205G Tank Build

[Fish4Me2]

Well, I hope this will be the start of a long and happy story! After several years of owning previously used tanks, I've moved into a new home where I intend to stay for a long time. With that longevity in mind, plans are underway to build a system that addresses the issues I've had in the past. I'm finishing the design phase, and hoping to have water in the tank by early 2011.

The tank/sump/stand will be new, but most of the equipment has been collected over the last 4 years and used on my last tank, which was a 180.

Current/planned equipment list:
Tank: 72"l x 30" d x 22" h (approx 205 gallons)
Sump: 75g
Lighting: 3 radiums with LB reflectors; 4 36" actinic T-5s.
Skimmer: ATB 1050a
Dosing: LiterMeter 3
System pump: Reeflo dart
Circulation: 4 x Tunze 6105
Controller: Neptune AquaController III

I've seen this board provide some wonderful advice to others, so I'm hopeful that by posting my journey, I'll be able to get some answers to my questions as well. No matter what, here's to happy reefing! :fish1:

 

[James404]

Sounds like you have planned this very well so far, your choice of equipment is very nice. Tagging along to see how this turns out.

 

[Fish4Me2]

So, for my first question:
I know from past experience that I want to have a primary and a backup drain. I also don't want a tremendously large overflow. Ideally, I'd like to use the overflow just for the drains with a 1.5" primary drain and a 1" backup. I'd then like to run the returns up through the eurobracing. I believe Reefbum's tank used this setup. I think this limits both the number of holes drilled in the tank itself, and it helps keep the tank from looking cluttered.

Does anyone have any input or advice on drilling holes in the eurobracing for the tank?

 

[Fish4Me2]

Thanks, I'm quite excited!

 

[MentalNote]

I would highly recommend a Bean Animal Overflow. It requires 3 pipes but it is failsafe and silent. If you do a search there is a 90 page thread on it in the DIY forum.

 

[Matt Dean]

are you using Starphyre glass for the tank? I highly recommend it. I am so glad i did on my new tank. Noticeable clarity difference.

Why Tunze powerheads? Why not Vortech's? Obviously ig price difference, but big difference in flow as well. You could also consider a closed loop for flow as well, considering your dimensions (which are awesome for aquascaping) A closed loop combined with a couple of Vortechs would be amazing.

 

[Fish4Me2]

I considered Bean Animal style, but I'm not willing to give up that much real estate inside the tank for the overflow, and the builder I"m using will no longer do external overflows, which was my first choice.

 

[Fish4Me2]

Matt Dean, Yes, the front and left side, which are the two viewable sides, will be Starfire. The overflow will be on the back right corner, up against a wall, so I won't do starphire on that side.

As for the Tunze, the tank is in our main living area, so noise was top priority in equipment selection. The Tunzes are notably more quite than the Vortech's. Also, I prefer the form factor for the Tunze powerheads, since I can direct the flow to the left or right.

Closed loop would be great for flow, but I'm planning on having this tank running in place for 10-15 years, and I don't have faith that any bulkhead will last that long. That's based on 16+ years of experience with fresh and salt water tanks.

 

[Fish4Me2]

That looks awesome Mike! I am looking forward to the finished product!

 

[Fish4Me2]

In other updates, I picked my sump up. I wanted to have plenty of room, and John at advanced acrylics delivered. :dance: Final dimensions are 48" by 18" by 18".

The right side is designed for chaeto, with a bubble tower. This will be fed from the main overflow, with a tee off of that drain line. Return is in the middle, and skimmer on the left. I've realized that I'm much more apt to maintain the system pump, and can more easily swap it out, if it's internal, so that's the direction I'm going.

Since a thread is nothing without pictures, here you go:

 

[Fish4Me2]

Here's a detail of the top off/probe holder section that John added. I didn't even think to ask for this, but I'm sure I'll be thrilled to have it!

 

[rioshilo]

Closed loop would be great for flow, but I'm planning on having this tank running in place for 10-15 years, and I don't have faith that any bulkhead will last that long. That's based on 16+ years of experience with fresh and salt water tanks.

How are the drain bulklheads any different then the CL bulkheads in this respect?


btw... I have roughly the same tank setup with the exception of 24" tank height and CL for circulation and dual overflow boxes. Have fun with the build. Thats a great tank size

 

[fjr_wertheimber]

How are the drain bulklheads any different then the CL bulkheads in this respect?

Well, if a drain bulkhead goes south, all you have to do is shut off your return pump and you can then work on the drain bulkhead... If a closed-loop bulkhead dies on you, you've got to drain your entire system to work on it...

 

[Fish4Me2]

I agree - drain and CL bulkheads are no different. But with this setup, I only have to worry about 2 bulkheads for my drains. With a CL, I would have 6+ to worry about. My risk averse side figures: the fewer holes in the tank, the better! :lmao:

 

[Fish4Me2]

rioshilo, how are you liking your tank so far? Any advice at this point?

 

[rioshilo]

Well, if a drain bulkhead goes south, all you have to do is shut off your return pump and you can then work on the drain bulkhead... If a closed-loop bulkhead dies on you, you've got to drain your entire system to work on it...

Well thats true... although my cl intakes are on the back wall so I would only need to drain half the display to repair.

And I also see the risk vs return factor with multiple holes. But it seems like every thing we do to make it better comes with risk... (having a sump, running a dosing pump, reactors, chiller, etc...)

Fish4Me2, I love the dimensions of my tank. Once you start getting in that 30" depth range the aquascaping options increase tremendously. As far as advice for your build, I don't know... Seems like you've got a good handle on things. The rest will be figured out as you go. Looking forward to seeing it come to life

 

[Fish4Me2]

I've made some additional progress this week. A month or two ago, I ordered some BRS eco rock. This week, I pulled it out of the box. Started by soaking it in a vinegar RO/DI bath for about 5 hours, to try to remove some of the dissolved organics. I followed that up by rinsing, scrubbing off everything I could, and dropping it into a Brute full of RO for 4 days. When I sniffed it on day 4, it was clear that some additional work was needed. (insert barfing smiley here).

Today I made about 35 gallons of salt water in a Brute. I used some PVC and light grating to create a platform in the Brute, and then added the rocks below the platform, and my skimmer on top of it. Here's the result -

I am pleased to report that even though the skimmer's been dry for a while, I've already got nog forming in the vat. I'll throw in a bit of live rock from my temporary tank later this week.

 

[kknd187]

Nice layout man . Gonna follow this thread good luck man :thumbsup:

 

[Fish4Me2]

So, a bit more detail. The new tank will go against the wall in our living/dining area. It's replacing the old tank, which is a 180. The picture below shows the old tank. For reference, the new stand will be 4 inches shorter than what's shown here, and the new tank will be 2 inches shorter. The front to back width of the new tank will be 6 inches larger.

The reduction in height gives me just enough clearance to add halides in Lumenmax elite reflectors, so that's the plan. Hopefully the 180 in this photo will be going to a good home soon.

 

[Fish4Me2]

While the low ceiling is challenging, the real upside of this location, besides the fact that I can stare at the tank every night over dinner, is that the other side of that wall is a utility room. I'll be honest when I say this was a feature that sold me on this house!

While there isn't space to have a fishroom, unless I get rid of the washer and dryer, I will be running several things through the wall into the utility room:
- All electrical
- Top off container and line
- Chiller

By having that equipment in the utility room, I keep the electrical safely away from most of the salt water, and I keep the heat from the chiller out of our primary living area.

Last week, we dropped two new circuits in on the utility room side of the wall, and I'll be working on the electrical center there this week.

Other side of wall from the tank. The tank will be roughly opposite from the washer & dryer:

Don't worry - I only use the Pinesol in the tank when the fish are misbehaving!

New electrical: