spspirates 150 gallon build

kschweer · Oct 5, 2014

spspirate said:
Viewing some rock this week so I can get that up and going in some brute trash cans.

What kind of rock are you planning on going with? Keep taking your time with the set up. The thought and patience really shows in the quality of what's coming along. I really rushed my previous tank and the one thing I'm glad I did with the new one was take my time.

spspirate · Oct 5, 2014

Thanks. I will tell you your right. I will say I have been in this hobby for ten years straight. This to me is a little break but at the same time it is a build that I get to think twice before I do something. So far I wouldn't change a thing and I'm almost ready for water. Very happy with the outcome. Can't wait to see your tank specs and pics of your reef!
I'm really hoping I can get my hands on a bunch of pukani......we'll see!

Fin · Oct 5, 2014

One great thing about stumbling on to a build thread like this one and going through the whole thing at once, is that it all comes together pretty quick!

Beautiful tank and a ton of attention to detail. First class all the way. Love the tank and the sump. I almost placed an order for a ReefSavvy tank a few months ago to replace my old and tired Oceanic 140. Really wishing I had now.

Anyway, from one Parrot Head to another, really enjoyed reading this thread this evening and looking forward to seeing this tank finish coming together. Fins Up!

spspirate · Oct 5, 2014

HULA HULA!! Thanks bro! I think a may go back and read it over myself. Thanks for the kind words too. I'll tell you this tank is a beast! Heavy and built like a ironclad ship! Felix does a heck of a job. I may have to buy me a fake Palm tree to add to the room to complete the package!..LOL!

Fin · Oct 5, 2014

Landshark surfboard for the wall! Hahahaha!

afamousjohnson · Oct 5, 2014

Man I hope you get a ton of tonga - would look so sweet. Clean setup you have here - looks awesome!. I use vacuum hose to bundle my lights just like that - works great. I also use it around a few buntched clear drain tubes coming off my reactors in the sump to keep the light out and them clean.
Stoked to see it runnin!

spspirate · Oct 5, 2014

Thanks man! Originally I was going to run a cord cover down the wall. Doing so I would have had to paint it the same color as the wall then screw it to the wall........l then saw the grey corrugated tubing that would do the trick for me.

spspirate · Oct 6, 2014

Fin said:
Landshark surfboard for the wall! Hahahaha!

YES! Thats it!

spspirate · Oct 6, 2014

afamousjohnson said:
Man I hope you get a ton of tonga - would look so sweet. Clean setup you have here - looks awesome!. I use vacuum hose to bundle my lights just like that - works great. I also use it around a few buntched clear drain tubes coming off my reactors in the sump to keep the light out and them clean.
Stoked to see it runnin!

Thanks again!!........Me too! Dead branch coral or what we like to call "Tonga" is such a common thing on the reefs and I think the smaller fish like wrasses can really relate to it well. Theres plenty of nooks and crannies to look for pods and small places to hide from other fish which in turn helps them to stay healthy by drastically decreasing stress within the fish. It also provides plenty of surface area for bacteria and to grow cool corals. I think what I'll end up doing is having two islands and at the base of each island will be Tonga branch.

freak1456 · Oct 6, 2014

The dry Pukani is the way to go. Lots of surface area and very large light weight rocks. Thats what I used in my 150. Got a 50lb box and had more then enough for the aqua scape. Ended up with a bunch left over to stick in my sump. And depending on where you get it from *cough cough* BRS *cough* they will work with you on the size and shape that will work best in your system.

spspirate · Oct 7, 2014

Sweet! Thanks for the heads up

Daniel@R2R · Oct 8, 2014

spspirate said:
Blah blah blah...and I'm almost ready for water. Blah blah blah

There I fixed it for you! :rockon: :rockon: :rockon:

RandyO · Oct 8, 2014

Fin said:
One great thing about stumbling on to a build thread like this one and going through the whole thing at once, is that it all comes together pretty quick!

Beautiful tank and a ton of attention to detail. First class all the way. Love the tank and the sump.

Agree with you 100% Fin.

Great job Andy.

powdermonkey · Oct 8, 2014

Man. I need to go back and get caught up on your build! Stunning!
I bought both pukani and tonga branch from BRS. The pukani is very lightwieght and porous but dirty. While I love the look of piled tonga it is like a brick. I know there are different opinions on rock density and bacteria growth so I will leave that alone. With the corals I know you will be buying the rock doesnt matter a darn bit!

spspirate · Oct 8, 2014

RandyO said:
Agree with you 100% Fin.

Great job Andy.

Thanks Randy!

spspirate · Oct 8, 2014

powdermonkey said:
Man. I need to go back and get caught up on your build! Stunning!
I bought both pukani and tonga branch from BRS. The pukani is very lightwieght and porous but dirty. While I love the look of piled tonga it is like a brick. I know there are different opinions on rock density and bacteria growth so I will leave that alone. With the corals I know you will be buying the rock doesnt matter a darn bit!

Thanks!! I'm going to try to see what I can do local first then I may hit up BRS and yes your right about tonga being very dense and less surface area for bacteria than pukani bar none.....but I love the natural look of it.

skinz78 · Oct 8, 2014

Water?

kevantheman35 · Oct 8, 2014

This us one great build!

freak1456 · Oct 8, 2014

spspirate said:
Thanks!! I'm going to try to see what I can do local first then I may hit up BRS and yes your right about tonga being very dense and less surface area for bacteria than pukani bar none.....but I love the natural look of it.

Pukani is VERY dirty when it comes in making the cureing process take a bit longer than most other rock. Took me about 2 1/2 months and for the first 3 weeks I was doing 50% water changes every 2 or 3 days because of how much was leaching out of it.

kevantheman35 · Oct 8, 2014

freak1456 said:
Pukani is VERY dirty when it comes in making the cureing process take a bit longer than most other rock. Took me about 2 1/2 months and for the first 3 weeks I was doing 50% water changes every 2 or 3 days because of how much was leaching out of it.

+1 I went with Marco this time for that reason