200 gallon project.

Rendos

Rendos

New member
I have had reef tanks for a long time. My largest to date is 120 gallons. My wife and I just moved into a new house and decided to take the plunge into "large" tank status. The tank itself is 72"X30"X21". It has eurobracing so I don't have those annoying center braces to contend with when it comes to lighting. I have started building the stand myself. I will be tearing down my existing tank once this one is up and running and using most of the equipment from it. I plan to run 3 400 watt MH's in pendants. I already have a ER CS8-2 and a CS6-2+. I will be using both of these on the tank along with a calcium reactor. As you can see in the pictures, the tank is drilled for drains to the sump and also for a closed loop. I am so tired of looking at powerheads in my tanks. Anyway...I will update as I progress with this. Here are a couple of pics.
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Your new tank looks like swiss chesse ...haha

I am eager to see progress, good luck. I guess you are planning SPS with A LOT of flow. Really nice tank dimensions btw. What kind of fish list?

Will
 
My 120 is almost entirely SPS...they will be happier in their new home...I hope. My fish list is already made because I am just moving the fish from my other tank to the new one.
*Regal tang
*Kole tang
*2 Black Oscellaris (tank raised)
*Pink spot watchman goby
*Sixline wrasse
I may add a few anthias to the new tank, but I haven't decided yet.
 
Yeah, the 4 1" holes at the top are for the sump drains, and the 2 higher 1/2" holes are for the sump return. The lower 2 1" holes are for the closed loop input and the rest of the 1/2" holes (including the ones in the bottom of the tank) are for the closed loop returns. I still have to make the black acrylic overflow boxes for the sump drains and silicon them in place. I hope it works as well as I planned. We will see...
 
How are you going to design the overflow?? Because you could make one long overflow box along the top back part of the tank, to cover the four 1'' sump drain holes. It seems like it would be logical and space efficent, and a lot easier then making separate boxes. I saw some made like that on a few other tanks, but I can find the pics of them.

Will
 
Well, I am still deciding whether to make on long overflow or 4 separate ones. I think one long one may be the way to go too, but just haven't decided yet.

As far as lighting, I am using 400's because my corals are already under these lights and I don't want the added expense of buying new lighting right now.

I am going to make the doors tonight and put a bottom in the stand. The next step is to start the plumbing while the tank is still dry and easy to move. I also need to paint the back of the tank. I haven't decided on black or deep blue. I use deep blue on all my other tanks, but am tempted to do black on this one.
 
Well, it has been a long Saturday, but in between cleaning 3 120 gallon tanks, 2 55 gallon tanks, and a 92 gallon tank, I managed to get some work done. I finished the doors for the stand. The 2 doors on the end have mesh nylon screen to allow circulation under the stand. This along with fans mounted in the back of the stand will hopefully cool the pumps and keep the chiller well ventilated. I also got the overflow boxes made. I decided on four separate boxes instead of one large box to cover them all. I will probably silicon them in the tank tomorrow and start letting them cure.
Anyway, here are a few pics.
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Thanks. I used all Birch and birch plywood and I use Minwax stain called Ipswitch Pine (221). It has a very light yellowey-orange color.
 
Update...I finished the stand and siliconed the overflows in the tank. I got the tank up on the stand, and am working on putting baffles in the sump now. I should have my bulkheads today so I can start plumbing. I have also decided to run 2 dedicated GFI's behind the tank. I am debating on whether to build the electrical outlets into the stand or just use the power strips that I use now. Anyway, here are a couple of updated pics.
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Well, I don't have any pictures to post today, but I did go to Lowe's last night and got about $100.00 worth of PVC parts. I started plumbing the tank last night, and will hopefully have it done this weekend. I should also have my 2 GFI outlets run this weekend. I have the romex, breaker, outlets, and everything I need...just have to make time to run the wire.
 
pikey..AWSOME setup there!! love the DIY stand. Very clean and professional! How did you make the top trim so perfect? using a router?
- Jason
 
Actually, I have a router, but did not use it at all in this project. I used my miter saw, table saw, glue and a nail gun. Even the overflow boxes were made with the table saw....that is probably why they don't look any better than they do.
 
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