ReeVo Posted January 20, 2013 Share Posted January 20, 2013 I've had my Cadlights Artisan 50G for about 2 years now and I think it's time for me to upgrade my sump, my skimmer, my everything Here's my tank before I took it apart Specifications Cadlights Artisan 50G Custom sump made by me Custom fuge light with fans also made by me Vertex Omega 150 protein skimmer with Vertex Vectra neck cleaner Reef Dynamics Bio-pellet reactor with Warner Marine EcoBak Bio Pellets 2 MP10es with battery back-up Giesemann Spectra 250W 4 T5s Tunze Osmolator ATO Apex Light Controller with 2 EB8s, BRS pH probe, Leak Detection Module, Breakout Box, and Vortech Wireless Module WXM 200W Cobalt Neo-Therm heater 2 BRS 2 Part Dosers 1.1mL Eheim 1262 return pump Custom Phosphate/Carbon reactor 1 Link to comment
ReeVo Posted January 20, 2013 Author Share Posted January 20, 2013 Most of the equipment i got from Premium Aquatics, Marine Depot, Bulk Reef Supply, and Reef Dynamics. Just got all these a few days ago. Tunze Osmolator Eheim jager 150W Heater Apex Light with pH Probe (was given as a birthday gift from my best friends ) Tropic Eden Sand: Miniflakes and Reeflakes Planning on mixing both together. Two parts Reeflakes and one part Miniflakes. Vertex Titanium Ground Probe Salifert Test Kits So I ended up picking up the Vertex Omega 150. I Pre-Ordered it about a month and a half ago. I am very impressed with the build quality so far. Feels really solid. I just want to see it in action. So far I have heard it pulls out a massive amount of gunk and that it is super quiet. Here’s a few pictures from all sides. They said the foot print is 11 x 11 but I didn’t believe it because of how it’s built. My skimmer chamber is 10 x 19.5, so I took the risk and bought it. It fit perfectly and I still had some room left. I measured it and it was actually 9 x 11.5 and that’s including the pump bracket. Without it, I would say it would be about 11” long. Also picking up the Vertex Vectra Neck Cleaner . Have one less thing not to worry about for a while. Look how much more room there is left inside a 10" wide chamber. So instead of going with the BRS reactor, I built my own from Freshwatersystems.com. BRS reactor comes with a pump and valve I wasn’t going to use. So I got a standard Pentek 10” 3G Slim housing with release valve. I picked up the clear BRS refillable cartridge though. It fit like a glove inside this housing. I also got fittings the way I wanted them because of the way it’s going to be placed in my second stand. The reactor will be running off my return pump. I picked up a neat valve, it’s ¾” MPT to ½” Push-Connect. Went to Home Depot and found a ¾” slip x threaded x slip T-fitting. I will post pictures once I finish that. I also picked up a wireless bridge for my Apex since it’s not wireless. It’s the Netgear WNCE3001 Universal Dual Band Wireless Adapter. Since my router is upstairs in my room and the tank is down stairs, I wasn’t going to drag a 50 foot cable through my house. So I needed something good range. I already tried it out and it works great! Definitely recommend it if you want to go wireless. I also picked up my first Vortech MP10w ES. I will get one more on my next purchase. This is my new return my pump that is going to replace my Mag Drive 9.5. It’s the Eheim 1262. This thing is massive compared to my Mag Drive. I will be hard plumbing this pump. Plumbed the pump and the reactor valve today. Picked up my Reef Dynamics 135 bio pellet reactor yesterday Still have to build the second stand, build my ATO reservoir, get another EB8 for the Apex, get another MP10. I will get my dosing pumps and LED fixture at the same time. That’s about it for now Got my Vertex Vectra today. Pretty stoked on it Had to do a little modification to the blade though. The blade's shaft that fits into the pump shaft was too long. It was touching on both sides, so I shortened the blade's shaft. Something Vertex should have done for lids up to 150mm. Besides that this thing rocks. I'll post a video of this thing in action. Here's some pix! 1 Link to comment
PODPIMP Posted January 20, 2013 Share Posted January 20, 2013 This is gonna be great. The equipment choices are great. I love the sump and I like the way you teed off the return line. My buddy has been using vertex omega for the last week and I'm loving the performance. That self cleaning head is PIMP! Very strong skimmer. 60lbs of sand is going to give you a DSB. Not sure if that's what you're going for? Link to comment
Lawnman Posted January 20, 2013 Share Posted January 20, 2013 One heck of a start right there. Really nice equipment way to do it right from the start. I wouldn't use more than 40lbs of sand TBH. Link to comment
BoCoMo Posted January 20, 2013 Share Posted January 20, 2013 All kinds of goodies! I will be following your build Link to comment
ReeVo Posted January 20, 2013 Author Share Posted January 20, 2013 This is gonna be great. The equipment choices are great. I love the sump and I like the way you teed off the return line. My buddy has been using vertex omega for the last week and I'm loving the performance. That self cleaning head is PIMP! Very strong skimmer. 60lbs of sand is going to give you a DSB. Not sure if that's what you're going for? Thanks PODPIMP Well Tropic Eden only comes in 30lb bags, so I will add just enough for about 2" lol One heck of a start right there. Really nice equipment way to do it right from the start. I wouldn't use more than 40lbs of sand TBH. Thanks Lawnman I started the first time decent equipment but not all at once. So I want to do it right this time. 40lbs is about all I will use. Depending on how much depth I get. I don't want a DSB. All kinds of goodies! I will be following your build Thanks BoCoMo Link to comment
Lawnman Posted January 20, 2013 Share Posted January 20, 2013 I used Tropic Eden reef flakes on my tank. I used 30lbs on my 24x24 it gave me almost 2 inches. Link to comment
ReeVo Posted January 21, 2013 Author Share Posted January 21, 2013 Thanks for the info. I'll mix 15 pounds of both. Planning on wrapping my sump in white vinyl for a cleaner look. What do you guys think?The sides, back, and bottom. Link to comment
bonfire Posted January 21, 2013 Share Posted January 21, 2013 You got yourself a clean looking set coming along... Keep it coming Link to comment
Arkayology Posted January 21, 2013 Share Posted January 21, 2013 I love rimless cubes! Link to comment
ReeVo Posted January 21, 2013 Author Share Posted January 21, 2013 Thanks Arkayology They are my favorite type of aquarium. I hope to have a 5' x 5' x 3' someday. Link to comment
ReeVo Posted January 22, 2013 Author Share Posted January 22, 2013 What you guys think of the vinyl idea?. Wrapping my sump white. Link to comment
ReeVo Posted January 23, 2013 Author Share Posted January 23, 2013 Started a YouTube Channel if you guys want to check it out. https://www.youtube.com/user/g35robby/videos?view=0&flow=grid Link to comment
ReeVo Posted January 24, 2013 Author Share Posted January 24, 2013 Vinyl wrapping my sump tomorrow. Hope it comes out nice. I'll post pictures once i'm done. Link to comment
ReeVo Posted January 25, 2013 Author Share Posted January 25, 2013 So I vinyl wrapped my sump white today and I love how it came out. I can see every little thing. This will make it easier on me when I want to siphon out detritus. I will also be able to see the return chamber water level. That is a big plus for me because I couldn’t see it when it was dark. I just think it looks nicer too. Ever since I saw that BK was making their sumps white, I fell in love. Here’s a few pictures my progress. Put my skimmer inside the sump just to see how much clearance I have with the Vectra on. I can easily take it out and clean it. I was a bit worried about that. Let me know what you guys think Link to comment
iPhone Posted January 25, 2013 Share Posted January 25, 2013 Great choice on equipment! Link to comment
ReeVo Posted January 25, 2013 Author Share Posted January 25, 2013 Great choice on equipment! Thanks bud I really took my time on this build. Trying not to jump the gun, except for my skimmer lol Link to comment
iPhone Posted January 25, 2013 Share Posted January 25, 2013 Thanks bud I really took my time on this build. Trying not to jump the gun, except for my skimmer lol I could tell haha,looks like you did some research before buying some products because what you have is top notch! Link to comment
ReeVo Posted January 25, 2013 Author Share Posted January 25, 2013 Sump looks awesome Thanks Brad Been working on it all day. Most of the time i was getting bubbles out of the vinyl lol I could tell haha,looks like you did some research before buying some products because what you have is top notch! Thanks iPhone Nice setup! Thanks IIX I'm also planning on making my own probe holder and tube holder. Where is the best place to put probes and best place to hold the tubes for my dosing? Link to comment
jarob Posted January 25, 2013 Share Posted January 25, 2013 This setup is ridiculous! I love it and am jealous! Link to comment
Recommended Posts
Archived
This topic is now archived and is closed to further replies.