200+ Gallon Build Thread --- PICS!!!

[cprice]

So, lets start with the basics:

I have been in the hobby for about 4 years with a 29g tank and a 20g sump. It was a pretty basic setup with HOB skimmer, DIY LED light, and a few Hydor circ pumps. My wife and I are recently married and have just moved back to my hometown of Orlando. Since we were moving 3 states away, I decided it was easier to break down the system and start with a new one. Now that my wife and I have bought a house, I am ready to set up another system. This time I figured I would go just a little bigger! :spin1:


I started my search for a tank that was 120gal or larger to house a LPS and Softies mixed reef. I like SPS but i enjoy movement and less picky corals even more!


About 6 months ago I found a sweet deal on RC that I simply couldn't turn down. It involved quite a list of awesome equipment at I price that was well below my budget. A few notables:

Oceanic Display Tank 150gal (60x24x24)
Frag Tank 80gal (48x24x16)
Bubble Magus Curve 9 Skimmer
DC12000 return pump
6 Stage 90gpd RO/DI
A really nice D.I.Y. LED Light (previous owner is an engineer...it can more than a Radion!)
Stand/Canopy and 40gal sumps for each tank
More powerheads than I can count
LOTS of extras (RedSea Test Kits, foods, filter socks, etc.)


Just after we moved in, my wife decided to try her hand at plumbing and we ended up with a flooded house...still love her! :love2: So, unfortunately we are having to wait another week or so to start putting the tank in its final location while the repairs are wrapped up.


PICTURES!

Here are some renderings for what I am going to set up at the outset. As the tank matures I will add a fuge, the 80gal frag tank, and a more water volume for stability. Let me know what you think!

Here is a view of where the tank will be. There is a window in the wall behind it that goes into the garage (old carport)

<a data-flickr-embed="true" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/140261971@N05/24469292714/in/dateposted-public/" title="Tank Close"><img src="https://farm2.staticflickr.com/1469/24469292714_f59a27942e_b.jpg" width="1024" height="569" alt="Tank Close"></a>******** async src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

The plumbing will go through the wall to the garage where all the equipment will be kept. (I know I need 2 more drains for the bean animal overflows, I was lazy and tired of drawing!)

<a data-flickr-embed="true" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/140261971@N05/24804379150/in/dateposted-public/" title="Plumbing Under Tank"><img src="https://farm2.staticflickr.com/1666/24804379150_9e57dedd89_b.jpg" width="1024" height="555" alt="Plumbing Under Tank"></a>******** async src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

Here is an X-Ray view to get a better idea of layout.

<a data-flickr-embed="true" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/140261971@N05/24469293714/in/dateposted-public/" title="XRAY Front"><img src="https://farm2.staticflickr.com/1509/24469293714_e4830a9845_b.jpg" width="1024" height="555" alt="XRAY Front"></a>******** async src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

Here is the garage where the brains of the tank will live. I will be adding the frag tank to the top of the table and the fuge underneath sometime in the near future after cycling. I may also enclose the entire structure in a sort of cabinet to help control temperature in the summer and winter.

<a data-flickr-embed="true" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/140261971@N05/24473121213/in/dateposted-public/" title="Garage"><img src="https://farm2.staticflickr.com/1718/24473121213_87681d920c_b.jpg" width="1024" height="553" alt="Garage"></a>******** async src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

Two more views to get a better idea of layout (i know im still missing some things like valves but I didnt want to spend the time to make then in these drawings :headwally: )

<a data-flickr-embed="true" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/140261971@N05/25073657736/in/dateposted-public/" title="Garage Close"><img src="https://farm2.staticflickr.com/1468/25073657736_e0096a08db_b.jpg" width="1024" height="553" alt="Garage Close"></a>******** async src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

<a data-flickr-embed="true" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/140261971@N05/24469294204/in/dateposted-public/" title="XRAY Garage"><img src="https://farm2.staticflickr.com/1593/24469294204_07e5acea22_b.jpg" width="1024" height="552" alt="XRAY Garage"></a>******** async src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js" charset="utf-8"></script>


I will be taking photos tomorrow of the existing equipment and will continue to add to the list of goodies that I got (or might be purchasing :lolspin: )

Im glad to have you along for the ride and welcome all feedback/suggestions!

 

[cprice]

Also, I have been bleaching/drying/curing some live rock over the last 2 months. So I should have plenty ready to go once the tank up and running.

However, I need sand. I don't want to spend much on the sand because of all the things that cost money in this hobby I think sand is simply ridiculous. I have seen some people talk about pulverized limestone from Home Depot that is about $5 for a 50# bag. Anybody have any experience with sand alternatives like this?

 

[MrClownReef]

Looks awesome! Good luck with the build!

 

[cprice]

Looking to buy the sand this week. Anyone have any advice or warnings in regards to any home depot sands? Would really like to avoid a $200 sand bill...

 

[kmbyrnes]

Skip the Home Depot sand! It has impurities that can make you miserable and enable algae to thrive.
Don't be cheap, your substrate plays an important role in the health and stability of your tank. Looking online you can get some good deals. Probably less than a dollar a pound.
Caribsea makes some good ones. I have had good luck with the Special Grade Reef Sand

 

[dt204]

I agree. I wouldn't skimp on the sand. You've got a pretty large sweet system, sand isn't the place to cheap out. You could do bare bottom if you like the look. Or a very shallow sand bed. I'll be following the build! Plans look good

 

[cprice]

I think you're right, I don't want to regret saving a little now and having to restart the system later.

I'm trying to decide between using I/O Reef Crystals and Red Sea Coral Pro. I like the affordability of RC but don't know if I want to deal with the brown clay residue. Has anyone found a way to avoid the residue or should I just go with Red Sea? Or, with a LPS and Softies tank could I get away with the regular I/O salt?

 

[moondoggy4]

Start using regular Red Sea it can be purchased for cheap. I think that they call your tank the Brick. Since you are in Florida I would look into TBS for your rock and sand you can save big by picking it up yourself. I have found to keep the salt from percepitating and turning brown to use a slow power pump and mix the salt slowly.



http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/forumdisplay.php?f=213 this guy.

 

[cprice]

Start using regular Red Sea it can be purchased for cheap. I think that they call your tank the Brick. Since you are in Florida I would look into TBS for your rock and sand you can save big by picking it up yourself. I have found to keep the salt from percepitating and turning brown to use a slow power pump and mix the salt slowly.

Did you mean the regular Instant Ocean? I've never had a problem it Red Sea salt causing any residue.

I didn't know that TBS had sand, I will definitely have to check on that.

 

[cprice]

Ok, update time!!

So we're still about 1 week away from being able to put the tank in its final location, but I have more pics and a few questions to go along with them.

Here is the tank, it's currently in my garage and just finished the leak test. It's located where the sump and other equipment will go. On the other side if the wall directly behind the tank is the wall where the tank will eventually sit.

 

[cprice]

Oops on that 2nd pic....

 

[cprice]

So here are the lights on at 50%

I'm pretty sure they will be sufficient for LPS and softies but I may at 2 T5s to help reduce the disco effect and eliminate some shadows.

Here is a shot that shows the StormX controller and a small snippet of the layout on the large piece of aluminium.

 

[cprice]

So here is the CA reactor I got with the tank and I have 2 questions about it...

1. Is this salvageable/usable? Or is it missing too much?

2. Would it be worth using on a LPS and softies tank just to keep things stable or would it be overkill?

 

[cprice]

Any thoughts on the Calcium Reactor?

 

[Reel North]

You won't need it on an lps tank if you have a decent wc schedule. Regulator looks pretty abused too.

Why such a small sump? Maybe go a bit bigger. That and the fuge and the frag tank will give you tons of volume

I wish I could do those drawings. Graph paper for me lol

 

[cprice]

I would love a larger sump but I'm not at a point to spend alot. I've thought about a large 100 gal rubbermaid but I would ideally like a 75 gal or 100 long or something.

I also have a kalkwasser reactor that I can use for Calc and Alk that's brand new.

 

[Reel North]

The great thing with your layout is that you can always ADD that bigger sump down the road. This hobby is freaking expensive man. I think the trick is to let everything be upgradable and expandable. Like an apex for equipment lol.

Looking forward to seeing the build.

 

[cprice]

Yeah I'm a fairly competent DIYer so I want to build an Arduino based controller instead of buying the Apex. Also I am going to make sure that the plumbing is modular enough to add in anything down the road.

 

[entropygain]

One suggestion is to consider putting the future fuge high rather than low so that it can drain directly into the display rather than be pumped back. This will let it be a source of extra pods for any fish in the display to hunt. Gives you a pod buffer in case you want to add a couple mandarins or pipefish or other pod hunter down the road.

 

[cprice]

One suggestion is to consider putting the future fuge high rather than low so that it can drain directly into the display rather than be pumped back. This will let it be a source of extra pods for any fish in the display to hunt. Gives you a pod buffer in case you want to add a couple mandarins or pipefish or other pod hunter down the road.

I was planning on having the fuge drain back into the return section of the sump. Would that be suffecient or would the turbulence of the pump kill them?