40G Starfire BB SPS Build Thread
 

I figured I'd make one of these since I always enjoy reading other people's build threads.

Anyway, my tank is a 40G Starfire Tank. The dimensions are 24x24x16. I had a 75G Tank for a little over 2 years, but, decided to take it down due to it being in my bedroom and the fact I would be moving out of my house soon. Little did I know that within 3 months I am now starting another tank already. Although I am still moving within a year and half I really didn't want to be without a tank for that long.

Here's a list of specs for the tank:

Tank:40G Starfire BB SPS(24x24x16)

Flow:2 x Tunze 6055 on a 7094 controller; Mag 9.5(dialed down a bit)

Lighting: 1 x 250W XM 20K

Ballast:PFO 250W HQI

Reflector:LumenBright 3

Skimmer: Deltec MCE600(In sump)

Other Filtration: RDSB(6G Tank filled with Aragonite)

Calcium/Alkalinity Supplementation:2 part

Here's some pics that I took this weekend.

Tank just after being brought inside
http://i35.photobucket.com/albums/d1...1/P1050001.jpg
Inside of Stand(24x24x30)
http://i35.photobucket.com/albums/d1...1/P1050004.jpg
Stand after I stained it http://i35.photobucket.com/albums/d1...1/P1050005.jpg
Starting to fill the tank http://i35.photobucket.com/albums/d1...1/P1060013.jpg
Back of Tank
http://i35.photobucket.com/albums/d1...1/P1060016.jpg
RDSB and Sump Area http://i35.photobucket.com/albums/d1...1/P1060019.jpg
Sump Plumbing
http://i35.photobucket.com/albums/d1...1/P1060018.jpg

I will be adding more water as it is made. Should be filled up by late tomorrow, if not Tuesday. I'll update some more when I have the return running. The Tunzes should be in later in the week, also.

looks pretty cool. good idea going with the 2-45* elbows rather than a single 90*. ive heard that helps a lot in keeping higher turnover rate.

im sure you'll be happy with the 6055's. im using 2 modded 6025's in my 30 and they're awesome. what flow rate are you aiming for/ do you expect to achieve?

I used all 45*'s there are no 90* at all. Using 90*'s in my last setup really constricted flow in both water leaving the tank and on the return. I'm not really aiming for any particular percentage in flow, just enough to keep my corals happy along with to try and keep detritus off the bottom. I've also found that too much flow, especially in a small tank can negatively effect SPS. I found that out in my 75 G where I had 2 x Tunze 6100; a Mak 4 with 2 penductors, 4 Seio 820's. I had better results after I took out the CL and 2 Seios. Well, better PE anyway.

I am going to build that exact same tank. It will even fit on my stand.

A question though, is there a reason you didn't go with an external overflow siliconed to the back? I use an internal overflow on my 30cube now and I wish I could reclaim the space inside the tank. I hope you did not take that the wrong way, your tank is awsome the way it is now.

I'm going to follow this for sure. Good luck with the build.

Keith

YES! Cube tanks ftw! Very cool setup started. The rimless is very awesome.

Keith,
You're dead on with that observation. Looking back, I probably should've done the overflow external. It wasn't an option on the glasscages website and I may have been able to ask for that customization. But, they show example of Rimless tanks on their site which have the internal overflows and they look great. I think I will be able to create a really nice reef with the internal overflow, too.

Dave
Thanks Crimson.

You might need to rethink the mag 9.5. I am using a oceanrunner 3500 on my 60g cube and it's way too much flow. Not that bad on the microbubbles, because I use a filter sock, but it makes the drains pretty loud. I'm downgrading to a OR 2500.

I actually got the Mag 9.5 knowing I would need to dial it down quite a bit. First, I only have 1 drain pipe(Durso-rated at around 650 GPH). With the loss of head pressure on the return pump I figured the estimated 950 GPH would cut down to 850-900 GPH, then I have a ball valve right above the pump to cut down the flow until I find the sweet spot. I realize limiting the flow like that will cut the pumps life down a bit, but, I was running a Mag 7 on my last setup where I had the flow cut down to almost 1/2 way witha ball valve and it lasted 2 years and only got replaced because I was starting a new setup so I figured I would. We'll see though, if I have to restrict the flow too much I will swap the pump for something smaller.

Thanks for the heads up.

I have a quick question: I am using a Durso Standpipe(16"). I ordered the slip version. And, of course the bulkhead I got is threaded. I got the converter from Lowes, but, it makes the standpipe a little taller by about 1.5"-2". Should I just cut the standpipe to compensate for the difference?

I got some more stuff done today. I was able to fill the tank(NO LEAKS!!). Then I added salt. I am going to be using the same salt I used on my prior tanks, Tropic Marin. Although it is a little pricey, I've never had an issue with it. The salinity I'm going to maintain is 1.025. Then, I installed a 15 plug multi-outlet. I'm going to label the plugs and try and keep this setup a little more organized than my last wire mess. I also had time to hang my reflector. I wasn't able to power it up cause hellolights forgot to mention that I need a PFO quick disconnect in order to use the HQI ballast. It should be here late this week.
Anyway, here's the pics:
http://i35.photobucket.com/albums/d1...1/P1070020.jpg
My first Top Down shot
http://i35.photobucket.com/albums/d1...1/P1070021.jpg
Deltec MCE600-Skimmer
http://i35.photobucket.com/albums/d1...1/P1070022.jpg
Reflector View
http://i35.photobucket.com/albums/d1...1/P1070026.jpg
Full View
http://i35.photobucket.com/albums/d1...1/P1070027.jpg

More to come.....

Your tank looks great on the stand and full of water. Maybe you could divert some of the excess water from the Mag9.5 to run a phosban reactor, that would eliminate 1 small pump and 1 less electrical cord.

Good idea 30reef. That's what I am planning on doing as well.

What is the point of having a barebottom display and a dsb plumbed into it? This seems contradictory to me.

nitrate reduction


lookin good chris. I was happy with my GC tank when I picked up this weekend. Its built like a sherman tank. Only problem ive found is they got a couple smudges of silicone on the glass but alittle elbow grease took it off. really like the starfire glass.

ps- GC doesnt do external OFs which sucks big time but I guess its too much work/liability for their team. I was able to get a horizontal OF like Calfo designed.

A BB with a RDSB allows you to have huge amounts of flow without a sand storm and also have the benefit of nitrate reduction from the RDSB. I'm incorporating that into mine as well.

Can't wait to see how your tank looks when it's stocked.

Let me know what you think of the flow with the two 6055s. That sounds like a great combination. I'm still deciding what I want to do with flow on my tank as I'm currently using a Koralia K4 and an MJ1200.

My tank is BB at the moment with sand in the sump, but the sump is more of a fuge with all my equipment because I have pretty low flow going thru it now (Eheim 1250). So far, I like how this has worked out.

Like the others said; having a RDSB with BB allows you to run a lot of flow with no risk of a sandstorm. In my prior 75G tank; I had BB and my colors were very pale from it being too sterile of a system(I think). I added sand bed into the main display and my colors got MUCH better, for whatever reason. But, I had a few clowns that loved to kick up the sand, then that sand hit the Tunzes and I then had sand all over my tank, on the rocks, on my corals, etc. So, that is why I am having a RDSB on this setup; to me it is the perfect solution. IF/when the sand goes bad(i.e starts leaching, I can very easily remove all the sand and replace it.

Chem-E: I have them coming in today and the quick disconnect for my lights. I'll post some more updates later on today.

So, the big brown truck just left a little while a go. He brought me some more goodies. I got in my 2 Tunze 6055's, and the quick disconnect for my PFO HQI Ballast. The flow should be defintely be good. I have them running on the 7094; running at 50% / 100%. Then I wired the light into the ballast with the quick disconnnect. Some more pics:
Here they are:
http://i35.photobucket.com/albums/d1...1/P1090029.jpg
Tunzes/ Light on!
http://i35.photobucket.com/albums/d1...1/P1090028.jpg
Pretty good flow, huh?http://i35.photobucket.com/albums/d1...1/P1090032.jpg

Next:Live rock....

I bet those 6055s really move the water. I use a single K4 on mine and it seems to be sufficient. I had 2 K4s but I removed one of them due to some PE issues. I am planning to get a couple of 6055s on a controller also, but I am going to upgrade into the bigger 24" tank first. Mine currently is 19x19x19. I just got a pH monitor yesterday so I can play with that for a while.

Looks great...!!!! I wanted the 6055s too with a controller, but couldn't spend that much money after the holidays... spent a lot on everyone else and bought myself 2 6025s... its all good, that gives me something to upgrade later... =)

Jester

*edit*
Double post... sorry...

Hey rutz, are you gonna use any starboard on the bottom? I put some in the bottom of my tank and at first I didn't like it but now, a year later is is encrusted over with about 10 layers of coralin and looks cool. I put it there to make the rocks stay put a little better and for a little shock protection for the bottom pane of glass. I did run a big bead of silicone around the edges to seal it but now I don't think it was nec.

I wasn't going to because on my last tank I had starboard and detritus got underneath and I could never get it out. Never had any adverse effect from that, but, I think over time it may have started to leachn phosphates into the water. To keep my rocks in place I'm going to drill and peg them. Therefore making more of one rock which is almost impossible to have a rock slide and almost never move.

Take a lot of pics of this...!!!! I want to do this too because I'm sick of coming home and finding random rocks that have fallen... and its like putting a square peg in a round hole when I want it to go back to where it was... heheheee

That is such an incredibly good idea, I am going to do that. The LR is so easy to drill holes in. My to do list is getting really long.