Drop Off LPS Reef

[mariusz621]

This is my current set up:



This tank should be closed down by the end of August.

The new project has been discussed here:
http://www.ultimatereef.net/forums/showthread.php?t=317811


These are dimensions of the new tank:


Where:
a) 400mm
b) 1000mm
c) 400mm
d) 800mm
e) 600mm
f) 800mm

Before the new tank is set up, I have indentified any possible improvements to the current set up.
Problems I have experienced in this set up:
a) Week skimmer. I had Deltec APF851 on the 550l tank, which should be strong enough. However, with the 40 cubes of frozen a day for suns I think bigger skimmer was needed. I have already purchased Deltec AP 703, which I hope would be strong enough as the new tank volume is only 100l more.
b) Deep sand bed. The average depth is around 15cm. This has become a nightmare to keep clean. There are a few borrowing snails, but this seems not enough to keep the sand clean. In the new set up the sand bed is going to be thinner. All tube anemones are to be placed on the deep end, so the shallow part would have a very thin layer of sand.
c) Lack of calcium reactor. As there are no sps corals, I thought the calcium reactor may not be essential. However, keeping parameters stable has proven to be a challenge. This has probably help to keep cyno happy as I am having problems to get rid of it. I have purchased new calcium reactor which should keep ph, dkh and ca stable.
d) Overflow. The current set up is not drilled and uses overflow box. I have to make sure the new set up has proper weir, or overflow build in. This is a weak area of my knowledge and I am not really sure what best. I think a corner weir on the shallow end would be ok. I am planning to have double pipes with different length.
I am not sure what to do with the return pipe. Should I have a “U” bend tube going over the edge of the tank, or should I have the 3rd hole drilled and have the return pipe going over the weir?




I will keep most of my current equipment: KZ 6x80w lights, 2x vortech mp40, korallin denitrator. Most of the live rock is going to create the drop off effect leaving the shallow end very open. I am not sure what carals to keep there. It would be nice to have sps there, but with the amount of food going into the system daily I don’t think water parameters are going to be spot on. I am not big fun of acans. I am thinking of gonioporas, alveporas and similar corals.

Any suggestions regarding the tank, equipment and proposed stock are very welcome. I hope I am able to pull this off.

[Cav]

Looks like a nice idea. What are your plans for stocking? Photosynthetic and the top and non photosynthetic at the bottom?

[cdurkin100]

Looks like a great build, I will be sorry to see your old tank go. It was a great looking system.

Im sure the new one will be even better

[xvickyx]

WOW looks like an awesome build, loving the old tank

[wayne in norway]

How are you going to stop the sand in the top 'migrating' to the bottom? Are you going to have a lip? I am also curious how you think yo're going to stop debris accumulating in the deep end if you have an overflow in the shallow end. I think that means the weir needs to go in the deep end, with slots in the bottom as well as the top, but I've never built/used a weir with that design.

[MoOriginal]

brilliant idea
looking forward to the build !

[mariusz621]

Originally Posted by Cav

Looks like a nice idea. What are your plans for stocking? Photosynthetic and the top and non photosynthetic at the bottom?

I think there would be a differnt type of corals on the top making the dropp off more of a feature. Not really sure which photosynthetic corals though...

Originally Posted by cdurkin100

Looks like a great build, I will be sorry to see your old tank go. It was a great looking system.

Im sure the new one will be even better

I like the current system, but there are too many flows there. The new one will be very orange as well

Originally Posted by xvickyx

WOW looks like an awesome build, loving the old tank

Thanks, I have to work hard on the new one, so it looks better than the current set up...

Originally Posted by wayne in norway

How are you going to stop the sand in the top 'migrating' to the bottom? Are you going to have a lip? Yes, that should stop the sand movement.I am also curious how you think yo're going to stop debris accumulating in the deep end if you have an overflow in the shallow end. I think that means the weir needs to go in the deep end, with slots in the bottom as well as the top, but I've never built/used a weir with that design.

I don't think the weir on the deep end would look nice as the deep and side would also be a viewing side. I am planning to keep the sand bed thinner than 10cm. There will be debris accumulating there, which will have to be syphone out during water changes. I don't really see how I could avoid it...I will be using vortechs which create quite good "uplifts" from the bottom of the tank...

[ace33]

I dont think it would work having the weir on the deep side as AFAIK your haveing the sump under the shallow section. Therefore the water cannot fall via gravity into the sump if it is in the deep side, do you know what I mean?

I would have a hole drilled for the return mill make the setup a bit neater and keeps everything in one place, have an up and over return is a PITA.

[wave ace]

Looks like a interesting build

I have been thinking about a non photosynthetic after going to Holand

[Dami]

You are nuts...... And i love it.... great idea, fab thinking.
Looks very simular to the Royal exclusive one (on their site).