Chuck's 150 Gallon Reef Project

ChuckG · #1 (**permalink**) 01-06-2007, 10:19 PM

I'm starting this thread in an attempt to document my latest project.

MISSION: To start a new reef system from scratch and do it the right way this time around.

You must understand that this project is simply not starting a new system. I currently have several systems in different parts of the house (condo actually - very small condo) and I need to tear down other systems before I can even start on the new one.

I plan on taking lots of pictures and will use photobucket to save the space on this forum.

WHERE I STARTED FROM:

This is a 65 gal reef built into the wall with an 8" DSB, plenum, EcoSystem refugium. This system has to come down because the new system will be placed on this wall with custom stand.

This is a 45 gal MESS. Major diatom bloom. I recently got a great deal on some LR and tossed it into this tank just for storage. This tank has to come down simply because it's a mess, doesn't have proper filtration, etc........
Inside the cabinet of this system is another 10 gal experimental system full of Aptasia and Berghia nudi's. That system will be taken down as well.

This is my 4' x 4' Ricordea Nursery. I still have some very beautiful ricordea in this system. I spent New Yr's Eve emptying this system and nukeing it because of flatworms but that's another thread that is already documented.

This is a peek into the Fish Room. It's a 5' x 6' room. You can see the back of the 65 gal reef that is built into the wall. To the left is a 30 gal frag tank. To the right is a two-tiered grow out system that used to house blue legged hermits and now is growing calurpa. This entire room is an accident waiting to happen and is another reason why I am embarking on this adventure.

This is the 30 gal frag tank in the fish room on the left. It has a 10 gal DIY refugium and then is connected to the larger 65 gal reef system via U tubes. Both systems share an ASM G-3 skimmer.

My two tiered calurpa system that is to the right in the fish room.

SO WHERE DO YOU START?

I started by tearing down the 45 gal tank yesterday.

LR holding area while tearing down the 45 gal. Fish ended up going to the LFS.

DONE !! - Sold tank today

Move LR to more permanent holding area (My ricordea nursery)

DONE !!

Move misc boxes out of spare bedroom to have a place to temporarily move the 65 gal reef and 30 gal frag tank to. Where am I going to find the space in this little condo?

AHHA! - the master bedroom shower stahl. I remodeled that myself but that thread would have to go to the overflow.
DONE !!

Make temporary stand just to be able to pull one of the tanks out of the fish room and set it up in the spare bedroom where all the misc stuff had previously been. I need to keep at least one systems temporarily just to be able to house the inhabitants that I want to keep for my new system.

DONE !!

Now it is 6:15 PM on a Saturday and I'm not sure if I want to take the next step yet. The next step will be to remove the 30 gal frag tank out of the fish room and put it in it's temporary space. Once I start, there will be no stopping so I'm debating at the moment how long my night is going to be. I'll keep you posted.

apologeticlies · #2 (**permalink**) 01-06-2007, 10:35 PM

looks good man! keep up the good work!

saltman58 · #3 (**permalink**) 01-07-2007, 01:27 AM

very nice setups

phlounder · #4 (**permalink**) 01-07-2007, 02:03 AM

You make me feel better about the extent of my infection with reef disease.

Looking forward to seeing the new system come together. Pretty cool to have Mr. Boyd making your tank and maybe other stuff for ya.

**DaveK** · #5 (**permalink**) 01-07-2007, 02:41 AM

Looks like you are off to a good start! It will be a lot of work, but long term, you'll have a great system.

Just about everyone that has been in this hobby any length of time has torn down their reef to rebuild it as something much better.

ChuckG · #6 (**permalink**) 01-07-2007, 05:24 PM

Removed most of the frags, bigger rocks, power heads, etc. Waiting on a friend that will help me move the tank to its new temporary location. Found another use for my extra Sedra 5000. Dropped it in the tank and plugged it into a wavemaker. It's kicking on and off. Keeping the circulation going and adding oxygen to the water. Just waiting on the help.

I know I shouldn't do this but I'm only going to empty the water to the top of the substrate level. There are two holes, one on each end that are deeper and the few fish that are still in the tank will migrate there for the one minute journey. I just hope the tank doesn't fall apart on me when we lift it.

ChuckG · #7 (**permalink**) 01-07-2007, 11:38 PM

30 gal set up in it's new temporary spot. I'm going to hang on to this tank to seed the substrate of the new system because this is my oldest tank. It will mainly have a just a few fish in it. Had to put the colt back in there because that is the home for the two false percs. All the other frags went into my Ric Nursery and have opened up just fine in there.

Since I seperated this system from my 65 gal reef it now no longer shares all the LR from the other system and is now without a skimmer. It has a very mature sand bed and a mature refugium. Do you think it will be OK like this or should I hook up a Fluval 304 that I still haven't sold and run some Chemi-pure on it?

**DaveK** · #8 (**permalink**) 01-08-2007, 01:09 AM

I think adding the Fluval canister would be counter productive.

It would ne nice to add a skimmer, but since this is a temp setup, I'd go with more frequent partial water changes.

ChuckG · #9 (**permalink**) 01-08-2007, 02:05 AM

Next weekend I "may" be able to pull the other system, swap the fuge on this one out for the EcoSystem that I'm keeping and then rig up the ASM skimmer to this system.

**JTMAC** · #10 (**permalink**) 01-08-2007, 04:38 PM

looks good im strating my 120 planning soon with my construction date of possibly April 07