Maxreefer's Elos System120 build....

[MAXreefer]

Hey guys,
I started setting up my new reef tank about a month ago.
Will post here the build and progress for you to tag along. Enjoy!

A little more info about the setup.
Once again I decided to go with the Elos brand. I really like the sleek and modern design and if you see an Elos tank you will notice it is top notch quality. The glass is even superior to "Starphire glass" we see mostly here in the US. The edges are perfectly polished and the seams are perfectly cut and put together.
Of course the most important is what happens "inside" the tank but I also see it as a nice piece of furniture I can enjoy when I relax on the couch.

Equipment:

• Elos system 120 (47.24 x 22.5 x 19.69)
• Elos cabinet with black doors
• Elos sump
• Skimmer: Elos PS1000. This is the brand new Needle wheel skimmer from Elos released at the InterZoo2010. I realize there are real good skimmers on the market who have proven to perform but after long talks with Jesse the Elos guy here in the US I really got the feeling they are standing behind this skimmer and it will perform extremely well. I like to try new things out and therefore willing to test and give this skimmer a shot.
• Return pump: Sicce Syncra Silent 3.0
• Lighting: Elos Aquatop with 3-4 LED stripes
• ATO: Elos Osmocontroller Digital
• Additional filtration: 2 NextReef MR1 Shorty Media Reactor. One will be for the carbon and the other one for the Filtra M Zeolith
• Water movement: Tunze Wavebox and 1 x MP40
• Controller: SApex
• Rock: For the first time ever I decided to go with Dry Rock.

02-04-2011: Tank arrival

540lbs to carry down in the basement

unwrapped

[MAXreefer]

02-06-2011

Installed the cabinet lighting
Put sump in place

Figuring out now how I will do the plumbing and need to build a small cabinet next to the sump for all the electrical stuff.

Another view from the tank

Got those at Lowe's. Perfect for the bottom of the cabinet

Top view from the sump

Some LED's for the cabinet lighting

Sump in the cabinet

[MAXreefer]

02-13-2011

Didn't wanted to drill a thousand holes in the original cabinet and therefore we placed another back and sidewall with laminated panels into the cabinet.
I like also to keep the electrical as far away from the sump as possible and therefore we build a small cabinet next to the sump. Top part will hold all the electronics and at the bottom will be the dosing pump and containers.
Hope I can fill the tank with water later today....

Full shot of the cabinet. Still need to clean up all the wires but will wait until I am sure everything will stay the way it is now.
The top part has the display panel for the Apex and the Wavebox controller.

The front display panel opens to the side and behind will be the the electrical stuff nicely covered by the display panel when closed.

Close-ups

Mounted the 2 small reactors (carbon/Zeolites) at the back of the cabinet

Really like those magnetic probe holders from AvastMarine

[MAXreefer]

02-19-2011

Some work done this week.
Water is in the tank, reactors connected etc. Doing a test run now to check for any leaks.
More electrical crap in the compartment and ready to get the dosing pumps also.
Aqua E-Top and skimmer will be here on Wednesday.

Tried to keep all the wiring clean (all the power cords are in the grey split loom) and connected the 2 reactors

Still a mess...

Ready for the dosing pumps. Really like those space saving jugs. They hold 1 Gallon each

[MAXreefer]

02-24-2011

The Aqua Top E-Stripe fixture arrived!!

I saw pictures and videos of it but seeing this fixture in real just blows your mind away.
Not only does it look very sleek over the tank but it achieves everything I wanted:

• NO fixture hanging from the ceiling
• Covering the tank as I am planning on some "jumping" livestock
• Being able to view the corals from the top without having to remove anything
• As the glas panels can be easily opened it is very easy to do maintenance

I took those quick pictures just with the blue led's on.

[MAXreefer]

02-26-2011

Got the skimmer and installed it.
Really impressed with the quality and little details. Going to borrow a meter to measure the air intake.
Filled up the reactors with carbon and Zeolites.
Ready to start cycling...

Nice detail is being able to remove the top part for easy cleaning

Carbon on the left and Zeolites on the right. Will post some more information regarding the Elos Purist Line I am going to run on this tank

Full shot of the sump

[Sir Patrick]

Very nice tank build!!!!

[tankdude]

Cool build, I love the light. I also like how you kept all the wiring hidden.

[Sir Patrick]

Looking forward to hearing more on the elos pro-biotic system. Looks like its working very well.

[MizTanks]

I'm totally new to the world of lights and am not sure what all your readings are telling me. So here's my silly question, are those good readings? How does a par meter work, by what means?