160G LED Powered Frag Tank

[ronnie]

I picked up a tank from a store that was closing. It hasn't been set up in a couple years. The plan was to store the tank until we move (3-5+ years possibly). It is an awesome tank, and they don't come in this size very often around here. So I snatched it up.

Anyways, after about two months of it taking room up in the garage, my wife told me to set it up in the spare bedroom. :tongue:

After checking her into a mental hospital (and then checking her back out) - I realized she was serious. And apparently sane according to the bill of health.... :bigsmile:

So the journey begins!

Specs:
Main tank: 8'x3'x1' (160ish gallons) - pretty sure this is a glass cages tank based on previous tanks I've seen.
Sump: 40B
Flow/Return pump: Dart through an OM 4 way with a bean overflow
Filtration: ASM G3 (really a G2 with a sedra 5000)
Light: DIY LED (fedy) build on a light rail 3.5 (light mover)
Controller: RKL (ALC for lighting)
DIY ATO (float valve on a 20G container most likely)
Calcium Reactor of some kind

So far, I have the stand built, the tank on the stand, and am going to plumb it tomorrow if I get home at a decent time from work tonight (love working weekends).

Some pics:

A shot from the end - the bedroom isn't that big, so the tank takes up a bit of room.

And the shot everyone wants to see:

So I have some stuff still to do: Plumb it, build some doors, fill it up with water, grow some nice stuff in it!

I will probably go with acrylic for the frag racks. Debating on one level or two right now. It will kind of depend on the PAR readings from the LEDs. They will be hanging pretty high - likely almost to the ceiling.

Here are some shots of the LEDs:

And yes, I totally cheated and made color layouts of the direction of the LEDs and wiring diagram to follow as well.

I'm shooting to have it up and running in the next couple days! More pics to follow as I make progress. :bigsmile:

 

[Reef UP]

Great build!

 

[Joe Dirt]

Uh-mazing! Following.

 

[macawmagic]

Perfect size for a frag tank!

 

[bigorange]

I wonder how old that tank is.
Sent from my EVO3d using tapatalk

 

[macawmagic]

just a little advice...if the tank has 5 holes on the bottom...use the dart/ocean motion for a closed loop and get another pump somewhere in the 700-1000 gph range for the return. a full dart is a good amount of water going through a 40 breeder.

 

[ronnie]

I wonder how old that tank is.
Sent from my EVO3d using tapatalk

About three or four years old.

 

[ronnie]

just a little advice...if the tank has 5 holes on the bottom...use the dart/ocean motion for a closed loop and get another pump somewhere in the 700-1000 gph range for the return. a full dart is a good amount of water going through a 40 breeder.

I'm being a cheap **** and want to do it through the return. I do plan to run a few other things with the dart, so it won't have the full 3600gph running through it.

It does have the fifth hole, though - I will probably regret not doing it.

I'll see what I can come up with on a pump - if I can get one cheap, then I will plumb it that way. Thanks for the advice - it is good to get other people thinking on stuff like this ni tend to get tunnel vision sometimes.

And this size rocks!

 

[macawmagic]

What type of corals are you puttin in this tank? That will also make a huge difference of flow and are you planning to put sand in the bottom or go bare bottom.

I use 2x 6'x2'x1' tanks with a dart split between the 2 tanks. If you have any questions...ask away as after redoing my setup almost 5 times I'm finally insanely happy with the way everything is working!

 

[ronnie]

It will be a mix of lps/sps/zoas most likely, with a main focus on lps.

I love the OM on my 120 - works great and gives me perfect flow on it.

Haven't decided on sand yet. Might go with a small bit, as I had some issues in my 40b bare bottom frag tank that I kind of always thought was from no sand.

I'll be sure to pick your brain! Sounds like you have some nice setups. Got a build thread anywhere?

 

[macawmagic]

No build thread. I actually had a huge tank crash...both my main tank and frag tank due to neglect. (super busy with school as I'm getting my masters. plus working a retail job during last xmas season) I lost almost everything, but some stuff managed to pull through. I actually rebuilt the frag tank before the main tank as I haven't quite decided on what I'm going to do for the main tank.

I used sand (like pea gravel with a bag or 2 of finer stuff mixed in) in the tanks for the purpose of a place for wrasse's to hide and as a buffer/filtration as i wasn't using any live rock in the frag system. I was having problems with not enough flow across the bottom of the tank to keep stuff off the bottom, but too much flow for my zoanthids and other corals. I ended up pullin off my light mover as none of the corals in that tank were looking good. I now run all LED's. 3 120 watt fixtures over each tank. Everything is doing amazing now! Good luck with the light mover. I have seen them used successfully, but it just didn't work for me.

 

[ronnie]

I'm hoping the light mover works out - it will save me a bit of energy and is cool.


I do enjoy wrasses as well, and may do a shallow rubbermaid tub full of sand to allow them a home. I'd love to get three or four halichoeres wrasses in it.

 

[GR808]

nice build!!! Something probably every reefer needs... a 160g frag tank!!
Beauty

 

[ronnie]

nice build!!! Something probably every reefer needs... a 160g frag tank!!
Beauty

It is definitely Christmas in my house.

 

[ronnie]

Light is hung and running on the light mover!

 

[ronnie]

Video of the light mover in action:
LED light mover over frag tank on Vimeo

 

[ronnie]

Some new pics - 40B is officially shut down!

 

[Reef UP]

Nice how do you like the light on the rail how long does it take to pass?

 

[ronnie]

I love the light rail so far. It takes about 2-3 minutes to travel from one end to the other.

I'm mostly curious to see how the corals react under the light mover and LEDs. It should be an interesting combination.

 

[KJAG]

I love the light rail so far. It takes about 2-3 minutes to travel from one end to the other.

I'm mostly curious to see how the corals react under the light mover and LEDs. It should be an interesting combination.

those the LightRail3 movers? I used them for awhile for Horticulture. You prob are aware, but you can add another fixture on the same motor with their Robostick add on.Any reaon you went width wise with the fixture instead of length wise? Seems you have enough light there to get the sides if it was positioned lengthwise, and have more light for the light track. Nice setup