Finally have a large tank... 280g Deltec Custom Reef Tank

[ReefingBuddha]

So I've finally made some progress. As I'm still out of the country I am setting up a large tank over here in the UK. The 480g cube is still alive but put on hold until I get back.

Wasn't really planning on getting another large tank but I was offered an amazing Deltec reef tank at a hell of a good price here so I'm going for it. Here are here are the specs.

A Deltec custom made 72"x30"x36" 280g Panorama Reef tank w/ stand. Up and running for 3 years without a single scratch on the tank or stand (couldn't believe it either)!

Major Details:
-2 closed loops on deltec interval pumps (one t's off to a flow bar behind the rocks on the bottom)
-1 corner overflow with Deltec return pump
-Full Deltec designed plumbing and Sump with race way
-1/2 HP Chiller (brand unknown)
-AP851 Skimmer
-AP500 Skimmer (extra)
-PF600 Calcium Reactor
-KM500 Kalkwasser Stirrer
-IKS computer with all the trimmings
-2x Deltec Fluidized Reactors
-Deltec Top off system
-Zeolith Filter
-3 Eheim 1260 Pumps
-2 Arcadia 250w MH w/ t5 lighting
-5" t5 supplemental light
-And heaters and all the other random crap.

Livestock
-400 Pounds assorted liverock
-20 to 30 6" to 16" Rose Bubbletip anemones (to many to count accurately)
-A Giant Star Polyp Rock
- Random assorted mushrooms and zoes
-1 Purple Tang
-4 Yellow Tangs
-1 Majestic Angel
-2 Pajama Cardinals
-2 Black Clown Fish
-4 Domino Damsels
-1 Sandsifting Goby


The plan is to get rid of almost all the livestock (sell to LFS) and keep all the liverock, tangs, and Clownfish. I'm not really into much outside of SPS cultivation so that is the direction I'm going in. I will transfer the stock from my grossly overstocked 55.

The system is 3 years old without a scratch on the stand or Tank. The current owner has taken exceptionally good care of the system and equipment.



And now its mine! I am doing prep today, starting to dismantle tomorrow, and picking up and moving it, and soaking equipment on Tuesday, and finally getting all back together on Wednesday and Thursday (hopefully). Its going to be a busy few days but I am very excited to get this tank up and running.

Here are some pictures (not the best of all time but oh well)





And the 55 I'm transferring livestock from





And yes for all of you nay-sayers out there the tank is 36" deep but I'm going to give it a shot. I'm sure it will be annoying to set up but I'm not so worried about it for upkeep or daily maintenance.

[invincible569]

Thats very nice! I look forward to your setup

[46bfinGA]

Anyone need a RBTA? Good lord Man thats a clownfish' paradise. Nice setup!

[Elliott]

exceptional find, congrats! I really like that setup!

interested to know how the 36" height works out

btw, what are Deltec interval pumps? do they turn on and off?

[ReefingBuddha]

Thanks everyone, looking forward to getting up and running.

Yes a rediculous of amount of anenomies indeed

And my understand is that a interval pump basically revs up and down kind of like a VFD of a sequence pump that some people have come up with here. The flow out of it looks awesome and I can't wait to see how it runs once I've cleaned up the system a bit.

[Elliott]

wow, never knew deltec made a pump like that, looking forward to hearing your impression of it

[ReefingBuddha]

I didn't know either but I think they are available on the deltec aquarium solutions site. It seemed pretty nice in the guys tank and he said they have been running trouble free for 3 years. Its an option for the HLP line of Deltec Pumps. Apparently the rev and interval can be changed and I'm excited to play with it. I'll post a full review after I have had them running for a couple days.

BTW I had never seen a Deltec aquarium in the US but over here they are pretty popular (for the high end crowd). The tank looks extremely well built and I can't wait to put it through its paces.

[jpa14]

72*30*36 that is 336 gallon? i was going with a 72*24*36 but changed to 30'' deep (i want to keep mostly sps) good luck with the tank..

[Elliott]

a system designed from the ground up by deltec has to be good, thanks for sharing and looking forward to your review

[ReefingBuddha]

jpa14 - You are quite correct.. I like to use the internal dimensions (71"x29"x31") as opposed to the external which gets me to 279g. Just helps me estimate what I need for the system better and I don't really like overvaluing the space I have if that makes sense. I know that's not the way tanks are usually presented but oh well.

So for everyone else... yes this would be considered a 336g tank. Thanks jpa14 for clearing that up


Elliott - I figured as much as well.

[ReefingBuddha]

oh by the way the tank has half inch sides and bracing and a 1" base...

[ReefingBuddha]

Phase 1 is complete
- All equipment and pumps (except for close loops) taken out and cleaned and tested
- Sump cleared out and rock in storage
- A total of 32 Anemones sold to LFS
- 20% of live rock is out
- Holding tank for live stock prepared and tested
- Having a beer

Phase 2 to begin tomorrow
- Remove 80% of live rock
- Remove Fish and remaining live stock
- Scrape Tank
- Remove water
- Dismantle remaining plumbing and lights
- Move tank
- Settle live stock in holding tank
- Reassemble and test for leaks
- Will definetly need that beer

Phase 3 - to be determined by progress tomorrow
- Test for small cycle ( using 75% original tank water and 100% original live rock)
- Reacclimatize fish
- Test again for cycle after 2 days and wait to stabilize
- Add remaining livestock and transfer old tank
- Beer?

[advice1]

hah, imagine if your clowns still didnt go into a bta..

looks nice

[ricks]

After all that, you might need a six pack... Nice score, keep us posted...

Happy Reefing

[Me No Nemo]

Wow, very nice Tom! Those anemones are crazy! I'll follow along as this looks to be a very nice tank once you get it going!

[ReefingBuddha]

Thanks for the kind words. A six pack is waiting for tonight, its going to be a very long day.

Thanks Marcy, I can't wait to tackle the live rock.

And funny enough those damn clownfish want nothing to do with all those nems, they fiercely defend some mushrooms in the front right corner... go figure. He also hoped the cardinals or damsels might host but nothing in the tank does.

[cbui2]

congrats Tom on another build, put me down for a few so what's the plans for anemone?

[ReefingBuddha]

Thanks Bart, appreciate it but the other build never really got off the ground... Put almost the entire setup is waiting for me back in Florida, just waiting for some good news.

I had one for you man

And I sold 26 of the anemone already and am going to keep 1 or 2 for myself. I have another 4 that will probably be sold tomorrow as well.



Update

Phase 2 mostly complete.
- Note to all.... Most movers are MORONS
---> Move off the stand one guy dropped his corner and let the tank fall 2 feet and destroyed the back right hand corner molding, luckily it is the least visible corner and the tank was ok
---> A scratch-less stand and trim now has a total of 6 scraps
---> For being movers they are logistically retarded and couldn't find their way out of paper bag with directions
- Everything put equipment hook up completed and all live rock is in the tank.
- Unfortunately one of the yellow tangs did not make it but all other fish are doing fine in the holding tank, hope everything holds up till tomorrow.
- I defiantly underestimate how fast the temp can drop in water buckets. Currently bring up the temp from 58 to 78 on 200+ gallons of water at an incredible slow rate but getting there. I guess I'm used to doing this kind of thing in Florida weather.

That's all for now.. I'm dead tired and passing out. Peace!

Pics to come tomorrow.

[TandN]

good luck with this

[ThaNgBOm321]

gezz... RBTA breeding like rabbits.... who knew they where genetically related...

=^b

YzGyz

[cbui2]

sorry to hear about the moving issue as those guys never pay attention to anything. well at least the display isn't crack. wow 26 anemone that's insane, you will need about 60 nemos if you kept them.

[reefsociety101]

Wow 36 height tank. Looking forward to this one.

[ReefingBuddha]

haha that's right Bart. Except with my luck not one of those clowns will host a anemone. I have kept 2 but am planning on selling just 1 off. The 26 I sold to the store have already split and last time I was there it was somewhere around 32 and 4 more were splitting while I was there, its ridiculous. Also 2 of the 5 I had kept split as well so now I have some more to sell.

I'm assuming its because they had limited space to split before and now that they have the chance they are splitting like crazy.




So an update:
- Aquascaping 90% complete. Ended up with a canyon design with two mounds on each side, not what I was originally going for but what I ended up with. Originally I wanted rock in the left 60% of the tank and nothing else but as I have a wide brace in the center of the tank lighting would not have worked out for my corals). The rock is very open and the tangs are having fun dashing from one end to the other through the different channels open to them. Also the tank is about 50% open water (between the front panel and canyon alone) so that should keep the fish happy and I think looks pretty good.
- Tangs are in the tank along with the clownfish pair, the majestic angel, the pajama cardinal pair and an old sand sifter all happily cruising around in their new environment. Unfortunately the Majestic got chewed on a little bit but he's doing great now. Damsels are being sold to LFS
- Setup the lights
- Cleaned out the sump and started re-plumbing the system, not sure if it was Deltec's design but there are a number of improvements I plan to make to the plumbing. The concept is great but the execution needs a little bit of work to be more convenient.
- Skimmer is kicking but and pulling out a cup a day of fairly dark skimmate.
- All levels are holding solid at perfect much to my enjoyment.
- Still making and adding water with my little RO/DI unit. About 5% tank volume to go. Will get there tonight for sure.
- Put first test coral (encrusting monti) into the tank this morning and it is still doing very well. If it does well until tomorrow evening I will transfer some more corals.


Next step
- Finish plumbing
- Re-setup equipment
- Reprogram Aquatronica controller


Pictures to follow shortly

[ReefingBuddha]

The Spoiled Clownfish


Extra "stuff" the guy had in his garage I could have


Right before the left back corner was dropped and yes the hat does make me stronger.


Tank safe out the back porch, wrapped up, and into the truck 3 hours after the previous picture and about 300 ft of progress


Warning: not for the faint of heart. Had to lever up the tank as 2 of the 3 delivery guys were OLD and not strong.


Tank with the water I saved being skimmer. Pretty ambitious for the little tunze skimmer so I hooked up the Deltec

[ReefingBuddha]

Rock back in the tank with Skimmer Running


Another shot with the tank clearing up


Rock work done and fish are in. As always its hard to tell but its very open


A quick shot of the Majestic and his battle wounds. Beautiful fish