Another Marineland DD Build

[06busa]

I have wanted to start a build thread for months and now that I have finally started some of the construction and ordered the tank I think it is time. In the past couple of years I have had some really bad luck with tanks and hope this one goes better.

A few weeks before we bought our house and had to move the bottom seam on my 120g leaked. I was able to find a used 220g tank for a good price that was drilled for a closed loop. Got the tank set up and everything was doing great until I had another bottom seam leak. The past 7 months all of the fish, inverts, and coral that survived the disaster have been stored in a make shift setup. I had to sell a bunch of rock and then everything has been in my 75g that was set up as a FOWLR. I added a 100g Rubbermaid and brute trashcan for the extra room and skimmer. Had to do a lot of water changes to try and get the water conditions right for the sps corals.

I figured this process was going to be kind of slow due to 9 weeks left in my last semester of school and working 50+ hours a week. But when I placed the order for the tank they said it would only be 2-3 weeks so the construction and prep work will have to be sped up.

The equipment list that I have so far for this build process is:

Main Display Tank:

Marineland 300DD (72"x36"x27")
"¢ Starphire glass on front panel
"¢ 2 "“ 1.5" drains
"¢ 2 "“ returns(will be used as backup drains)

Marineland pine majesty stand

Filtration:
"¢ Rubbermaid 100g stock tank for live rock
"¢ Acrylic refugium
"¢ ASM G-5 recirculation & gate valve mods
"¢ Multiple media reactors
"¢ Coralife UV sterilizer
"¢ Algae scrubber

Lighting:
"¢ 2 "“ Coralvue 400W electronic metal halide ballasts
"¢ 2 "“ Lumen Bright reflectors
"¢ 2 "“ Reeflux 10k bulbs
"¢ 1 "“ Coralvue 250W electronic metal halide ballast
"¢ 1 "“ Coralvue HGI pendant
"¢ 1 "“ Reeflux 10k bulb
"¢ Ice Cap 660 ballast
"¢ 2 "“ 72" VHO actinic

Circulation:
"¢ Reeflo Dart (return, feed skimmer/media reactors)
"¢ Reeflo Hammerhead & Ocean Motion
"¢ 2 "“ Tunze 6055s
"¢ 3 "“ Jalli 110 top mounts
"¢ 4 "“ Maxi Jets w/mods for 100g Rubbermaid stock tank

Additional Equipment:
"¢ Aqua Euro 400 calcium reactor
"¢ Milwaukee PH monitor
"¢ APEX controller & accessories
"¢ Jager 300W heaters
"¢ Exhaust fan to control humidity

There will be more added, because I am sure I forgot about some equipment for the setup. Once the main system is up and running the quarantine tank and frag tanks will be added. The tank is going to be built in a wall between the main room in the basement and the laundry room. I will work on adding some pics of the construction process so far.

 

[albano]

Sounds like a great build, love the DD tanks, my new tank is 96X40X27h...many possibilities for aquascaping! Will be following, GOOD LUCK!

 

[06busa]

Here are a few pics of the wall that is being taken down to put the tank in place.

I had three designated 20 amp breakers put in for the tank. This wall is going to be scraped, wired brushed, cleaned with bleach & water, and sealed. Two of the breaker's outlets will be on this wall.

A little destruction.

Break time.

 

[prop-frags]

Sweet. I love demo work!

 

[06busa]

I got the first coat of sealer on the wall and letting it dry before I put a second coat. I then will move on to the floor where the tank will set and make sure all of that is ready to go before finishing other areas. Since the tank is supposed to be here sooner than I was expecting had to change the plans a little.

The controller:

 

[06busa]

A few of the pieces that survived the tank disaster and waiting for their new home:

 

[akidnamedchad]

Have you used the G-5 before and do you like its performance?

 

[06busa]

I have been using the G5 for a couple of years now. I had it on my 120g & 220g and it did a good job. I will be doing the recirc mod in a few weeks to improve its performance to help with the larger tank. I have been happy with it but of course there are other skimmers out there I wish I had. Unfortunately had to cut my budget back some and decided to use this skimmer for a while longer.

 

[money_kirk]

Looks like a great build. I will be tagging along as I am looking to get a DD tank in the near future.

 

[06busa]

Looks like the tank is supposed to be delivered tomorrow afternoon:dance:

 

[06busa]

We got the tank moved in yesterday, had one small issue with the bottom trim piece. The silicone wasn't completely set and when pressure was put on the corner of the trim piece it popped it off. So this weekend I will have to clean their silicone off and reattach the bottom trim piece. Other than that everything looks great with the tank.

I am not 100% sure how I want to do the aquascaping. I know I want to have more of an open plan with multiple islands. And then have a couple of the islands connected with 2 large flat pieces I have.

Also yesterday my Reeflo Hammerhead on OM 8-way showed up. I will try and get some pics up this weekend, school is killing me right now and don't have any time.

 

[jnc914]

Congrats on the tank. Mine is coming next week. Out of curiosity, how many people are needed to move it? How much does it weigh empty?

 

[06busa]

We moved it with 4 people, but we also had the glass locks which makes a big difference. I am not sure on the exact weight I was curious myself.

 

[biecacka]

weight.........A LOT!!!

 

[quincy2008]

We moved my 300DD with 6 guys. Marineland says it weighs approximately 600lbs empty.

 

[06busa]

I was a little off I was guessing around 500.

 

[prop-frags]

It feels heavier than 600 lbs... :hmm6:

 

[06busa]

After a few rough weeks of school I finally got a little time to start on some other projects. I had one issue with the stand not being tall enough for the drains to have enough room to run over the top of the 100g rubbermaid sump. I finished painting the floor where the tank is going to go and built the platform to raise the stand/tank. I built a platform out of 2x6s and 1/2 inch plywood to give me an extra 6" of height.

I put the stand in place to see how it sits and now just have to get some shims and make sure everything is perfectly level. In the pics I have the stand facing the opposite direction it will be when it actually is in place. I wish I could have the doors facing back into the room but due to the drains I will have the doors hidden by the wall that will be built.

And the tank...kinda!

 

[06busa]

I also took some time today and pulled my skimmer out for a little while and did the recirc mod.

 

[cdeboard]

Looking good. It amazes me that those stands can hold those tanks.

The recirc mod looks killer. Cant wait to see more!