Cooperj's 57 Illuminata Build

[cooperj]

I thought I would post my build on ARC. This is a 57 gallon reef ready Illuminata. I got the tank and custom walnut stand from Mike at Marine Designs. Really good guy who has helped me with my design and plans for an sps dominated tank.

Equipment:

57 RR Illuminata
Esopps R100 sump
EuroReef RS80 Skimmer
MP10 Wes (2)
Aqua Ultraviolet 15W UV
Sicce 4.0 pump

Planned:
Reef Octopus Media Reactor (2) Carbon & GFO
Reef Octopus CR100 calcium reactor
ATO (?)
Lighting? - AI Phoenix (maybe)

Edit:

Edit: Here are some photos:

Edit:

Edit: http://imageshack.us/g/233/img2697p.jpg/

 

[rtirado]

Lookin good, that stand is gorgeous, works well with the hardwood floors.

 

[dme330i]

Looks good. Like the minimalist approach to the rockwork, leaving a lot of grow-out space.

 

[cbj25]

cmon! its so easy to post the pictures. Looking good! What are your plans for the manifold?

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[cooperj]

I can't seem to post photos, although you say it is easy.

Anyway, my stocking plans are mainly SPS.

I'm glad DME330i likes the minimalist rock work. It is hard for me to get used to it. I know it will look good when I add the sps, but it just looks a little empty.

cbj25, any help on attaching photos?

 

[purplegorilla]

Very nice.

 

[cooperj]

2 new pics
http://imageshack.us/photo/my-images/502/img2709z.jpg/">http://imageshack.us/photo/my-images/502/img2709z.jpg/</a>
[IMG]http://imageshack.us/photo/my-images/20/img2710s.jpg/">http://imageshack.us/photo/my-images/20/img2710s.jpg/</a>

 

[cooperj]

OK, so I picked up my (2) Reef Octopus MF100 media reactors from Mike at Marine Designs. They are a great fit in my stand. There is just enough room in front of the sump. These are for carbon and GFO.

I still don't have a light. I want LED, but I guess I am going to wait for the Aqua Illuminations "Phoenix." I would go ahead and get the SOL, but I want a better factory mount. Anyway, I'm sure waiting will cause me to set up a Calcium reactor. Here are some pics with one of the Reef Octopus reactors just sitting in front of the sump.

http://imageshack.us/photo/my-images/862/img2838b.jpg/">http://imageshack.us/photo/my-images/862/img2838b.jpg/</a>
[IMG]http://imageshack.us/photo/my-images/857/img2839k.jpg/">http://imageshack.us/photo/my-images/857/img2839k.jpg/</a>
[IMG]http://imageshack.us/photo/my-images/12/img2840r.jpg/">http://imageshack.us/photo/my-images/12/img2840r.jpg/</a>

 

[cjsparky]

Hi Cooper!

Looking forward to the build thread...I have the same tank as you, although you have a nicer stand. I cant wait to see your ideas come into sight.

Posting images is easy here. From your imageshack account you should be able to copy the IMG tag, and merely paste them on the forum post. What you need to copy from imageshack looks like:

 

[cooperj]

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Edit: Wow, thanks Cjsparky!

 

[cjsparky]

What part of Atlanta you in Cooper?

 

[cooperj]

I am in Brookhaven/Chamblee

 

[cjsparky]

Cool, I am downtown. Happy to help if you ever need a second set of hands!

Christian

 

[cooperj]

Christian, just checked out your build thread - looks really nice!

I went a got some more live rock - I just couldn't stay with the small amount without any corals or fish.

Here are some shots of the tank as well as the sump area. Do you think I have room for a calcium reactor? Hard to believe, but I have a 10" X 10" space for it.

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and my magnet clamp for media return line

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[cooperj]

OK, so now I have a T5 bulb. That's right, one bulb. This is a temporary non invasive fix until the Aqua Illumination "Vega" comes out. I am running the light for 8 hours a day. Here are some photos of the lighted tank, and 2 Dispar Anthias, as well as a look under the hood with reactors online.

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[crobattt]

Nice Anthias!

 

[crobattt]

Looking Good! I'm really liking the anthias!

 

[cooperj]

Thanks, Crobattt. I want to add a couple more Dispar and some type of angel. I am looking for a small Bellus angel.

 

[cooperj]

So now I am trying to make room for a calcium reactor. I really like the MRC CR1. Mike at Marine Designs let me take one home to see if it would fit in my stand. I could get it in, but I had to turn it parallel to the ground to get it around the sump. This would pose some problems once it is full.

Solution: redo the drain plumbing to move the sump less than 1/2 an inch over. Along with this, MRC is going to cut the base of the sump down to the outer dimensions of the tube, plumbing and pump. This was not the easiest solution, but I'm glad we did it this way.

I started putting Kalk in my top off water which I drip into my sump.
Here are my levels:
pH = 8.1
Calcium = 380
Alkalinity = 2.5 meq/L

I'm just trying to get all my levels stabalized before I start putting sps in there. Oh yeah, I need some real lighting as well.

 

[cooperj]

I meant to say MRC is going to cut the base of the calcium reactor (not the sump)