My 500G Osama Reef arrived Nov 12 2013

[Peppie]

We are using for internal flow: Four MP60s (Ecotech Vortex). They have been extremely powerful even for a tank as long as almost eleven feet.

Installer working late, is on the right side in this picture adjusting the MP 60



MY lesson learned here. My MP60's dry segment is behind the the finish framing and are only accessible from the top opening space above the tank. These things have a tendency to fall off (in my case at least all of them did -- VERY VERY UNHAPPY with this situation).. Installer says he will fix them in place and I do not know how. Manufacturer sent me four sticky hooks to put in there and two packs of angular corner pieces to put around the motor. I believe that no sticky will stay in place as the environment gets warm-hot and with time stickies fail almost all the time. Velcro also did not stay put in the cabinets under the MT.

Did you consider having the installer build you a dry box for the mounting of the dry side of the mp60?

 

[Peppie]

Water Storage and RODI units are in the basement. We bought two sixty five gallons each, water storage tanks. Valves everywhere to do whatever we want. We fill the right tank with RO water and when we need salt we transfer water to left tank and mix the salt in by circulating the water within this tank with valves as shown here. When ready to pump water up to DT we open the Red Valve and we close the top left black valve. We connect the basement pump to the APEx system so we can put that pump on/off from the HO room and have water move up to the DT

Very nice. Clean , simple, effective !!

 

[Peppie]

A friend came by with some corals and took these good pictures I am not a very good photographer...

Full Tank View Back/office side



Full Tank View FR side



Corals accumulated so far in right side of tank

Looks amazing !! Are there plans to add a facia around the top ?

 

[Osama]

Just started reading thru your build thread. Great build so far. Then I seen the bubbles in your seams. OMG Did you inspect the tank before it left the shop? I would have not accepted it, (Thats just me) Is the installer also the tank builder?
Wife just walked in the door, I will continue reading your build and post as I read. Can't bring myself to read the whole thing ... then post.
Great job!

Installer : Designed the whole system setup, recommended all equipment and bought and installed all, Tank is expensive Starphire front and back that he bought for us and had the tank in the shop to inspect and water test before moving and installing into our home. Do not know how he missed it in the shop over 60 days or so... When it came home I was too busy admiring everything else and wanting to hurry and get water in it to move my live hoard from the temp setup into the new tank. When I noticed it I was extremely dissatisfied and was told this and that that it is OK... Never Never accept a tank with voids and ,,,, anyway old history that I would rather forget... My Installer should, but did not, reject the tank!!

 

[Osama]

Did you consider having the installer build you a dry box for the mounting of the dry side of the mp60?

Not sure what is meant by dry box? Please expand...
TO the right side of the above picture is a fish closet and on the left there is a household closet. I am asking the installer if he can build like a removable panel into each closet. Would like to hear about a dry box and how it would be attached to the tank??Thanks

 

[Osama]

Very nice. Clean , simple, effective !!

Installer had to add two coupler on the bottom horizontal run to allow for removal and possible cleaning... Would be better if drain/return was on the bottom of each tank as I cannot drain the tanks fully and water sitting in the bottom 6 inches between water changes has fouled the water and the tank walls and next to impossible to clean in place and for a 71 years old, it is not so easy for me to remove the storage tanks. Sharing my experience for others to consider in their build

 

[Osama]

Looks amazing !! Are there plans to add a facia around the top ?

Fascia over top and cover all over the bottoms even over the tanks in the bottom so as when I am not working on the tank we can focus on the view of the upper tank only as shown here:
We love the finished product TREMENDOUSLY... Few hiccups some more serious than others, and are only known to us.... like oversized skimmer, bubbles in seems , undersized sump so we get bubbles in the DT and falling MP60s..etc.. Installer still working on fixing these.....

 

[Peppie]

Thanks for all the replies. The facia ties the whole system together.
As for the dry box. It is simply a 5 sided box. The top to remain open. Make it large enough to fit the dryside / or electronic side of a device. drop it into the tank and clamp it to the tank. It can be made out of 3/8'' acrylic so you are able get the magnets to work. The inside of the box stays dry. If there is a euro brace in the way you can buy larger strong magnets to hold the box in place. Hope that helps.
There are so many "Wish I would have", " I think I could haves'' in designing a large system like this. I always say " You have no idea how you want to run your reef tank,.... until you have already run one" LOL

 

[Osama]

Thanks for all the replies. The facia ties the whole system together.
As for the dry box. It is simply a 5 sided box. The top to remain open. Make it large enough to fit the dryside / or electronic side of a device. drop it into the tank and clamp it to the tank. It can be made out of 3/8'' acrylic so you are able get the magnets to work. The inside of the box stays dry. If there is a euro brace in the way you can buy larger strong magnets to hold the box in place. Hope that helps.
There are so many "Wish I would have", " I think I could haves'' in designing a large system like this. I always say " You have no idea how you want to run your reef tank,.... until you have already run one" LOL

I agree ... ideas that come to us after the fact... Thanks Peppie.... That's why after being in the hobby almost twenty years and being 71 yrs of age retired I figured I will hire a Professional to design, buy the equipment he likes, install it, test it and let me enjoy it .. Worked hard and long time to sit and enjoy.. Right .. So now I work 14 hrs responding to every need my corals and fish ask of me.... Minimum wage my foot These spoiled occupants don't even pay rent.. Go Figure .. AND STILL I LOVE THIS SLAVERY called REEFING/hobby

 

[Peppie]

You have earned the right to sit back and enjoy your system. Yes it takes time , money, and energy to maintain any hobby to acceptable standards. You cant lay on your death bed saying " Wish I would have....."
I will read some more of your build later. Stay tuned for more comments and Questions. LOL

I have also said in the past many times. "If you have no reason to get out of bed in the morning when you retire,... you will die"

 

[Osama]

UV or NO UV

Should I use a UV on my 700g system (500g DT) . Mine is a mixed reef Soft & Hard corals.
If yes: What size UV? To be effective wht max flow rate?
Thanks for your input

 

[DevonM]

How are your clams doing? Clams are probably my favorite creature in my tank.

 

[Osama]

My clams are gone Unfortunately

How are your clams doing? Clams are probably my favorite creature in my tank.

My tank is doing great and growth in 13 months has been phenomenal.
Unfortunately my three beautiful clams (shown here) died one after the other. Something was/is not quite right for clams and I do not know what .
I love clams as well as they were nice size for a 500g DT

 

[DevonM]

My tank is doing great and growth in 13 months has been phenomenal.
Unfortunately my three beautiful clams (shown here) died one after the other. Something was/is not quite right for clams and I do not know what .
I love clams as well as they were nice size for a 500g DT

I went through a few clams before I found the right ones (Squamosa) for my system's initial light output. Now they've been in the tank for many years and seem pretty happy.

 

[Da Kine]

Sorry about the clams. That is one amazing tank! Wish I could fit one that big in my house.