Custom 100 Gal SPS Reef Build

[epicfatigue]

Hello Everyone,

Thought i would share a project that i have been working on, we are new to the hobby so we would really appreciate
any comments thoughts or considerations as we are very new to this and would love everyone's input

My Daughter and i decided we would build a coral reef in our home as she has been fascinated by them since learning about them at school.

I wanted to incorporate it into the home and make it a feature in our dining room, so a standard off the shelf tank was not going to look the way i wanted it to.

So i set out on good old Gum-tree to find us a cheap tank to get stated with and we came across this.
Was a very nice looking tank, had a beautiful curved glass and was really well made

 

[epicfatigue]

We Started Construction on the frame, the idea was i wanted a floating canopy that would sit 5mm above the glass and have a Lip that would come down top bottom and sides that would hide the little plastic lip on the tank.

This was done for a few reasons, one i didn't like how the plastic lip looked, yes i could paint it however it was very thin and i would much prefer i nice quirk-line in the wood.
The other was i wanted the illusion of looking into a reef from our living room tables

The Stand itself had to be very strong so it could support the weight of the tank plus the oversize sump i would be installing underneath.

 

[epicfatigue]

The Next Step was to prime the unit, and paint it in high gloss oil enamel.
I Chose a paint that was salt resistant and water resistant so if i was to get condensation due to evaporation the wood would not swell.

Photos do not do it justice it came up amazing!

 

[epicfatigue]

Connected in my 4x VIPARSPECTRA 165W LED and man these things are bright as hell!

I have turned the blue channel on 100% and the White Channel on 20% and my eyes hurt!
Think i will end up having to either raise them very high or turn them right down.
This is just a Quick trail run as i will be re-wiring these lights and controlling them via Reef-pi

i am getting around 90 000 + Lux on the surface of the water and in the deepest parts of the tank i am getting 21 640 lux

Hoping this is enough light for SPS and LPS Corals would love those with experience to chime in

 

[Dcal]

Looks awesome and welcome!!!

 

[epicfatigue]

Forgot to add this part in, I think its more i tried very hard to forget about it hahah!

Man can i say this is never a fun part especially when you have already started your cabinet and then your like well is my tank Tempered Glass or Plate glass?

I am proud to announce that my glass is plate glass ;Shamefullyembarrased and all went well!

I drilled 2x 43mm holes with an internal 33mm diameter toand painted the back of the tank.

 

[fishguy242]

nice work...plenty of power in them lights

 

[epicfatigue]

nice work...plenty of power in them lights

So you think i will have enough light for SPS corals?
Is 21 640 lux enough in the deepest parts and 90 000 + on the water surface ?

This is also measured with a real lux meter my phone reports back some insane figure

 

[tricky_tran]

that looks amazing thus far! i wish i had the drive to make my own stand, but I dont trust myself either.. might make my own hood though

 

[fishguy242]

So you think i will have enough light for SPS corals?
Is 21 640 lux enough in the deepest parts and 90 000 + on the water surface ?

This is also measured with a real lux meter my phone reports back some insane figure

don't know dif between lux and par ,but i know vipers,more than enough w 4 can even get more out of removing lenses,never done ,also never passed more than 75 80blues,50-60 whites on 21 " tank 16" above water

 

[epicfatigue]

So Guys i have come to the fun part of my build, and until recently i knew exactly what i wanted.
But now i am not so sure the more i read the more i am confused so i am really calling out on people here.

Ill List what my custom Sump will be containing and would love some thoughts from people.

The Sump i am making will be made out of Acrylic and i think i will maybe make it 50-70 Gal.
And these are the key things that will be included and i will walk you thought them as i make them.

1. Sump will be plumbed to my storm-water drain by a qualified plumber 50mm Overflow connected to 100mm storm water, this will deal with any blockage that could ever occur.
2. Sump be connected to mains water supply to allow ATO system to function so no reservoir savings space!
3. Sump will have a custom build AWC system, this will suck water from under the house doing small water changes all the time.
4. Quarantine tank,
   This tank will be small and located within the sump, and can be configured to be in service or out of service via my reef-pi, basically the AWC system will pump water into this tank from my main display tank, this will be used for new fish, sick fish or injured fish.
5. Automatic Filter Roller, I will be building in a custom Automatic filter roller that will be used to clean the tank.
   Will walk you though my design when we get there.
6. Calcium Reactor, using twin PH Probes one inside the Tank, One inside the reactor, will be used to control the calcium breakdown inside the reactor and monitor levels in the tank.
7. Skimmer Section, Have a red-sea 600 Skimmer.
8. Heaters will be located in the sump controlled by reef pi as a backup, will have a multiple temperature probes throughout the tank, main display and sump, basically if my heater decides to run away on me Reef-pi will shut the heater off this is to prevent a fail in the system.

Which leads me to the discussion i am wanting to have with everyone.
I have zero experience with Salt water tanks and want to hear from people from what works,
I think i have covered the important parts inside my tank and if i am missing anything please yell out.

I was always planning on having a large kato refugium, however the more reading i have done it seems people are loving these Algae Scrubbers, should i be building one of these or both please let me know your thoughts.

I am putting the build on hold for a little while i research and design this sump.
I want it to be perfect and Acrylic isn't cheap!

Things a Missed
1. Grounding probe thanks fishguy242 (Not Sure if i need this however as everything is connected to a RCD)

 

[fishguy242]

hi,did not see grounding probe listed

 

[Ashish Patel]

Very nice.. Love the overbuild stand and canopy

 

[epicfatigue]

hi,did not see grounding probe listed

Did not even know this was a thing!

Will add this to my design thanks

Got any advice on if i should build a Algae Scrubber or a kato refugium or both?

 

[epicfatigue]

Now with everything painted in a mirror finish i have assembled the Tank Back together.
I used inset 105 deg soft close push to open hinges to make the cabinet really modern and pop.

I used 2x 100n gas struts, so they lid opens slowly without force and closes the same way.

The photos do not do it justice it is amazing to look at.

I am now ready to start construction on my sump, just need to work out the best configuration and if i should do
Kato or Algae Scrubber system.

Looking for some fellow reefers to chime in.

 

[Pennywise the Clown]

Love your build. I'm sure that it is going to be very successful.
What are you thinking on the dosing front? (apologies if you have mentioned it and I have missed it)

 

[epicfatigue]

Love your build. I'm sure that it is going to be very successful.
What are you thinking on the dosing front? (apologies if you have mentioned it and I have missed it)

Thanks @Pennywise the Clown, No not at all i have not mentioned that yet,
Since this is my first Build and i will be starting a Fresh the advise i was given and please please correct me if i am wrong but.

Using an Automatic Water changer doing 10 Liters a Day + a calcium reactor i was told i may not need dosing for some time.

The plan was to use these (Have a few already for my Calcium reactor + AWC Unit)
Stepper Motor Pump

 

[epicfatigue]

Installed my 600 Watt refugium light today, i know it doesnt look like much but man i have seen these in action in hydro setups, they are insane. They are a direct replacement for 500W HPS/MH lamp. So i couldn't see why this shouldn't be more then sufficient for chaeto

 

[Mbmarkus]

Did not even know this was a thing!

Will add this to my design thanks

Got any advice on if i should build a Algae Scrubber or a kato refugium or both?

Definitely have a fuge, If you can have both do it. If your water is too clean you can always shut one off. I like chaeto because it’s a fantastic nutrient export and a great way to keep nitrates down.

 

[epicfatigue]

Hey Guys,

Sorry have been landscaping and the aquarium has been on the back burner,
Plus i have been procrastinating as building a sump is something i have never done before, the more i read the more i got confused. so many people have their own way of doing things.

So i decided to ask a friend what he thought, he has some very large and nice aquariums and he put it to me simple.

Make it easy to maintain, make it fit all your equipment.

Roller filter into skimmer chamber - > refugium -> Pump protected by baffles.

So i figured what the heck i would give it a crack if it doesn't work ill change it later no point getting held up on it.

Still need to router the edges and clean it up, then do a water test.