210 Build

Fiziksgeek

New member
I thought it would be a good time to start sharing some details of my new system. I am workin on an in-wall AGA 210 down in the basement. The room is about 20x14 and almost done. I finished the drywall this weekend, and hope to have it primed and painted this week...carpet installed in a couple weeks!

I will be transfering some of the livestock from my existing 135, but probably not all. It started as a FOWLR....turned into a soft reef...and I hope to add more LPS and SPS to the new tank. I haven't made final decisions about tank inhabitants, but will need to soon! I have about 200 lbs on LR to bring over, and will be doing a shallow sand bed for looks mainly.

I plan to run 3x250W XM10K's on Ice Caps and in Lumenarc Mini's, and 2x160 URI VHO Actinics also on an Ice Cap. I will be using a 55 as the sump, and a 20g as the fuge. Pan World 150ps will be the return, and I have an Amp Master 3000 which I hope to run on a closed loop. I haven't drilled the back of the tank...mainly because I am a chicken. The skimmer is a 4ft tall dual Beckett from MRC powered by a Pan World 200ps.

I will get some pics up in the next couple of days!

Questions...Comments....Suggestions???
 
I see you've done your homework.

lighting
I still haven't figured out lighting but:
Good call the the Lumnarc minis, they are a good reflector without being as huge as the full size. The XM/VHO combo is about the best I've run all around when you factor in growth and power consumption.

Skimmer
This I've got figured out! Great move, nothing better for large tanks. Get that badboy skimming wet and your water will sparkle. If you have not tuned a beckett be prepared it will take some time to get right but once its on, its on. You lucky enough to have some experienced beckett people close by as well. pics please :D

Drilling
Its really easy, have no fear. If you need help shoot me a PM.

I am not really a fan of fuges or SSB's but that's just the way I run my tank. Everyone is different, you know? If it were me I would throw in some starboard and cancel the fuge for now.
 
I also have an in-wall basement tank (220), but I did not finish the basement myself (not handy at all). So far I have been very happy with the space available and I think you will also.

One suggestion I can make is skip the carpet and go for tile. You then do not have to be as careful when handling water and if you have a flood, you will not need to tear out the carpet and/or padding for replacement. Well worth the extra money IMO.

Can't wait for pictures.

Keith
 
pics

pics

Ok I just uploaded some pics.

The fihished room will be almost 20x14, and will be carpeted. The tank side will be essentially unfinished. It also houses the hot water heater, washer/dryer, and some storage.


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Here you can see my existing 135 in the background. I will be selling the set up after the new tank is ready

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The stand is a 2x6 frame covered with 3/4 plywood supported by beefed up 2x4 walls.

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As I mentioned, the skimmer is a dual beckett MR-2 with an extension.

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Lookin good. I have a feeling you are going to need a few more outlets. What you are doing is very similar to Jason. He ended up running over a sub panel.
 
There are also outlets tucked up under the stand, you just can't see them in the pic. I have 2-15amp circuits dedicated to the tank already. I also have wiring for an additional 15 amp and a 20 amp in place should I need them!
 
Sweet setup so far , I cant wait to do an inwall and have a fish room . Your definetly generous cause you can bet I wont let the wife have a washer and dryer in there though , I dont wanna hear anymore about my damn fish tank messes .
 
<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=7486529#post7486529 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by Fiziksgeek
There are also outlets tucked up under the stand, you just can't see them in the pic. I have 2-15amp circuits dedicated to the tank already. I also have wiring for an additional 15 amp and a 20 amp in place should I need them!

very nice
 
Let's talk fish

Let's talk fish

The room is comming slong slowly. Its primed and ready for paint now. Hopefully I will get the color on this weekend. We also need to decide on flooring. I was originally going to carpet the finished room, but an now thinking laminate hardwood. Decisions decisions...

The stand has been painted. I used a black, oil based exterior paint on the top and on exposed studs on the sides hoping they will becomes invisible when the tank is complete.

I've started thinking about what to keep in the new set up. I started with a FOWLR and am slowly turning reef. I have all sofites now, except for the branching hammer frags I got from Anciet Storm a while back. They are doing great by the way, new branches all over the place! I want to add more LPS and some SPS as well. I would like to keep a mixed reef. For fish, I currently have:

Niger Trigger
Hippo Tang
false perc clown
saddle puffer
lemonpeel angel
2-4 stripe damsels
Royal Gramma
spotted mandarin
diamond watchman

At this point, I know I want the 4-stripes gone. I am looking for recommendations as to what else should stay and what should go???

I would love a small school of something. Green Chromis would be the obvious choice (because they are cheap). I would love to do a group of P. Dispar, but they are a little costly. Maybe pink smith damsels...hmmmmm

I would also like a copperband butterfly, and maybe an achilles tang.
 
The trigger and puffer will eat snails and crabs, correct? That being said, I wouldn't have a reef tank without my snails. They cut down on the amount of time I spend cleaning the glass, since they do such a good job of it.
As for fish to add, I have a purple tang who is a little shy but still a very good looking fish. I also have a Powder Blue Tang who is very active and always swimming around.
 
I keep snails and hermits now...never seen the trigger touch them, or the puffer for that matter. On the other hand, I have a friend with a niger trigger who is a beast. His has killed every invert in the tank....

Also, having the tigger there might help a group of chromis or anthias stay in a school, hahaha
 
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wow the first post ive seen in a while not starting "for sale".
nice job, cant wait to see it progress
 
I agree on that laminate , its nothing but trouble . You could do a small section of tile in front of the tank and carpet around that . That would allow for easy spillage cleanup .
 
What are you planning on covering the walls in the fish room with? Any chance you could get some FRP panels up with the floor trim? Should you have a leak at least you could do is isolate the water to the fish room. Maybe some epoxy concrete sealant as well?
Are you dead set on a closed loop?
 
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