400 gallon Midwest Custom Aquarium Upgrade

wfgworks

wfgworks

Premium Member
Started finishing the basement a few weeks ago so this gave me the chance to upgrade my current 170 gallon tank to the large tank I have been wanting for sometime. So today I took the plunge and ordered my tank from Midwest Custom Aquariums. Chris said it should tank about a month or so to build. He will also be building me a custom sump.

I wanted to start this thread to get any feedback on the tank before Chris starts building it next week. Tank is pretty simple with no closed loops as all flow will come from Tunze Streams

I'm open to suggestions or feedback on the setup so please feel free.

Tank
400 gallons (96x36x27) built by Midwest Custom Aquariums
Black background with two internal overflows set in about 6-8" from the sides
(2) 1.5" drains
(2) 1" returns

Sump
48x24x16 or 60x24x16 (Still deciding on which size to go with)
The drains will empty into the center of the sump which will be the skimmer section and from there will drain to either side of the sump. Each end will have a Water Blaster pump returning water to the tank.

Skimmer
ATB 10.5 Deluxe Internal

Lighting
(2) 48" Lumen Bright/T5/LED All-In-One Fixture

Flow
(2) 7000 Water Blaster pumps
(4) Tunze 6205s

Calcium Reactor
Deltec PF601s

Media Reactors
MF-1000 Super Reef Octopus Media Reactor (For GFO)
MF-2000 Super Reef Octopus Media Reactor (For Carbon)
BR-140 Super Reef Octopus Bio Pellet Reactor

Controller
RKE
 
Is the tank glass or acrylic? I ask because my next question is how thick the glass is (I'm planning my next upgrade and am looking at very similar dimensions).

Set-up looks good... the only thing I would like some more info on is the sump set-up. I've always had all of my water drain on one side of the sump and then be forced to flow through the skimmer section, then the fuge section, then the return section. Is there a particular reason why some people drain the water into the center of the sump? Just asking... thanks.

+1 on the 60" sump... it'll give you more room in case you expand/change-up your equipment.
 
The tank will be built from 3/4" acrylic

I'm doing the sump this way because having a pump on either end of the sump, I will have less elbows/plumbing so less head loss and each return will have it's own pump.
 
Last edited:
Glad this is working out for you! I went with a ~125g 6'x2'x17" fuge. It gives me a lot of room to do whatever, but most importantly, it gives me an area to use as a secondary tank incorporated into the system. I have a 3'x1'x17" section that is fed by a drip off of the manifold. When my tank is closer to being finished, I'll use it for pod cultivation or something.
 
Your lights are only 48" and your tank is 96" Seems like you might want more or longer lights. Looks like it going to be a great set up. Good luck and keep us posted! Thanks
 
Your lights are only 48" and your tank is 96" Seems like you might want more or longer lights. Looks like it going to be a great set up. Good luck and keep us posted! Thanks
Click to expand...

The lighting setup will be two 48" fixtures side by side bringing the total length to 96". The complete setup will total 4x250watt, 4 T5s, 24 LEDs
 
I like the idea of seperate return pumps
Click to expand...

Yeah, this way if one pump goes down, the system will continue to run. I got the idea from talking with Mike at Reef Specialty. Mike is great to talk with about the hobby and has given me several ideas about the new setup.
 
I agree that Mike is really good at what he does. I have a unique situation with my skimmer set-up but he took the time to help me with it. Tagging along.
 
Sounds like a great set up. Looking forward to the pics. Why not glass. I like my acrylic, but it scratches so easily. My next tank will have to be starfire.
 
Reefnut2010 Sounds like a great set up. Looking forward to the pics. Why not glass. I like my acrylic, but it scratches so easily. My next tank will have to be starfire.
Click to expand...

I ended up going with Acrylic because the new tank will be in the basement and felt it was going to be very difficult to carry a 750lbs glass tank down basement steps. The acrylic tank will only be around 400-450lbs.
 
Chris started to build my tank this week so he sent me over a photo.

picture.php
 
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