New 450 build

[armyvetheather]

Got a 450 acrylic a couple of weeks ago and still getting started. So far, I've got the tank plumbed, sand, rock, and starting to fill it up. It's been a journey, but I'm loving it so far. Big difference from my 90 I set up in a day! Running ro water has taken 3 days by itself. Almost there.

Still debating on the sump system, but due to logistics I'm going to run two sumps... One mechanical and one refugium. Will prob be upgrading soon, but this will get cycling started. Ordered two uv sterilizers, just gotta see which one I prefer. I'll also be installing my new skimmer I won from @ReefBreeder, super excited about that!!

Yes, I took sand from the beach. It was collected, rinsed, baked @425°for 30 minutes... Then rinsed again. I feel sure it's clean and clear of bacteria. I'll be sure and return it should I ever break it down, which I doubt. After the plumbing is completed with discharge outside and I'm able to pump it back in the same way, needless to say this tank will come with the house if I ever sell. Has approximately 150 gallons of dead rock and sand. Will be adding live rock very soon.

Have one Photon 48V2 and looking for another to cover the 8ft long tank. Think I've located one, but we'll see. I'll just build on one side for now. Like to have an additional light bar to compliment eventually. Not loving the custom stand either, so may have some upgrades coming soon.

Thanks for checking it out!!

 

[Devaji]

Dang that a nice BIG tank. I really thought about going acrylic just for the ease of moving something large.
my 200 3/4" glass was heavy.
what are the dems. of that bad boy?
going reef for FOLWR?

 

[armyvetheather]

Dang that a nice BIG tank. I really thought about going acrylic just for the ease of moving something large.
my 200 3/4" glass was heavy.
what are the dems. of that bad boy?
going reef for FOLWR?

It'll be a reef tank, for sure. . Here are some pics of my 90 cube that's pretty full.

The dimensions are 96x30x36". She's a beast!! I previously had a 220 gallon but it kept leaking despite having it resealed and everything else. That's why I went acrylic. You can see really well through it and I don't think it's any less good than glass honestly. I think glass is probably a little bit clearer but it's not enough to matter. It was still about 400 to 450 lbs . I hired some guys to move it for me and they worked for it. It has half inch as well as 3/4 in panels on it depending on where you're looking. Again, it's been a lot of work but I think it'll pay off.

 

[Devaji]

nice corals in the 90! what an upgrade from them.

I am a fan of the reefbreeders photons I have 2X 24"er over my tank. but this new build going FOWLR so they will be turned down pretty low.

 

[armyvetheather]

nice corals in the 90! what an upgrade from them.

I am a fan of the reefbreeders photons I have 2X 24"er over my tank. but this new build going FOWLR so they will be turned down pretty low.

I really love how those lights look. They're super classy and a really clean look. I may end up having to buy a new set, but I am still looking for used. Just can't get people to answer and not many being sold, which is a good thing.

 

[armyvetheather]

UPDATE:

LIVESTOCK: I had added some beginner coral - zoas, toadstool leather, kenya tree, etc - everything is mostly bleached but hanging in there and even starting to come back. I have added a blue face koi tang, lemon peel (chocolate) tang, purple tang, orange shoulder tang, bird wrasse, engineer gobies (two older) and a few others. The fish are finally getting large enough to make it feel like a 450g tank. I am still growing out all of my coral in the 90g in order to frag and move pieces over the 450g so if they do not make it, I have backups. Can't wait to start growing pieces out in the big tank and have it take over the rock work.

Equipment: I struggled with the ReefBreeders being too strong and I now have all channels at 40% or lower throughout the day and I've disconnected the light bars until I can get things stable. I have upgraded to using the MaxSpect Grye 350's on each side of the tank to increase flow and water agitation to ensure the water is oxygenated. I still need to add an ATO and upgrade the dual sump system to matching sumps that are larger (let me know if you or someone you know build sumps). The end-goal is to make one sump run mechanical filtration and the other a refugium for biological filtration. I also changed the return pumps over so instead of using two per sump, four in total - there are now two stronger pumps, one in each sump to return to the four overflows. I needed more powerful flow on the return and thought this the best way to go about it.

Check out the latest videos - thanks so much for stopping by!

YT links.

 

[Devaji]

vids are not showing up for me on firefox.
anyone else see em'?

 

[armyvetheather]

Hmm..let me try to load them again... sorry about that.

vids are not showing up for me on firefox.
anyone else see em'?

 

[armyvetheather]

Try now. I took the bugs

vids are not showing up for me on firefox.
anyone else see em'?

Try again now. Removed and uploaded again.

 

[Devaji]

Try now. I took the bugs

Try again now. Removed and uploaded again.

negative. I always just upload to YT. it's the only way I have ever got videos to work on R2R...

 

[armyvetheather]

Here you go..

negative. I always just upload to YT. it's the only way I have ever got videos to work on R2R...

 

[Devaji]

beautiful tank! love the colors!

 

[armyvetheather]

beautiful tank! love the colors!

my mistake, here is the 450.

 

[danreef55]

Heather,
Awesome tank! All the best. GlassCages does custom sumps in glass and acrylic. You use the tank builder app and then there is an upgrade to convert it to a sump. GC is very flexible and build what you want. Again, all the best

 

[armyvetheather]

UPDATE 9/17/24

Not much has changed in the last week except for having turned down the lights even more. Not sure how quickly I should see a change in the corals that have bleached out, but hopefully the death and destruction has at least ended. I capped all six channels on the Reef Breeders at 40% and most are even at 30% max. I never imagined these lights would be so strong, but I look forward to the day I can plug back in the light bars although I'm not sure it will ever be more than for an aesthetic purpose - the photons pack a punch!

I added some DIY tops to the two bracing holes in the top of the tank and I've already noticed an evaporation change, retaining much more water than previously. I have been randomly losing fish and with no trace - pretty sure it was the CATS playing with the fish while we aren't home. I have six hairless cats running around but only two of them really get on the big tank, most of them are too short to jump that high(bambino sphynx). I added the tops to take away their access to the fish and see if I continue to have them vanish as if they were vaporized, no trace whatsoever.

This week I'm hoping to work on finding another sump. I really just can't justify spending $3k on something you hardly even see. I would much rather spend that money on fish and coral. I did just purchase 15 or so new coral via SBB Corals during the sale last week - excited to get those tomorrow. Fingers crossed they all make it past day two. Thanks for looking!!

 

[danreef55]

UPDATE 9/17/24

Not much has changed in the last week except for having turned down the lights even more. Not sure how quickly I should see a change in the corals that have bleached out, but hopefully the death and destruction has at least ended. I capped all six channels on the Reef Breeders at 40% and most are even at 30% max. I never imagined these lights would be so strong, but I look forward to the day I can plug back in the light bars although I'm not sure it will ever be more than for an aesthetic purpose - the photons pack a punch!

I added some DIY tops to the two bracing holes in the top of the tank and I've already noticed an evaporation change, retaining much more water than previously. I have been randomly losing fish and with no trace - pretty sure it was the CATS playing with the fish while we aren't home. I have six hairless cats running around but only two of them really get on the big tank, most of them are too short to jump that high(bambino sphynx). I added the tops to take away their access to the fish and see if I continue to have them vanish as if they were vaporized, no trace whatsoever.

This week I'm hoping to work on finding another sump. I really just can't justify spending $3k on something you hardly even see. I would much rather spend that money on fish and coral. I did just purchase 15 or so new coral via SBB Corals during the sale last week - excited to get those tomorrow. Fingers crossed they all make it past day two. Thanks for looking!!

Hi
The vanishing fish trick - meow
Suggest you check Glass Cages and use the tank builder module. get a price right away.
Best of luck

 

[armyvetheather]

Hi
The vanishing fish trick - meow
Suggest you check Glass Cages and use the tank builder module. get a price right away.
Best of luck

I did and they all come out to about $3k. Maybe I'm not using it correctly... I'll email them to see what options raise the price so much to see if I can avoid any extra costs. It is a sump, after all.

 

[danreef55]

I did and they all come out to about $3k. Maybe I'm not using it correctly... I'll email them to see what options raise the price so much to see if I can avoid any extra costs. It is a sump, after all.

What are the dims and are you choosing glass or acrylic

 

[armyvetheather]

What are the dims and are you choosing glass or acrylic

Honestly, I don't have much of a plan just yet. I was just trying to find something basic and affordable to where I could get two matching. Then I could figure out dims and material. I would prob go glass since it's cheaper.

 

[danreef55]

is the sump under the tank or remote? If under the tank what is the height available? As a sample here is the sump I ordered