110galreef's -250gallon Deep Dimension In-Wall Reef Build

[110galreef]

Well,
Time has come for me to officially start this. Title maybe confusing as my name will not be correct anymore! LOL I will be 110galreef +140 Gals!:spin1:

Anyway about 8 months back we decided to build a house. Have now been in it for 2 months and have finalized the placement for the tank in the basement. Also the fish room has been mostly prepped. I have been lurking around the last 4 months finding ideas and tips back into the hobby for this build. Many thanks to those that have dealt with my numerous questions!! :dance:
My goals and plans are as follows:

1. Cost effective setup, but not going to cut corners to save cost......
2. To facilitate # 1...requires some DIY
3. Very clean looking Display....I hate seeing "stuff" in the tank.
4. As minimal maintenece required.....simple setup
5. Low utilities ---cost effective equipment....
6. Mixed reef w/ SPS & clams. Not sure how far the SPS dive will go.

I will post lots of pictures and info as everyone loves them....as do I when reading others builds. As much of my plans have been "borrowed" from others!

Input ideas and comments MORE than welcome!

 

[110galreef]

Short Plans:

*Acrylic tank: 3/4" thick.....60L x 36W x 24H Fake/removeable background since inwall.
*Sump: 48: x 18W x 17H
*Rock: Bulk Reef Supply mix of Pukani, Tonga Branch, Fiji, and shelf....~175# for now. Plan 3 main Islands, w/ canyon fading to the back. May have small rock islands infront w/ some softies like zoo's & neat shrooms
*Lights: DIY LED's
*Reactors & media......Carbon & biopellets
*Skimmer: SRO XP3000E
Reactors & skimmer feed off of same pump ~ 1000gph pump
*Controller: Neptune Apex system
*ATO tank: ~20 gallon...Apex should be able to control
*RO/DI...
*Doser.....Not 100% positive, but 4 pump Profilux.
*Return Pump: about ~600gph pressure pump w/ eductors for some extra flow. Kicked around idea of just using a pump like reef flow dart to run reactors, return & skimmer feed, but am able to get close on watt draw w/ 2 separate pumps, plus I wanted a Pressure pump for the return because of the eductors and didn't want to use a pressure pump to feed the skimmer. Also I like being able to separatly turn off the feed pump or return pump based on feeding and maintenence.

**Additional Flow: CLS based Hammerhead pump w/ Ocean Motion 4 way. Probably bring 4 OM returns up from the bottom well hidden in/behind rock. Also the CLS feeds' will be brought in from the bottom. They will be up high in water column to not suck sand....but i want the back of the tank clear of stuff for the removeable panel as well as ease of tank maintenence. Hopefully this suffices for total flow in the tank.....I have been kicking a CLS or 3 tunze's or 3 vortech around for a while and think the CLS wins. But the ease and energy effeciency of the vortech or tunze is awesome.

****Not exactly tied to the tank, but plan to do a stanby generator for the tank, sump pump(in basement) ...rest of the house really for that matter. Looking at a 10kw briggs & stratton, generac or GE setup. But great piece of mind to know my tank will be fine in power failure as well as my finished basement!

 

[sirreal63]

Looks like a great plan...one thing, that is a lot of dry rock. The closed loop and OM4 is a good plan, but I will figure in a Tunze or two down the road because you may need to vary and direct the flow a little.

Looking forward to the build!

 

[Indymann99]

Good choice on basement location for your build. Here in the mid-west a basement is cooler in summer and warmer in the winter. It will REALLY help with heating and cooling issues.

 

[110galreef]

Looks like a great plan...one thing, that is a lot of dry rock. The closed loop and OM4 is a good plan, but I will figure in a Tunze or two down the road because you may need to vary and direct the flow a little.

Looking forward to the build!

Yeah i thought it may be a bit much....but I would rather have enuf to make the aquascape than not enuf and have to order more. Plus I should be able to resell the extra.....

I figured I would put maybe a tunze up in a corner of the overflow if I need extra flow. For now I will start with:
~5500 from the CLS & ~1500gph from the sump w/ penductors...total of about 7000gph. ~ 31x's turnover. Good for the start! I really wanted to go w/ like 3 votech MP40's or 3 tunze's netting about 10,000gph and then the return, but I really dont want all the cords & big bulky pumps in the tank, plus w/ vortech, I don't think they'd stick well, with the 3/4" acrylic plus the removeable background. Not to mention removing the background & then the pumps.

 

[110galreef]

Good choice on basement location for your build. Here in the mid-west a basement is cooler in summer and warmer in the winter. It will REALLY help with heating and cooling issues.

Plus the LED's I hope to not need a chiller, nor the cost of the extra watts.
Plus in winter the extra moisture will be a bonus!

 

[110galreef]

Well...lots & lots o' stuff ordered! UPS guy not ganna be happy!:hammer:

Just need to fine tune my tank details for the overflow and can get that built and on the way to...in a day or two.

I am not sure if I want to do a corner overflow or one just offset to the right side. Either way not doing a middle overflow. I also will have the overflow go all the way to the bottom so no plumbing has to come in/out the back for the faux background panel. Leaning towards the offset, so I have room for a CLS return in each back corner.....Have some hashing & CLS fine tuning to do.

I plan 2 -1" Drains...only will have 600gph thru the overflow & sump. And will also bring 1 1" return line & 2 CLS lines up thru it. Not sure on the drain style....durso, bean, etc.....

Any ideas or suggestions?

 

[110galreef]

Suggestions for heaters? remember i will have the apex to control these as well for extra fail safe

 

[crvz]

I've always used jager heaters on a controller. They're relatively cheap and I've not had any problems.

 

[110galreef]

I've always used jager heaters on a controller. They're relatively cheap and I've not had any problems.

How many & how many watts would you say.

 

[110galreef]

Any recomendations on a pump to feed my skimmer & reactors:

Need at least 950gph. Want a somewhat quiet pump, and effecient as well. Here is what i have info thus far:
$139 Panworld 50pxx........ 13’ 1100gph 90w, @ 3’ 850gph ** 1” i/o
$179 Poseidon PS4........... 19’ 1225gph, 140w, @ 3’ 1080gph hose barb
$193 Little G 3-mdqx-sc ... 14’ 1100gph, 100w, @3’ 1000gph 1” i/o
$170 Panworld 100px-x .....13’ 1270gph 130w, @ 3’ 940gph 1” i/o
$140 Mag 12 .................. 14’ 1200gph 110w, @3’ 1180gph ¾” i/o
$200 Iwaki 30RXLT............15’ 1200gph 210w, @3’ 1000gph 3/4" i/o

I think the mag 12 is the way to go? The extra water if any can just dump back to the sump off the mainfold. Any other ideas

 

[scott26]

Well this looks like it is going to be a good build glad I found it I will be following along. I also like jager heaters and have never had a problem with one as far as how many I am not sure I would like to know a rule of thumb for this as well.

 

[Indymann99]

link to reef tank calculator below
http://www.hamzasreef.com/Contents/Calculators/HeaterChillerSizing.php

 

[scott26]

Cool link thanks!

 

[110galreef]

Thats a sweet link......

Messing w/ the variables it loks like I need like 250-300w heater. WouldI be best to get like 2- 250w heaters or just one 300w.

 

[Jarret]

Always go with 2, if one fails you have a backup to keep your tank stable

 

[110galreef]

cool...I will order up 2 of the 250w Jager heaters!......

 

[110galreef]

Wowza's

First shipment! Bulk Reef Supply! Hmmmm??:lol2:

 

[Jarret]

Oh come on! You gotta unpack the stuff and take pictures of it!!!

Don't tease us with pictures of boxes

 

[110galreef]

:thumbsup: I know everyone loves to post these and the subscribers hate them!:lol:

I am sure the UPS guy hated this order.....3 boxes were around 60+#, the other 4 were like 45#. I will have to get pics loaded. But some of it that is dry rock is awesome! The pieces are Huge in general. Perfect for me. The rock wasn't broken at all....Saying alot since UPS delivered it and a box was Tonga branch. All I can say is that the BRS rock is AWESOME, WELL PACKED, and EXTRA in there!