New Shop Display Betta Lifespace 1500 Live Rock Zeovit System Build Thread!!

[Marine Life]

After Stocking The range of popular Betta Lifespace systems we decided to set one up in the store and after debate picked the largest in the range the Lifespace 1500 marine sump version in black approx dimensions 5x2x2 again approx 570 litres or 130 gallons.

With a few modifications planned ie:- gravity fed Deltec APF400 skimmer and to replace the standard 4000 liters return pump with a hard piped Ocean Runner 6500 ran with Zeovit system and additives from Korallen-Zucht as we primarily want to keep SPS and LPS corals with few if any soft corals.

So we put the cabinet together and raised it up to a good eye level when standing with a support of foundation blocks lifting it up a further 11"

http://www.marinelifeonline.co.uk/media/products/16587_500.jpg

It certainly was not level!!! about an inch or so difference between the two ends!! out come the chocks that sorted it now level end to end and front to back great.

http://www.marinelifeonline.co.uk/media/products/16585_500.jpg

http://www.marinelifeonline.co.uk/media/products/16586_500.jpg

We will continuously add updates for the thread to show how it is coming along its going well so far!

[Lost Boys]

Looking forward to watching this thread grow, always good to see another Betta 1500 take a different direction and give other ideas on other directions that can be taken.

[marineconverts]

Its going to be good to follow this thread, I'm very interested in what Jasons going to do with this tank set up. :thumbsup:

Steve.

[Tobler]

............. this had better be good !!:rockon:

[Paul71]

I'm looking forward to watching this develop in the flesh, it's a lovely looking tank and I'm sure Jason will make the most of it.

[Marine Life]

We needed to lift the tank up onto the stand and as I aint that strong asked the two roofers working on the roof upstairs we were in business!!

http://www.marinelifeonline.co.uk/media/products/16590_500.jpg

As we planned to fit in the first section of the sump a D-D APF600 skimmer and a Korallen-zuch Zeovit reactor we needed to make some room, we cut out the first four glass baffle plates so their was only the last two remaining giving us a 23".

The skimmer was planned to be gravity fed from the main tank so the pipework was altered the left connector was changed to a hosetail to connect the skimmer to and the wet side in the aquarium pipe was cut right back up to the tank connector within the weirbox, thus creating more pressure to feed the skimmer.

The middle outlet was left as it came with the tap on but the pipe within the weir box reduced about 50% to handle the rest of the drain water from the aquarium to the sump.

Lastly the far right return from the sump tank connector was replaced with a 1" tank connector immediately reduced to 32mm on the dryside in the cabinet to hard pipe the ocean runner 6500 sited in the last chamber of the sump to return water to the aquarium.

http://www.marinelifeonline.co.uk/media/products/16592_500.jpg

Below hard piped Ocean Runner 6500 replacing existing supplied 4000ltr per hour return pump for increased turnover.

http://www.marinelifeonline.co.uk/media/products/16591_500.jpg

[marineconverts]

Hi Jason,

Can I just ask if your planning on having a DSB sump?

:thanks: Steve.

[Marine Life]

Hello Steve,

Not with the Zeovit sytem as it dont work and is not recomended, I have not used DSB in sumps for some time I always questioned myself was it worthwhile? hope your doing ok.

Cheers

Jason

[marineconverts]

Hi Jason,
Yeah I'm fine thx, I'm just trying to find out what will be the best set up for my sump in my new system when I eventually get one, :laugh:

Steve.

[Ben S]

Hi Jason,

Any more progress on the build? Not had a chance to pop in since I've getting back from my honeymoon, but hoping to get across this Saturday.

Ben

[Marine Life]

It sure is proggressing Ben I just aint had a chance to update the thread its looking good though, I will try asap to bring it up to speed see you at the weekend if you get a chance to get over mate

Cheers

Jason

[Marine Life]

Happy that all joints and connections were watertight we filled the system with tap water for a wet test, one small leak on the tank connector nipped it up then we were leak free.

We ran the system for a couple of days to make sure then pumped out all the water including the sump contents. Then filling the water direct from our coral system to give it a head start rather than using new salted water. once that was running nicely we added the planned 100 Kilos of premium Fiji Live Rock and set the Deltec APF600 away.

http://www.marinelifeonline.co.uk/media/products/16596_500.jpg http://www.marinelifeonline.co.uk/media/products/16597_500.jpg

Yip it stinks even though the uncured rock was pretty clean!!

http://www.marinelifeonline.co.uk/media/products/16598_500.jpg

For water movement in the aquarium we fitted a Wave Polario 22'000 alternating pump to the rear centre of the tank.

http://www.marinelifeonline.co.uk/media/products/16599_500.jpg

Still no substrate as we wanted to keep it as clean as possible until the rock was cured enabling us to siphon out any waste from the aquarium bottom that did not pass through the one remaining black sponge in the last chamber of the sump for mechanical filtration or through the skimmer. Every third day we changed about 50% of water again pumped direct from our coral system.

We tested for Ammonia NH4 and Nitrite NO2 of the scale as we expected!!

[marineconverts]

I popped into the shop over the w/end and the tank has come on a long way since the last update, its looking very nice.:thumbsup:

Steve.

[leslie hempel]

wow very cool

[Marine Life]

With now no Ammonia or Nitrite we were ready to add the Zoevit reactor containing the 1.2 kilos of Zeovit stones into the first chamber sitting along side the skimmer in the first sump compartment with the return from the reactor with the outlet piped as close as possible to the sump return pump.



We planned to follow the 14 day start up recomended on the Korallen-Zuch Zeovit website using:-

1.2 K Zeostones
Zeobak
Zeostart 2
Sponge Power
Activated Carbon
Dosed at the recomended times and volumes as recomended.

http://www.marinelifeonline.co.uk/media/products/16600_500.jpg

[Marine Life]

With the tank peramiters now stable for some time we decided to transfer over some livestock from an existing display tank, we also have added an auto top up unit to make things a bit easier. The lighting is six T5,s four marine white and two actinic blues some pics below :-
http://www.marinelifeonline.co.uk/media/products/16612_500.jpg http://www.marinelifeonline.co.uk/media/products/16613_500.jpg http://www.marinelifeonline.co.uk/media/products/16614_500.jpg http://www.marinelifeonline.co.uk/media/products/16615_500.jpg http://www.marinelifeonline.co.uk/media/products/16616_500.jpg http://www.marinelifeonline.co.uk/media/products/16617_500.jpg http://www.marinelifeonline.co.uk/media/products/16621_500.jpg http://www.marinelifeonline.co.uk/media/products/16620_500.jpg http://www.marinelifeonline.co.uk/media/products/16619_500.jpg http://www.marinelifeonline.co.uk/media/products/16618_500.jpg

[Belly1968]

Looks good Jason, is that the black capped out of the other tank? He,s a stunning fish

[Aquaracer]

Hi Jason .tanks coming along nicely :thumbsup:

Do you have the Zeo Reactor pumping into the same compartment in the sump as the skimmer?

[zoney]

paid a visit to the shop on sunday and this tank is stunning to look at :) keep the piccys coming

[Marine Life]

Hello Hows it going?

Ive got the reactor in the first sump compartment and the drain from it goes into the last right by the return pump so when the reactor is flushed all the mulm goes straight into the sump return pump and the corals love it!

Best wishes Jason

Hi Jason .tanks coming along nicely :thumbsup:

Do you have the Zeo Reactor pumping into the same compartment in the sump as the skimmer?

[Aquaracer]

I thought when i asked the question that you would have it plumbed right ,just couldnt work it out in the pic. Granny and sucking eggs springs to mind ;) :laugh:

[Neil B]

Update :P

[dada258uk]

just been into jasons shop today and boy what a tank its absolutly gorgeus even managed to talk me into buying one lol just gotta persuade the wife to get rid of 2 seater sofa :)
keep up the good work jason
dave

[griffiths212]

cant see the pics any more dont know if it's me or not , did u have to adjust the weir comb for running the or6500 cause im having a game setting up mine

[Marine Life]

Hi,

The weir works just fine as it came, I did put a hard pipe 32mm return pipe on there but if anything it will have helped more water get through the system much better than the small bore flexi pipe that comes as standard.

Cheers

Jason

[griffiths212]

have u got 32 mm tank connectors on your tank ?

[Marine Life]

Its a 1" bulkhead tank connector reduced down to 32mm on the dryside to connect to the ocean runner pump.

Cheers

[griffiths212]

thanks, ive widen the weir comb gaps cause the water wasnt going thru quick enough but now i got trickling sounds grrrrr lol

[griffiths212]

i see that you have cut your tall middle drain down to 50 % perhaps i might try that im using 25 mm plumbing is there alot more noise from the weir now tho ,cant understand what im doing wrong cant seeyour pics still tried on two computers a laptop and my iphone

[Marine Life]

I cant see them either I have asked one of the mods if they can be put back on somehow hope so as it looks a bit silly without pictures!

Good luck with your endeavors.:thumbsup:

Cheers

Jason

[griffiths212]

thanks jason and thanks for the chat i'll be in soon

[Matt G]

I cant see them either I have asked one of the mods if they can be put back on somehow hope so as it looks a bit silly without pictures!

Good luck with your endeavors.:thumbsup:

Cheers

Jason


Have you changed your server or deleted/moved the pictures? all the picture links in this thread point back your website for example

http://www.marinelifeonline.co.uk/media/products/16587_500.jpg (http://www.marinelifeonline.co.uk/media/products/16587_500.jpg)

[Marine Life]

Yip you are correct Ive sussed it out now I uploaded those images as you say from our old website that no longer exists. Turns out a big mistake I will get them uploaded when I get a chance from the original photos.

Cheers for helping out.:thanks:

Jason

[wolfsb]

Yip you are correct Ive sussed it out now I uploaded those images as you say from our old website that no longer exists. Turns out a big mistake I will get them uploaded when I get a chance from the original photos.

Cheers for helping out.:thanks:

Jason

Did u ever get chance like to see this
Thanks

[Darren™]

any chance of sorting the pics out mate,and an update as the display tank was a credit to you and the shop today looked mint

[wolfsb]

Why on a mac or iPad can I not see these pics and on some threads they show up

[Marine Life]

Hi,

As soon as I get a chance I will get the thread sorted out the pictures put back on and updated the system really is impressive now so I need to find the time so you can all see it soon thanks for your patience.

Best wishes

Jason

[Darren™]

Thanks

[rayfishy]

Oi jason get the update pics on when you get a min mate this is one stunning tank set up i look farward to seeing this tank every time i go in for my water and a chat with jason :)

[KAZ980]

Haway Jason, where's the pics? I want to see if you've any nice corals in there that I can pilfer from you :laugh: