250 gallon build thread
- Thread starter michealprater
- Start date
Been working on the electrical. Nothing exciting for the thread. I went to Lowes tonight and got the rest of the stuff I need to finish it. More wire and breakers ect. Hope to get it finished this weekend.
Plus my camera is broke, and people cant stand these build threads if they don't have pics, LOL.
Plus my camera is broke, and people cant stand these build threads if they don't have pics, LOL.
I know I cant have them all in my system, but the fish I love are.
Emporer Angel
Regal Angel
Majestic Angel
Flame Angel
Potters Angel
Flameback Angel
Purple Tang
Powder Blue Tang
Blonde Naso Tang
Achilles Tang
It will depend which ones I find healthy first. I would love to buy out of other peoples tanks. Fish are usually really healthy that way. Just have to find someone that is looking to switch out some fish.
Emporer Angel
Regal Angel
Majestic Angel
Flame Angel
Potters Angel
Flameback Angel
Purple Tang
Powder Blue Tang
Blonde Naso Tang
Achilles Tang
It will depend which ones I find healthy first. I would love to buy out of other peoples tanks. Fish are usually really healthy that way. Just have to find someone that is looking to switch out some fish.
Just tested. the cycle appears to be complete
ammonia and nitrite 0
nitrate 5ppm
salinity 35ppt
ph 8.0
temp 77.4
ammonia and nitrite 0
nitrate 5ppm
salinity 35ppt
ph 8.0
temp 77.4
Ok, camera fixed. Here is some updated pics.
Auto top off in RO reservoir
Finally, electricity. Worked all day on it. 12 outlets in the room, 2 separate circuits.
The macro tank, with some rock, macros and mangrove.
Auto top off in RO reservoir
Finally, electricity. Worked all day on it. 12 outlets in the room, 2 separate circuits.
The macro tank, with some rock, macros and mangrove.
Hopefully will be skinning the walls this weekend if the income tax money comes.
This thread has been deader then a door nail. It is now more like a personal journal than an interactive build thread. LOL. I guess I am just doing so much right no one can suggest anything. Yeah right! I guess it will still be nice to look back on my progress.
This thread has been deader then a door nail. It is now more like a personal journal than an interactive build thread. LOL. I guess I am just doing so much right no one can suggest anything. Yeah right! I guess it will still be nice to look back on my progress.
SVTour
New member
Personally, I like the speed that you are doing things. I had my fish room built in a few months time and definitely would have done some things differently now. With the speed you are going through on this, you have the ability to make these type of changes easily.
So kudos for the slow budget build, most of us are in the same boat (whether we admit it or not)
Awesome advice! I will be using blue instead of green. I seen both at Lowes, and wasnt sure what the difference was. Now I know. Thanks!
SVTour, I clicked your red house. Great build!
I really like the idea of putting the qt in with the rest of the system. What do you do if you have to medicate. I can see just pulling it off line, but what if you have to medicate, how will you put it back online?
I really like the idea of putting the qt in with the rest of the system. What do you do if you have to medicate. I can see just pulling it off line, but what if you have to medicate, how will you put it back online?
SVTour
New member
The only time I ran into an issue with ick, I ended up dropping the salinity instead of medicating. When that happened, the tank was not attached to the system at the time. Sadly, I lost the fish that had the issues anyways...all others that were not infected were fine through this process though. Needless, if I ever go this route again, I will be able to get the fish acclimated to the system better by turning the ball valve.
Lately this tank has just been for water changes. I open the valve to let tank water in and just put the new water in the sump.
In looking more at the blue board / green board controversy...green is more for high humidity, blue is more if you think the walls will get wet. I'm rather tight in my application where I think the salt is more affecting me than the wetness. Read up on it some, you may find that using mostly green board is best for your room, but may want to go blue around the tank? I can tell you that the green board broke down on the sides of my tank where the overflows are in about a two year timeframe. I ended up putting stained wood in its place…but think it would have been better off with blue board. You can see where I replaced the Greenboard with wood on the page that shows the sliders for the lights.
Thanks for the compliments on my build...like most, it's still a work in progress. I’ll need to get some update pictures when I get a chance. I’ve got a bunch of SPS frags in there now.
Lately this tank has just been for water changes. I open the valve to let tank water in and just put the new water in the sump.
In looking more at the blue board / green board controversy...green is more for high humidity, blue is more if you think the walls will get wet. I'm rather tight in my application where I think the salt is more affecting me than the wetness. Read up on it some, you may find that using mostly green board is best for your room, but may want to go blue around the tank? I can tell you that the green board broke down on the sides of my tank where the overflows are in about a two year timeframe. I ended up putting stained wood in its place…but think it would have been better off with blue board. You can see where I replaced the Greenboard with wood on the page that shows the sliders for the lights.
Thanks for the compliments on my build...like most, it's still a work in progress. I’ll need to get some update pictures when I get a chance. I’ve got a bunch of SPS frags in there now.
oneoffcustom
New member
Great build svt. oh and praterss urs is ok too. lmao, just kidding... prater put some pics of how you plumbed in the refuge... i may need to do this in my build as well, i dont think my skimmer with all its pipe will fit in sump if i also do fuge in the same sump.
Around the tank I was planning on doing finished plywood for asthetics on the outside. I guess I could use a sealant for the back side of it. I planned on doing drywall for the back 2/3 of the room. I do have a BIG dehumidifier in the room plumbed directly to the drain. Humidity should not be a major issue, but I will use greenboard as a precausion.
Nick, I thought I had some pics earlier in the thread of the fuge, if not I will post some. I am not sure how you would fit an external skimmer, a sump and a fuge in a stand.
double post
Nick, the middle of page 10 shows the fuge. It has a bulkhead and flexible pipe to the sump. It doesnt show the return, but it is just a MJ1200 with flexible tubing going up to the fuge. I held the tubing up with a clamp. Nothing fancy, but functional.
SVTour
New member
My issues are right where my overflows are in the corners, mainly the one that is on the outside wall. I created some covers to keep the splash down...but the damage to the drywall was already done. Although you have overflows on the back, it looks like you have the one side of the fishtank up against the wall...this is where I would be concerned the most.
Thanks...
None of the overflows are against the wall. They are external overflows near the middle of the tank about 18" off the wall. I do have a little bit of splash. I was thinking of cutting the stand pipes down a couple of inches to correct the issue.
