Hi, my name is Matt and I'd like to share my tank set up. I set up my tank 18 months ago and have been reefing for 6 years. I'd like to thank Lawrence (@Bullitr) for his advice and friendship. My system details are below.
Tank Details
General:
Tank Volume: 300 Gallon
Tank Dimensions: 96" L x 24" D x 30"H
Lee Mar Starfire Glass
Sump Volume: 80 Gallons
Aquarium Stand Material: Steel, Aluminium, and Plastic
LIGHT STAND WITH PNEUMATIC LIFT
The light lift I did myself. I originally designed the lift to raise the light for tank maintenance.
I basically strapped three 2x4 wood pieces vertically to the metal frame beneath the tank using U-bolts from Home depot. A second 2x4 glides freely over top the first piece using a large 24" drawer slide. In the middle, I used an telescoping linear lift that has an excursion of 24". The three vertical sliding 2x4 pieces are connected horizontally with closet shelving from Home depot. The wood was pre-painted with water repellent enamel to prevent moisture absorption and warping. The light lift has a weight capacity of about 100 pounds. I had plans to have a floating canopy and to cover the front of the lights with a fascia (like the lights over a billiards table) but came to like the simple look of the exposed LEDs.
I basically adapted my system to the following youtube video.
https://youtu.be/XRxtqrFo6nE
Starboard siliconed to bottom to prevent rock structures from damaging bottom glass panel. Live rock columns are supported by 1/2" acrylic rods. Cerameco pieces complete the bonsai look.
EXTERNAL OVERFLOW PLUMBED OUTSIDE
I decided to plumb my external overflow outside to the house alley. My overflow was set up as a beananimal-type overflow.
FULL TANK SHOT
Circulation
Main Return Pump: Waveline DC10000 and Jebao DC6000
Plumbing: PVC Pipe
Overflow: External Bean Animal Overflow
Powerheads: x4 VorTech MP40wES, x3 VorTech MP10wES and x1 Gyre XF150
Controllers and Monitors
Controller: Neptune Systems Apex and EcoTech Marine ReefLink
Heater: x2 Eheim Jager 150 Watt
Chiller/Fans: JBJ 1/3 HP Arctica Chiller
Filtration
Protein Skimmer: Bubble King Supermarin 250, Reef Octopus POV-DC8
Ozone: 300mg/h Spa Ozonizer controlled via APEX ORP
Turf Algae Scrubber: DIY waterflow Algae Turf Scrubber, Turbo Aquatics L4 ATS and Turbo Aquatics L2 ATS
Sulfer Denitrator: Korallin BioDenitrator
UV Sterilizer: 57 Watt Aqua UV
BioPellet Reactor: Hydra Aquatics
Media: Carbon, GFO, and Seachem Matrix
Media Reactors: x2 AquaMaxx Carbon and GFO Reactors
Live Rock: 150 lbs combined with Ceramico Rock Structures and acrylic rods
Substrate: 2-3 Inches of Caribsea Oolite Sand
Lighting
LED: x3 Radion XR30w Gen3 Pro and x8 Kessil A350 and A360 LED Lights
Moonlight: Kessil A350 and A360 LED controlled via Apex
Photoperiod: 8am - 6pm
System Parameters
Temperature: 75F / 23.8C
Specific Gravity: 1.026
pH: 7.9 - 8.10
Alkalinity: 10 dKH
Calcium: 450 ppm
Magnesium: 1250 ppm
Nitrate: 0 ppm
Phosphate: 0.03 ppm
Maintenance and Dosing
Water Exchanges: 5 gallons daily
Calcium Reactor: Geo 818 Calcium Reactor
Water Tests: All parameters are tested every two weeks using Salifert Test Kits and Hanna Instruments Checker Colorimeters
Media Replacements: Every 6 - 8 weeks
Salt Mix: Instant Ocean Reef Crystals
Feeding
Fish: Ocean Nutrition Pellets 3x per day, Frozen Food Mixture 2x per day, Frozen Clam every other day and a sheet of Nori Seaweed 1x per day
Coral: Coral Frenzy once per week
Fish
Gem Tang
2x Black Tang
3x Yellow Tang
Desjardini Tang
2x Cross-hatch Trigger (male, female)
2x Bandit Angel
Red Sea Regal Angel
Potters Angel
Hawaiian Flame Angel
Chelmon marginalis
Heniochus diphreutes
x3 Anampses feminis (1 male, 2 female)
Chaoti Leopard Wrasse
Yellow Tail Tamarin Wrasse
Red Tail Tamarin Wrasse
x3 Leopard Wrasse (male, 2 female)
Ornate Leopard Wrasse
x2 Blue Star Leopard Wrasse (male,female)
x2 Potters Wrasse (male, female)
x2 Flame Wrasse
x2 Lineautus Wrasse
Yellow Coris Wrasse
Green Coris Wrasse
Red Velvet Wrasse
Red Hooded Wrasse
Rhomboid Wrasse
Labouti Wrasse
x2 Cleaner Wrasse
Bodianus opercularis
x2 Skunk Clown
x2 Black Snowflake Clown
x2 Extreme Snowflake Clown
Yasha Goby
Midas Blenny
Quoyi Parrotfish
x2 Bimaculatus Anthias (male, female)
Blotched Anthias
Stony Corals
Assorted Acropora
Assorted Montipora
Assorted Euphyllia
Acanthastrea lordhowensis
Echinophyllia aspera
Leptoseris
Scolymia australis
Pectinia
Soft Corals
Gorgonia
Purple Plating Sponge
Zoanthids
Palythoa
Assorted Mushrooms
Inverts
Rose Bubble Tip Anemone
Tuxedo Urchin
Abalone
Hermit Crabs
Snails
Emerald Crabs
Cleaner Shrimp
You probably can guess from my fish list, that I am a fish-collector first and a coral-collector a close second. With such a high bioload, it has been a challenge to optimize filtration and detritus removal. For filtration, I utilize multiple approaches to produce overlap and redundancy. I am always amazed and impressed about how other reefers can sustain thriving reef systems with just a skimmer and water changes.
Automated water changes have been a game changer for me. No more lifting water buckets; I just make up fresh saltwater once a week. I also like the fact that my filtration is plumbed outside so the system is quiet inside my home. My system has many DIY parts such as a pneumatic lift light rack, an overflow Algae turf scrubber and a remote live rock/pond matrix bio filter.
Attached is a recent home-made video of my tank. There is better quality video on the Marine Depot Featured Tank section.
https://vimeo.com/124276954
Tank Details
General:
Tank Volume: 300 Gallon
Tank Dimensions: 96" L x 24" D x 30"H
Lee Mar Starfire Glass
Sump Volume: 80 Gallons
Aquarium Stand Material: Steel, Aluminium, and Plastic
LIGHT STAND WITH PNEUMATIC LIFT
The light lift I did myself. I originally designed the lift to raise the light for tank maintenance.
I basically strapped three 2x4 wood pieces vertically to the metal frame beneath the tank using U-bolts from Home depot. A second 2x4 glides freely over top the first piece using a large 24" drawer slide. In the middle, I used an telescoping linear lift that has an excursion of 24". The three vertical sliding 2x4 pieces are connected horizontally with closet shelving from Home depot. The wood was pre-painted with water repellent enamel to prevent moisture absorption and warping. The light lift has a weight capacity of about 100 pounds. I had plans to have a floating canopy and to cover the front of the lights with a fascia (like the lights over a billiards table) but came to like the simple look of the exposed LEDs.
I basically adapted my system to the following youtube video.
https://youtu.be/XRxtqrFo6nE
Starboard siliconed to bottom to prevent rock structures from damaging bottom glass panel. Live rock columns are supported by 1/2" acrylic rods. Cerameco pieces complete the bonsai look.
EXTERNAL OVERFLOW PLUMBED OUTSIDE
I decided to plumb my external overflow outside to the house alley. My overflow was set up as a beananimal-type overflow.
FULL TANK SHOT
Circulation
Main Return Pump: Waveline DC10000 and Jebao DC6000
Plumbing: PVC Pipe
Overflow: External Bean Animal Overflow
Powerheads: x4 VorTech MP40wES, x3 VorTech MP10wES and x1 Gyre XF150
Controllers and Monitors
Controller: Neptune Systems Apex and EcoTech Marine ReefLink
Heater: x2 Eheim Jager 150 Watt
Chiller/Fans: JBJ 1/3 HP Arctica Chiller
Filtration
Protein Skimmer: Bubble King Supermarin 250, Reef Octopus POV-DC8
Ozone: 300mg/h Spa Ozonizer controlled via APEX ORP
Turf Algae Scrubber: DIY waterflow Algae Turf Scrubber, Turbo Aquatics L4 ATS and Turbo Aquatics L2 ATS
Sulfer Denitrator: Korallin BioDenitrator
UV Sterilizer: 57 Watt Aqua UV
BioPellet Reactor: Hydra Aquatics
Media: Carbon, GFO, and Seachem Matrix
Media Reactors: x2 AquaMaxx Carbon and GFO Reactors
Live Rock: 150 lbs combined with Ceramico Rock Structures and acrylic rods
Substrate: 2-3 Inches of Caribsea Oolite Sand
Lighting
LED: x3 Radion XR30w Gen3 Pro and x8 Kessil A350 and A360 LED Lights
Moonlight: Kessil A350 and A360 LED controlled via Apex
Photoperiod: 8am - 6pm
System Parameters
Temperature: 75F / 23.8C
Specific Gravity: 1.026
pH: 7.9 - 8.10
Alkalinity: 10 dKH
Calcium: 450 ppm
Magnesium: 1250 ppm
Nitrate: 0 ppm
Phosphate: 0.03 ppm
Maintenance and Dosing
Water Exchanges: 5 gallons daily
Calcium Reactor: Geo 818 Calcium Reactor
Water Tests: All parameters are tested every two weeks using Salifert Test Kits and Hanna Instruments Checker Colorimeters
Media Replacements: Every 6 - 8 weeks
Salt Mix: Instant Ocean Reef Crystals
Feeding
Fish: Ocean Nutrition Pellets 3x per day, Frozen Food Mixture 2x per day, Frozen Clam every other day and a sheet of Nori Seaweed 1x per day
Coral: Coral Frenzy once per week
Fish
Gem Tang
2x Black Tang
3x Yellow Tang
Desjardini Tang
2x Cross-hatch Trigger (male, female)
2x Bandit Angel
Red Sea Regal Angel
Potters Angel
Hawaiian Flame Angel
Chelmon marginalis
Heniochus diphreutes
x3 Anampses feminis (1 male, 2 female)
Chaoti Leopard Wrasse
Yellow Tail Tamarin Wrasse
Red Tail Tamarin Wrasse
x3 Leopard Wrasse (male, 2 female)
Ornate Leopard Wrasse
x2 Blue Star Leopard Wrasse (male,female)
x2 Potters Wrasse (male, female)
x2 Flame Wrasse
x2 Lineautus Wrasse
Yellow Coris Wrasse
Green Coris Wrasse
Red Velvet Wrasse
Red Hooded Wrasse
Rhomboid Wrasse
Labouti Wrasse
x2 Cleaner Wrasse
Bodianus opercularis
x2 Skunk Clown
x2 Black Snowflake Clown
x2 Extreme Snowflake Clown
Yasha Goby
Midas Blenny
Quoyi Parrotfish
x2 Bimaculatus Anthias (male, female)
Blotched Anthias
Stony Corals
Assorted Acropora
Assorted Montipora
Assorted Euphyllia
Acanthastrea lordhowensis
Echinophyllia aspera
Leptoseris
Scolymia australis
Pectinia
Soft Corals
Gorgonia
Purple Plating Sponge
Zoanthids
Palythoa
Assorted Mushrooms
Inverts
Rose Bubble Tip Anemone
Tuxedo Urchin
Abalone
Hermit Crabs
Snails
Emerald Crabs
Cleaner Shrimp
You probably can guess from my fish list, that I am a fish-collector first and a coral-collector a close second. With such a high bioload, it has been a challenge to optimize filtration and detritus removal. For filtration, I utilize multiple approaches to produce overlap and redundancy. I am always amazed and impressed about how other reefers can sustain thriving reef systems with just a skimmer and water changes.
Automated water changes have been a game changer for me. No more lifting water buckets; I just make up fresh saltwater once a week. I also like the fact that my filtration is plumbed outside so the system is quiet inside my home. My system has many DIY parts such as a pneumatic lift light rack, an overflow Algae turf scrubber and a remote live rock/pond matrix bio filter.
Attached is a recent home-made video of my tank. There is better quality video on the Marine Depot Featured Tank section.
https://vimeo.com/124276954
