Pro Clear ProStar 220 Build... A first on R2R I think........

[Big C]

Quick question: How is everybody lining up the front of the tank (bottom white trim)to the top of the three doors. Are you guys keeping it flush or pushed back slightly? I only ask because I had somebody insist it should be pushed back a little and my stance was it was designed to be flush with the doors to give it that seamless look.

Flush with the doors. This is how the display model was setup when I saw it in person.

I would look funny and you could catch the door tops when working around the aquarium if it wasn't flush.

 

[SPS247]

Flush with the doors. This is how the display model was setup when I saw it in person.

I would look funny and you could catch the door tops when working around the aquarium if it wasn't flush.

Awesome! Thanks for confirming. I didn’t get to see this tank in person and online photos appear to be flush but hard to tell. I feel better now with my decision to leave it flush. I’m working with the plumbing this weekend. If all goes well I’ll be filling the system this weekend/week.

 

[Big C]

Waiting for the tank to cycle............... Nitrites still a bit high but still on just 3 weeks. Should be coming around soon.

Hooked up my WaveEngine. For some reason on of my two Maxspect 250 keeps locking up. Tried cleaning, new bushings, etc. Ended up just buying a new motor block so only have one going. Have the two Wavs on the sides directing water along the back wall to keep stirred up back there. So there is plenty of water movement in the mean time. Now I need to start looking on how to send triggers from the Apex to the WaveEngine.

Noticed I have to run the water level a bitter higher than I like to keep the noise on the overflow down.

Got a little more cleaning done on the cords and tubing. Need to start moving over my Apex modules.

 

[Nohatch]

Your build is beautiful! I just added rock and water to my pro clear 110 last night. Very happy with the tank so far

 

[Nohatch]

Also in your sump in the section to the left of your float valve with the eggcrate stands... do you know what that section is supposed to be used for?

 

[Big C]

Also in your sump in the section to the left of your float valve with the eggcrate stands... do you know what that section is supposed to be used for?

Assuming if you want to run media in a mesh bag you can place it there.

I took mine out for more room, Macro and a BRS dual stage reactor.

 

[gammarho55]

Have any full sump photos to share? Got mine up and running but the lack of instructions made doing the plumbing a pain and one of the included valve is leaking. Also, didn't much care for the soft tubing connections... much greater chance of leaking. Thinking I just need to buck up and just do a custom manifold. Thanks for the help.

 

[Big C]

Have any full sump photos to share? Got mine up and running but the lack of instructions made doing the plumbing a pain and one of the included valve is leaking. Also, didn't much care for the soft tubing connections... much greater chance of leaking. Thinking I just need to buck up and just do a custom manifold. Thanks for the help.

Let me know if you want something specific.
I’ll eventually add in my dual BRS reactor and replumb the Macro reactor and finish up cord management. Still cycling the tank.

 

[gammarho55]

That's exactly what I was looking for. Find it kind of crazy they want the water level in the return pump area so low. Gives very little room for error- i.e. forgetting to add RO to your top off etc. Spoke with a rep and they said I could run it as high as I wanted, just making sure if the power goes out there's enough room for the display to drain and not overflow the sump, and to make sure it doesn't flow over the baffle before the return pump. Thanks again!

 

[Big C]

That's exactly what I was looking for. Find it kind of crazy they want the water level in the return pump area so low. Gives very little room for error- i.e. forgetting to add RO to your top off etc. Spoke with a rep and they said I could run it as high as I wanted, just making sure if the power goes out there's enough room for the display to drain and not overflow the sump, and to make sure it doesn't flow over the baffle before the return pump. Thanks again!

Sump is pretty big. My display is pretty full, 1/2” from the top. When I shut my pump off it drains even with the bottom of the return in the display and I still have a few inches left in the sump before overflowing but does overflow the baffle.

I think you could run easily another inch or so higher then what I am now and if all power was last you would lose any water.

Here are some pics when I shut off the pump. You can also do the math on water displayment and what level you can run the return chamber.

Before

After

 

[Big C]

What are folks doing for lighting on their ProStars? I was going to move over my 2 Radion XR30 Pros over and add a third (total 3 XR30 Pros). However, the more I think about it the more I am leaning two different ways:

1. Add two XR15s on the ends and mount the XR30s in the middle do use all LED or...
2. Add the new Aquatic Life XR18 and a new Radion XR15 , XR15 in the middle and the two XR30s on the ends.

It is in the living room by the TV and a bit worried about light spillage from the hybrid. Planning on a mixed reef with only a few SPS. Also don't want to run the Radions at 100%,

Thoughts anyone??? Also looking at having a 80/20 black lighting mount fabricated as well if I go the hybrid route.

 

[gammarho55]

I'll be running 2 Kessil AP700s, but mostly because I already had one and I love that shimmer If I had to do it all over again, I'd probably do 4 XR15s so I could space them how I need them instead of being limited by the dual puck of the XR30s. If I had unlimited budget (crosses fingers to win the lotto lol), I'd use 3 XR30s and run them perpendicular to the length of the tank to eliminate any shadowing. This would really blanket the entire tank so there wouldn't be a need to add any T5s. Just my 2 cents. Thanks again for your help.

 

[ScottB]

What are folks doing for lighting on their ProStars? I was going to move over my 2 Radion XR30 Pros over and add a third (total 3 XR30 Pros). However, the more I think about it the more I am leaning two different ways:

1. Add two XR15s on the ends and mount the XR30s in the middle do use all LED or...
2. Add the new Aquatic Life XR18 and a new Radion XR15 , XR15 in the middle and the two XR30s on the ends.

It is in the living room by the TV and a bit worried about light spillage from the hybrid. Planning on a mixed reef with only a few SPS. Also don't want to run the Radions at 100%,

Thoughts anyone??? Also looking at having a 80/20 black lighting mount fabricated as well if I go the hybrid route.

In the long run I am a big fan of hybrid lighting to get a smooth blanket of light and minimize shadowing. I have two of the old aquatic life fixtures running 6 hydras above two 80g frag tanks. Great value for money IMO.

 

[Thad disbrow]

Wow following the build. I replace 1% water daily. Keeps levels great and crystal clear

 

[Big C]

Wow following the build. I replace 1% water daily. Keeps levels great and crystal clear

Neptune DOS? Looking at this as well. Do you still vacuum the sand bed so often? I tried to get enough flow to keep the top of the sand clear of detritus.

Where do you remove the water from and where do you add it back?

 

[Big C]

Well I think I'm going with the Aquatic Life X18 Hybrid, my two existing Radion XR30 Pros and add one more XR15. If that's not enough I can always add one more XR15.

Below is a BASIC drawing for my light hangers. Plan on using black 1.5" 8020 aluminum rail. Priced it out its running about $190. Still need to figure out how to attach to the wall. More than likely drill a few holes into the aluminum rail and use two lag bolts per hanger. The hanger is adjustable in every dimension so hopefully I can easily center over the display. I'll post the parts list when I get it finalized.

 

[Big C]

Finally!!!!! Yes!!!!!! The cycle is done!!!!!! 4 weeks in the nose!!!!!! Ready for fish.......who should be the first??????

 

[Big C]

30% water change complete:

SG 1.026
dKh 8.7
Ammonia 0
Nitrites 0
Nitrates 20
pH 8.0
Phosphate 0.10
Temp 78.5


Wow, really tough to catch the little guys in my 75 display. Was able to nab the Pajama Cardinal.

First guy in! Let him settle and on to the next.

 

[MaxFlow]

I like the plumbing and wiring. Nice and tidy

 

[Big C]

I like the plumbing and wiring. Nice and tidy

Thanks. Learned from my rats nest on my first tank.....