210 Mixed Reef

[rrasco]

Over the last few weeks I've done lots of planning, selling old tanks, making room, and looking for a new tank. I got tired of waiting for a used tank, so I bought a new standard 210. This is as the tank sits now, but it won't be this lonely for long, I've already begun construction on the stand and have big plans for this tank. 3d model of stand is below.

Here is the plan:

Livestock - I am planning an SPS island on one side of the tank, my frogspawn will get a large dedicated grow area, and then a zoa and mushroom garden with mixed softies spread out through the rest of the tank. I have an ocellaris pair and I want to add a tang. I'm open to other fish suggestions after that.

Equipment - Coast to coast overflow with the bean method to keep it quiet and safe, A DIY LED fixture with 3 pendulums mounted on a modular mounting rail so I can add supplemental lighting if necessary. The lighting fixture will hang from the roof and have a pulley system or something to allow me to adjust the height based on lighting needs and maintenance access; intended to be above the ceiling and out of view. This is still just a concept I am working on. I have a reeflo dart to drive my return lines. I want to T off the main return and drill two return holes for locline inside the coast to coast. Then I want to T off each return with locline as well, effectively making 4 locline returns that will peak over the top of the coast to coast providing lots of flow configuration options. There will also of course be an ATO system piped through the wall to the fish room directly behind the display tank. Premix salt will also go here with dedicated plumbing. To top it off the tank will be controlled by a DIY arduino. I will update this thread as I complete stages of the build so this is just the beginning, stay tuned.

I'm open to all criticism. I'd rather hear it now than after I implement something wrong.

 

[dzfish17]

Congrats on the new tank. There is nothing more fun than setting up a new tank... especially a big tank. I would definitely add a group of anthias to the fish list... a royal gramma too.

 

[rrasco]

Thanks. The build is definitely the best part to me....I love picking out equipment and designing these things. The anthias look awesome...how many should I add?

 

[hobogato]

glad you decided to go with the 210, look forward to following the progress

 

[Robb in Austin]

Big tank build thread? Check.

In Texas? Check.

And a Red Wings fan? Check, check, check.

Subscribed.

 

[rrasco]

I finished the stand, pictures will come once the tank is on it. I had to touch up the paint on the top of the doors and the tank still needs to be drilled, so no point in moving it yet.

I received my order from glass holes today, it had my return kits, bulkheads and elbows for a bean overflow, and the hole saws to make it all happen. The returns will be drilled into the overflow and angled over the top of the weir. They will not go where they are in the pictures (obviously), they will be positioned a few inches towards the outside of the braces so they clear the top of the weir and the braces. I am hoping I get enough flow out of this setup to avoid the used of powerheads, but I doubt I will be that lucky. There should be around 600gph per return outlet. I'm playing that one by ear.

I am hoping to drill and paint the tank this weekend and move it onto the stand. We'll see what happens with it being Christmas though.

 

[rrasco]

Finished drilling the tank last night. It was really easy, just took a lot of patience. My glass holes bit wore down after the first two holes for the 1.5" bulkhead, but I persevered and got through it, no pun intended. The return holes were short work after that.

I decided to place the drains on one side so I can reach them, although symmetrically, I would have been happier with them in the middle, but that would not have been very functional.

 

[rrasco]

Moved the tank onto the stand tonight. Just as I thought, the stand isn't perfect and I need to figure out how to shim the trim between the tank and stand. I never end up with straight lumber. I'm undecided on using styrofoam to correct the issue due to mixed opinions on using it for tanks with trim.

The stand was hard to get a good picture because it's black, kept getting spotting on the lens. The side panels are removable so I can get the sump out. Originally I was going to put them on hinges but decided to screw them in for added support. I already screwed in the right side, but the left side is awaiting the sump before I clamp it down.

I put the bulkheads in to make sure everything fits. I am thinking I am going to have to alter my return setup, which was highly anticipated. My thought is to add an elbow and a standpipe to get the returns up, and then I'll go straight out over the overflow. I ordered the glass today for the overflow, I just need to go pick it up.

 

[pjmiller33]

Hey, nice build so far. Don't go the foam route to level it though. Foam will flex which make it ok for acrylic but glass will not flex, but crack. I would get some wood shims from lowes or HD (usually in the door section). This should work well. Also if you needed more flow after you set it up, you could always add flow accelerators to your loclines. I just did it in my 210 with great results!

 

[rrasco]

Thanks. Yeah, I am going to make some small shims for it. They should hardly be noticeable, if at all.

 

[TheFishTeen]

Nice! This should be a great build. Since you are going the lock-line route, may I suggest using a flow accelerators? Heres a link for one http://www.marinedepot.com/Ista_Vor...ing_Plumbing_Parts-Ista-AZ1711-FIFTFB-vi.html

Also, will you be using power heads, or just relying on the Dart for the whole tank?

 

[rrasco]

Nice! This should be a great build. Since you are going the lock-line route, may I suggest using a flow accelerators? Heres a link for one http://www.marinedepot.com/Ista_Vor...ing_Plumbing_Parts-Ista-AZ1711-FIFTFB-vi.html

Also, will you be using power heads, or just relying on the Dart for the whole tank?

I have thought about using those accelerators, but do they connect to locline? I heard they have a loose connection.

I am hoping I can get away with the Dart for all my flow, but I think I'll end up with a power head or two. At a minimum, I will need one for under the overflow to keep the water moving behind the rocks. My built-in returns won't be effective in that part of the tank.

 

[rrasco]

I installed the coast to coast yesterday. I used Permatex RTV silicone. RTV has a higher tensile strength than GE 1. RTV is used to hold windshields in place. Good news is my locline return lines clear the coast to coast, I didn't think they were going to make it. I used masking tape to hold everything in place while I laid down the silicone. In hindsight, I would have taped off the edges of the seams so they would be cleaner as well. However, I was lazy and didn't do it since it was such a long seam. The only parts I taped off to keep clean were the seams that would be visible from the front of the tank. Oh well, that's what experience is for. I still think it came out good.

Oh, and I had these pieces of glass cut at 70-15/16"....which made it extremely hard to get them in place without getting stuck. I would probably go with 7/8" or less next time to make it easier.

 

[palmer373]

How wide and tall is your overflow? Looks around 8" by 8" but not sure.

 

[rrasco]

It's 5" wide by 6" deep. I tried to minimize the real estate it took up.

 

[Ancient Moon]

Nice build. Subscribed.

 

[rrasco]

Received a few boxes from BRS today. I'm sure the UPS guy loves me now. 150lbs of fiji dry rock, 10lbs of rubble, and a Bubble Magus NAC9.

 

[Robb in Austin]

:beer:

Nice delivery!

 

[abaralnek]

looking good,cant wait to see more..

 

[WaVe RiDeR]

tagging along!!