New Setup - AGA 75 Gallon Pre-Drilled

aromano

aromano

New Member
Hey guys,

I decided to get an All Glass 75 gallon pre-drilled tank for xmas and would like to share some picts how the new system is coming along.

The tank arrived last saturday, 12/03/05.
Here is the configuration for the tank's equipment...

- AGA 75 Gallon Pre-Drilled
- Black Cabinet & Canopy (not using the canopy for now)
- Current USA Nova Extreme 8x54W T5HO (432W)
- 2 IceCap LED Flat Moonlights
- SeaLife Systems Refugium
- Coralife 18W 6700K fuge light
- AquaC EV120 Protein Skimmer w/ Mag-Drive 5 Pump
- Mag-Drive Supreme 5 Return Pump
- 3 MaxiJets 1200
- 300W Titatium Heater
- Digital Aquatics ReefKeeper Controler
- JBJ Automatic Top Off System
- 150 lbs. of LR
- 100 lbs. of LS
 

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mikeguerrero

Active Member
You got a great toy for x-mas and it's looking awesome, I love your aquascaping the caves are mysterious they set your tone.

Good job, and great choice on the size tank...

Mike G
 
aromano

aromano

New Member
Thanks a lot for the comments guys :)

I was just waiting to move into a bigger place, so I could have a larger tank again and it came just in time for xmas. I had to get rid of my 90 gallon tank two years ago, since I had no longer space for a 48â€
 
skipm

skipm

Moderator
Staff member
I know what you mean about the nanos being addictive, I have a 75 similar to yours and a 92 gallon corner tank but I have fallen in love with nanotanks. I have a 6 and 12 gallon nanocube and I am in the process of setting a standard 10 up with a 96 watt PC over it. Skip
 
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mikeguerrero

Active Member
Wow Skipm,

You have a mini observatory of aquatic life in your house... The most I had at one given time was two 12 gallon cubes and my pico.... Now I just have my 72 gallon bowfront and a pico my brother gave me that I've started....

Mike G
 
skipm

skipm

Moderator
Staff member
I do have quite a few tanks. I also have a 20 hex that is set up freshwater with several tetras in it, I am thinking about changing that tank out for either a 20 high or a 30 gallon that I have laying around. I am considering taking one or both of the large tanks down though, the nanos are so much easier to care for and alot less lifting of buckets of water. You can have all the tanks you can afford when you are single and the only other person in the house is a spoiled rotten labrador retrteiver :D
 
aromano

aromano

New Member
Ohhhhh man you do have an aquatic observatory at home w/ tanks of all shapes and sizes, fresh and saltwater. That's so AWESOME! I would love to see some pictures.

Here are a few more picts of my new skimmer and the water pumps.
 

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mikeguerrero

Active Member
I'm turning green with envy on the fact that my tank is completed, and I cannot build anymore. Then I have to stare at these awesome pictures of your filtration and I just dig the design.

You see in this hobby it's not just about the fish and corals you have but also about the engine that runs and maintains your reef.

I love your pictures and how you are documenting everything, did you get to see my thread on the 72 gallon?

I wish I could just build tanks for a living it's so much fun...

Keep up the good work, I'm tuned into your thread...

Mike G
 
aromano

aromano

New Member
Ohhhhhhhhh Mike…. You have an unbelievable tank and I love the fact that you documented every single step since the very beginning. Your thread is amazing and it really inspired me and gave me some really good ideas. Congrats on the all the hard work you have been putting into it. It’s truly amazing.

Ever since I added a refugium to my NC24 I was able to reduce my nitrates to almost undetectable levels and my fish and corals are doing so much better now. That’s the main reason why I wanted to try a refugium instead of just a regular sump.

Even though I have very limited space in the first and third compartments of my refugium, I have a plenty of space keep my plants in the second compartment and still maintain a clean look under the cabinet.

If it was a regular sump I would have the protein skimmer drain and return going into the first or second compartment, which would be better to reduce the micro bubbles and enhance the actual flow of the filtration system. But since it’s practically impossible w/ this type of refugium, I added a thin sponge under the skimmer’s return, and was able to have virtually no bubbles going into the display area. I still want to add a micron pre-filter bag into the drain in the first compartment.
I am crossing my fingers for this setup to work well :)

These two threads really inspired me to make my decision of going a T5HO Lighting.

211 gallon T5HO System

http://reefcentral.com/forums/showthrea ... did=700454

75 gallon T5HO Growth Picts

http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/showt ... genumber=1

It would be better to go w/ three or four retro kits w/ individual reflectors, but I wanted a single fixture w/ an affordable price tag that provided high output lighting without necessarily having to use a canopy.

Here is some useful info about T5HO Fluorescent Lighting in case anyone is interested...

"Because of their minimal heat output, T5 Fixtures can be placed very close to the tank to maximize the light output. T5 lights offer many benefits over standard fluorescent's including lamp life, power efficiency, extremely high lumen out, output per watt and small size. A typical 54 Watt T5 HO (High Output) bulb produces 5000 lumens which is equivalent to 92.6 lumens per watt.â€
 
aromano

aromano

New Member
I just got a JBJ ATO automatic top off system for my tank, so I can keep the sump water level stable in order to have maximum performance from the protein skimmer and avoid any salinity swings. It seems to work really well and it's certainly going to be a be a big help keeping the water level stable, since I am usually away on the weekends.

Now the audible beep thats emitted from the system when the pump is on is VERY annoying.... Everything sounds good about it, except that alert.
I wonder if there's a way to disable it?

I have the system timed with my light schedule since thats when most of the evaporation occurs.....
 

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mikeguerrero

Active Member
Andre,

There is a way you can disable the audible beeps, it's on nano-reef I'll find the thread and link it here; it's not that hard.

I like mine on because it's a good reminder that it's pulling from the reservoir so I keep an extra eye on it during these beeps.

Mine also let me know there was a problem by keeping the alarm on untill I checked and corrected the problem; I'd think twice before I disarm it.

Mike
 
aromano

aromano

New Member
Very good point Mike. You certainly have a point there.

I have the system timed with my light schedule, so I won't wake up with the sound during the night. It would be awesome if it had a volume control :)

Thx a lot, I really appreciate it.
 
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mikeguerrero

Active Member
Andre,

What you can do is build a silencer for it during the night. Purchase a plastic glad container, the ones that can hold left over food.

All you need is one that will cover the unit, then you get cotton balls and stuff the container so it snugs the controller.

During the night when you go to bed place it over your controller and if the alarm goes off at night you will not hear it.

Mine never goes off during the night since evaporation for me only occurs during the light period.

I do have glass lids on both my tank and my sump; I know from your photos you have just the tank with glass tops so you lose evap maybe during the night because of the open sump?

Even when my alarm goes off it's only for 5 to 10 seconds and it shuts off; if you are experiencing longer than that, it's becuase you have a weak pump that takes longer to fill the sump from the reservoir.

I went with the rio 90 I had the 50 but decided to use higher power to fight the overhead pressure, in doing so I fill quicker than say using the aqualifter pump that would take 10 minutes and have the alarm sounding too long.

Let me know if any of these ideas work for you.

Mike
 
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