Spartanman22's 80 Upgrade

[spartanman22]

This morning I placed the final equipment order for my 80 gallon Deep Blue rimless upgrade. So, I figured it was about time to get a build thread going! My wife and I will be moving into a much larger apartment in April. Naturally, I took this as an opportune time to upgrade.

My current setup consists of an 18 x 18 x 18" cube with an 18 x 18 x 8" frag tank. The display and frag tank sit next to each to other on a Deep Blue Series II stand. The system has been running for about three years, and it has mostly been a success. I did suffer a decent sized crash post-honeymoon this summer, but its come back somewhat. Small tanks are fun and all, but it was about time to get back into something a bit larger. I have always liked the 48" x 24" footprint and ideally would prefer an 18" height, but the 80 gallon Deep Blue's 16" height will have to do!

This system will be strictly SPS. It was a tough decision to relinquish my love of zoas and palys, but ultimately I felt that it would be a greater success if I could focus on keeping just SPS satisfied. I have found in the past that it is too much effort to walk that tight line of maintaining SPS colors and zoa/paly health. I have spent a VERY long time planning this whole upgrade out, and short of buying all Royal Exclusiv, have aimed at buying top quality equipment. I also have a tad bit of OCD, and like the toys as much as the fish. So I planned the sump layout around a Red/White color scheme. The equipment I have settled on is as follows:

• Display: 80 Gallon Deep Blue RR Rimless (48" x 24" x 16")
• Sump: Semi-custom Synergy Sump (Just altered the colors)
• Skimmer: Vertex Omega 150
• Return Pump: EcoTech Vectra M1
• Media Reactors: Vertex RX-U 1.5 L
• Additive System: GHL Profilux Doser 2
• Monitoring System: Apex Gold plus
  • WXM
  • ALD
  • AFS
• Flow: 2 x MP40wES - May upgrade to QD's in the future
  • 2 x MP10wES - have them laying around. May end up using them.
• Lighting: Elos Planet II
  • MH: ReefBrite 14K 250 w DE bulbs
  • T5: 3 x ATI Blue Plus, 1 x ATI Coral Plus

At this point all equipment has been ordered/received and stand completed. The tank and stand is currently being stored in my parent's basement, and I am going home to visit (I.E. work on the tank!) this weekend. My goal is to finish the electrical compartment, plumbing and the reefscape.

I'll throw up a few teaser shots of where I stand currently, and then I'll start uploading in chronological order.

 

[spartanman22]

 

[spartanman22]

At this point my only real disappointment is that the Vectra M1's got some blue on it (there's that OCD kicking in!). I'm considering painting it like I did to the fan vents, but the plastic is extremely smooth and I'm not sure if the paint will adhere well.

 

[spartanman22]

Could anyone with experience educate me on the use of bio pellets? I understand the concept, just another mechanism of carbon dosing, but I seem to recall far more horror stories with bio pellets than any other carbon dosing methodology. I like to stick heavy. In the past I've dosed vodka/MB7 to maintain appropriate nitrate levels. However, it's a lot of extra work. I'd like to make this system fairly automated. I'm fine with the monthly maintenance, but I'd like to eliminate the daily/weekly as much as realistically possible.

I'm toying with the idea (well more than toying since I bought the pellets!) of running AIO pellets in one of my RX-U reactors.

What are some things to look out for. I imagine id have to keep and eye on flow through the reactor and make sure it doesn't clog up and turn anoxic as bacterial colonies grow and populate. But other than that and the periodic addition of more pellets is there any other real maintenance?

 

[spscrazy3]

Do you have and sps list together yet for what you want to stick your tank with? Just interested

 

[spartanman22]

As of right now no. I've never been all that into LE and designer coral. If I see a piece I like at my LFS I get it. Fortunately they aren't all too focused on named coral either, just quality aussie SPS. I will admit though that I've got my eye on multiple Battlecoral pieces, and will likely feature many pieces from him.

 

[spartanman22]

Big milestone today! Made the last equipment purchase! Got in the last few odds and ends that I was missing.

This weekend I'll be focusing on electrical and plumbing, and hopefully I'll be able to wrap that up.

 

[bknapp]

Any updates?

 

[CodyRVA]

Love those tanks!

 

[spartanman22]

Yes major updates! Sorry I haven't been updating this thread. I've updated on another board. The tank has been setup and all live stock transferred over last week.

I'll do a more detailed update later tonight but here's some teasers!

 

[bknapp]

There's other boards?

 

[spartanman22]

There's other boards?

Haha yes Chicago area has a local forum.

 

[bknapp]

I'll be flying in and out of Chicago next week, won't have enough time to do anything fun unfortunately.

 

[Salt-Lick]

Nice setup. Super clean. Love the well thought out sump area with everything being neat and organized. Awesome!

 

[spartanman22]

I'll be flying in and out of Chicago next week, won't have enough time to do anything fun unfortunately.

That's a shame there's plenty to do in Chicago!

 

[spartanman22]

Nice setup. Super clean. Love the well thought out sump area with everything being neat and organized. Awesome!

Thank you, I spent the better part of a year planning it all out. It's come together pretty well and everything is really accessible. I think my next purchase is going to be a skimmate locker.

 

[spartanman22]

I bought a TP-Link POE adapter kit to get connectivity to my apex, and after installing it last night I can't connect to my Apex's web interface like I could when it was hard wired with a cable.

The TP-Link adapters indicator LEDs show that they are connected and on. Any ideas on why I may not be able to connect?

 

[hybridazn]

Love the stand! Great job

Keep the pics coming

 

[SchnitzelReef]

Wondering why you chose the Osmolator nano? All that high end equipment, and your relying on one float switch? Everything else looks great. Your sump area looks super clean and well planned out. Only thing I would change is the ATO. I recently purchased the avast marine pressure switch, and hooked it up to my apex via the break out box. I also have a float switch as a back up in case the avast marine ATO ever sticks. It's a pretty clean setup, and very safe.

Just something to think about


I'm using a Tunze magnet mount to hold the backup float switch.

 

[spartanman22]

I've not seen the avast pressure switch I'll have to check that out. The osmolator nano is for the QT tank. The display is going to be run with 3 float switches through the Apex