originally considered going with two, however with a 4x2 tank I was concern with the chance of having the spotlight effect so after a discussion with Martin of Modular LED, I decided to go with three units and Martin made the rails for my light.

That is a great idea. I will certainly be looking for them

Here are a few pic with the light all fired up...
http://i406.photobucket.com/albums/p...t/6290096E.jpg

http://i406.photobucket.com/albums/p...t/7EF6B3F5.jpg

http://i406.photobucket.com/albums/p...t/8E95505C.jpg

http://i406.photobucket.com/albums/p...t/9CF56C8A.jpg

http://i406.photobucket.com/albums/p...t/072C58E4.jpg

http://i406.photobucket.com/albums/p...t/723DA826.jpg

http://i406.photobucket.com/albums/p...t/BED17D78.jpg

Updating the program and will be playing with the configs later

http://i406.photobucket.com/albums/p...t/9C010A2C.jpg

Colours are so much more vibrant than MH... Even the fish looks better!

http://i406.photobucket.com/albums/p...t/96924003.jpg

Hey Wayne, Do you like clown fish?:lol:

Haha! My two sons love them. One of their fav movies is Finding Nemo. I think we have a total of seven. Cade came over and did more work around the stand... Now just waiting for the doors...

Another pic update...

http://i406.photobucket.com/albums/p...t/7216F69F.jpg

http://i406.photobucket.com/albums/p...t/E5793556.jpg

Since my last post I have been working on maintenance such as setting up the ATO, cleaning the tank and equipment and made some changes to the aqua scape. the new rock formation allows more flow and openness for fish to swim about. The Mp60 and Mp40 are synced with each other and to the Radions. Will be looking at adding three more fish and then leaving it on auto pilot. Here is probably my last pic with the iPhone ( Brad has been giving me a hard time on this LOL) and will try to update on a monthly basis with pics of FTS and SPS growth over time.

Tank parameter update:
CA-480
Mg-1410
Alk-6 (working on this)
Radion-70%-artificial mode

http://i406.photobucket.com/albums/p...t/32C3FDDB.jpg

Looks good Wayne!

Nice! Once all those frags grow in it will be just stunning!