jdpierce21
Member
I am planning a new 180 gallon reef tank (fish, live rock, soft and SPS corals) with a 50 gallon sump for a total water volume of 230 gallons. The tank will be in my living room and I unfortunately will not have a fish room so, all equipment must go in the stand. Here's the details I have planned so far:
Display Tank
180 gallon ¾†cell cast acrylic with a coast-to-coast overflow
Tank will be 72†x 24†x 24â€Â
Stand will be 72†x 24†x 36â€Â
Canopy will be 72" x 24†x 12â€Â
Completely plumed with a closed loop system
Total dimensions 72†x 24†x 72â€Â
Equipment
MRC Reef Sump 36" x 18" x 18" with Refugium (50 gallons)
MR-3R Beckett Skimmer
Geo 618 Calcium Reactor
Deltec KM500 Kalkwasser Stirrer
Deltec FR509 Fluidized Reactor (Carbon)
Deltec FR509 Fluidized Reactor (ROWAPhos)
Deltec NFP512 Nitrate Filter
Aqua UV 40W 3/4 inch with Wiper
3/4 HP Custom Sealife Chiller
2 x EBO-Jager Aquarium Heater 150 Watt
RO/DI 5 Stage Water Filter System
JBJ Auto Top Off Controller
AquaController 3 Pro
Lighting
3 x 250W ReefOptix III Double Ended Metal Halide with Icecap Electronic Ballasts (14k)
2 x 54W 48" T5 Lights (True Actinic)
PFO 1 Watt LED Flat Moon Light
Pumps
Pump 1:
Closed Loop
Pump 2:
Skimmer
Pump 3:
UV Sterilizer
Calcium Reactor
Kalk Reactor
Fluidized Reactor (Carbon)
Fluidized Reactor (ROWAPhos)
Nitrate Filter
Pump 4:
Chiller
Pump 5:
Water Storage (Freshwater to sump)
Pump 6:
Water Storage (Saltwater to sump)
Substrate
270 pounds live rock
4" DSB in the refugium
1" light sand in the display tank
Questions
Since this is a closed loop system I think that pump I'll need around 4600 gph of flow. I need some recommendations here on types of pump, etc... All the pumps should be external for heating concerns and also very very quiet. My next question would be if under Pump 3 that you think all of those could tie off of one pump and run or do they need to be split out more?
Another challenge will be to automate the water change and top off as much as possible. The RO/DI unit will be in the garage along with 2 55 gallon water storage containers. What I would like to do is to run lines from those containers to the sump (about 100 feet). So, I would have a freshwater (RO/DI) and then a saltwater line coming from the garage to the sump. Then, a drain on the sump and display tank. What I picture for a water change is opening the drain on the sump and then closing the drain when the water is gone. Then, opening the valve to allow the saltwater into the sump. Freshwater top off would be automated. The display tank drain would be there only if water would need to drained from the display tank. So, how about sucking stuff out of the display tank (like siphoning the sand or something), anyway to make this task easier?
Any additional comments, suggestions, thoughts or ideas would be greatly appreciated! Also, if you think this plan is bad then please let me know that as well. My feelings won't be hurt, promise!
Thanks,
Joe
Display Tank
180 gallon ¾†cell cast acrylic with a coast-to-coast overflow
Tank will be 72†x 24†x 24â€Â
Stand will be 72†x 24†x 36â€Â
Canopy will be 72" x 24†x 12â€Â
Completely plumed with a closed loop system
Total dimensions 72†x 24†x 72â€Â
Equipment
MRC Reef Sump 36" x 18" x 18" with Refugium (50 gallons)
MR-3R Beckett Skimmer
Geo 618 Calcium Reactor
Deltec KM500 Kalkwasser Stirrer
Deltec FR509 Fluidized Reactor (Carbon)
Deltec FR509 Fluidized Reactor (ROWAPhos)
Deltec NFP512 Nitrate Filter
Aqua UV 40W 3/4 inch with Wiper
3/4 HP Custom Sealife Chiller
2 x EBO-Jager Aquarium Heater 150 Watt
RO/DI 5 Stage Water Filter System
JBJ Auto Top Off Controller
AquaController 3 Pro
Lighting
3 x 250W ReefOptix III Double Ended Metal Halide with Icecap Electronic Ballasts (14k)
2 x 54W 48" T5 Lights (True Actinic)
PFO 1 Watt LED Flat Moon Light
Pumps
Pump 1:
Closed Loop
Pump 2:
Skimmer
Pump 3:
UV Sterilizer
Calcium Reactor
Kalk Reactor
Fluidized Reactor (Carbon)
Fluidized Reactor (ROWAPhos)
Nitrate Filter
Pump 4:
Chiller
Pump 5:
Water Storage (Freshwater to sump)
Pump 6:
Water Storage (Saltwater to sump)
Substrate
270 pounds live rock
4" DSB in the refugium
1" light sand in the display tank
Questions
Since this is a closed loop system I think that pump I'll need around 4600 gph of flow. I need some recommendations here on types of pump, etc... All the pumps should be external for heating concerns and also very very quiet. My next question would be if under Pump 3 that you think all of those could tie off of one pump and run or do they need to be split out more?
Another challenge will be to automate the water change and top off as much as possible. The RO/DI unit will be in the garage along with 2 55 gallon water storage containers. What I would like to do is to run lines from those containers to the sump (about 100 feet). So, I would have a freshwater (RO/DI) and then a saltwater line coming from the garage to the sump. Then, a drain on the sump and display tank. What I picture for a water change is opening the drain on the sump and then closing the drain when the water is gone. Then, opening the valve to allow the saltwater into the sump. Freshwater top off would be automated. The display tank drain would be there only if water would need to drained from the display tank. So, how about sucking stuff out of the display tank (like siphoning the sand or something), anyway to make this task easier?
Any additional comments, suggestions, thoughts or ideas would be greatly appreciated! Also, if you think this plan is bad then please let me know that as well. My feelings won't be hurt, promise!
Thanks,
Joe
