65g Build

[czwicky]

Finally starting a larger tank so I figured I would make a build thread. Heres some info on the stuff I have at the moment.

DSA 65g pro starphire tank and stand
Eshopps R-200 refugium
Bubble Magus Curve 5 Skimmer
Mag Drive 950 gph return
Marineland 250w heater
Kent phos-reactor
A 95gph pump for the reactor
And 2 Aquamana Full Spectrum 165w LED panels.

Getting an Mp40 wES and and Mp10 wES with my Christmas bonus.

So this being my first reef with "real" skimmer and a sump I have 2 questions

1. I don't want to use the skimmers built in drain on the collection cup. How should I go around plugging it?

2.I've never used a sump before. What do I do to go about starting it up? Such as how much water in the sump etc. Etc.

Here are some pics

I have to move my 45g chiclid tank before I can set it up so its all in my garage for now.

Also here is a link to the lights.
http://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B00FHDEAFQ
Their a present so I don't have them, but my grandmother got them and I stopped by and checked them to make sure everything was in order. My impression.
Built better than TaoTronics leds
Beautiful color and extremely powerfull
Quiet!

 

[Sniperhank]

In terms of a skimmer collection cup, it should have a plug that came with it...? If not, just find something that won't absorb water to jam up there.
In terms of a sump, there isn't really an ideal amount of water you want in there. You want to have a balance of water flowing in and out, aka not running the sump dry or no water going into the sump itself. It takes some tinkering to find "the magic spot".

 

[czwicky]

Thanks for the reply sniper. I wasnt refering to water level in the sump. I mean like during startup of the system.

 

[Sniperhank]

Don't fill it the whole way, don't want it overflowing while you are adjusting the flow on your return pump. You'll want the water level just over the baffles. Other than that, is there something more specific you are looking for?

 

[czwicky]

Yeah. Like when I go to first start my tank I will have to fill the sump higher than I would like to start. Then dial everything in?
Its confusing I know haha thanks for all the help tho

What I mean is when I fill everything the tank will be lower than what it will be running at because of the overflow. So should I guesstimate how much extra water it would take in the sump during startup to get the water level in the tank right?

 

[Sniperhank]

Fill it to the top of your baffles, thats it. Keep a bucket and something to bail with by your side just in case, but it can't get too bad since your tank is gravity fed and is like a failsafe. It is a good idea to learn how much extra water the system can absorb IMO. I discovered that it is 1 extra gallon on my system before the DT will overflow when the HOB overflow fails. So I don't keep more than 1 gallon of top off water on the system...I'll let a pump burn out before I loose everything.

 

[czwicky]

Alright I think I finally get it. Thanks again!

Considering this is going go be a sps dominant tank do you guys have any suggestions on other things/equipment I should maybe have and what media's should I run in my reactor?

 

[Sniperhank]

Don't worry about reactors or things like that right off the bat. You have to have a tank SO SPS heavy that you will be worried about calcium and such, but also SPS actually blocking the light from the ones below them at this point, aka over run with coral.
The only equipment that you may want to start thinking about is reactors that will lower phosphates. Excess phosphates cause corals to brown and dull, along with slow growth.

 

[czwicky]

I was thinking carbon purigen and phosgaurd in my reactor

 

[Sniperhank]

Shouldn't need the carbon with purigen really, but I like the plan.

 

[czwicky]

Well here's what Ive got now! All that's needed is ~90g of RODI, to make a bracket for the lights, about 75 lbs of dry rock from BRS and 30 lbs of rubble rock for the sump. Pics for your veiwing pleasure and opinions. I ordered a 1.5ft drain hose and got sent a 3ft so let me know if the drain hose won't work.

My chauvet pc08 power bar



My lights. Blues only, color, and all on. This is the lowest setting possible they are incredible.





Tank and stand


Sump

 

[czwicky]

Ok my pictures got scrambled but you all get the point

 

[mr_X]

You can cut the white tube that attaches to the skimmer cup short. Like about an inch. Then you can put the plug back in it.

 

[czwicky]

Finally got my scape done and in the tank. I redid it at least 30-40 times before I was happy with it.

Sent from my HTC VLE_U using Aquarium Advice mobile app

 

[FrankAbagnale]

Cool! Any updates?