Custom build 450G in wall display and approx 700G system

[waynem]

Hello,

LOTS OF PICTURES BELOW :rollface:

Think of this as a delayed telecast, the tank has progressed a tad already but I will post the build in a faster then reality manner till I catch up.

I had intended to do this as I went, in the end building a house, work, kids, wife, life etc didn’t leave any time for that.

A lot of the ideas I have used in this build are my interpretation of ideas I found while reading many of the other build threads here combined with years of experimenting and a number of tanks and with that in mind I am posting this build to maybe help someone else. Some of the ideas you might recognise.


System Overview


The system will consist of 4 tanks, the main in wall display tank, a sump, separate refugium / frag tank and a small QT tank.

I guess you could call it a SSB tank, shallow sand bed. Over half the tank is bare bottom and the area that can be seen from the front of the tank has a ½ to 1 inch cover of sand strictly for appearance reason. I think DSB are sulphur death beds, unfortunately I all so think bare bottom tanks look quite unnatural.

All equipment will be from my current tank and upgraded as need in the future. More on that later.

The return will be via a Reeflo hammerhead pump. The refugium and frag tank will be located along the wall opposite the display tank.

Water storage will in two Large drums â€"œ one for RO/DI top off and one for saltwater mixing.


Fish Room / Display


18’ X 7’ Floor drain. Running water with utility sink. 26 inch circulation fan,

Display Tank (in wall)

All glass built on site - 69L x 44 W x 34H â€"œ approx. 450 gallons

Details - front pane Starphire glass 19mm. Full bracing along top, bottom and sides.

I did not see many other build using side bracing, I can only assume this is just due to the fact most tanks have the side visible and people did not want to impact the tanks appearance. With this design the sides can never been seen and I feel that the bracing will dramatically increase the tanks overall strength and therefore safety factor.

I will call it WORLD WIDE BRACING . Like euro but all around......

Internal flow â€"œ Combination of Tunze 6205 streams but I want to change to vortec shortly, and internal closed loop using a eheim 1254 pump.


Sump/Fuge/Frag qt Tank

Sump â€"œ Approx 125 gallon
All glass - 63L x 26 W x 17H

Refugium / Frag tank â€"œ Approx 125 gallon
All glass - 63L x 26 W x 17H

24hr lighting on frag tank.

QT â€"œ small plastic tank. Around 10G I guess.


Lighting

Metal Halides â€"œ 2 x 400w 1 x 250w all 15k

Supplemented by 2 x 40w tubes. For moon light.


Filtration, Etc.

Deltec ap 902 Skimmer
All the rest is old equipment from the current tank. Mostly Deltec stuff.

 

[waynem]

The basic plan

 

[waynem]

Display tank, with walk around

 

[waynem]

Tank

Tank view 2

Stand

Stand again

 

[waynem]

Now the sump

Frag

stand

 

[GlassReef]

Very interesting start. You've obviously put a lot of thought into exactly what it is you want. I do have one suggestion - if I'm reading your plans correctly, you might want to think about installing a larger overflow. What you're showing looks fairly small and might not provide optimal surface skimming. Just a thought.

 

[waynem]

I did spend some time considering increasing the overflow and the final tank will have slightly larger ones.

The tank is a lot bigger then the hole in the wall even so I wanted to keep the overflows well out of site.

I remember your build Tom, I am going to set up my water storage somewhat like yours. You do very nice work. I was all so thinking about your lighting set-up.

 

[waynem]

So next is the location.

Looking at the below pic, I wanted to extend the wall out to the edge of the property but with all things in life my wife said NO

The other condition I had to meet is, that the fish room is a secret room. In other words from inside the house or outside the house you cant tell it exists.

So it will be a concealed door.

room is about 18 x 7

 

[sciknen]

why do you have two differnt overflows? and different sized ones..is there a reason..or purely cosmetic?

 

[waynem]

Partly for cosmetic and partly to help with water movement.

It also will allow me to have one over flow direct to the sump and the other over flow direct to the Frag tank. I wanted I little less flow in the frag tank then I would have otherwise had. The frag tank will then drain to the sump.

 

[waynem]

This is the floor plans for the builder

 

[Oldude]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=14421444#post14421444 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by waynem
Partly for cosmetic and partly to help with water movement.

It also will allow me to have one over flow direct to the sump and the other over flow direct to the Frag tank. I wanted I little less flow in the frag tank then I would have otherwise had. The frag tank will then drain to the sump.

Ever considered an external overflow? No need to take up all the valuable real estate in the tank.

 

[68sting]

Looks like it will be a sweet set up. I will follow along.

 

[68sting]

Looks like it will be a sweet set up. I will follow along.

 

[chingchai]

Well done. Tagging along.

 

[waynem]

Oldude, I did try that option but with the tank size and no access from the front I would not have been able to reach enough of the tank, as it is I will get wet when I work on it.

I found a great tank that had a frame on rollers above the tank, he used that to reach inside. I ask the builders if they could move that beam in my fish room*see above pic, and I could copy that idea but that bean supports the floors above and cant be moved.

 

[waynem]

After all the plans time talking to the builders etc I get on a plane and head off to do some work confidante that thing will run some while I am away.

Imagine my surprise when my wife send me this pic from the first day of construction.

The builder took it on himself to change my plans because it was easier to construct a wall that ties to the structural beam then do what I ask for and said its only a bit smaller he claimed.

So it goes without saying I spat the dummy and said NO way in hell, knock it down and start again.

 

[waynem]

The fish room again this time the walls in the right place

 

[EBOLII]

a knucklehead question....will the exterior remain as seen or will you stuko/plaster to match? How exciting for you regardless yeah?

 

[waynem]

Hi EbolII,

The side will match the existing wall.

The front will be a shoe cupboard build it in, were that bag of concrete is. My hobbies fish, wife's hobby shoes.........but I would not want to embarrass her and mention the other shoe cupboard inside.