DSA 175g Peninsula build

Jimbo662 · Sep 5, 2015

I bought this tank back in Feb and I seriously considered doing a reef tank but stuck to my original plan and did a planted tank. Over the last couple of months something just hasn't seemed right and I've decided it really needs to be a reef tank!!!!! I'm getting a 90g to transfer the planted tank into and will transfer my 50g cube inhabitants into the 175.

Equipment

Tank: DSA 175g with overflow on one end

Sump: 40B, just need to add another piece of glass to form a skimmer area

Lights: 3 - Radion XR30w Pros

Skimmer: Vertex 180i with the neck cleaner

Powerheads: 2 - MP40we's

Return pump: Mag 18

Rock: BRS reef saver

Sand: Agrilive special grade

First delivery:

Tank:

RobberyinCSharp1824 · Sep 6, 2015

How do you like those lights? I saw they had a table advertising their products at a coral sale but they didn't have anything to demo live. I understand they are supposed to be very expensive but high quality!!!

Jimbo662 · Sep 6, 2015

Don't know yet...they're still in the box. I do have the XR15w Pro on my cube and love it. I ramp it from 10k to 12k to 14k to 20k then back down. Everything in the tank seems to really like them. They are a very slick looking light...ashame I'll have them hidden in a hood.

davocean · Sep 6, 2015

Nice looking tank, I like that canopy and how it opens, and love peninsula's for reefs.
The only changes I'd personally make on that list is I prefer dry sand to store bought live, and I'd go w/ a quieter and more efficient return pump.

Jimbo662 · Sep 6, 2015

Thanks, yeah the doors on the canopy are great! Give you plenty of room to get inside the tank and work.

I'm actually looking at a Sicce pump.

Dry sand? I've used the special grade in several tanks and love it. You don't get sand storms like you do with regular size grains.

davocean · Sep 6, 2015

I too use the caribsea special seaflor for the same reasons, but the packaged live often comes w/ dieoff that can actually hinder your cycle.
I prefer the dry version, and best is to add a scoop of sand from an established tank.
This has always resulted in a faster cycle for me.
sicce, tunze, eheim are all good return choices, and lately I hear good things on fluvals though I have no personal experience w/ them.
An Eheim 1262 would be my choice for that size tank.

Jimbo662 · Sep 6, 2015

I didn't know it was available dry...mine should be delivered on Wed so a little to late to make any changes.

I always rinse the sand first with tap water to get as much dust out of it and then with RO water. I've got a 50g cube that I'll be transferring into it so hopefully I won't experience too much of a cycle.

davocean · Sep 6, 2015

Well it will still be good, make sure to rinse in clean SW if it is packaged live.

Jimbo662 · Sep 7, 2015

Looking at mounting options for the lights. I can mount them inside the canopy and hide everything away...or remove the canopy all together and go with the multi light RMS kit for the radions. The lights are just too good looking to hide in a canopy. Going with the RMS option I'll be able to adjust the light easier and get them in the right spots and probably help reduce heat build up.
http://ecotechmarine...multi-light-rms

jeremy · Sep 7, 2015

I agree to nice of lights to hide in a canopy. Looking like an awesome build.

Cment · Sep 7, 2015

LOVE THIS TANK!! The dimensions are awesome and when I upgrade it will be to this. I cant wait to see how this turns out, looks like you have a great start!

Jimbo662 · Sep 7, 2015

Thanks. I actually had this same tank a couple of years ago but with the overflow back center. When I decided to go with the peninsula style I knew I wanted the same dimensions.

Saltwaterwill · Sep 7, 2015

Hey, I've been searching for dsa tanks and in particular this size, thank you for posting pics of it , haven't seen one recently. How do u like the quality ?

Jimbo662 · Sep 7, 2015

The quality is very good. I've never had any issues with them. The first tank was a standard order and only took about a week and a half to get. This one was a special order and took about 6 weeks. They're very easy to deal with. I ordered through an LFS and once the order was in DSA communicated with me directly to confirm all the specs to make sure everything was just like I wanted it.

Jimbo662 · Sep 7, 2015

Well, looks like my canopy decision has been made for me. With the canopy the light would end up less than 5" above the water.

Jimbo662 · Sep 9, 2015

Always fun when the UPS man shows up! Got these along with 150lb of rock and 200lbs of sand.

ReeferEric · Sep 10, 2015

Sweet, let's see some more pictures!!!

Jimbo662 · Sep 10, 2015

pictures of...

Not much to take pics of. Tank still has freshwater in it. Going to pick up a 90g tank this weekend to transfer that stuff into. Will probably be a week and a half before I'm able to thoroughly clean it and get it ready for water.