Saltwater & Reef

carey · 02-27-2012, 10:54 PM

Gotcha.

Didn't want you buying equipment now and finding out later that you didn't need it cause a controller was on your must have list. lol

I didn't have much for controllers until I got my rkl so I lucked out by not having redundant equipment.

**fort384** · 02-27-2012, 10:57 PM

Soooo....

Bubble Magus, Reef Octo, or Eshopps for the skimmer?? Any opinions?

carey · 02-27-2012, 11:02 PM

I have both an octopus and an eshopps. I am probably in the minority but I don't like the octopus much at all. It's annoying to dial in, it has a stupid turn system to remove the cup, I find it loud and it doesn't skim a nasty skim like I get with my eshopps.

I am in the gathering stages of my 60g setup and will be trying bubble magus out for that skimmer. I have heard and read great things about them and the pumps used to run them. Plus there are some awesome deals to be had for one, here's the one I think I;'m getting

eBay - New & used electronics, cars, apparel, collectibles, sporting goods & more at low prices

that would be for my 125g and I would move my ehsopps skimmer from there into the new 60g.

**fort384** · 02-28-2012, 04:10 PM

Ordered:

Bubble magus NAC3+ skimmer
Eheim 1262 pump
75GPD PLUS RO System
Various plumbing parts
Refractometer

I think the only big things left are the lights and the sump (and of course picking up my tank).

**fort384** · 02-28-2012, 08:58 PM

First bulkhead installed on first storage tank. I am leak checking it now.

I drilled a 5" hole in the top do that I could reach in as the bungs are on 2".

Assuming my leak check passes, next step will be installing the float valves.

**fort384** · 02-28-2012, 10:29 PM

...and both tanks done. Float valves installed and emergency overflow bulkheads installed above that. Now for the shelf...

Epuerto · 02-28-2012, 10:29 PM

I will be watching this progress, what lights are you leaning towards

**fort384** · 02-28-2012, 10:31 PM

2 AI SOLs.

Epuerto · 02-28-2012, 10:33 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by fort384

2 AI SOLs.

Nice, cheaper than 2 radions lol

**fort384** · 02-28-2012, 11:49 PM

Yup. Should be more than enough light too.

Ok, shelf installed. I hung from the shelf and I weigh 220 or so and it seemed very solid. I installed the float switches to switch off at about 12 gallons. If I have both tanks full, thats less than 200 pounds so I think I am safe. It is mounted about 6 ft in the air so I can gravity feed to the sump during maintenance (about 25' away). It also is up out of the way.

RO system should be here Friday. Just have to mount that up high and install the lines.

No turning back now...

Ibrahim · 02-29-2012, 07:54 AM

Since you haven't bought lighting yet, I thought you'd be interested in these http://www.ebay.com/itm/Aquarium-Cor...item68c94c7950 2 are enough to grow whatever you need to grow.

cmor1701d · 02-29-2012, 09:44 AM

Nice build thread. I would add a 2nd heater and a heater controller (don't trust a single and don't trust the cheap controllers). The 2-heater controller will be around $120, so that puts you into the Apex Jr ($149.99) category.

The Apex Jr. can control 4 outlets. You can add an 8 outlet extension so you can control a dozen outlets.

The LED units are good for a 24" spread, so get 2 units. You can start with one and center it, then add a 2nd unit later. It's a one-time purchase so get the unit you want.

I went all in for my LED's (3 units) as my 4th lighting system. Should have spent the dollars up front (though LEDs were not really an option in 2003). Don't make my mistake(s).

**fort384** · 02-29-2012, 10:07 AM

Thanks Cmor!

I will look at adding a second heater.

I decided on AI Sols instead of the eBay fixture because they are dimmable and programmable and they are UL listed. Also they have an attractive hanging system as they will be suspended from the ceiling in our living room. While I can DIY on a lot of things, I wasn't confident I could make the eBay fixture look decent since it will all be exposed (I am not much of a fabricator).