Chad

Is it the wp 40?

And once it cleared up... The pumps have definitely blown the fairly course sand (3-5mm size) around... I'm thinking about adding a little crushed coral to the higher flow spots... what do y'all think?

You can get 50 or 55 gallon blue drums from the pepsi place off of 295 just north of DC.

I'd go directly into a high flow area of your tank (like next to the return pipe...). The reason for this is it puts it in the area that it's going to be used and also puts it away from places where it's likely to precipitate out (like the return pump or skimmer) and potentially cause problems.

It's a coralife 250 W MH professional fixture that has been completely gutted... I replaced the ballast with an electronic one (lumatek I think), and replaced all the previous power compact lighting components with LEDs. The current bulb is a 14k phoenix. I do have a DIY LED fixture that will likely replace this one (when I can get around to finally spending the last few hours I need finishing it up!)

Thanks, y'all... I'm looking forward to it too... and starting it soon! Ron, the both came with three total jumpers (12, 18, and 24). I figure I'll start with the 18 V and swap out for the 24s when I get some growth starting to block the flow a bit. Right now, I have the 6105s in the back bottom right and left corners pointed diagonally toward the opposite corners and the 6055s in the back top right and left corners (I'll post pics when the water clears up a bit) pointed across the top of the flat rocks. I'm really happy with the flow in the tank!

Eric, not planning on it... I don't really like the look, though I'm well aware it might end up that way. May add a little crushed coral to the parts that get pushed away on the glass. June might be a little early yet for tropical strays since the water is at it's warmest at the end of the summer... But I'll let you know if I find any earlier than that! Some major progress today: This structure is super stable... I picked up a few new flat dry rock pieces from a local guy who mines the stuff, then I combined it with some of the live rock I had by drilling holes with a long masonry bit and filling the holes with fiberglass rods (former driveway markers from HD for 2.99 a piece). Finally places where the rock rests upon another rock, I used some 2 part epoxy putty to build up a spot that ends up fitting both rocks. It's still cloudy, but I'm pretty happy with the outcome. (check out the flow at the water line!) There is one fish, about a half a dozen shrimp of various type, and some random CUC members.

Nope, your not missing anything... You caught a typo... 6105s... Not 6015s... (I promise, I'm not lexdysic... )

Thanks, Todd! I've been out a couple of times and seen the gorgs out there before... Just today I was talking to one of the LFS owners who was telling me about some of the tropical strays he collects here in the fall (some angels, butterflies and a few others). Anyway, he was saying most of the gorgs off shore here are non-photosynthetic, I offered to join him on a few collection trips in the summer so I'll check them out! I also found a couple of great new toys in his store... H-E-double hockey sticks yea... combine this with the two I have and can we say capability for 100x turnover? For those counting, that's two 6055s and two 6015s (or the equivalent of two MP40s and two MP10s).

LOL! with the rotatable head, that's your own little underwater scooter!

Man, I wish BRK was still only 30 minutes from me!

hahahahahaha!!!!

^I would have done that with my last wife... but I actually like this one!

LOL... you're worried about the pump... There's no way I could get to the point in a build where I'd be considering a pump that large with my wife!! haha

Hah, and I just noticed... the link you posted is actually for the smaller one! (though the largest isn't much more) http://www.aquariumspecialty.com/tunze-6515-turbelle-masterstream-dc For aquariums over 20,000 litres (5,250 USgal.), Flow rate: 50,000 to about 150,000 l/h (13,000 to 39,500 US gal./h), Maximum flow velocity: 3.7 m/s (145.6 in./sec.), Energy consumption: 280 W - 24 V, Power supply unit: 100 – 240 V / 50 – 60 Hz – 24 VDC, Cable length: 10 m (393.6 in.), Dimensions: L 340 x W 165 x H 227 mm (L 13.4 x W 6.5 x H 8.9 in.)

Scott, they definitely used to... though the trend the past 5 years or so has gone toward the more energy efficient and controllable power heads rather than closed loops. Even look at this one... 115 watts max, that's less than my bedroom light switch. Though with the new DC pumps (like waveline), I'm going put my bet in now that closed loops make a return in the next few years.

that really puts it in perspective... that wouldn't even fit in a lot of folk's tanks!

http://reefbuilders.com/2011/07/26/tunze-masterstream-powers-boat-case-measuring-output-thrust-gph/ Now, I just need to work on finding a tank large enough to need it...

clean up crew members and algae eaters?

freaking cool! I do believe a pump like this will make closed loops come back.

Wow, Chris, it's beautiful... You've done an amazing job!

Oh, and John, I just read through that thread on RC... I must say it made my heart bounce in my throat!! Unfreaking believable and really amazing.

Congrats on the new home, John! Speaking from experience (my wife and I just moved into a home that we built), and setting things up exactly as you want them is really, really awesome! I have no doubt that your passion will drive that 900 to be a stunning example that many will drool over and try to emulate.

I don't know about that small, but I had Del Ray Glass do some work for me when I was building my sump.

I also had one of the more inexpensive trash cans fail on me (during a water change, 20 gallons of water on the carpeted floor!), the Brute style is the only way I'd do it now. Though I think coral hind had one of the brutes fail on him, though his is the only case I've heard of that happening. Thanks, Ric! One of my goals with this build is an overall aesthetic quality to not only the tank itself, but also to the filtration, plumbing, and support systems. So far I'm pretty happy with it (barring my own dumb mistakes along the way!)...