Lageo04's Reef Aquarium

[Lageo04]

Ok I guess I'll get the ball rolling. This is the latest as of 03/19/06 I'll post more pics and info as time permits.

[SSweet1]

Wow everyone has such nice tanks, I really like the kind of rock you have, I have a few of those pieces and they get the nicest mix of corraline on them. Your cleaner is as big as mine, I thought mine was some kind of mutant.
Carrie

[mecold]

Very cool!

[ScubaTC]

Great tank! I agree with Carrie, the LR looks really nice. Those Fiji leathers stand out nicely too! Is that a sleeper poking his head out?

[teach]

Nice! I love the toadstools.

[Lageo04]

A continuation of my reef aquarium

Probably my first start with aquariums started back in the 50s, when my dad and I setup a small freshwater tank.
I don't believe it was larger than a 10 gallon tank with nothing more than a air driven filter box. That lasted just about maybe a couple years. As the years went by hobbies included drag racing, radio control airplanes, and ho railroad building.
Drag racing got to be a conflict with the family life, gone every weekend racing, also the expense of having to have this and that to go faster. Next came the interest in radio control aircraft. Started out just for fun with basic aircraft and radio equipment but as always had to have bigger and better. Next thing came competitive pattern flying, had to have the best radio equipment and the latest design aircraft. But like with everything, something comes along and your interests go to something else.
So six years ago, my new wife Pam and I find that we are both interested in aquariums. So we decided to setup a 46 gallon bowfront aquarium. It didn't take long for the bug, Bigger and better, to take over. So last year we decided to try our hand in a saltwater aquarium. So at this point I'll start to detail the beginnings and progress of what I call,

Lageo's Reef

Feb 2005

After a couple of visits to Rob's Reef the order is placed for a 150 gallon Perfecto tank (48X24X30). Below are pics of the construction of the stand.


Framing in the stand

Frame work done, base closed in, and top sheeting done.
A 30 gallon standard glass aquarium set for a sump. First screwup should have made the center upright removable. Later in the history this sump gets changed out.


Front is sheeted. working on doors and stain. Also waiting for the tank.


Doors now hung, staining done, and tank in place. A couple of the wifes personal touches on each side of the tank.

March 2005

Inside of completed canopy. Sorry I didn't do any step by step pics.


Another inside shot. Lighting is two 110 vho uri tubes powered by an
ARO electronic ballast. Two 250 MH XM 20k bulbs also powered by two
ARO electronic ballasts. Installed 3 fans to TRY and eliminate canopy heat.

April 2005

Finally tank has been filled and first addition of live rock added.
75lbs Pukani live rock. Also 120lbs Carib Aragonite reef sand added.


All finished, canopy installed and plumbing set and lights all operational.
Tank now cycling with the live rock.
To be continued....Tank has to cycle anyways

[Ocnreef]

Looks great! All these big tanks are making me want to get another larger tank.

[Goldstripe]

Awsome job Lageo04, but we need more pics!! Is the back of your canopy closed in except for the fan? Did you paint the back of your tank? I know we got our tanks at the same time. Aren't I a slacker!! I'm gonna start one of these threads sometime. I like the looks of that canopy, very unique. Are you running 250's or 400's? Let us know when time permits. Again, the end result looks great.

[Lageo04]

List of equipment and description
In use as of 05/01/06

Perfecto 150 gallon tank ( 48" L X 24" D X 30" H )
No modifications to tank other than back glass painted black.

Basic tube style siphon overflow box.

Sump was a 30 gal standard aquarium. Now has been upgraded to an acrylic diy sump modeled after Melev's model F sump. I added an
inlet chamber as in his model G sump.

Skimming duties are taken care of by a stock ASM G-3 skimmer with a Sedra 5000 pump.

Return water to tank is by use of a Mag 7 pump.

Refugium feed is via Quiet One 1200 296 gph through a horseshoe spray bar.

Internal tank water movement is though a 620 and 1500 Seio power heads.

The stand, as in the earlier pics, is constructed with standard 2X4s in which are attached with deck screws to the studs in three walls.
It is sheeted with 1/2" finished plywood.
The tank is set to the front edge of the stand leaving a 6.5" opening from the rear of the tank to the wall.
The canopy also extends to the wall leaving the same 6.5 opening at the
rear to vent out heat and an escape route for jumping fish. This has been remedied by the placement of an egg crate partition on the rear edge
of the tank.

Tank lighting is a retro fit 2-250w XM 20k Mh. and 2-110w URI VHO actinic white and super actinic fluorescent bulbs. All powered by ARO electronic ballasts.


Moonlights are through Lebos. Ten Led units mounted on the front edge of the canopy.

Make up and top off water is through a Water General (filters direct) 6 stage RO DI unit. The last carbon unit has been removed in fear of
Phosphates leaching from the last stage. (JMO)

Heater is a 300w titanium Won Brothers unit.

Cooling is being handled by the use of two 4" fans on the sides of the canopy and one 9" fan directed on the surface of the display tank.
Also a larger fan directed on the surface of the sump.

Finally an Aqua Controller ac-3 with a direct connect 8 Monitors Temp, Orp, and Ph. and controls all lighting, heater, and fans.
Temp is holding at an average 80 degrees + or - .3 degrees.

Picture of hood with the front open. Plenty of room for playing in the tank.


Picture of completed sump.


Picture of sump in operation.


Shot of the diy power panel. (trying to stay away from a bunch of power
strips.



Diy power panel that is built into the wall on the right side of the tank
stand. This will be covered by a framed picture on hinges, once we find
one to our liking
.

Well this is all I have for now. I'll start getting the small list of fish and
corals together and post the pics.

[ScubaTC]

Very clean and organized setup. Great job! I also like the custom electrical panel with corresponding on/off switches.

[teach]

Holy Cow! 10 moonlights? Isn't 1 Lebos light suppose to cover a 2 ft area? I only ordered a 3 light kit for my 180. I hope it's enough. Do you by any chance have a picture with just the moonlights?

[mecold]

For someone so humble, you have an awsome setup! If only mine was so well though out and organized.

[Ocnreef]

Originally Posted by teach

Holy Cow! 10 moonlights? Isn't 1 Lebos light suppose to cover a 2 ft area? I only ordered a 3 light kit for my 180. I hope it's enough. Do you by any chance have a picture with just the moonlights?

I was going to ask the same thing. I have a two light kit and at full moon stage it lights up the tank, given I have a much, much smaller tank. 10 lights at full moon must be something. Any moonlight pictures at full moon stage?

[floridareefs]

I have a 24 buld led moonlight strip that the corals just love at night

[mbdave]

I honestly am not trying to be a smart@#$, but is'nt there only one moon? Why so many moon lights?