EXT 170 Build

[X-37B]

4+ Months 119 days.
14g WC, only second one.

I picked up a Oregon Tort frag and a small army green stag colony.
Both were at lfs I gave all my coral to when I took them down a year ago. Both came from my system so im glad to get them back.
I am going to pick up 1 more stag next week that was also origanaly in my system a year ago if its still there.

So I now have a purple stag, green slimer, army stag, and thick wild stag in the back of the tank.
If I pick up the other it will make 5.
I also have a small Blue Matrix stag glued to one of the rocks near the back.

The plan is to grow the stags in the back to the surface. Should be an interesting look when grown in.

Stag in front of slimer
Same one in the 50
stag when in my 120.

 

[X-37B]

Pic of the Oregon Tort frag.

 

[X-37B]

I picked up 1 good size stag colony, and one other hard coral from lfs. Both were from colonys I had when I broke down my systems.
There are now 5 stags on tiles at the back of the tank. These should give an interesting look in a couple years as they rise to the surface.
I will get updated pics when the lights come on.
Stag and unnamed sps pics from my old systems.

 

[X-37B]

Day 126
Couple pics of the 5 stag placements from both ends.

 

[murfajm]

Day 126
Couple pics of the 5 stag placements from both ends.

Beautiful looking tank ! I have been eyeballing this tank as my upgrade. Anything with this tank that you wish you had done different? I like the rock scape.

 

[X-37B]

Beautiful looking tank ! I have been eyeballing this tank as my upgrade. Anything with this tank that you wish you had done different? I like the rock scape.

Tanks great no issues. I prefer a minimal rock scape. I have had many of the great rock walls over the years.
The scape will allow the corals to grow up towards the surface. In 2+ years you wont be able to see much of the rocks anyway.
I also have an ext 50 with sand and a RS170 thats still dry.
Both IM systems are very nice complete systems.
The only thing I dont like is the heater/overflow area before the socks. Very small area but does work well.
Stand is nice just shim the crossbars for a solid platform.
Ext 50.

 

[X-37B]

I moved the 50"s from 2" apart to 5". Better spread, 300-320 acros at the rock with red 30%, white 50%, rest 70%.
The stags are now pulling 220-280 par and the tank looks much brighter now.

 

[Janci]

Looking good.

 

[X-37B]

I picked up my final stag, no more room! It was a frag that came from my system when I broke it down a year ago.
The lfs has a few more in stock as I do not see the Surf and Turf around much.
Its an old classic for sure.
I now have these that will grow up against the back wall.
Green Slimer
Purple Slimer
Army/OD Stag/wild
Thick Army colored stag/wild
Blue Matrix
Surf & Turf
I will get a pic when I remount it.
Now to focus on the rest I want to put in this system.
This is a pic of my old Surf &Turf.

 

[murfajm]

I picked up my final stag, no more room! It was a frag that came from my system when I broke it down a year ago.
The lfs has a few more in stock as I do not see the Surf and Turf around much.
Its an old classic for sure.
I now have these that will grow up against the back wall.
Green Slimer
Purple Slimer
Army/OD Stag/wild
Thick Army colored stag/wild
Blue Matrix
Surf & Turf
I will get a pic when I remount it.
Now to focus on the rest I want to put in this system.
This is a pic of my old Surf &Turf.

I have a question about the stand. I have seen posts ( JM302 comes to mind) about it being wobbly. Is that a shimming issue on owner part? I see you shimmed even the sump area.

 

[X-37B]

I have a question about the stand. I have seen posts ( JM302 comes to mind) about it being wobbly. Is that a shimming issue on owner part? I see you shimmed even the sump area.

Yes I shimmed the sump crossbars. This made the stand very stable with no movement.
Both my ext 170 and ext 50 were shimmed the same way.

 

[murfajm]

Yes I shimmed the sump crossbars. This made the stand very stable with no movement.
Both my ext 170 and ext 50 were shimmed the same way.

Thanks!

 

[X-37B]

Day 135 Couple pics.
I broke the 2 big potatochips. I now have a stump of a piece. The chips went into my other system for now.

 

[X-37B]

Day 144.
Also the ext 50 and RS170.

 

[murfajm]

Day 144.
Also the ext 50 and RS170.

Day 144.
Also the ext 50 and RS170.

i am looking at doing the 170 build here around tax season, but have a question about the sump. since your running socks vice a roller mat, is there any noise from the water flowing through the socks? I will be building my own sump out of a 60B and I am on the fence about a roller or socks due to noise. this tank will be in my bedroom.


on another note, your tanks are coming along nicely. your builds are certainly inspirational.

-Austin

 

[X-37B]

i am looking at doing the 170 build here around tax season, but have a question about the sump. since your running socks vice a roller mat, is there any noise from the water flowing through the socks? I will be building my own sump out of a 60B and I am on the fence about a roller or socks due to noise. this tank will be in my bedroom.


on another note, your tanks are coming along nicely. your builds are certainly inspirational.

-Austin

Yes some noise from the sock area.
I made a piece that replaces the black slotted cover. This reduces the noise and allows all socks even water flow.
The standard model has the first sock fill then overflows to the second then third.
I also do not use the thin sponge.
Note; you will always hear some water noise. After 30+ I have never had a silent system.
I used a BM filter roller on my 120 with 40 breeder sump for a month or 2 and went back to socks.
For me socks are simple and one less thing to think about maintaining.
The BM is still in a box in the garage, lol.

 

[murfajm]

@X-37B thank you for the info. as a Machinist's Mate, the pump hums and white(ish) noises are soothing, its more for the wife approval factor

Please keep the updates coming. I am loving your tanks.

 

[X-37B]

Some current pics

 

[reef’r]

Some current pics

Awesome tank. My build is a IM112 that will have a reef breeder over it with a couple or3 bars and bare bottom. Also, your skimmer is a beast! Never looked into the big tunze skimmers before but that thing looks sick

 

[X-37B]

Awesome tank. My build is a IM112 that will have a reef breeder over it with a couple or3 bars and bare bottom. Also, your skimmer is a beast! Never looked into the big tunze skimmers before but that thing looks sick

Yea the 9430dc is a very underrated skimmer.
Mine is 6years and going strong.
I wanted to get a backup pump but instead found a complete 9430dc for sale for less than the new pump. I now have 2 complete backup skimmers for less than the price of a new one.
Used ones are around from time to time.