New IM 150 EXT build. Diving into the deep end of the pool

[Gumbies R Us]

Lots of progress yesterday. Rock scape is done. My strategy was to stand rocks up on ends and create TP like structures. This means there is minimal contact points between the rock and the glass, so minimal places for detritus buildup. It also creates all kinds of caverns to swim through and hide in, and should allow for maxim flow.

The supporting structure is now complete. You could park a truck in my dining room.

And finally, water!

Man, I like the brace idea you built for the tank really clever! Also your aquascape looks good in your tank, lots of room for fish to swim around in and coral growth

 

[Doob]

You could mail a couple horizontal boards for sway strength and add a couple sheets of plywood for extra storage on your floor support. That’s what I did.

nail, not mail

Already planning on it thanks to your thread!

I run mine with a trickle down the second and just below the emergency. It will take some adjusting until it builds up a biofilm in the pipes. I will take a pic when I get home tonight.
I do not run the supplied pump. I run a Tunze 1073.060.
I adjusted the 2 ball valves and then the gate to get it stable.

Pics would be great!

I just got the success SDC 9.0 return pump ready to go. You have ball valves on both primary and secondary? I’m planning on a gate on the primary and open secondary and emergency.

 

[Doob]

I left mine be. I run their Mighty XL at 70% and the drain in not fully open. Adjusted to about 1/2 way between primary and secondary and I don’t hear it. Sometimes I need to slightly tweak it closed/open more after a water change but just adjust it till you don’t get the vortex above the primary and keep it below the secondary. It will take a couple hours to properly adjust the first time.

That’s pretty much how my current tank is, minus an extra emergency pipe. The fluctuation in water level is insane. It’s likely just due to the Red Sea diaphragm valve, but I was really hoping to have a solid bean animal to avoid and unforeseen issues. Yalls experience makes me feel better.

 

[X-37B]

Already planning on it thanks to your thread!


Pics would be great!

I just got the success SDC 9.0 return pump ready to go. You have ball valves on both primary and secondary? I’m planning on a gate on the primary and open secondary and emergency.

Ball valves are only on the 2 returns.
Gate valve on the primary. The other 2 are open. I will get a better pic tomorrow when lights are full on with the top off.

 

[Doob]

I have 1 ball valve for the short side of my return. I hope to be mostly plumbed tomorrow.

I think I’ll try to leave the primary as is with no standpipe, add a U pip to the secondary with a breather hose and leave the emergency standpipe as is and see how that works.

 

[Doob]

I’m 3 45s short for the return. I’ll have to stop at the supply store tomorrow. You get the just though.

 

[Doob]

Fired up the return pump last night the only leak was around triggers plumbing they included with the sump. I made a thread about it:

Can someone explain to me trigger systems plumbing?

Good day all, I recently plumbed a trigger CR-44 sump into my new system, but the included plumbing isn’t adding up. I feel like I’m missing something here. It comes with male and female adapters with O-rings instead of bulkheads. For the 3 - 1.5” drains, they were spears sch 80 female and...

www.reef2reef.com

I’ve also received and hooked up a hydros x4. So far it’s just monitoring temp, ph and temp, but I plan to use it for quite a bit in the future.

 

[Doob]

Anyone want to share their thoughts on lighting. I think I have it narrowed down to either

1) 2 reef breeder photon 48’s
2) 3 GHL Mitras LX7206
3) 4 Kessel 360x tuna blues

I might’ve done a poll if I knew how lol.

 

[X-37B]

Anyone want to share their thoughts on lighting. I think I have it narrowed down to either

1) 2 reef breeder photon 48’s
2) 3 GHL Mitras LX7206
3) 4 Kessel 360x tuna blues

I might’ve done a poll if I knew how lol.

2 Photon 50's are what I went with on my 170. Par monsters for sure.

 

[Doob]

2 Photon 50's are what I went with on my 170. Par monsters for sure.

I just asked you about them on your thread. thanks

 

[BubblesandSqueak]

Anyone want to share their thoughts on lighting. I think I have it narrowed down to either

1) 2 reef breeder photon 48’s
2) 3 GHL Mitras LX7206
3) 4 Kessel 360x tuna blues

I might’ve done a poll if I knew how lol.

I'll need to add more light eventually too. only have a single Hydra 32 on it but any coral is going to need some oomph. But until I figure out the next fish that go in, I'm just taking it slow. I kept looking at the Sky LED since it would cover the footprint but at this point glad I didn't. When I get the $$ I'll look more at ATI Straton.

 

[Doob]

So yesterday I learned of the Orphek Atlantik Icons. There’s not much new I for on them, seems like they’ve been rocking in some tanks for years. The 6 year old videos from when the Atlantik first came out make them sound like a powerhouse.

Anyone using these? Did they have some big problems that haven’t come up in my readings?

A certain retailer currently has them listed at a crazy low price, supposedly just clearing overstock, so I may have to go with 2 of these.

 

[X-37B]

So yesterday I learned of the Orphek Atlantik Icons. There’s not much new I for on them, seems like they’ve been rocking in some tanks for years. The 6 year old videos from when the Atlantik first came out make them sound like a powerhouse.

Anyone using these? Did they have some big problems that haven’t come up in my readings?

A certain retailer currently has them listed at a crazy low price, supposedly just clearing overstock, so I may have to go with 2 of these.

I kmow someone running 4 on a 300 and they grow and color coral well.

 

[Doob]

I kmow someone running 4 on a 300 and they grow and color coral well.

I’m surprised they’re not a lot more popular.

 

[BubblesandSqueak]

I’m surprised they’re not a lot more popular.

they also have some commercial aquarium lighting. you can mount in your ceiling from several feet away.

 

[Doob]

And there was light.

There’s a real lack of mounting options for these lights. Had to go full DIY and ended up with a canopy, but I think it turned out pretty good.

I like the color of the Helius program. The app is a little clunky, I don’t think you can make adjustments to it. Seems you can use it or program your own.

So far I’m happy with them though, especially for the price.

 

[BubblesandSqueak]

And there was light.

There’s a real lack of mounting options for these lights. Had to go full DIY and ended up with a canopy, but I think it turned out pretty good.

I like the color of the Helius program. The app is a little clunky, I don’t think you can make adjustments to it. Seems you can use it or program your own.

So far I’m happy with them though, especially for the price.

Looks great

 

[BubblesandSqueak]

Might have mentioned already but bend the returns so the outlets are closer to the surface. You can still point them facing down but all the water between the overflow and the lowest return port will drain into sump. My bends are actually a bit above the water.

 

[Gumbies R Us]

And there was light.

There’s a real lack of mounting options for these lights. Had to go full DIY and ended up with a canopy, but I think it turned out pretty good.

I like the color of the Helius program. The app is a little clunky, I don’t think you can make adjustments to it. Seems you can use it or program your own.

So far I’m happy with them though, especially for the price.

That canopy looks great!

 

[buruskeee]

Anyone want to share their thoughts on lighting. I think I have it narrowed down to either

1) 2 reef breeder photon 48’s
2) 3 GHL Mitras LX7206
3) 4 Kessel 360x tuna blues

I might’ve done a poll if I knew how lol.

Should look into the ATI Straton Pros. T5 like spread with tons of PAR.

Edit: looks like you got lights already lol. Orpheks are great too.