210 Mixed Reef Build

[Relethg]

Hi all,
Starting 210 gallon mixed reef build. I am not in a hurry (does everyone say this?) and will want help planning the build and with all the issues I will have.

I have a (72"X24"X29) good used all-glass RR double overflow tank with nice stand and canopy. The Canopy has 3 150 watt MH, 4 compacts and 3 moon lights in one 72" fixture. I will be keeping the lights as this setup is proven. The stand is in great shape and I think beautiful.

I bought the tank knowing I was not crazy about the RR dual over flows. The holes drilled are for 3/4 and 1 inch ID pipe in each overflow. What can I do to make this as flood proof as possible without gutting the overflows (I think Herbie)? I will have room in sump for power out water. Dont plan on using check valve because it doesn't look like you can trust them anyway.

What I have now and will use:
210 gallon RR All-Glass tank (double over flow)
Stand and canopy
Light fixture with 4 CF, 3 MH, and 3 moon lights
100 gallon a day RO

Here are my objectives:
Healthy system
Ease of care
Automated
Reliability
Safety (no floods)
Beautiful
Everything contained below the tank except quarantine tank and RO.

So let's start with my draft plumbing:

Don't focus too much on the sump at this point I will soon have a post on this (waiting for word on custom build plans). There will be a filter sock chamber (3 each 4"X14") that the full siphon drains go to. This feeds into the skimmer chamber that feeds into the Return chamber. The Refugium will be fed by either a 25% split off the drain or return, have not decided yet. What do you think about the 25% flow and clean or dirty water?

My focus at this point is the Herbie style drains in my RR 210 gallon double over flow. The two overflows are drilled for 1 and 3/4 inch drains and returns. I will be putting over the back returns on as depicted by the red. The 3/4" line in the overflows will be the full siphon line and the 1" will be the emergency. The emergency goes into the return. This should cause lots of bubbles in the return if the primary gets plugged and will detune the pump some.

Still have not picked the return pump, looking for reliable and quite external 1800-3000 GPH. The Reeflo hybrid Snapper/Dart Gold is in there as is the Waveline DC1200 Gen II. Leaning towards the Reeflo at this point.

 

[Aquarist123]

Nice I'm looking forward to hearing more. Are there any specific parts of the design that cater to it being a mixed reef?

 

[Relethg]

Hi Aquarist123,

I would say not yet. I still have not even completed the equipment list. Mostly working on designing the drain and return to be reliable, safe, and provide sufficient turnover to support a mixed reef. I plan on specing equipment that will support a mixed reef. When I say mixed reef, I want to be able to support a wide range of marine livestock (LPS, SPS, softies, fish and invertebrates).
Do you have any suggestions?

What type and size of tank/s do you have?

Thanks Glenn

 

[dwebster86]

Sicce Silent 10.0 is a good pump

 

[Relethg]

Sicce Silent 10.0 is a good pump

Thanks I will add that to my candidate list. Are you using one now?

Thanks Glenn

 

[dwebster86]

No I'm going to be soon. Seen quite a few friends use them and love itm

 

[Relethg]

No I'm going to be soon. Seen quite a few friends use them and love itm

Any of them using it external? That is how I would be using it. Do you know if it can be throttled with a valve on the outlet without negative impact?

Thanks Glenn

 

[Aquarist123]

Hi Aquarist123,

I would say not yet. I still have not even completed the equipment list. Mostly working on designing the drain and return to be reliable, safe, and provide sufficient turnover to support a mixed reef. I plan on specing equipment that will support a mixed reef. When I say mixed reef, I want to be able to support a wide range of marine livestock (LPS, SPS, softies, fish and invertebrates).
Do you have any suggestions?

What type and size of tank/s do you have?

Thanks Glenn

Hi Glenn,

I actually don't have a tank yet, I'm in the planning stages for a mixed reef like yours but in the 70-120 gallon range. My aim is to design it in such a way that it can house really diverse livestock, in terms of corals mostly but also fish and inverts. Part of the reason I don't want to specialize it too much is because I don't really know what I like yet hah.

From what I've read some things that seem important in a mixed reef are having a wide range of par throughout the tank to grow sps down to shrooms, having areas of high and low flow, running carbon to cut down on allelopathy and having a fuge for cultivating pods. Something that I don't know how to compromise would be nutrient levels because they're going to be consistent throughout the tank. Maybe theres a moderate level that almost anything can do well in? Any thoughts on this? Thanks.

 

[Relethg]

Something that I don't know how to compromise would be nutrient levels because they're going to be consistent throughout the tank. Maybe theres a moderate level that almost anything can do well in? Any thoughts on this? Thanks.

I dont understand what you are saying here.

 

[Relethg]

Here is the before and after shots of the overflows. This should flow more than that close teeth setup. I ran it above the overflow so it will touch the screens that sit on top of the tank. No carper surfing. The material is plastic mesh gutter guard from HD. 20' was $4. I have 18' left if anyone needs some. I will use this for my drain screens too.

 

[Relethg]

Here are the drains with the same screen on it.

 

[toothybugs]

I dont understand what you are saying here.

I think what was being communicated there was just that Aq123 didn't know how/ where to balance nutrient levels for all the coral species - ULN for SPS would be detrimental to softies, for example.