TMC Signature 900 in the UK

[jordonm]

Hi All,

I’ve only recently joined this forum and it’s been interesting seeing some of the different kit available in other parts of the world and also seeing how you guys do things differently.

My current tank doesn’t have a sump and is limiting in other areas, so I’ve been after something a bit bigger with a sump and settled on a second hand TMC Signature 900 which I picked up on Sunday.
I've been on this forum for the last 6 months or so after starting my Juwel Rio 125. The tank was ideal to get me back into marines, and has helped me get to grips with things, however it's extremely limiting. My plan is to keep this thread as a diary for the tank.

Onto the interesting stuff... my biggest problem is that i'm impatient and impulsive but also anal, which is massively contradictory and bites me in the a**e frequently in the world of marines. The plan is to keep my current system running until i've sourced all of the kit and finished plans for the new tank. This will allow me to be impulsive with my current tank and also getting everything spot on first time round with the new tank.

So sunday Ipicked up the tank, cabinet, sump, eheim 1100 return pump, jebao wave maker, a chinese LED unit, sump light and heater. I've included below a predicted spec list with some blanks that I'm still researching (any advicegreatly appreciated) and also my ideas for the tank. The tank is being done on a budget, hence it may take a couple of months to get everything to how I want it and I'll be sourcing as much as possible 2nd hand.

Tank - TMC Signature 900 - total volume 250l including sump
Lighting - 8x39w ATI unit - front to back:
Blue+
Coral+
Actinic
Aqua blue special
Blue+
Aqua blue special
Purple+
Blue+
2x Kessil a160we mounted on back of ati
Overflow - Oceanlife - also where possible all pipework will be hard as opposed to hoses
Flow - Maxspect Gyre XF230 (already got), 2x jebao sw4
Return pump - Ecotech Vectra S1
Skimmer - Deltec sc1350
Doser - Kamoer 3 channel
ATO - Tunze osmolator 3155
Reactor - DD reactor running activated carbon
Temp controller - Aquamedic
Sand - ati fiji white
Rock - 10kg aquaroche chunks
Salt - Red Sea blue
Background - black

My plan is that the tank will be high flow with absolutely no dead spots, the detritus will then land in the sump and the ball ache for me begins - I have no experience with sumps. If you can help then please do!

This detritus will land in the first chamber of the sump where it can easily be eaten by a few hungry crabs, with the rest removed by me during a weekly water change of around 20% (this will possibly take over the RO water section of the sump)

The next section will house a sand bed (live sand) the remainder of my rock (to take me up to the recommend minimums) and also a frag rack - this will be lit by a small LED unit on the opposite lighting schedule to the main tank to help stabilise PH.

3rd section will be for the skimmer and reactor and finally the return pump in the last section.

I'm sure there's flaws in my sump design so as I say, please feel free to assist.

Based on tanks that i've seen and been researching, I'm aiming for my levels to be kept at roughly:

SG - 1.025
Nitrate - <2
Phos - 0
KH - 7.5
Calc - 425
Mag - 1290

Potential stocklist -
I'll be moving over 90% of the corals from my existing tank which is mostly SPS, a red Goni and some others
My yellow Coris Wrasse and Leopard Wrasse will also be moving over
All crabs, snails, starfish and shrimp will also be moved with my 5 larger hermits being vacated to the sump

I recently lost a pair of Black Ice Clowns and would love another pair
3 Anthias
Flame angel (subject to feeding habits)

I'm undecided on the rest of the fish, but would definitely like another standout member and also some smaller ones.

Corals will be mostly SPS - I've got a great selection of encrusting monti frags that I'm hoping I'll be able to get to grow over the back wall of the tank. There will also be a few LPS bits and some high end zoas.

The final thing worth nothing is that the tanks will be swapped over in 1 day once everything is ready, already dreading this!

I think that covers everything and thanks for reading!

Before I can get some pics, here’s some of my current tank and stock:

Utter Chaos Zoa:

My prized red Goni:

Golden Hammer:

Rainbow Stylo:

Green branching Monti and Cleaner Shrimp:

Bubble Tip Nem and Sexy Shrimp:

FTS:

Zoas on canister filter return:

Maldive Star:

Fire Shrimp:

 

[reeferfoxx]

Looks good! Can't wait for the new build

 

[jordonm]

Looks good! Can't wait for the new build

Thanks mate

 

[jordonm]

So, there’s been a fair few developments:

I’ve been collecting equipment over the last week 90% of which has been bought from fellow reefers and my spec list in the first post has been updated to reflect this.

I will no longer be using live rock and sand in the sump, I’m using 3kg biohome filtration media.

Tank has been test filled and cleaned:

Rock will hopefully look something like this:

Thoughts on the rock?

I’ve got 125l of water mixed and I’ll be doing another 125l to fill the tank in prep for the move.

I’m going to be using ATM Colony so fingers crossed it works as all stock will be transferred in 1 day!

 

[SPR1968]

So, there’s been a fair few developments:

I’ve been collecting equipment over the last week 90% of which has been bought from fellow reefers and my spec list in the first post has been updated to reflect this.

I will no longer be using live rock and sand in the sump, I’m using 3kg biohome filtration media.

Tank has been test filled and cleaned:

Rock will hopefully look something like this:

Thoughts on the rock?

I’ve got 125l of water mixed and I’ll be doing another 125l to fill the tank in prep for the move.

I’m going to be using ATM Colony so fingers crossed it works as all stock will be transferred in 1 day!

Hi Jordon

Following along and the rocks looks nice.

I’ve used ATM Colony on 2 occasions and it’s works as advertised, so just follow the instructions which are very simple and your good to go. Pretty much instant cycle.

 

[jordonm]

Hi Jordon

Following along and the rocks looks nice.

I’ve used ATM Colony on 2 occasions and it’s works as advertised, so just follow the instructions which are very simple and your good to go. Pretty much instant cycle.

Thanks. The tank will be mostly sps with some lps so I need plenty of grow out room!

That’s good to hear, I’m going to be heavily reliant on it!

 

[jordonm]

So the change over has happened and most of the equipment is now up and running (subject to some bodging)

Here are some pics

Old tank:



Stock in buckets:


Tank in position:


Tank filled with stock added:



Now fully settled:



And after a coral shuffle around (2/8 bulbs on)



Provided they all like their new spots, I’ll be cutting the bases off, taking frags and gluing them down at the weekend. Skimmer has been added tonight as I’m getting a slight browning on the rocks along with a nitrate rise so I know that Colony has worked its magic.

 

[jordonm]

Had an issue with the ATU this week, thought I’d finally got it working properly but it dumped loads of RO in the system.

Tested my salinity last night (3 days of it running) and it’s dropped from 1.026 to 1.018. I haven’t noticed any huge issues so far so I’m slowly raising it. Did a 50l water change today which has brought it back up to 1.020. Will top up with salt this week to bring it up.

I’m struggling to get the new S1 to be run at a decent speed. The most I can put it on is 30%, otherwise the return empties, and if I add more water the level in the DT rises. Any advice? Also let the mrs loose with my phone for some pics:

 

[jordonm]

Finally sorted the ATU issue and everything is stable which meant I could add a load of new frags! Also added one of my dream fish, a mystery wrasse!

Finally, due to the lack of dry space in the stand, me and a mate built a cupboard to house everything (still missing a door as we ran out of wood)

 

[jordonm]

Parameters are rock solid, nitrates rose up to 5ppm so I took the decided to get the skimmer function properly and they’ve dropped again to 0.5ppm, which is lower than I’d like but I’m increasing feeding so hopefully they’ll rise.

As a result of the above I’ve also added some more fish. Found a tiny radiant wrasse and also three Anthias.

Also added a load more frags. Now on the lookout for higher end and rarer stuff

Excuse some of the pics, I’m still learning!