440 Gallon Custom Drop-Off Reef Tank

[fjr_wertheimber]

Started on the tank room today...

Started on the tank room today...

So, it might not be much (yet) but it's a start. We cleaned and primed the room today (this pic was after the first coat of Kilz primer). Tomorrow we'll paint the room with Valspar Kitchen and Bath, then on Monday I've got a couple of electricians coming out to give me quotes on doing the electrical. I've already installed the dimmer switch for the room, and the track lighting (with LED bulbs) is waiting in the garage for when the painting is done.

 

[RyanTurner]

Did you use Vray with 3DSmax or Maya? I've always been more of a mental ray fan myself. Do you use any of those programs for your job, if so what do you do for a living if you don't mind me asking? I'm starting a peninsula drop off reef as well. Here's the link to mine...

http://reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?t=2124969

I'm going to use acrylic, because I don't trust that glass would be flexible enough for all the weird stresses a tank like this will have. I'm building it myself. I can't tell, but do you plan on building your tank by yourself? Or are you paying to have it done? I'd like to talk drop off construction with you some time.

 

[fjr_wertheimber]

And now with the first coats of paint and the LED light fixture...

 

[fjr_wertheimber]

Got the electrician in today. Looks like we'll be running three dedicated 20 amp circuits into the room.

 

[janey]

NICEEEEEEEEEEEEeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee.....

 

[glassterbate]

very nice, I have always dreamed of building a drop off tank and turning it into a NPS reef.

 

[Kole Tang]

This is AWESOME. How did you get so good at sketchup?

 

[fjr_wertheimber]

So, I've gotten a bunch of quotes on the electrical work, and so far I'm actually looking at about a quarter of what I projected for the cost of bringing in two fresh 20 amp circuits into the room. Looks like I'll have three dedicated 20 amp circuits into the fish room (not counting the separate 15 amp circuit the LED room spotlights are on).

Oh, and speaking of improvements in the room, looks like rather than doing the industrial laminated flooring, we'll actually be going with a pressed tile that looks like oak, that way it's impervious to water in case of a spill. The other stuff is fine, I found, if you spill on it directly, but if it gets below the floor surface to the bottom layer of the laminate then it just dissolves, which I think we can all agree is something bad to happen to your flooring. LOL

RyanTurner, I used Sketchup with V-Ray. Great setup, and the nice thing is you can actually import .IES files of the actual lighting you want to use (even individual Cree LEDs or LED spotlights, like in my most recent renders) and really get a good idea of how the lighting will look. It really is pretty spot on with how it looks in reality. To answer your other question, I'm having someone else doing the metal work and cutting the glass with a CNC waterjet, and I'll be siliconing it all in place myself. Drop me a PM with your phone number or email, and I'd be happy to talk dropoffs with you.

Koletang, thanks, glad you like it so far. As for how I got good at Sketchup, honestly, it all came from this project. I'd dabbled (very little) in Sketchup before, but designing this build really was a crash course in advanced Sketchup design and rendering. LOL

 

[alanbates12]

Love the attention to detail. Are you using a Apex or another controller for your set up?

 

[Mr.Mustang]

Do you think that a 300gal version would run about the same as a 300DD for cost?

 

[fjr_wertheimber]

Alanbates, I'm currently planning on using an Apex, but will admit that the new Profilux is reeeeaaally starting to grow on me, especially for their dosing pump integration.

Honestly, Mr.Mustang, a standard 300DD is probably going to be considerably cheaper. Anytime you start dealing with custom tanks your costs go up exponentially because you don't have the economies of scale. Having said that, IMHO, a standard tank isn't nearly as cool or unique and that is worth the extra $ to us. :-D

 

[rpjaws74]

very interested how it turns out...nice

 

[fjr_wertheimber]

Okay everyone, Wendy and I are trying to figure out which photos from our Great Barrier Reef dive trip (our R&R from our last Iraq deployment) to put up in the fish room. If y'all get a chance, please head over and vote to help us choose. Thanks!
http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?p=19848746&posted=1#post19848746

 

[maxxII]

Went ahead and voted on your poll.

My choices in order as they appear on the poll:

Moorish Idols
Reef shark on patrol
Taking a rest
Orangefin pair closeup
Skunk peek-a-boo

I'm guessing that based on the large number of anemone and clownfish pictures, that you really like them, (10 out of the 17 pictures).

Do you have any plans for an anemone in this system?

Nice pics btw.

Nick

 

[fjr_wertheimber]

Thanks, Nick. Gotta admit I do love clown/anemone pairings, and will definitely have some in the tank. Exactly what/how many remains to be seen.

 

[fjr_wertheimber]

LED setup

LED setup

Okay, so here's the planned setup of the LED lighting for the tank. It will be built in a curve over the tank so as to mimic the natural change of lighting angles throughout the day, and allow gradual ramping up/down across the overall fixture for more gradual lighting changes. Well, that's the plan, at least. LOL

The layout:

The breakdown:

 

[drolic]

Voted, tag'ing along, great build thread so far!

 

[maxxII]

Thanks, Nick. Gotta admit I do love clown/anemone pairings, and will definitely have some in the tank. Exactly what/how many remains to be seen.

Based on the amount on flow you're planning, I would consider either designing a section that is low flow or doing research and finding out what is required in keeping an H.magnifica anemone. The vast majority of the anemone photo's you posted were of H.magnifica's.

Here is an interesting thread on them:

Heteractis Magnifica - Tell me some success stories

Your lighting schematic makes my head hurt!
Not following you on it being built on a curve...can you clarify?

Nick

 

[fjr_wertheimber]

Thanks, Drolic.

You know, maxxII, I thought about h. magnifica, but due to (what can become) the huge size they can achieve, I'm leaning towards e. quadricolor, especially since all the anemonefish I like will host within it. That, and their love of splitting means more anemones which means less fighting for territory = win! When we were at the GBR, Wendy found one huge block of coral with about 300 GBTA and EVERY type of anemonefish you can possibly think off, all within an area about the size of my upcoming tank. It was pretty crazy.

 

[maxxII]

I've had one of my H.magnifica's for almost 6 years and it's never gotten more than about 10-12 inches in diameter. It just split so its now actually smaller than it was 2 months ago.
The trick is cut back on feedings. Dont feed a whole cocktail shrimp every other day, and it wont grow to an obscene size.

I'm glad you're thinking of E.quadricolor since they are easier to keep in the long run, but they like less flow than it looks like you're planning on having....Again, not a big deal, but something to figure out. One of those rock pylons/piers way out on the far end in the drop off would be neat for a colony of BTA's. Especially since they couldnt wander around much and cause issues with other tank inhabitants....

Nick