138 GALLON ZEOvit RIMLESS SPS REEF

M

mradams1981

So after owning many saltwater tanks ranging in size from 90-265 gallons im ready to take the plunge and build a full on custom setup. Ive never been happy with what a "standard" sized tank has to offer as far as footprint so heres what ive decided to go with. The concept behind the tank is to have islands of rock placed throughout the sandbed with full access to all four sides of the tank to reduce detritus buildup and to increase flow throughout. That being said ive decided to go with Deep Sea Aquatics for the tank. Dimensions will be 43.5x30.5x23.5 with one center overflow centered on the back glass. The front and side panels with be starphire glass. I plan to run the tank based off of the Zeovit system. That being said, here's the equipment i plan to run. Flow within the aquarium will come from 2 mp40es's tied into a Neptune Apex controller with a waterblaster pump for my return. The Lighting will consist of 4 Aqua Illumination Sol blue modules tied into a Neptune Apex controller. The sump im having built by Marc at Melev's Reef- this is my second and the price and quality can't be beat. Dimensions are 38x26x16. Skimming will be done via Super Reef Octopus 3000 INT. Carbon will be run through a standard phosban reactor and the ZEOliths will be run through a Vertex 1.5 ltr. Dosing pumps are yet to be determined as are a few other misc items. More updates as well as pictures will be on the horizon as things start to arrive in the mail.
 
@mradams1981 wrote:
So after owning many saltwater tanks ranging in size from 90-265 gallons im ready to take the plunge and build a full on custom setup. Ive never been happy with what a "standard" sized tank has to offer as far as footprint so heres what ive decided to go with. The concept behind the tank is to have islands of rock placed throughout the sandbed with full access to all four sides of the tank to reduce detritus buildup and to increase flow throughout. That being said ive decided to go with Deep Sea Aquatics for the tank. Dimensions will be 43.5x30.5x23.5 with one center overflow centered on the back glass. The front and side panels with be starphire glass. I plan to run the tank based off of the Zeovit system. That being said said:
Why not have them do an external overflow? The only downside is that it will come out further from your wall. You'll end up with more space in the long run. Any thought to adding sea swirls to add randomization to your return flow?
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I ran the same reactor when I ran zeovit. I eventually converted the reactor to run biopellets I find it easier to run.

I agree on sea swirl I added on to my tank and definetly love it


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The AI modules are here!! I originally considered a vertex moceans or a sea swirl. I decided against because with the 2 mp40's tied in with the apex wireless module i have the option to change modes on the ecotoechs at any intervals throughout the day giving very random flow patterns from one day to the next. As for the external overflow if i was going to do it it would have put it at one end of the tank but that would restrict viewing from one side. Where the tank is going space is limited as it is front to back so i decided to go with a standard internal but im having it built at 12" long by only 3.75" deep so im not losing a ton of space from front to back.
 
The Aqua Illumination Modules arrived today. The arraingement of the lights over the tank is represented by the photo.
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So i went by the local metal supply shop a purchased stainless steel square tube and angle to start fabricating the stand legs and suppert housing for the AI modules. pics coming shortly....i hope it achieves the more industrial look that im going for.
 
Well the ZEOvit "basic four" as well as the Vertex reactor arrived today. I also purchased the portable Hanna checkers for alkalinity and phosphate. I also purchased an Elos potassium kit over the KZ due to the fact that i heard many people say it was easier to read the results....anhone had experience with this test kit???
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sounds like you are really thinking this through. i cant wait to see it come together with those lights, they were one of the nicer LED setups i saw at MACNA last year. i agree with servo though, i think it would be a lot nicer with an external box. you are putting so much into it anyways, might as well go all the way. after seeing it on marcs latest tank, i will have it on my next tank.
 
Yeah im really hoping that with proper tank parameters and a little tlc my existing sps as well as my other misc corals will retain their full color...ive just seen so many tanks with 8-12 months of growth under LED's so i just had to give it a whirl.
 
Well the stainless light support legs as well as the frame built to hold the AI modules was built and picked up today. I also received the Neptune Sys Apex controller with the accessories in the mail today. Now all that's left is the two Ecotech's as well as a few other misc parts.....oh and the tank and stand-which i was told by Deep Sea would be done by July 8th but now they're saying the 18th.....i wish it would get here. I'll post some pictures. Ive also been looking into the Bubble Magus 3 pump dosing system...anyone have any experience with this system?
 
so heres the completed stainless frame to hold the AI modules. I also had two stainless legs that will attatch to the back of the stand that will extend 24" above the tank and extend 20'' over the tank which will be the support for the frame in the pics. I'm also lookin into a way to integrate an elctric motor to raise and lower the lights for needed maintenance.
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you are putting all of this $$$ into your system, you really should the sea swirls another go-around.

http://www.sea-swirl.com/videos.asp
 
So....i did some more research and ive come to the conclusion that im going to go with a sea swirl. I contacted them on fri last week and their new updated 1'' version has a new seal on it that can handle up to 2000 gph which supercedes the previous 1'' of approx 1150 gph. I am going to plumb in a loc line 3'' flat return nozzle to disperse the flow so i hopefully dont have sand displacement around the aquarium...that was initially the fear i had with an oscilating return.
 
If you want some zeovit I have some you can have i used itnforn3 months then switched to biopellets. I think it is 1 liter


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i appreciate the offer for the zeovit..well have to get together next time im in the dfw area. just wondering why did you switch over to biopellets vs the ZEOvit system?
 
@mradams1981 wrote:
i appreciate the offer for the zeovit..well have to get together next time im in the dfw area. just wondering why did you switch over to biopellets vs the ZEOvit system? said:
It is easier to maintain don't have to plunger it every other day. On zeovit you have to change out 1/3 of the zeovit every six months on biopellets you just add to refill it as it consumes. Plus it got to expensive to do zeovit with all the dosing chemicals. Now I just dose mb7 for the biopellets. One thing I did like about zeovit is that Copepods had a place to breed and grow in safety as my mandarins were nice and fat. Now I have to supplement pods for them


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so ive been doing some reasearch on the bubble magus dosing system. im also considering the aqua medic dosing system as well. if youve had experiences good/bad on either system or if you have another option please let it be known im planning on buying a system later this weekend.
 
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