Am I Crazy? 240 Gallon Tank . . .

[Only-In-Dreams]

I'm the kind of guy who can spend an hour looking over the edge of the docks at the marina. When we visit the zoo aquarium, my wife and kids have gone thru the entire exhibit while I'm still checking out the first display. So I guess it was predestination that I would get hooked when I visited our local pet store this past Sunday afternoon and saw my first reef tank.

Since then, I've probably spent twenty hours scouring the reef sites and forums online and searching ebay for tanks for sale. I happened to search our local online classifieds last night and found a listing for a 240 gallon tank with stand for $100.

Well, the thing is . . . I bought it.

It measures 2' x 2' x 8' is made of glass and appears to be in fair condition although the seal on one corner needs to be repaired (have read some threads on this and the fix seems fairly straight forward). The stand is about two feet tall, has four cabinet doors and is solid despite needing to be refinished. The top of the tank has a two foot square piece of glass in the center with three feet open on each end. The tank did not come with lights.

They gave me two boxes filled with "stuff". Most of it trash but it did included a Fluval 403 filter. The motor runs when I plug it in. There was also a AquaClear 500 filter in rough shape although its moter also runs when plugged in. I did a little checking online and it appears that both of these systems are geared to tanks in the 150 gallon range.

I have my own business so can install the setup in my office. I'm handy and can figure most things out - although the chemistry aspect seems a bit complex. I like to build things and make them work, so the idea of DIY projects like homemade rocks and sumps actually interests me. I'm patient and can probably afford what it takes to do a good job.

I'm just wondering if a tank like this is too big for my initial project. I could try a smaller tank - but I'm sure I'd eventually want to upgrade to a bigger project. I could always store the big tank until I "grow" into it.

What do you think?

Can anyone recommend books or other resources that could tell me what components I need to buy and what steps I need to follow to get setup?

I've enjoyed reading your threads and I appreciate any input you experienced people could offer.

 

[oceana]

i dont think your crazy at all. here is a video of my 270.
you will be very glad you did it. mine is three feet wide
large video so dialup beware

http://media.putfile.com/tank-video-7-12-2006

 

[Only-In-Dreams]

Thanks for posting! I loved watching the video of your reef . . . I gotta get me one of those!

 

[CLC]

Sounds like a good buy to me. 240g is a nice size. Do you plan on setting it up as a reef or fish only? A good book is "Natural Reef Aquariums" by John H. Tullock it is a great beginner book if you know nothing about reef tanks. If you want something more in depth you can try "The Reef Aquarium" By Delbeek and Sprung. Another cool book is "Ultimate Marine Aquariums" by Palleta, It shows about 50 tank set-ups and specs.

Good luck to you!

 

[White Tiger]

You need better filters, a pump, and a wave generator to give you good water circulation.

 

[Only-In-Dreams]

Yes, I plan a reef setup. I've spent some time tonight researching equipment and the steps needed to establish a new tank. Wow! And I thought boating was an expensive hobby! Oh well!

Thanks for the book suggestions - I check Amazon and place an order.

Thanks for replying . . .

 

[WDLV]

For Beginners through intermediate, I like the book The New Marine Aquarium by Mike Palletta.
I'm pretty sure that's the exact title???

I agree that you will need new equipment.
I would ditch the Cannister filter. With the way most people maintain them they're usually a nitrate bomb.
I would go with a skimmer that is rated one slightly higher than your system volume (including the sump.) Deltec and ASM are widely used. Do a search, I'm sure you'll be able to narrow the field.
I would also invest in a Kalk (Nilsen) Reactor powered by a LiterMeter III.

Take it S-L-O-W-L-Y and don't forget to have fun with it.
BTW, $100.00 is a steal for that system assuming it holds water and has minimal scratches. Based on the filter description, it sounds as though they were using it for freshwater or a fish only tank. You might want to call them back and ask if they ever used copper in it to treat fish. If so you might want to re-think using it for a reef tank.

Good luck!

 

[Shawnts106]

You might want to call them back and ask if they ever used copper in it to treat fish. If so you might want to re-think using it for a reef tank.

Why?

If he cleans it out would the copper still be present in ammounts high enough to kill corals/inverts? Does it stick to the silicone?
What if he was just to completely reseal the tank?

I know copper is NOT in the glass, so Im thinking its a silicone problem..

What if the seals are blue, if they used Quick Cure or some other type of M. Blue product could that have an effect on anything?

 

[WDLV]

Honestly, I'm operating on hearsay. I have not and would not test the theory on my own tank. I've heard that it will become imbedded in the glass. Silicone would be a possibility too. I don't think that the green/blue color of the copper would be visible on the silicone in trace amounts.
I also have wondered exactly what you are asking (regarding the risk) but I'd rather someone else find out the hard way than me if you catch my drift.

From what I have seen others do, I would not want to do the silicone reseal myself either. To strip just what you can get to would weaken the seams and you wouldn't be doing yourself any favors just to strip the old off and reapply because silicone doesn't stick to silicone. You'd have to completely dismantle the tank and clean all the silicone off the tank before re-applying the new silicone. It can be done, but I'm not a DIYer of that magnitude. I watched one guy get to the brink of throwing away hundreds of dollars of custom cut/drilled glass just trying to assemble a tank. No thanks.

 

[REEFERINDC]

You got

You got

You got a hell of a deal for $100.Happy reefing and I think you can find alot of the info your searching right here on Reefcentral.You can also try your local reef club.Check the reefclub forums here on RC and find one close to you.

 

[Asuran]

awesome deal for the 240G! and besides starting with a big tank and that kind of water volume it is more forgiving water chemistry wise and even if you started with a smaller tank eventually you would have the itch to upgrade anyways.

congrats on the tank and just take things slow

 

[besl]

Only-In-Dreams, you could save a lot of money by downloading oceana's video and running it on your wide screen tv - oceana, great looking tank! Seriously though, plan on $30 - $50 per gallon for a full reef tank. Of course you got your tank and stand at a fantastic price and that will save some $, but you still have a ways to go. You could start with a smaller system as you mentioned, but none of the equipment will be transferrable as it will all be too small for the 240 gal. I would recommend you make a plan (lights, LR, LS, skimmer, pumps, sump, fuge, ATO, RODI, fish, corals, etc) including costs and then decide what you want to do. If you have the time, $ and patience you will never regret it - great hobby that you will enjoy for a long time. I have also met some of the nicest people through frag swaps and such. Good luck with this.

 

[Only-In-Dreams]

Thanks for responding. I thought $100 was a great deal too. I'm going back to the seller's home this evening to pick it up - had to arrange for a trailer to move it. The thing's huge!

I'll look into the books that have been recommended and start the education process. The forums are an amazing source of information - I printed off about fifty pages last night.

Charleston, SC has an active club and a few of the posting members are here in Beaufort. I plan to contact them for help on a local basis. There's nothing like face-to-face!

I'm not sure about the presence of copper in the tank. The lady claimed that the tank was used for salt water before but a lot of the stuff (colored gravel and plastic plants) seemed to indicate freshwater use. They are a Marine Corp family and the tank was moved to SC two years ago and has sat empty in their living room since - ugh! Can you test to the presence of copper?

 

[Only-In-Dreams]

Yes, the cost factor is beginning to dawn on me. Good thing my wife never see the credit card bills

Still, since the system is in my office, maybe it would be tax deductable! Wouldn't that be something . . .

Take it slow seems to be a common response and I'm really not in any hurry. I've been searching the DIY pages and am studying A fellow named Shane Graber's guide to the science and construction of skimmers - what a cool devise!

On the subject of Live Rock - I've read as much as I could about creating my own with the possiblity of seeding the man made stuff with Live Rock I could beg, buy or borrow. Has anyone tried this with success? What ratio of Live to created rock works best? How long does it take for the created rock to be seeded and will the lover ratio of live rock in my initial setup put my system out of balance? Based on what I've read, my 240 gallon tank will need around 500 pounds of rock.

 

[WDLV]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=7737212#post7737212 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by Only-In-Dreams
On the subject of Live Rock - I've read as much as I could about creating my own with the possiblity of seeding the man made stuff with Live Rock I could beg, buy or borrow. Has anyone tried this with success? What ratio of Live to created rock works best? How long does it take for the created rock to be seeded and will the lover ratio of live rock in my initial setup put my system out of balance? Based on what I've read, my 240 gallon tank will need around 500 pounds of rock.

Yes, I started my current reef with dry baserock and rock sculptures that I made. It is now 7 months old. Here's some pics from day one, day three and a recent shot.
I've only added frags from other hobbiests and hope to continue this trend. The Liverock I used was from a tank that a guy tore down after ten years of use. It is aptasia free. In my opinion the only way to keep it that way is to only add living coral tissue and dry rock or dry reef plugs.

 

[WDLV]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=7738013#post7738013 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by WetSleeves
Yes, I started my current reef mainly from dry baserock and rock sculptures that I made. About a third of it came from a 55 gallon tank that a guy tore down after ten years of use.
My system is now 7 months old. Here's some pics from day one, day three and a recent shot.
I've only added frags from other hobbiests and hope to continue this trend. It is 100% aptasia free. In my opinion the only way to keep it that way is to only add living coral tissue and dry rock or dry reef plugs.

 

[TTrout]

I have used many tanks that have gone back and forth from fresh to salt, back to fresh, and then salt again...I have never had a problem with any of the saltwater reefs that I had in those tanks and I used carbon in both freshwater and saltwater tanks. I don't think you need to worry whether it was used for fresh or salt, just clean it well and you will be fine.

 

[818]

A 240g tank and stand for $100.00

Id call you crazy if you didnt buy it

 

[Ibwrasstaman]

I suggest you look in the RC selling and buying section of livestock and equipment amongst your other sources like your local paper! As you have discovered, there are some great buys out there. If you research and decide what you want you can usually find it used for much less.
I have not done this myself, and in hind sight it would have been wise for at least some of my stuff.
Good luck and enjoy the many hours of watching ahead...
Wrassta

 

[Only-In-Dreams]

Some weird stuff is happening to me . . .

I've become totally preoccupied with this whole reef thing.

I think about it all the time.

I can't work, I'm too busy reading the forums.

I keep slipping off to the LFS.

Last night, my wife gave the the look (you know . . . the look!). I just smiled at her - turned on my side - and continued to read a thread on building counter current skimmers.

I even dream about reefs.

Is this how it is with you people? I had no idea!