badAZZlars' 125 sps reef build (Updated FTS)

badAZZlars · #1 02-08-2011, 06:46 PM

So i'm back in the hobby after a ten year absense and am really excited to get back into things. It's pretty cool to see how things have changed in the hobby with the new higher tech equipment you can buy and what seems to be easier access to high or ultra grade corals.

When I was in the hobby before I was living in Nanaimo BC but had to shut things down when I moved to Alberta to go to school. My tank was a 60 gallon softie/lps. I always loved the look of the sps tanks but there was little to no access to nice sps corals at that time on Vancouver island.

Ten years later and now living in Calgary I can't believe how easy it is to find amazingly colorful corals whether it be from other hobbyists or from LFS or the internet.

So after doing much research and reading many posts on canreef and reef central I started to piece together my plans to assemble a rimless 125g tank.

Here's the details:

Tank
Starfire 60X24X20 high rimless
Built by concept aquariums based on positive posts read here on canreef.

Sump
48X20X20
Multi chamber with fuge and baffles
Built by Concept Aquariums

Stand
31" high tubular metal stand built by form member "The Grizz"
I plan to get a wooden facade built to wrap around the metal stand

Lighting
Hamilton Cebu Sun 3X250W MH/4X96W Actinic/Moonlight LED's
I plan to hang this fixture from the ceiling but am just going to start with the mounting legs.
JL Aquatics

Skimmer
Bubble Magus 180CS
Awesome deal from Concept Aquariums on this skimmer

Power heads/Wave Maker
2X Vortech MP40W es
Awesome deal from Concept Aquariums on these pumps

Return Pump
Magdrive 18

Base Rock
I bought 150lbs of base rock from eco-reefer
I'm really happy with this rock and how it stacks

Live Rock
I bought 50lbs of fiji live rock off of a canreef member after a tank shut down. This will be used to seed the base rock.

Dosing/Top up
I plan to do two part dosing, I bought the "large" package from BRS to get started with this.
I plan to buy a 4 pump profilux dosing pump in the near future to automate dosing and top up

Carbon/GFO
I bought the double canister from BRS to house the carbon and GFO

Sand
80 lbs Caribsea aragalive seeded with 40lbs of live sand.

RO/DI
Vertex 100gpd

I should have some pictures up tonight as the tank has been delivered and I am just starting the build.

mws · #2 02-08-2011, 08:30 PM

Welcome back to the hobby! This will be a nice looking system.
Looking forward to see some pictures.

fishytime · #3 02-09-2011, 12:12 AM

^^^ditto^^^.....and welcome to canreef too......your right....there is a lot of sweet sps here in Cowtown.....

eli@fijireefrock.com · #4 02-09-2011, 01:29 AM

welcome to canreef
you seem to be on the right track for an awesome tank outcome.

badAZZlars · #5 02-09-2011, 01:31 AM

Thanks for the welcome remarks. I'm really excited to get things setup and get some life in the tank.

badAZZlars · #6 02-09-2011, 04:57 AM

Stand

Stand with ply

Boy in tank

Tank

badAZZlars · #7 02-09-2011, 05:05 AM

Got the sump delivered tonight. Need to wait a week before running in in the system as it was just completed yesterday and the silicon needs time to setup.

Should give me lots of time to get the plumbing setup. I'm going to try full pvc setup with no flexible tubing. This will be my first crack at it so hopefully it goes ok.

eli@fijireefrock.com · #8 02-09-2011, 05:17 AM

Good luck with the plumbing.
Remember measure twice cut ounce.

badAZZlars · #9 02-09-2011, 12:39 PM

This is an initial shot at getting the base aquascaping in. The end result is bound to look quite a bit different as I still have 50lbs of live rock to add to the system once its flowing.

Also I got the back of the tank painted black...

cale262 · #10 02-09-2011, 01:16 PM

Looks Great thus far...