900 Gallon Reef Project

[cichlid225]

nice custom tank, was it a pita to work with the spa flex hose being coiled up from packaging?

 

[avel]

Wow, nice tank, nice build thread, nice clear pictures.

 

[Bax]

This has become one of my favorite threads to follow!

I am all about SPS and clams! But a mantis in the fuge!?!?!

Those googley-eyed critters are creepy!

 

[James404]

Excellent build, I look forward to seeing the end result!

 

[Bennytheblenny]

nice custom tank, was it a pita to work with the spa flex hose being coiled up from packaging?

Not really, you just have to make sure you clean it well, flex it to your desired shape and make sure to not disturb one end of the flex as you glue in another.

 

[Bennytheblenny]

Wow, nice tank, nice build thread, nice clear pictures.

Thanks. Actually I am still learning to use this camera (Nikon D80). For every picture that makes the cut I end up deleting 10!! I can't wait to get a macro lens next and try my hand at some close ups.

 

[Cannon7]

Very nice

 

[Bennytheblenny]

Quick update. We have pushed the next phase of the project to the 14th and have the refuge and coral grow out built. Ill post some pics of the tiling process for the outside shortly.

 

[dahenley]

do you have pictures of the growout, or a link??
that sounds cool! especially if it compares in any way to the current build!

 

[cpl40475]

I showed my wife the title of this thread Benny she said I'll knock you off your rocker if I got any ideas Awesome Tank great layout and all around excellent attention to details

 

[Bennytheblenny]

Pre-fill update. So we have gotten a lot done since Tuesday and I have been too swamped with work until now to take pics and get them on here. We will be filling the tank in 6 hours and letting it run over night. Here is where we stand right now:

Refugium shot (almost 90 gallons, gravity fed back into DT)

Water Cooled Chiller

Coral Grow Out

Closed Loop Pumps

 

[Bennytheblenny]

More Pics

We put a 1 inch thick piece of plywood along the back of the tank as well as some FRP along the back with white Trex deck material to handle the top and sides. This prevents me smashing things into the back of the tank accidentally or along the top.

GROW OUT CLOSE UP

Kalk Reactor

 

[Bennytheblenny]

Grow out and Fuge lighting

 

[dahenley]

is the refugium stand metal?

can you explain how the refugium is held? if its bolted to the wall, and the legs are just extra support, that is cool, but if not, it seems like a lot of weight to be held up by the sump.
plus will the legs in the water be covered or placed inside larger PVC with a cap on the bottom to prevent rust and contamination to the tank water?

I love that stone around the stand and wall. that looks amazing!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

(i hate pointing things out, but people mostly point out the things they are curious about, and never point out the AMAZING ness of the build. i just dont want it to sound like im always bashing you or your ideas.)

how long is it going to take to make water, or do you have it made up and ready to pump in?

 

[Bennytheblenny]

is the refugium stand metal?

can you explain how the refugium is held? if its bolted to the wall, and the legs are just extra support, that is cool, but if not, it seems like a lot of weight to be held up by the sump.
plus will the legs in the water be covered or placed inside larger PVC with a cap on the bottom to prevent rust and contamination to the tank water?

I love that stone around the stand and wall. that looks amazing!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

(i hate pointing things out, but people mostly point out the things they are curious about, and never point out the AMAZING ness of the build. i just dont want it to sound like im always bashing you or your ideas.)

how long is it going to take to make water, or do you have it made up and ready to pump in?

The platform is tied into the wall @ each stud and the 4 legs are made of an expensive fiberglass product, the base is made from pure starboard. The sump is made from 1 inch poly so it could hold a fuge 3x as heavy if need be with no issues.

 

[dahenley]

WOW, very nice!
i hope you dont mind if i borrow some of your ideas.
It looks great by the way.

 

[Bennytheblenny]

WOW, very nice!
i hope you dont mind if i borrow some of your ideas.
It looks great by the way.

Thanks!
This is why I have been sharing the process, to share ideas. Its wonderful to watch the thought process the team has when we run into an issue. We come up with interesting solutions to problems and tweak as we go. Thanks for the support, its going to be great to have this thing filled and finally test the plumbing later today.

The live rock comes in on Monday, we start aquascaping on Tuesday. At this point we are missing the ATO, the 2 salt water mixing tanks, 5 reactors (carbon, GFO, NP Bio Media, Magnesium and Calcium) in terms of plumbing.

We settled in on 5 x 3 foot LED fixtures and 1x 2 foot for the lighting. Those should be in 10 days or so from now. I am really pumped to finally be at this stage.

 

[dahenley]

which LED fixtures did you decide on? AI ones?

Are the rest of your Reactors going to be Deltec as well?

 

[dahenley]

also, on your skimmer, is that going to be an automated neck cleaner. or is that one of the new manual ones that you just spin the lid to clean the neck?

 

[Bax]

The tiling on the diplay is just sweet!

The back room work is great too!