187g Modern BB

[skey44]

changed to quote please remove.

[skey44]

Originally Posted by mcliffy2

skey44 - have you committed on the skimmer? H&S are great skimmers no doubt, but they havent redesigned in a few years. If I was doing internal I'd probably go with an ATB, have you looked into them? The medium size would rock out on your tank, its about the same price as the H&S and has a similar footprint (10x16) so I'm guessing it would fit:
http://www.atbskimmers.com/product.php?id=56

[mcliffy2]

Originally Posted by skey44

I have looked into the atb medium w/airstar pump skimmer. this should be on the cutting edge of technology for some time to come and do a heck of a job skimming this tank. I also just really like the look of the skimmer and Victor from RC seems to be doing a really great job with customer service... so I am now strongly considering this skimmer for this build.

I like it. The cone design is super cool.

[skey44]

[skey44]

i am going to send these in to the builder monday to see what he thinks.

trying to find out when the airstar pump will be available on the atb medium so I can go ahead and get it and put it in the store for eye candy for a couple of months

then I plan on getting the tank in so I can consider what I will do for a stand or have someone else consider that for me.

Next I will move my current tank and do the home updates. then get the new tank up and cycling once I have enough equipment to get it running (probably leave out lights and tunze's for the cycle) *i like to cycle for about 6 weeks in the dark anyways. I will probably use real live rock just for the shape but am planning on doing 3 rock, island like sculptures using one or a hybrid method of the various live framing techniques and a coral frag-pegging technique for coral placement later down the road. Don't forget the bottom and back are going to be black, man i bet detritus will be so built up on the bottom at the end of six long weeks it will look gray- then the tunze come along and fix all that

this tank is opening a long road with cans of worms all along it i believe. I'll keep you updated on how it goes.

[aquawolf]

Hey Scott, if you change your mind about all of this fancy pants design work, I have a 60 gallon acrylic tank that is 36 X 24 X 16 that you could cut the center brace out of, drill some keyholes and build the return box on the back for a whole lot cheaper. It has never seen water either.

Best of luck with all of your plans and I hope the cans of worms stay closed.

[skey44]

i think I'm gonna go the long route, but thank you very much fro the offer

[jamessp01]

I think I would be tempted to move your return holes to the far edges of the back to promote efficient surface skimming.

How are you going to light this? 5' seems like an oddball length for lighting. Are you doing 24" bulbs? or can you get what you want in 60"?

[skey44]

The lighting will be an ATI 10x54w fixture. I am not too worried about the 6" on each side as I will not have rocks or corals near the edges anyway. I will consider moving the returns, but I kind of like where they are now plumbing wise. I feel like as long as I shoot the return toward the front acrylic the Tunze's will mix it all up after that anyway.

[jamessp01]

I found with my tank that I had to point the tunzes a certain way to get good surface skimming. When I had them the way I wanted for random flow, they pretty much prevented surface skimming.

[skey44]

I will definitely work with the Tunze's to get the surface super clean

[Alittlefishy]

Sweet tank plan Scott. I can't wait to see it come together. I'm still debating whether to wait until I move for my 75/90 buildup, or...JUST DO IT NOW. I'm leaning toward the latter. If you need any help with the stand building or hard plumbing, I've got every tool you will need and a little experience. I really like your choice on the T-5 setup. I have really gotten to like them a lot in the past few weeks of research. I really like being able to mix and match the bulb colors. Good luck and have fun.

Adam

[skey44]

I hear you Adam thanks for the info and the help offered. Welcome to TRT too btw. Yeah I am going with the Powermodule bc I have the 6x54 and it is awesome... I probably shoulda just waited a few months and gotten the 10x then. I think as long as you'll be there for a year you'll get a lot of enjoyment out of a larger tank! I know you're a bit addicted, don't worry I have the same problem... that's why we're on this forum right?

[skey44]

this is at least how I envision the stand in my head

[Loverotties]

Nice!