Bakbay's 450g - Final Upgrade?

[bakbay]

It's been a wild and fun roller coaster ride with respect to tank consolidations & upgrades this summer. The main tank (150g SPS Cube) is still going strong. However, the following systems have been shut down:

1. Super Lazy Reefer
2. Oceanic 175g + Frag Tank
3. 360g Carpet Dream Tank

The first 2 tanks + frag system were consolidated into one 93g Advanced Acrylics lagoon/frag tank and the 360g didn't get plumbed up.

I'm excited to share that I'll be upgrading to a 450g CDA and will ultimately combine it with the 93g Lagoon soon! The combined water volume should be 450g (main) + 93g (lagoon) + 144g (half-filled sump) = ~615g. This will be a mixed reef tank; however, Angel dominated.

Equipment List
Tank/stand/canopy: custom-built, steel-welded, euro-braced 450g tank (96x36x30, 3/4" glass) by CDA
Sump: custom-built, PVC/Acrylic sump (66x28x18) by Advanced Acrylics
Heater: 2 x 600w titanium heaters by BRS
Light: 12 x Orphek OR3 120 + 2 Orphek UV = 14 lights, managed by 2 Osix controllers!
UV Light: 2 x 57w Classic UV by Aqua Ultraviolet
Return Pump: 2 x Red Dragon 5 Eco 130w by Royal Exclusiv
Skimmer: Bubble King Supermarin 300 by Royal Exlusiv
Calcium Reactor: Dual Chamber CR5000D by Reef Octopus
Controller: Apex EL + Trident (Display), Hydros XP8 & X4 (Lagoon)
Wavemakers: 2 x Ecotech MP60s, 2 x Gyres XF330 & XF350 Cloud Edition
Reactor (carbon): FMC415 by Geo's Reef
Chiller: 3/4hp commercial chiller by Tradewind

Fish List
Tangs: Koi, Gem, Blonded Naso, Blue (3)
Misc: Fox face (2), Anthias, Hog Fish, Parrotfish

 

[bakbay]

Apologies for the mess in the fish room. Here’s the latest while I prepare for the upgrade! The (new to me) 450g will replace the 360g in its current location, ultimately plumbed together.

 

[bakbay]

With summer vacations, home improvement projects, and just life in general -- the 360g didn't get salted. I've acquired all the necessary (and bigger) equipment: skimmer (BK 300), CaRx (Reef Octopus 5k), MP60s, XF350 Gyres, etc. However, I needed to build the canopy with 8020 & lights! Let's not forget about the panels for the stand. These little upgrades were very time consuming!

So instead, we decided to purchase my friend's tank since he'll be relocating. It's an amazing setup and I'm super stoked & excited! You can read more about his build thread here: https://www.reef2reef.com/threads/450g-crystal-dynamics-angel-dominated-reef.1021852/

 

[bakbay]

Some pics of the tank & sump — the main tank will be relocating next weekend. Can’t wait!

 

[bakbay]

Canopy & lights were taken down and moved — took four people! Loading it to the full-size SUV required some serious Tetris skills!

 

[bakbay]

Orphek lights are up and running! I’ve always had Radions so this will be a new adventure trying out Orphek. So far, loving the intensity & the Osix controllers.

 

[bakbay]

We’ve moved everything from the 450g to the old 175g for now as a holding tank. These angels look massive in this small tank! It will be a little cramped for the next 2 weeks.

 

[bakbay]

Some random thoughts -- I told my wife that the 360g was the last upgrade. Prior to that, "Honey, this will be my final upgrade!". However, here I am with the 450g + Lagoon = 600g+.

Should I seek professional help?

 

[bakbay]

Ok — moving forward with some deep cleaning! It’s very therapeutic for me actually. I can’t stand doing the dishes but don’t mind cleaning reefing equipment. Shhh - pls don’t tell my wife?!&@

 

[bakbay]

Skimmer - the new Bubble King Supermarin 300 will replace the Vertex Alpha 300. This will look awesome!

 

[bakbay]

The 175g holding tank - rocks and livestock were moved on Saturday. Water cleared since this morning. I just need to hook up the UV tonight and run some carbon to polish the water.

 

[Jimbo327]

Wow, congrats on the upgrade...again. LOL.

 

[bakbay]

Wow, congrats on the upgrade...again. LOL.

Thanks -- I'm impatient so I bought "time". I think that this will be better in the end -- I just don't know what to do with the 4 Haddonis though. Having them in the tank with prized Angels & Tangs will make me (and the fish) very nervous! It will be one super expensive dinner!@#$

 

[bakbay]

Perhaps move everything over to the 450g and make the lagoon/frag tank a true anemone-dominant tank?

 

[Jimbo327]

This 450g footprint is huge! You should be able to find room in a 450g to make it all happen. Maybe keep the carpets on 1 side of the tank, and make it a carpet heaven. Or may need to get rid of 1-2 of the carpets.

 

[bakbay]

These carpets move around a lot, sand or no-sand! I’m afraid that some prized fish may chase each other and accidentally run into several 16”+ deadly, underwater flytrap!

I’m going to leave all the anemones in the Lagoon. Main tank will be a mixed reef but no nems! lol

 

[bakbay]

Giant sump is now cleaned and ready for the new (to me) 450g to arrive this Sat. Super excited like a 5yo before Xmas! lol

I’ll try to put this monster sump underneath the tank to hide all the plumbing. Part of me wants to see all the cool gear, easy to maintain and easy on the back. My other half doesn’t like to see all this clutter! Uh oh

 

[bakbay]

Controller: playing with Hydros - ain’t bad but ain’t good either. I like the quality of Hydros and its open standards & extensions. However, I prefer the Apex Fusion better: visually rich & customizable user experience. Perhaps not a fair comparison but feels like this:
Apex: Apple
Hydros: Android

Thoughts if you use both?

 

[danreef55]

bakbay awesome. Following along

 

[Mschmidt]

Controller: playing with Hydros - ain’t bad but ain’t good either. I like the quality of Hydros and its open standards & extensions. However, I prefer the Apex Fusion better: visually rich & customizable user experience. Perhaps not a fair comparison but feels like this:
Apex: Apple
Hydros: Android

Thoughts if you use both?

Does that make ghl linux?