TheAquatect
I Could Stop If I Wanted
I've been patiently planning my next upgrade for a pretty long time and I am just dying to get a build thread going, share what I've come up with and get some feedback as I go! I am finally to the point where I am ready to order the tank and star acquiring equipment for the build. I am also going to be doing this in conjunction with a renovation project so it's bound to be fun.
My current system is a 150g tall (48x24x30) in-wall tank with a glass-holes overflow and a tek 8 bulb T5, which has been up and running for a little over 3 years. I will be trying to figure out what to do with the tank and inhabitants since the in-wall tank sits in the fish room where the door needs to go. More on that idea later..
Here is a breakdown of the tanks and equipment so far:
Proposed Display Tank:
96"l x 24"w x 26"h ¾" glass, euro-braced
notched back external 1.5" bean animal overflow OR synergy reef 20" ghost overflow (TBD)
Display Tank Pumps:
Vectra L1 for main return
Maxspect Gyre XF150
4 ¾" Sea Swirls
Stand:
38" tall, built using 80/20 40mm t-slot extruded aluminum
Lighting:
4 kessil A360WE
6 54w T5
Sump/refugium:
Deep Blue Professional ADB11080 48"w x 24"d x 16"h 80g
Frag Tank:
Deep Blue Professional ADB18080 48"w x 24"d x 16"h 80g
Jebao RW-8 for circulation
Filtration:
SRO 5000ext
GFO and Carbon via 2 Two Little Fishies 150 reactors
Other equipment:
Neptune Apex to automate some control
2 95g vertical water storage containers for sw and ro storage and eventual automated water changes.
Jebao DP-4 Auto Dosing Pump (Alk, Ca, Mg, Vodka)
OK, on to the good stuff. I took the time to build a scale model of the DT room and the adjoining fish room to make sure I understood how it would look, what plumbing I needed, and what extra goodies I could fit
Here is the first shot of our family room with the tank in its spot. I'm in love with the 8ft tank idea and while I was tempted to go 36" deep, I have been very pleased with my 24" deep 150g and I could not come out any further due to layout/wife restrictions. The hood and final design of the stand is TBD, I'm still trying to work on it. The door to the right is the entrance to the fish room.
Next up is the fish room. Forgive the "œfloating tanks," I'm switching over the stand to 80/20 t-slot aluminum. The room is 6' x 8.5' has plumbing for a drain and hot and cold water, backs up to the garage for water storage, is adjacent to the DT. To the right is some cabinets, shelves and an extra deep sink. Back wall has the frag tank, sump and SRO 5000ext, which will be plumbed to the drain for overflow. Top-off will be via a 5g container under the sump and on the left wall will be the drain and return lines for the DT, valves for controlling flow and a board for the Apex controllers.
Here is a more direct shot of the sink and workstation.
And of the plumbing wall. The white box on the right is the "œSRO 5000ext" to make sure it fits.
And finally, here is a shot of my current 150.
So, here is where I am at with this project as of tonight.
I am ordering the tank this week and have already ordered the lighting and Vectra L1 so I can start building out the fish room and have it ready to plumb into the tank when it is delivered.
I am now looking at the plumbing order for the schedule 80 valves and fittings and the 3d model has been VERY helpful in finalizing that plan.
I am planning on using schedule 40 pipe, painted red and blue with krylon.
I am sure I left out quite a few bits of detail but I welcome feedback on design, layout etc.. I also have to give props to one of my LFS, Drysdale Aquarium. I love supporting local businesses. I gave him my list of equipment before shopping online and ended up saving some $$! So support your LFS!
Cheers!
My current system is a 150g tall (48x24x30) in-wall tank with a glass-holes overflow and a tek 8 bulb T5, which has been up and running for a little over 3 years. I will be trying to figure out what to do with the tank and inhabitants since the in-wall tank sits in the fish room where the door needs to go. More on that idea later..
Here is a breakdown of the tanks and equipment so far:
Proposed Display Tank:
96"l x 24"w x 26"h ¾" glass, euro-braced
notched back external 1.5" bean animal overflow OR synergy reef 20" ghost overflow (TBD)
Display Tank Pumps:
Vectra L1 for main return
Maxspect Gyre XF150
4 ¾" Sea Swirls
Stand:
38" tall, built using 80/20 40mm t-slot extruded aluminum
Lighting:
4 kessil A360WE
6 54w T5
Sump/refugium:
Deep Blue Professional ADB11080 48"w x 24"d x 16"h 80g
Frag Tank:
Deep Blue Professional ADB18080 48"w x 24"d x 16"h 80g
Jebao RW-8 for circulation
Filtration:
SRO 5000ext
GFO and Carbon via 2 Two Little Fishies 150 reactors
Other equipment:
Neptune Apex to automate some control
2 95g vertical water storage containers for sw and ro storage and eventual automated water changes.
Jebao DP-4 Auto Dosing Pump (Alk, Ca, Mg, Vodka)
OK, on to the good stuff. I took the time to build a scale model of the DT room and the adjoining fish room to make sure I understood how it would look, what plumbing I needed, and what extra goodies I could fit
Here is the first shot of our family room with the tank in its spot. I'm in love with the 8ft tank idea and while I was tempted to go 36" deep, I have been very pleased with my 24" deep 150g and I could not come out any further due to layout/wife restrictions. The hood and final design of the stand is TBD, I'm still trying to work on it. The door to the right is the entrance to the fish room.
Next up is the fish room. Forgive the "œfloating tanks," I'm switching over the stand to 80/20 t-slot aluminum. The room is 6' x 8.5' has plumbing for a drain and hot and cold water, backs up to the garage for water storage, is adjacent to the DT. To the right is some cabinets, shelves and an extra deep sink. Back wall has the frag tank, sump and SRO 5000ext, which will be plumbed to the drain for overflow. Top-off will be via a 5g container under the sump and on the left wall will be the drain and return lines for the DT, valves for controlling flow and a board for the Apex controllers.
Here is a more direct shot of the sink and workstation.
And of the plumbing wall. The white box on the right is the "œSRO 5000ext" to make sure it fits.
And finally, here is a shot of my current 150.
So, here is where I am at with this project as of tonight.
I am ordering the tank this week and have already ordered the lighting and Vectra L1 so I can start building out the fish room and have it ready to plumb into the tank when it is delivered.
I am now looking at the plumbing order for the schedule 80 valves and fittings and the 3d model has been VERY helpful in finalizing that plan.
I am planning on using schedule 40 pipe, painted red and blue with krylon.
I am sure I left out quite a few bits of detail but I welcome feedback on design, layout etc.. I also have to give props to one of my LFS, Drysdale Aquarium. I love supporting local businesses. I gave him my list of equipment before shopping online and ended up saving some $$! So support your LFS!
Cheers!
