My SCA 150 GALLON MIXED REEF

[ecvernon]

My tank got delivered October 12. Ive been busy setting up everything the way I wanted and forgot to start a Tank Thread. I Moved so this is the upgrade from my girlfriend's Nuvo 20 gallon and my Nuvo 10 gallon reef tanks.

? Main Display: 150 GALLON STARFIRE Tank Stand and Canopy from SCA aquariums 60x24x24

?Lighting: 3x Radion XR-15 running at 50%
4 Bulb Miro T5 retrokit kit running 3 blue plus, 1 purple plus bulbs
3x vantec stealth cooling fans in canopy

? Sump: Trigger systems Tideline 36 sump

? Refugium Section :Marine pure 8x8x4 block and 1 box marine pure balls

?Biological Filteration : Mixed Pukani and Reefcleaners rock from previous tank setups and 2 bags Tropic Eden Reef flakes
? Skimmer: Bubble King Double Cone 180: Red Dragon? 3 Mini Speedy 50 Watt

? Return pump: Reef Octopus Varios 6 return Pump Feeding tank and Manifold

? Water Circulation: 2 jebao PP8 pumps and 1 maspect Gyre 150

? Calcium Reactor: Mtc Minical calcium reactor with ARM media And Carbon doser electronic co2 regulator with 10# tank

? Other Equipment: Apex aqua controller with WXM and 2 EB8 and 2x Geos reef up flow media reactors- 1 cup BRS high capacity GFO, Rox .08 carbon

? Auto Top Off System: Spectrapure Maxcap 180 gallon a day RODI. Top off is done using Tunze Osmolator ATO

? Heating & Cooling: One 500W Finnex titanium heater controlled by Apex aqua controller

 

[ecvernon]

I live in an apartment building an have a fear of leaks from equipment inside the stand. SO one of the first things i did was seal the inside of the stand with silicone and killz paint then installed a shower liner pan in the bottom of the stand. If there is a leak, about 3 inches of water could be contained in the stand sump area. Unfortunately i do not have any pictures of it and its hard to see as I painted everything white with a few coats of paint.

 

[ecvernon]

Filling and cycling

Once the plumbing was done I got it filled and started the cycle with Dr Tims One and only. The cycle was complete in less than a week. The tank could process 2 ppm of pure ammonia into nitrates in less than 24 hours.

 

[ecvernon]

QT tank

Before I started the tank cycle I had what i thing is the most important part of my tank setup- THE QT TANKS!
This is my first time using a QT tank. Over the past year Ive have alot of sudden fish deaths that i have not had in the hobby before. It was because of incoming parasites from new additions. I decided watching a fish eat in the store was not enough any more and I also have no desire trying to catch a sick fish in a 150 gallon display. I treat the fish with 2 treatments of Prazi Pro and seachem Cupramin. I though this hobby taught me patience until it was time to wait till the 1st batch came out of QT

 

[Rookie2reef]

Nice set up if I could do it again I would definitely qt fish too, that's how you start up a tank, just make sure you happy with you rock work now lol

 

[ecvernon]

Fast Forward

Fast forward to today after first batch of fish finish QT
and corals transfered from both Nuvo tanks

 

[ecvernon]

Nice set up if I could do it again I would definitely qt fish too, that's how you start up a tank, just make sure you happy with you rock work now lol

Thanks. I like the aquascape so far. I can actually see my fish swimming. I will have to be very selective in the coral that go in the tank. Usually I would get stuff to "FILL" the tank, but not this time. My girlfriend is heavily involved in this build. She is new to the hobby and hooked! Every thing has to have a certain look. I don't mind at all, its wonderful actually she had no objection to me buying a bubble king skimmer(I told her the real price). LOL

 

[b-ridge]

Beautiful set up

 

[piranhapat]

Like your tank looks very sharp. How's the Quality of the glass it looks good and solid. Good luck... that's one of the tanks I looking to buy. How did shipping go I see they often free shipping.

 

[ErickEricka]

Looks great.

 

[Relz]

Tank looks great. Your sump and skimmer selection are pretty impressive.

 

[ecvernon]

Like your tank looks very sharp. How's the Quality of the glass it looks good and solid. Good luck... that's one of the tanks I looking to buy. How did shipping go I see they often free shipping.

The tank is well built. The silicone and seams are clean and well put together. I tried finding a flaw with a flashlight and could not. The glass is very clear and i have no complaints.

The only problem I have with the tank is the way the overflow was designed.
When my tank is running as designed the water level is a few inches from the top of the tank. The supplied canopy is not that tall so I have it setup as high away from the top of the aquarium it can go to accommodate my lighting. I would either have to mod the plumbing to allow a higher water level in the display, or get a different canopy.

I havent decided yet but I would have to just deal with the "GAP" for now.

 

[ecvernon]

The shipping was pretty Good. It was 600 Pounds in 2 pallets and delivered in 7 days from California. The delivery company was prompt and came on time. Your will have to pay $40 extra for liftgate service to bring it down from the truck. My driver brought the tank into the backyard for me.

Like your tank looks very sharp. How's the Quality of the glass it looks good and solid. Good luck... that's one of the tanks I looking to buy. How did shipping go I see they often free shipping.

 

[piranhapat]

Are you using two of 1" bulkhead fitting for drain. I heard they 3 1" drill for filter. How do you have the filter ?

 

[ecvernon]

Tank looks great. Your sump and skimmer selection are pretty impressive.

Thanks. This build is a result of all my experiences, Upgrades, and failures as a Reefer! Over the years I wasted a lot of money taking shortcuts.
With all that I wanted to buy everything 1 time without regret.

 

[ecvernon]

Are you using two of 1" bulkhead fitting for drain. I heard they 3 1" drill for filter. How do you have the filter ?

This tank came with 3 1" bulkheads on the bottom of the overflow. I have it setup as a herbie overflow. Its dead silent. The only noise on my tank is the sound of the ehiem pump on my calcium reactor.

The full siphon drain has the gate valve and goes to the filter sock section.
The emergency overflow drain goes to the return pump chamber.
the third is the return from the return pump

 

[piranhapat]

I don't know what you paid for it. But ti'll the end of this month just the tank. They having a deal $777.77. Free shipping included except $40 if you need the lifted gated truck. It got my interest for that price. It's a nice looking tank. Enjoy yours...

 

[ecvernon]

Yea it's a great deal. October was 888 so even more savings for you

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[Relz]

Did you use any foam under your tank? How's the skimmer doing. I've had a bubbleking skimmer before and I'm very tempted but it's hard to justify the pricing

 

[ecvernon]

There was a thin foam sheet that is in the shipping box with the tank. I kind of tore it because I almost threw it out.
The skimmer is not performing that great yet because of my low biology. I could have went with a smaller version but with my plans I decided to go larger. I am planning to have over 20 fish with a few of them being tangs and 2 trigger fish and also to carbon doser to keep nutrients in check. I won't see the performance I'm looking for until my bio load gets larger. It did pull some pretty dark skim mate but, I completed a water change, now it's tea colored. I'll have a better opinion after my next batch of fish get out of qt

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