375g Reef + Fish Room (Plans)

[TRITON1]

Saw that this was an inwall build..... If you choose Vortecs you could "frame" the aquarium 3-4 inches less on the width on each side and that would hide the Vortecs from being seen front on.

 

[ReefGuyFergie]

Sounds great! It sounds like we could get a great debate going on this forum, lol. I like the way the Vortecs look actually. Like you said also if you have a black background and aquascape correctly it will be a non-issue that they are visible.

Also the older the tank gets the more possibility of having to move them arround. I like everything you are saying about the Vortecs.

Thanx again Triton.

Only $1700 for water circulation, lol. Maybe thats the real reason people go with the closed loop???

 

[ReefGuyFergie]

One question??

Technically for the closed loop you wouldn't have to drill any holes if you went over the top with all of your returns right??

For instance!!!

If you have a dual overflow with your tank. You can use one hole in each for your closed loop. T the two together into your pump and set up the close loop to return over the top back of your tank?

Use the other one hole each in the overflow to drain into your sump/refugium set up and pump it the same way back over the top back of your tank?


Use 1 inch to 3/4 inch PVC to plumb everything and it shouldnt take up an enormous amount of room. Of course that doesn't defeat one of the reasons not to get the closed loop which was to get rid of an enormous ammount of plumbing.


You could also set up a 4way closed loop on each side of the aquarium in your fish room. Having 2 seperate pumps for each and plumb your returns from the sides?? Make sure you prime your PVC Black where it will blend with the back of the tank and it will also get coraline algae on it after its been set up a while and blend in perfectly right??



Someone else share some ideas. Remember I want the absolute best way that I can do this! I'm opened to any debate and any changes!!

 

[JaneHere2]

I've always been a SeaSwirl guy. I'm currently in the process of building a 290 gallon display, 300 gallon sump using 6 SeaSwirls, one Amp Master 75/65 - no closed loops.

John

 

[ReefGuyFergie]

SeaSwirl - I'm going to have to check those out.

 

[waynem]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=15384093#post15384093 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by ReefGuyFergie

Someone else share some ideas. Remember I want the absolute best way that I can do this! I'm opened to any debate and any changes!!

Best depends on who you ask, I dont like closed loops others do.

I am not a big vortec fan on big tanks either, on smaller tank the waves a nice plus.

Tunze are out of favour right now but I still like them on big tanks.

None of these is Best, they all have pros and cons.

 

[ReefGuyFergie]

Wayne,

First, that is a really cool Yellow fish what is it??


Second, I dont like the Vortecs Idea either because they are very expensive. I guess it is a good thing that it will be a while before I begin this build and I have a lot of time to make some decisions, lol.

 

[ReefGuyFergie]

I am wandering about a chiller since I am going to be using Metal Halides to do this build.

I do not have any experience with chillers and I really cant tell you anything about them. Which chiller would be the best chiller to get for a tank this size. Are chillers adjustable by a knob or do they adjust themselves by what the water temperature currently is in the tank??

Also are chillers neccessary if you buy fans to put in the hood??

 

[waynem]

Depends a bit on your local conditions, ask a someone in your area , heck local clubs etc.

Always get a chiller a little bigger then you would need. I think a 1HP to cool a tank your size, you can go small and it will just work harder/less cost effective, again depends on just how hot your water might get.

OH and its a Yellow Flathead Tang http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Flathead_(fish) its very very rare, comes from Australia .......

 

[ReefGuyFergie]

Cool does anyone have any brands of chillers that they would prefer??

 

[ReefGuyFergie]

What are the best controllers to use when setting up a new aquarium that can regulate everything. I have heard of ones that you can run from the internet?? Which ones can you do this with??

 

[Goodwin9]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=15396439#post15396439 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by ReefGuyFergie
Cool does anyone have any brands of chillers that they would prefer??

Tradewinds makes a nice chiller. I've got two of them and never had problems. They are controlled with a Ranco controller.

http://www.tradewindchillers.com/

 

[Goodwin9]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=15412631#post15412631 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by ReefGuyFergie
What are the best controllers to use when setting up a new aquarium that can regulate everything. I have heard of ones that you can run from the internet?? Which ones can you do this with??

There is a lot of good information on controllers located at this site.

http://www.aquariumcontrollers.com/index.php

 

[ReefGuyFergie]

Thank you, Goodwin9. Great information.

 

[ReefGuyFergie]

What would be the best substrate for a tank this size. In my 120 Gallon the sand blows up sometimes and you can see the eggcrate at the bottom of the tank. I have seen some cool looking substrates used in the bottom of our LFS in Lubbock, Tx that I like the way it looks but do not know if it is the best for a tank this size.

Does anyone have any suggestions??

 

[edandsandy]

I think the sand is a personal preference.

 

[ReefGuyFergie]

If you get a deeper sand bed and use super oolite can you get a buldozer shrimp?? I think those are cool because they will pair up with gobies and share a home.

 

[waynem]

Danger is then your rock work might fall down.