It's finally time to start this thread. I've been dreaming about it for months now, and I think it's almost time to execute. Pics of parts to follow as soon as they start coming in.

The overall theme is QUALITY and COST EFFECTIVENESS.

Here's The Initial Parts List:

Lighting:
250 watt Ice Cap ballast
LumenArc III Reflector
Hamilton 14000K Single Ended Bulb

Flow:
To start 2 1200 Maxi's with Sure Flow mods

Heat:
Hydor Theo 400 watt submersible

Cooling shouldn't be an issue, as it will be set up in a basement, in Iowa.

I plan on starting out without a fuge, but adding one within a month or two. I will have cheato in the fuge and eventually a skimmer. I am also going to put a remote deep sand bed on using a 5 gallon bucket and a maxi 1200.

I don't know what size tub I want to start out with yet. I have to do some shopping still. I might go anywhere from 80 to 150. We'll see. I have some cool tricks hidden up my sleeve still so stay tuned.

Let me know what you think!

Go 55G+

see my frag tub thread, I have two 40gal. Do you have a TSC near you/ they have 40, 55, and 125 tubs.

tagging along as i have plans for this too.

I'm hoping to set up something similar myself, can't wait to see what you come up with!

There are a ridiculous amount of farm stores around here with endless tub options. I saw the exact ones you have, dtfleming, on Sunday, and I agree, they are nice. I might use one for my fuge. I'm looking to go bigger for my main tub.

I forgot to mention I already have the Ballast. I picked it up used like 3 months ago. I've had this idea in my head for a long time, haha.

Ordered the lumenarc today. The bulb is back ordered, but I found a place that has them for 59.99 plus shipping. Anyone know where you can get them cheaper?

hellolights, aquabuys maybe. Im also getting a lumenarc mini setup from a local reefer. and a used skimmer also.

Awesome. Thanks dt. I was going to buy it off of aquabuys, but it was back ordered. Just ordered it on hellolights. I think it was an even better deal.

Next week is going to be big.

coolz, got m skimmer today.

Check out the new lighting supplies I got today!

Hamilton 250Watt 14000K Bulb

This thing is way bigger than I thought it would be.

Lumen Arc III Reflector

This still has the plastic on it, I'm gonna take it off right after I hang it.

I've had this for a while, but here's a pic for good measure.
250 Watt Ice Cap Ballast


It looks like I only have a few things to attain before I can set this up.
Here's the rest of the list:
400watt heater
Rubbermaid Tub
2-modded maxi jets

Future Plans Include:
Plumbing in a 50gal+ fuge
Good skimmer
5gal rsdb
someday possibly- calcium reactor

this is going to be a badass buid thread. Keep us posted with LOTs of pics ;-)

Looks good, got my ballast and bulb today, Have my ato up and running on my tub. I will need a ca reactor down the road also. Im looking at the Korlain 1502 package.

Nice MH lights.

Yesterday I received my maxi mods and heater. RAGBRAI was in town so I got preoccupied. I'm currently renovating the basement, and the room that this tub is going to go in. I've only got a few more things to get before its ready to go.
RODI filter
Rubbermaid tub
possibly some dead rock (I have live rock to seed it already)

I've also been shopping for skimmers. I wish there was a list in order of how good they are by brand. I'm not sure which route I want to take yet. I've seen some people build there own with success, which seems like a cool idea, but it's still expensive. I'll figure it out sooner or later..

Nice reflector. My buddy uses one over his frag tank. Got his second hand but would have gladly paid full price now that he knows how good they are.

For skimmers, MRX has been getting a lot of buzz lately. That "other" place has a great thread on them.

I just looked into msx, and wow. I'm impressed. I think I'll end up shooting for the msx 200. I just need to raise $310, haha. It might be a few months, but I definitely want one.

UPDATE: I know it's been a little while, but the frag project is still very much alive.

Things finished:
Lighting is wired and working.
40 Gallon tub Purchased
Frag Room finished

Waiting on the room to be finished was the biggest part. We completely cleaned out an old room in the basement, repainted the walls, epoxied the floor, and ran electrical to it with GFCI. It is the bomb.

The light is very close to being hung.

Things I still need to do:
Buy RO-DI
Decide if I want a bigger main tank
Build stand (have the materials)
Plumbing (probably an all day project running back and forth to Lowes)

I'm still deciding on what I want to run as a return pump, I'm thinking a mag 9.5

Pictures soon.. Let me know what you think

Sounds good, I think I went with the Mag 9.5. If you have the room I would def go bigger on the main tank. a 40gal tub fills up quick.

I ordered my ocean wave plus ro-di system today. I got it from thefilterguys.com I've heard a lot of good things about this place, thought I'd try it. Other than that, I've still been busy working on this house. I've got the stand ready and am just waiting on some cash to come around to buy the pump and other tub. It's almost time for me to sell some more stuff just to get this thing running. I'm getting frustrated with the wait!

Well just look at it this way, the longer you wait the more you will love seeing all the frags you will produce .

Big News! I picked up a 110 gallon tub this weekend. I've got everything I need. I'll be plumbing it all together this week. Right now everything is in the 40 gallon tub. I just got a powder blue tang for my birthday and he's awesome. I'm gonna have massive amounts of pics to post soon.

Congrats on the new tub! What was the design decision on the maximods over something like a koralia? Just to have easy replacements or b/c of cost?

Where's your basement in iowa? I'm in illinois now, but just moved from iowa.

I live in Ames. I went with the maxi mods because of both cost and curiosity. I already had 2 mj 900s on hand, so that helped sway me.

I'll have the plumbing completed tomorrow or Tuesday. I have all of the equipment, I just need to put it all together, and run to Lowe's for some adapters.

Here's a pic of the room right now.


Next weekend I'm going to rehang the light so that it's closer to the water.

I wish i had a basement, they dont make those here in Az...

But dont tell my gf that or she'll have another argument to go to Missouri

Missouri...eewwww..

I'm mixing up water. I have about 80 gallons mixed, 40-60ish to go.

UPDATE

This thread is going to get pic heavy fast...

Here's the sump currently


Here's where I mix my water:

Very nice keep the pics comin

Here are some growth pics. Some stuff had a tough time switching tanks. About 2 months ago I got my parameters all in line and stuff has just gone crazy.

Birdsnest and Hydnophora Before: The chips acro on the right didn't move well, but I still have a little bit that I'm hoping will pull through.


Birdsnest after:


ORA Green Birdsnest Before:


ORA Green Birdsnest After:


One of my Favorites, a tabling acro:

Small Chalice Collection


Random Frags:


Green Slimer


Brains, Both used to be one, but I fragged one for a friend.
I am actually holding a bunch of his other stuff too. Some of the random frags are probably his too.


Some Acans of mine.

I really like the pics great job

Thanks, I haven't used photoshop on any of the ones I just posted. Just took most of them tonight.

Some things to note about the frag tank:
I switched to seachem salt and love it. Reef Crystals calcium alkalinity and mag were all too low.
I dose with bulk reef supply 3 part kit. Its nice, and decently priced.
I have massive amounts of evaporation. 2 gallons a day, sometimes way more.
The skimmer is temporary until I can get an MSX 200. This one just fell into my lap.

Rearranged the whole tub tonight. Took a while. Put everything on an elevated frag rack so I can run a true bare bottom. I also have a school of chromis in QT.





I'm going to rearrange the sump soon too. The skimmer is going to get its own box and the rest is going to be filled with live rock, cheato, and flow. I'm also going to move the pump.

Oh, anybody notice the skimmer. I got it for a song. It's an ATI Bubble Master 200! It's AWESOME.

Here's some pics for proof.





It pulled this out in half an hour...

he looks great! I am close to you too! Do you sell frags of just grow them out for yourself? I am getting ready to begin 2 frag tanks myself! Very cool and unique frag setup!

I sell occasionally. Lately I've been mostly growing stuff for myself. I am contemplating getting out of the softy game and focusing on LPS and SPS. I never thought I would like SPS so much, but it grows on you fast.

I have a lot of frags now that I'm trying to grow into colonies. Including 6 chalices, 5 acros, and some nice ORA cap.

I'd love to get some more random flow, but I'm not sure about how I want to go about it yet. It should be interesting, I have some weird ideas that will work I think.

It's all about the challenge.

Any updates pics in the last couple of months ?

WOW!! Nice "tub"!!! I wish I could do this but not enough skill and not enough money.

Very cool, would love to have something like that in my basement.