Upgrade to new 1000L Display

[Draggie]

Hi guy's, this is my upgrade to a new 1000l display (Total system volume of about 1200l.
http://www.dragonreef.co.za/SARK/D2build3.jpg
http://www.dragonreef.co.za/SARK/D2build7.jpg
http://www.dragonreef.co.za/SARK/D2build8.jpg

These are some pictures of the tank build in my garage at home. Tank is constructed from 10mm glass with dual corner overflows and a coast to coast wier. Dimesions are 2 meters x 0.800 wide x 0.700 deep (water level at 0.650)

No closed loops planned for this tank. Circulation will be provided by 2 x 6100 streams and 2 x 6000 streams on a 7095 multicontroller. Return pump is an Ocean Runner 6500.

[Draggie]

http://www.dragonreef.co.za/SARK/D2build9.jpg

This is a picture of the tank placed in position in the lounge. Took 6 of us to carry the tank into position. It stands on a galavanised steel frame made from 40mm square tube with a 2mm wall thickness. Sump will be under the tank.

[Draggie]

http://www.dragonreef.co.za/SARK/D2build12.jpg

This is one of the DIY MH reflectors that I made. Used 0.7mm mirror finish steel.

http://www.dragonreef.co.za/SARK/D2build13.jpg

Picture of the completed light hood. Light will be provided by 3 x 250w XM 10 000k and 4 x 54 Geiseman T5 actinic pure for supplemental. MH's driven off Ice Cap ballasts.

http://www.dragonreef.co.za/SARK/D2build14.jpg
http://www.dragonreef.co.za/SARK/D2build15.jpg

Lighting hood in place. It's suspended by adjustable cable hangers off aluminium brackets that I bolted onto the back of the stand. I didn't attempt the cabinetry myself and got some to do that for me. There is still a facia to come that fit's on the top edge of the tank so that I don't get blinded my the MH's while sitting and enjoying my tank :)

Other equipment I'll be running is:
Deltec APF 600 skimmer
Idol Marine 1000 skimmer (Locally made rated for 1000L)
Regal Projects CA Rx (Locally made)
Regal Projects ZEO Rx

[Draggie]

http://www.dragonreef.co.za/SARK/DR6-05-09-05.jpg

And lastly this is an older picture of my current system (560L)
Sadly not looking too good at the moment. Been neglecting it a bit while concentrating on getting the new system going :rolleyes:

[Zoos]

Nice tank at first I thought it said 1000g but then I noticed liters, so it's about 265 gallons, still very nice though I will be following it

[Draggie]

Hi Zoo's, need to remember you guy's work in Gallons, feet and inches :). Yeah will give me a Volume of about 265 gallons gross, with a net volume of about 215 gallons after displacement.

[alien9168]

Nice! 560L.

I'm tagging as well.
-alien

[CurvBall]

Finally found your post dude! looking good, can't wait to scape this puppy for you... better get the goggles and snorkel ready hey;)

[Draggie]

http://www.dragonreef.co.za/SARK/D2build17.jpg

http://www.dragonreef.co.za/SARK/D2build18.jpg

Here's an update on my tank:

Got the tank filled and plumbed the sump in. Ran the system and was just too unhappy with the noise. There were ways to quieten it down but it would mean compromising a lot of what I designed the system to do.
So I decided to move the sump onto the patio, after seeing someone do something similar here on RC. The second picture shows the sump cabinet I started building.

[Draggie]

http://www.dragonreef.co.za/SARK/D2build19.jpg

Another shot of the cabinet under construction.

http://www.dragonreef.co.za/SARK/D2build20.jpg

From the outside looking in.

[Draggie]

http://www.dragonreef.co.za/SARK/D2build21.jpg

Cabinet completed.

http://www.dragonreef.co.za/SARK/D2build22.jpg

Front doors and lid open.

http://www.dragonreef.co.za/SARK/D2build23.jpg

Equipment layed out. So far the 2 skimmers, return and heaters are hooked up. Still need to get the CA and ZEO reactors running.

http://www.dragonreef.co.za/SARK/D2build24.jpg

Shot of the plumbing coming in.

[Draggie]

I'd actually forgotten that I started a thread about my tank here..:o
Here's what it looks like now, 10 months after setting up.

Full tank
http://i96.photobucket.com/albums/l178/DragonReef5/Depth4.jpg

http://i96.photobucket.com/albums/l178/DragonReef5/Depth3.jpg

http://i96.photobucket.com/albums/l178/DragonReef5/5.jpg

http://i96.photobucket.com/albums/l178/DragonReef5/3.jpg

I've had a lot of issues with the system and it really tested my patience but finally seems to have stabilised. I'll post some more pics a bit later of what it looked like in the "darker" days. There have been some equipment changes as well, but I will elaborate a bit more later.

[Draggie]

Taking a few steps back..

http://i96.photobucket.com/albums/l178/DragonReef5/Diabolical2.jpg

This is what my tank looked like about 5 months ago, the hair algae outbreak from hell. Virtually every piece of rock in the tank was infected as well as most of the coral bases. Note the algae on the clam shell.

[Draggie]

I needed the re think my system. The benefit of not buying good quality live rock being one of my biggest regrets. I pulled out a lot of the lower grade rock that I inherited from a friend of mine when he took his system down. I also reduced the amount of rock in the display by about 60 kgs. This changed the aquascape quite substantially but opened things up. This was another problem, the dead spots I was getting overloading the system with rock.
I also added a remote DSB using Caribsea Aragmax and Aragalive.
The turn around started when I upgraded my IM1000 skimmer to a Reef Octopus DNW 200.

[Draggie]

The sump as it looks now:

http://i96.photobucket.com/albums/l178/DragonReef5/Sumpcab2.jpg

http://i96.photobucket.com/albums/l178/DragonReef5/DNW2002.jpg

The Octo when I put it in with my old skimmer that I took out.

Broken in with about 3 days worth of skimmate. I was skimming wet at the time.
http://i96.photobucket.com/albums/l178/DragonReef5/Octocup.jpg

[Draggie]

Full shot showing the cabinet:

http://i96.photobucket.com/albums/l178/DragonReef5/Curtains.jpg

And a couple more shots of the tank:

http://i96.photobucket.com/albums/l178/DragonReef5/Depth1.jpg

http://i96.photobucket.com/albums/l178/DragonReef5/Depth2.jpg

http://i96.photobucket.com/albums/l178/DragonReef5/2.jpg

[dailydriven911]

Nice job on the tank it's awesome! Can't wait to see more pics of the coral growth in the future.

[hawaiianwargod]

Impressive tank. Good job!

[mike126]

Thats really nice is it in an apartment??? are you worried about it falling thru the floor???

[Draggie]

Thanks guy's. Hey Mike, no it's not an apartment. The room where the tank is situated and the patio is above my garage. The floor is a reinforced concrete slab designed to add on a second floor. It can easliy handle 3 times the weight I've got on there at the moment.

[mike126]

Sweet, i was wondering because i live in an apartment upstairs and the only thing holding me back from setting up my 180 is the fear of killing the old lady under me...

[CurvBall]

Nice one my friend and hey you better not be talking about my old LR:D

[Draggie]

Hey Hey, Curvball imagine bumping into you here - lol.

Nah was some liverock that I was given by SG, with a few other bits and pieces. You recognise some of the corals from these pics though ? Bottom left corner is the Starburst Porites, and those Favia too ;)

[CurvBall]

Tank is looking sweet! Now how about some close ups of all 'my corals':D

[crescent1]

great setup,nice job well done.

[lastlight]

That remote sump looks fantastic. Can't wait to see this grow in it already looks amazing. And nice decorating to boot!

Brett

[Draggie]

Hey guy's thanks for the compliments. Working backwards again here are some earlier pics of the stup up stage.

http://www.dragonreef.co.za/SARK/D2build26.jpg

http://www.regalprojects.co.za/regalreef/D2build30.jpg

http://www.regalprojects.co.za/regalreef/FM1.jpg

http://www.reefclips.net/data/media/11/D2build36.jpg

[Draggie]

And a few more:

http://www.reefclips.net/data/media/11/D2build37.jpg

http://www.reefclips.net/data/media/2/D2build41.jpg

http://i96.photobucket.com/albums/l178/DragonReef5/Cabinet.jpg

http://i96.photobucket.com/albums/l178/DragonReef5/DBinside.jpg

[Draggie]

Some of the livestock

http://i96.photobucket.com/albums/l178/DragonReef5/Scolly.jpg

http://i96.photobucket.com/albums/l178/DragonReef5/Blasto.jpg

http://i96.photobucket.com/albums/l178/DragonReef5/Greenmonti.jpg

http://i96.photobucket.com/albums/l178/DragonReef5/NewAcro.jpg

http://i96.photobucket.com/albums/l178/DragonReef5/4.jpg

[CurvBall]

More photos of the livestock dude, more more more;)

[laomedon]

hey Draggie is it possible for you to get corals by your self from the ocean? I noticed you are right at the coast right?

[seedub]

And being on the coast I hope you take the time to surf J-bay and Elandsbai (sp?). World class surf and a world class tank to boot!

[Draggie]

Hi Laomedon, yes I do live on the East Coast of Africa in the city of Durban which is right next to the Indian Ocean. Some of the more popular dive spots are places like Protea Banks where Aliwal shoal is situated. Famous for diving with Ragged Tooth Sharks. Slightly further North is Sodwana which also has some awesome reefs. Some of the fish indeginous to our Coastline are, Powder Blue Tangs, Convict Tangs, Pajama Tangs, Chocklate Tangs, Variety of wrasse, Angels and Butterflies. Anthias (The psuedoanthias squampinis in my tank are locally caught). Every couple of seasons the guy's get really lucky and have caught the infamous Zebrosoma Gemmatum of our shores.
A permit allows you to collect specimans for your own tank BUT the collection of inverts is prohibited.
It's pretty much grey area as far as what classifies as an "Invert" and one of those blanket legislations put in place to protect against the plundering of abalone, crayfish, mussel etc. However things like hermit crabs, urchins, brittle stars etc are readlily picked up in rock pools and along beaches.

Guy's have also been known to collect corals from shallow rock pools and man made reefs. Not that there's too much wildly exciting. We not quite in the tropical zone so the water temps average around 22-24 Deg Celcius in summer and in the 18's in winter. Further North towards Mozambique On our northern coastal border) it starts to get really cool and particularly in the Bazzaruto Archipelgo there are some awesome reefs but again here strict legislation prevents the collection of coral.

[Draggie]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=9190814#post9190814 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by seedub
And being on the coast I hope you take the time to surf J-bay and Elandsbai (sp?). World class surf and a world class tank to boot!

Hey seedub thanks Bud. Unfortueatly the world famous Super Tubes at JBay are a bit far from where I am. Jeffrey's bay is about a thousand odd kilometers south of Durban, closer to Port Elizabeth. But we have some pretty good local breaks too :) Curvball, my partner in crime, now situated in the UK probably knows them all. Hey Curv that's one thing London doesn't have Dude :cool:

[CurvBall]

yeah, bit far to drive from Durban to go for a wave at the infamous Supertubes @ J-Bay, but at least I can say I've had it at a cranking 4-6ft perfection:D ...it ain't quite the UK but then again I've traded the waves for punk rock, all good... now I just need to trade something else so I can get a tank again.

Dude, how about some more coral shots? ;)

[Draggie]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=9191136#post9191136 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by CurvBall


Dude, how about some more coral shots? ;)

lol, I'll break the tri-pod and camera out on the weekend and get busy with some coral shots, I know what you wanna see :)
You get my PM re IMACSA ?

[CurvBall]

Yeah, hit you back with a reply already? I'm pretty easy, I know it is Anthony and Steve who are tight with the dates. Let them pick what is best and I'll arrange around that. Cool.

[Draggie]

Ok cool, I'll check in for the reply now.

[CurvBall]

And hit the mod forum while you there for my 'mammoth' post... ha ha ha... oh and we had like 10cm of snow again today and it only stopped snowing at around 11ish, very 'cool' ;)

[Draggie]

Will do. Snow !!! It's freakin 38 celcius here today with humidity. The AC runs 24/7 and my chiller is working overtime. Same timeline, opposite sides of the sphere, you shopping for snowboard boots and I'm using factor 40 for sandwich spead - lol

[CurvBall]

Factor 40 sandwich spread, lol!!!! Yeah, enjoying the weather here, just frustrated I can't go snowboarding... but soon. yeah IMACSA should be cool. Guess I should get some form of speech together, ha ha.

[CurvBall]

Update? Come on?

[Draggie]

lol, you bored that you dug out this thread..
Here's a few I took today, system is comming up on 1 year

http://www.reefclips.net:/data/media/3/Dreef6.jpg

http://www.reefclips.net:/data/media/3/DReef7.jpg

http://www.reefclips.net:/data/media/3/DReef8.jpg

http://www.reefclips.net:/data/media/3/DReef9.jpg

[Draggie]

Few more
http://www.reefclips.net:/data/media/3/DReef10.jpg

http://www.reefclips.net:/data/media/3/Dreef18.jpg

http://www.reefclips.net:/data/media/3/DReef19.jpg

http://www.reefclips.net:/data/media/3/DReef17.jpg

[green_frogspawn]

very nice tank mate :)

[chris wright]

Looks good mate and a great size tank. Keep us updated. :)

[Rokdog]

Beautiful mate....the Aussies love it :)

[Bax]

Very nice tank and system ... wish I could put equipment outside, not likely in northern New Jersey though!

[Draggie]

Hey Aussies glad you guy's are liking it.. You probably loving the cricket at the moment as well. We've come down to a must win game against England to qualify for the semi's tomorrow :(

Hey Bax, yeah it's a bonus having all the equipment outside, fortuneatly we have mild winters I can get away with it. Chiller works overtime in summer though..

[chris wright]

G'day Draggie,

As wwe said before, beautiful tank. Cant wait for more pics especially the behind the scenes stuff..

I hope your cricketers can bet the poms, we've had em out here all summer, whopping there butts, its time for some fresh meat ah? lol. :p , it would be good to see a good game of cricket, and your blokes always give us a good run for the money.

Be chatting.

[EWC88]

what type sand did you use? and NICE tank!

[SAreefer]

Nice tank ;)