1,200 gallons of fun!

[Mr.Biggs]

So the time has finely come that I feel comfortable to start a thread on my new system.

I have been a member of RC for over 6 years and would like to thank all those who have taken the time to share their systems.

I have been dreaming, planning, saving up for, and acquiring parts for a 1000+ gal system for about 3-4 years.

I have an 11’ x 17’ room in the basement that will house the system.

I estimate that it will take 1 â€"œ 2 years to put the system in place with a 6 -10 year life before it’s taken down. So sorry it will not be a speed build thread.

I plan on posting lots of pics, videos, diagrams and other info. Most of the system will be DIY.

I look forward to your input, comments and feedback. If you need more information or details along the way feel free to ask.

One area that some reefers don’t like to talk about or discuss is the cost of their systems or how they pay for them. This is not off limits with me. Reef keeping is my largest form of entertainment and relaxation; I drive an 11 year old vehicle with 170,000 + miles on it. So it’s not hard for me to say my tank is worth more than my car. Some people drive Harley Davidson’s, ride atvs or have boats and fishing gear to play with, I have a fish tank.

I soon will be posting over all system specs.

Mr. Biggs

 

[edandsandy]

Congrats on your new system.

 

[waynem]

Cant wait..is that the display size alone?

You user ID oddly matches your tank.

 

[TacoKing]

I'm just wondering what you have planned to get the tank down in the basement. Will it be built on site?

 

[Mr.Biggs]

Tank, sump, and salt mixing will all be made in the basement.

All will be DIY Woody.

Main Display should hold about 900 gal.

 

[Mr.Biggs]

System Specifications

System Specifications

Fish Room 11’ x 17’ - will hold display and all supporting equipment

Main Display Tank
6’W x 8’L x 33”H with about 30”H of water about 900gal

Sump Tank
4’W x 8’L x 18”H with about 15”H of starting volume about 300gal

Salt Mixing
3’W x 4’L x 2’H with about 22” of mixing volume about 160gal

Return pump Dart

Closed Loop
Barracuda with Flow Accelerators, 3Phase motor and VFD drive

Lighting

Main Display
3 x 250W 10k or 14k MH Bulbs
3 x 250W MH IceCap Ballasts
3 x Lumenarc Mini Reflectors
Circular Light Mover
Linear Light Mover
4 x 110W URI Super Actinic R 48” VHO Bulbs
1 x IceCap 660 Ballast
4 x 48” Reflectors - 95% reflective aluminum
Blue LED Moon Lighting
Red LED Night Viewing

Sump Tank
2 x IceCap 660 Ballasts
2 x 32W 48” T-8 6.5K Bulbs
4-6 x 54W 48” HO T-5 Bulbs
6-8 x 48” Reflectors - 95% reflective aluminum


Skimmers
3 x MSX 300 Skimmers

Ca Reactor
DIY Reactor with auto PH control and metered output

Water Treatment and Preparation
10” 5 Micron Poly Sediment Filter
10” Carbon Cartridge Filter
DIY ION Exchange Canisters
TDS Monitoring
Two Flow Meters for Salt Mixing and ATO
DIY Lime Canister

Control System
Custom programmed PLC with touch screen

HVAC upgrades
Controlled by PLC with fresh air intake and booster fan

Water makeup (ATO)
Ultrasonic level sensor integrated to PLC to control and monitor water usage

Power Supply and Protection
30A subpanel
8-12 15A branch circuits
GFCI protection
Low amperage circuit breakers to protect individual equipment

Auto Glass Cleaner
?? This sounds like a neat idea just might have to do it.

 

[Jflip2002]

250w halides arent going to cut it if you are going sps corals, neither will only 3 minis. Id imagine youd need at least 6 Full sized lumenarcs, running some 400ws.

Cant wait to see this, though. Thats going to be an awesome size tank.

 

[sfsuphysics]

I dunno, 250s are fine for 24" deep, I'm sure if you bumped up to lumenbrights (more focused than lumenarc) you could pull things off no problem. Not everyone needs SPS growing on the bottom of the tank

Besides it mentions light mover, so it's not a spread you really need, he's going get the most out of a minimum amount of equipment.

 

[Jflip2002]

I dunno, I figured if I run a 400w on my 20", itd be necessary on a taller one.

 

[erics3000]

Congrats on your dream tank...Just curious why you say tear down in about 6 years?

 

[Elliott]

all sounds good, can't wait to see your auto glass cleaner, you thinking of a magnet mover? btw, great display dimensions!

 

[erics3000]

Congrats on your dream tank...Just curious why you say tear down in about 6 years?

 

[huskerreef]

I think you will be fine on the lighting with the movers. I'm running 2 400w mh over my 620 on a light bar with about 18" of travel. I'm 28" deep and 96x54.

 

[Mr.Biggs]

Jflip2002, I think you might be right without the light mover.
What type of reflector are you using with your Radiums?

Sfsuphysics, One of my goals with this system is to push the efficiency to the max.
I have thought about the lumenbrights, but had purchased the minis slightly used for $90 each shipped before the lumenbrights came out. I think I could grow SPS on the bed in the middle of the tank.

erics3000, I’m thinking of building a house with a bigger tank.

Elliott, the glass cleaner is probably a couple of years from being built, but yes I’m thinking of some form of magnet mover. Stay tuned…..

Huskerreef, do you have a link to a build thread for your system?

 

[Mr.Biggs]

Ok time for some pics......

This has been in my garage for about a year or two.

The floor would be the top of the sand bed.

I think it's about 200lb of rock about $1 a pound.

You can see the blue tape on the wood wall this is the location of the over flow.

All pic are with out a flash just the MH on the movers. You can see the light movement and shadows in the pics.

I'll be posting a video of the movers and more detail of them in the future.

 

[Mr.Biggs]

a look from the future glass.

<a href="http://s150.photobucket.com/albums/s104/mrbiggs_photo/Fish%20Tank%20Build/?action=view&current=dcp_6998.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i150.photobucket.com/albums/s104/mrbiggs_photo/Fish%20Tank%20Build/dcp_6998.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a>


<a href="http://s150.photobucket.com/albums/s104/mrbiggs_photo/Fish%20Tank%20Build/?action=view&current=dcp_7009.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i150.photobucket.com/albums/s104/mrbiggs_photo/Fish%20Tank%20Build/dcp_7009.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a>

[<a href="http://s150.photobucket.com/albums/s104/mrbiggs_photo/Fish%20Tank%20Build/?action=view&current=dcp_7007.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i150.photobucket.com/albums/s104/mrbiggs_photo/Fish%20Tank%20Build/dcp_7007.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a>

 

[Mr.Biggs]

The side glass

<a href="http://s150.photobucket.com/albums/s104/mrbiggs_photo/Fish%20Tank%20Build/?action=view&current=dcp_7001.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i150.photobucket.com/albums/s104/mrbiggs_photo/Fish%20Tank%20Build/dcp_7001.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a>

<a href="http://s150.photobucket.com/albums/s104/mrbiggs_photo/Fish%20Tank%20Build/?action=view&current=dcp_7002.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i150.photobucket.com/albums/s104/mrbiggs_photo/Fish%20Tank%20Build/dcp_7002.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a>

 

[Mr.Biggs]

Looking back from on top the over flow.

<a href="http://s150.photobucket.com/albums/s104/mrbiggs_photo/Fish%20Tank%20Build/?action=view&current=dcp_7006.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i150.photobucket.com/albums/s104/mrbiggs_photo/Fish%20Tank%20Build/dcp_7006.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a>


<a href="http://s150.photobucket.com/albums/s104/mrbiggs_photo/Fish%20Tank%20Build/?action=view&current=dcp_7004.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i150.photobucket.com/albums/s104/mrbiggs_photo/Fish%20Tank%20Build/dcp_7004.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a>

 

[Mr.Biggs]

From over the back cardboard wall.

<a href="http://s150.photobucket.com/albums/s104/mrbiggs_photo/Fish%20Tank%20Build/?action=view&current=dcp_7005.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i150.photobucket.com/albums/s104/mrbiggs_photo/Fish%20Tank%20Build/dcp_7005.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a>


<a href="http://s150.photobucket.com/albums/s104/mrbiggs_photo/Fish%20Tank%20Build/?action=view&current=dcp_7005.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i150.photobucket.com/albums/s104/mrbiggs_photo/Fish%20Tank%20Build/dcp_7005.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a>

 

[Chrisrush]

Interested to see how you implement everything. I'm looking forward to your use of light movers and VFD. Any thoughts of using solar tubes?