My 52x28x28" 176 gallon (re) build thread

[Len]

Thanks Minh. I gotta take new pics. Things are growing out, though the tank still looks like a frag tank at this point

I think I'm going to change my skimmer and vortechs to Vertex Alpha 200 and Tunze streams. A stupid friend of mine (Hyolee!) got me on this quest for silent operation.

 

[Ben1]

The vertex looks nice, if you switch be sure to write up a review on it.

 

[Len]

I pulled the trigger ... new gear on the way. Consider this Len's economic stimulus.

 

[jamesw]

Let me know how it goes Len. If you decide to sell your Vortechs let me know too - as my tank is in the guesthouse

I have a Vertex 250 (not cone) and am loving it. Very well made.

Cheers
James

 

[Anonymous]

Looks beautiful Len. You have exquisite taste and great design sense.

 

[Len]

Thanks Dan.

 

[Len]

I hate Hyolee and his infectious quest for a silent reef tank ...

 

[Anonymous]

Nice.

How much did that BK set you back?

Louey

 

[Len]

About 8 bills. It wasn't that bad, relatively speaking.

 

[jamesw]

Relative to what Len - buying a new M5???? Yowza.

Looks very nice though - like built like a tank.

Do you have a decibel meter so that you can measure your tank noise? I'd think the splashing would be louder than the Vortechs, right???

Cheers
James

 

[Len]

Relative to other pricey skimmers Actually, the Chinese tried to make a knock-off of it with an inferior pump and cheaper acrylic, and it still came out to $700. So for the build quality and the Red Dragon pump, this thing is priced pretty sensibly. I'm not convinced it will skim much (or any) better then my current skimmer (which costs more, btw), but everyone tells me they are dead silent. There is no vibration noise and virtually zero water or air noise. I'll know better when it's installed.

The Vortechs make the most noise for me because they are open to the room. The current skimmer makes a humming sound, but it's not as loud because it's in the stand which has been sound treated.

 

[Len]

Does this look familiar?

(sorry, no xmas tree)

I hate Hyolee!

 

[Anonymous]

Those pics do not count. Real tank pics please or else.

 

[Len]

Soon. Nothing much has changed though. I was thinking about taking more tank pics after my water change next weekend.

 

[ChrisRD]

Wow, I guess I have been away for a while...Len is posting pics now!?

 

[Len]

Dude, Chris, WB

 

[Len]

I installed the Tunze pumps and Vertex Alpha skimmer over the weekend. All in all, I'm pleased. My goal was to make the tank quieter, and these have definitely worked to that end. The Alpha is as quiet as I can imagine any skimmer can be. The Tunze, make a bit more noise then I was hoping for, but they are quieter then my Vortechs. Both have good and bad qualities to them, and I'll probably write up a full review of the skimmer and Tunze later on.

 

[Anonymous]

IME the Tunzes get a little quieter after a week or so. But, just to check the obvious, you did put those little rubber 'feet' onto the magnets, right?

 

[Len]

IME the Tunzes get a little quieter after a week or so. But, just to check the obvious, you did put those little rubber 'feet' onto the magnets, right?

Yeah, I put the rubber feet on. They don't seem very elastic though, so I don't think they absorb too much noise ... just enough to keep the plastic from hitting the glass and prevent the unit from slipping. What I hear is the mechanical whirling sound. I have it on pulse mode, and it makes a mid frequency pulsing, whirling sound when it runs. At full speed, it's pretty noticeable. I run mine at 60% though (18V)

 

[Len]

Yes, I need to update with new pics. But one of my Tunze seized up on me today, and I've also been getting a little fluffy green/brown algae growth (which I'm sure will go away on its own like all the other algae phases). This Tunze-gone-bad deal is annoying. I thought I was all done with the setup.

More pics when I'm not so annoyed