360 gallon Peninsula Bar Build…

[hershell]

My 360 gallon Peninsula Bar Build…

I decided I wanted to do some remodeling on my house this year. Well what better time than now to build a reef? At first I decided I wanted a larger reef tank so I started looking around at my options. I was going to go with a cube tank 36x36x36 but I decided I wanted something a little larger. Well then I decided I could go even larger if I took my time and bought used stuff. So that’s where I am now. I thought it would be kind of cool to see how much money I could save by buying used. Anyway here’s what I have.

I’m not sure what brand it is The guy I bought it from couldn’t remember the name of the company it’s in Atlanta Ga. I think he had a reef store in Birmingham, Al that he closed and the tank was left over.

96x36x24 Tank and Sump there are two CL's total. One on each side of the overflow. The top hole on the left side of the overflow looking from inside the tank is the return. The two CL's have 3/4 inch eductors on them. If the other end of the tank doesn’t get enough flow with these I will add another CL and have it return from the other end of the tank.

Lighting;

Metal Halides:
Four 400 watt IceCap MH’s, 12k Reeflux bulbs, and Lumen Bright Mini Reflectors.

Fluorescents:
Four 4’ T5 fluorescents with two IceCap 440 ballast.

 

[hershell]

Filtration;

Skimmer: AquaC EV-240 with Iwaki MD- 40RT

Nitrate Reactor: Korallin BioDenitrator s-1502 with Eheim

Calcium Reactor: Korallin 4002 CaCO3 reactor w/ M3 deluxe regulator and 10 lb aluminum CO2 bottle
Phosphate Reactor: Two Little Fishes PhosBan Reactor with media.

Water Filter:
Kent Marine Hi-S 60gpd RO/DI

Return Pump and Closed Loop Pumps.

Three Mag-Drive 2400

 

[hershell]

Biological Filtration:

Sand:
I bought 500lbs of play sand from Home Depot. I have 200lbs of Carib-Sea ARAG-ALIVE Bahamas ultra fine sand that I’m adding to it. I want a 4” live sand bed.

Rock:
I have some base rock that I have bought. I will be adding some live rock to it to seed it with. I’m not sure how much rock I have or I will be adding. I’ll add until I get the aquascape that I want. I don’t want a wall of rock reef.

We started on the stand yesterday it will be 42” tall for the bar. The bar will be made out of oak, black walnut, and ash it will be a cutting board style bar top. Of course it will be finished with trim and crown molding and all that good stuff. I will be replacing the flooring in the living room and replacing the trim in the whole house. The kitchen is also going to get a makeover soon. I just haven’t decided what I’m going to do with it yet. The bar cabinet and the kitchen cabinets will match when I’m finished. That’s the plan anyway. Here are a few pics of the progress so far. Any comments and suggestion are welcome.

 

[hershell]

 

[stylolvr]

Looking great! How do you plan to add the bar shelf?

 

[hershell]

To be honest I don't know what he has in mind. I didn't think to ask.

 

[gradth]

Wow looks great. Starting something similar soon.

 

[hershell]

Thanks...

I have been working on it when I have time. I cleaned with the tank with distilled vinegar and buffed it with Novus Steps 3 thru 1 inside and out, it made a big difference. I need to buff the outside of the bar side with all 3 steps again. I used my car buffer to apply it and removed it by hand, so it wasn't too bad. I also cleaned the skimmer and some of the other equipment in vinegar bath.

I went and picked up some of the plumbing parts today before I came to work. My girlfriend was with me so I felt rushed. She didn’t say anything, but I knew she was bored out of her mind. I hate trying to figure out all these valves and fittings. I think I’m going to do it in steps it might be easier for me. I’m not a plumber. I went to Lowes and they didn't have half of what I needed. For some reason no one in Lowes can pick their feet up when they walk. :hmm4: What’s that about? I was planning on using flex pipe, but no one in town has the hose barbs in the size I need. It is becoming a challenge. It may be easier to order the parts online.

My dad is a licensed master electrician so naturally he wants to help me wire it. If I can decide on what I will be running he will do it for me. I’ll be glad to let him. I will probably still be working on the plumbing when he gets finished. LOL.. I knew the plumbing would be a challenge for me. I know what pumps and ballast I’ll be running, but I plan on add a chiller and reef controller when funds permit just don’t know which ones. I feel like I need a few extra plugs just in case I want to add more flow of something.

On another note my desktop PC broke about two days ago. The heat sink or something came off of the motherboard. I thought I repaired it but it only lasted about 5 min when it got hot it popped off and shut down. I don’t know why it broke it is only 5 years old. So I had to break down and buy a computer. There went my chiller. I bought a XPS laptop maybe it will be a good one. So I have to use my work pc or my phone till the new one gets here. I hope to have some pics of the progress by then.

I plan to have the canopy frame installed with the plumbing and electrical done this week. Maybe so water, sand and rock.

 

[Tecdiverfl]

Thats whats I call a bar

 

[~sp0ok~]

wow looking good..keep the pic coming

 

[s.filipowski]

Wow, I can't wait to come over and check it out. This is going to be the real deal folks.

 

[hershell]

Thanks guys, Here are a few more photos. I had to take and upload them with my cell phone. My laptop should be here in a week or so. Thankfully the Army hasn’t blocked RC and photobucket.

As you can see I have done a few things my dad is working on the electrical and I’m working on the plumbing. The cabinet guy will be here tomorrow. I had hoped to have all the plumbing finished tomorrow. I was supposed to be off tomorrow, but as soon as I walked in the guy that comes in at 10pm called in sick. So it I will be here till 6am. Got to love that right…. I should have water by this weekend. I go to day shift Wednesday so it will be easier to work on when I get off. I went to the Tractor Supply Store to get the hose barbs for the pump returns. Funny thing is they didn’t have any flex pipe. So I have to find that somewhere.

 

[hershell]

Still cell phone photos. We got the hood started yesterday and I got some more of the plumbing done. As you can see the MH's up. I'm still working on the T5's. My 200lbs of live sand will be here today. I have just a little more plumbing to do untill I can do a leak check. I'm not sure how much my dad has left. I have a funny feeling he's going to make me get in the attic to run the wires. It's getting there slowly.

 

[SaltyGoat]

Beautiful!! Nice job with the polishing.

 

[NEPTHEA]

very nice so far

 

[hershell]

The closed loops and skimmer are plumbed. I have to get two more fittings and the return from the sump will be done. My dad said he should be finished with the wiring today when I get of work. I haven’t glued the plumbing in yet, I wanted my dad to be able to move it out of his way if need be. As you can see I got the MH’s in. I’m not sure I need the T5’s; I may sell them or use them on a frag tank. Well here are a few photos I took last night. O’h I got to get some hose clamps also, don’t want to for get those.

Plumbing, I thought I would never get this in. I had about 1/8” between the pump inlet and the ball valve. Thank the Lord for that one, I thought I was going to have to replumb the whole closed loops system.

The junction box will come in here. I will have four 20amp circuits. I think that right.

 

[hershell]

Water proof covers on the receptacles

Lights Reflux 12k 400watt X 4

 

[hershell]

 

[stylolvr]

Looking great! Can't wait to see some water in it!

 

[Jhardain]

You might want to use that sheet insulation stuff for the shelf the pumps are on, to replace that extra sliver of wood, that might help some on vibration noise.