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Mike C's 420 Gallon System build - First salt water reef!

LivingSeas

LivingSeas

So after getting a ton of advice from folks on here and other forums, I am going to kick this hobby off..
I've never run a salt water reef, but from all my reading it doesnt seem so bad, nor labor intensive
if enough automation is put in place. I decided to skip the smaller tanks.. because I know once I get into
it I'll want to upgrade. I tend to do this with my hobbies:) My last hobby was collecting full size arcade games
from the 80s. I had 22 in my basement at one point. I sold 1/2 off to fund the new hobby.

So far I am going with
-------------------------
MarineLand 300 Gallon Deep Dimension tank 72"x36"x27" - Ordered from Tropiquarium (will arrive 8/22). - $1500
Custom Acrylic sump 64"x28"x18" - Ordered should arrive Early to Mid Sept. - $850
Custom Acrylic Frag Tank 20"x20"x 10" - will be plumbed into the DT/sump. Ordered should arrive Early to Mid Sept. - $150
QT tank - 20 Gallon Long - Already Purchased from Petco. will be a standalone system with its own HOB filtration, heater, UV generator. - $200
2x Water Blaster 10k's for returns (DT, Frag tank) and feed the skimmer. - Ordered (should arrive next week) - $500
Super Reef Octopus 5000 external skimmer with Neck Cleaner - Ordered (should arrive next week) - $800+
3x 55 gallon barrels for ATO and AWC + Panworld 100px for mixing. - Building now - $250
BRS 5 Stage RODI - on hand - ~$230

Will be using 100% live rock, and a 4" DSB.

Still to buy
------------
Lights.. no clue yet. I'd like to go fully LED. I'm waiting on a Chinese manufacturer to release their new model.
Dosing pumps - no clue
Reactors - no clue
Water movement - No clue.. probably tunze or MP40's... gotta do more research here.
Controller - Reef Angel - Love the open source.

I'm going to build the stand for the 300 this weekend out of wood. I priced out metal stands and it
wasnt worth the huge cost to get a few extra inches.

I dont expect this to be a fast build.. Gonna be a month or two before everything is in hand, but
I expect it to be a kick *** system when done. I'll keep this thread updated as I make progress.

Thanks Mike
 
lefkonj

lefkonj

You may want to do more than 2 Vortechs. That is a pretty deep tank so you may not get the water movement you want.
 
TanksNStuff

TanksNStuff

Officer Emeritus
Officer Emeritus
Sounds like a great plan so far Mike. When you actually start setting it up, you should start a "Tale of The Tank" thread in that forum. Or, if you like I can move this entire thread there and this can be your start of it. Let me know.

As to the LED's, there are new mfr's coming onto the market everyday. I have the Apollo Reef LED's and I'm very happy with them. What brand/type you get will dictate what type of dimming signals you will need (analog or PWM signals). This is determined by what kind of drivers your leds will have (assuming you will be getting dimmable, controllable LED fixtures). If you're just getting non-dimmables and/or one that comes with a controller built in, then the RA will basically only be able to control when your fixtures go off and on (and that's only if you have them plugged into a controlled "relay outlet box".)

I also have the Reef Angel controller as you can tell by now. I can help you get that going or try to answer any questions about setup with it once you get it. If you plan to do any fancy customizing or specific control functions for different pieces of equipment... I'd highly suggest you get the RA+ model. Otherwise, you will find it hard to fit all the code you need onto the regular "base" model.

With regards to using it to control your lights, you will need to decide whether you want independent dimming control of each fixture separately, or if you want to control them all together. The base unit comes with 2 dimming channels (1 actinic, 1 daylight) that can handle I think up to 3 drivers each. If you have more than that or if you want to control each fixtures' channels separately from each other, you'll need to get the Dimming Expansion Module ... which will give you up to 6 additional dimming channels. So, with one of those, you can control up to 8 channels (probably 4 each of actinics and daylights).

Whether you decide you want the dimming module or not, you will still need to make sure you get the proper dimming signal type on the base unit and/or the dimming module. They now come in both PWM and Analog (thanks to me talking Roberto into making an Analog version.) ;)

You will definitely want to get the Wifi attachment. That allows you to send controller data to the web portal and/or cell phone apps (there is one for iPhone and Android and works on tablets as well). But, the best part is that this allows you to not only monitor your tank and all the equipment you're controlling from anywhere you have internet access... but you also can control anything you want too. You can turn on/off anything hooked up to the controller, you can change intensity on your lights, you can even start a feeding mode or a water change mode that will automate whatever you program it to do during those modes. It's really cool stuff!

Anyway, if you need any help with the Reef Angel, let me know.
 
LivingSeas

LivingSeas

lefkonj said:
You may want to do more than 2 Vortechs. That is a pretty deep tank so you may not get the water movement you want.
Click to expand...

Yea I am thinking 4 units definitly.. MP60's make sense.. I might mix it up.. 1/2 Ecotech 1/2 Tunze. The tunze seem more directional.. the Echotech create a
larger flow I've read.
 
LivingSeas

LivingSeas

Yea I ant wait to order the RA.. But I have a ton of work to do before its time to pick one up.
The + version and ireless are definitly on my list. Thanks for the advice:)
 
lefkonj

lefkonj

LivingSeas said:
Yea I am thinking 4 units definitly.. MP60's make sense.. I might mix it up.. 1/2 Ecotech 1/2 Tunze. The tunze seem more directional.. the Echotech create a
larger flow I've read.
Click to expand...

I have seen some nice success with a mixture of MP40 and MP60, 2 and 2.
 
spotter

spotter

John built the sump for my 1st system and my smaller frag tank. His work is great but he never lives up to his delivery time. Dont get me wrong....you will be very happy with the quality of his work when you do recieve but dont be surprised if it doesnt arrive when originally promised. I would definitely stay on top of him asking for status checks.
 
reefsandrotts

reefsandrotts

NJRC Member
Do yourself a favor and draw up your stand design and have trop send it to marineland for them to approve it,if you dont your warrenty is gone and the 300 are known for bursting seams.
 
LivingSeas

LivingSeas

spotter said:
John built the sump for my 1st system and my smaller frag tank. His work is great but he never lives up to his delivery time. Dont get me wrong....you will be very happy with the quality of his work when you do recieve but dont be surprised if it doesnt arrive when originally promised. I would definitely stay on top of him asking for status checks.
Click to expand...

Yea I read that part to. I got his email and number I'll give him a ring in 2 weeks to see where we are at.
 
dnov99

dnov99

FRAG SWAP VENDOR
DEFINITELY stay on John!!!! His works is amazing but customer service is terrible!!

Great build though!! Good luck!!
 
LivingSeas

LivingSeas

So the tank arrived today.. hired some movers to get it from tropiquarium into my basement
and on the stand I just finished building a 1/2 hour before they arrived :)

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