DaveJ's 300G Build

[DaveJ]

Then the starboard was purchased and cut to fit the tank. A friend of mine and I attempted to do some preliminary stacking of the rock, along with some pegging out in the garage. That didn't work too well and I ended up changing it around once it was in the tank anyway, but it was a good idea to start The LR in the tank now is quite a bit different, but still maintains a few key elements in the original layout.

In the tank.. 1st pass...

 

[DaveJ]

After a bit of discussion, complaints, suggestions and jibbing from friends I ended up redoing it to this form which is basically what it looks like today, though I did add a few additional pieces after this was done.

I ended up with 2 islands of LR with a canyon between them.

 

[DaveJ]

Then came time to fill the sump with sand. I chose a sugar fine sand for the DSB and ended up with nearly 450lbs of it....

 

[DaveJ]

Then came the moment of truth... filling. I did it in several days as I needed to fill the RO/DI tank, then mix for a day etc... The tank was filled over the course of 3 to 4 days.

 

[DaveJ]

Now that the tank was filled and cycling, it was time to work on the lights again. I started with the sump light as it was the easiest to work on from the get go. For the sump light, I utilized an eztube frame and a pre-wired Icecap 4x54W fixture with an icecap 660 driving it. Here are some of the in process and finished shots of the work done. A lot of drilling, counter-sinking and riveting was done.

I utilized a lot of the extra starboard material for the light fixtures. That plastic is not only dense and rigid, but a joy to work with. The material is perfect for a lot of uses.

The lights themselves are 2 54W ATI Blue Plus and 2 54W Actinics.

Mounting brackets for the IceCap pre-wired kit riveted to the aluminum frame...

 

[DaveJ]

Next came mounting the Sump Light above the sump. The advantages of using a Steel frame are many, but one of my favorites is the use of magnets to hang things from. I purchased some 90lb magnets with eyebolts in them and using plastic coated steel cabel and stainless steel carabeaners, I was able to fashion a hanging system that allows quick and easy removal and sliding back and forth to gain access to the DSB section with ease.

The magnets were purchased from Grainger.

 

[DaveJ]

Next came the main light rack. This was the most labor intensive assembly yet. I went with 4 39W T-5 on each side for a total of 8. I did this to increase the options for bulbs and to maximize coverage. Since the tank is 6ft long, using the long bulbs would limit my choices and increase shipping etc... so I went with 4 sets of 2 39W.

This required fashioning mounting plates for all the bulbs on the rack itself, along with wiring etc of the all the bulbs. Each mounting plate is riveted to the rack itself, then countersinked on the backside to place nylon post screws to anchor the standoffs etc.

 

[DaveJ]

I then riveted all those T-5 plates in place using the bulbs as measuring tools to insure a snug bulb fit. I purchased the 12ft extension cables from Icecap to use as the wiring due to the length needed to cover the tank etc.

Got it all wired up and tested.... viola!! We have light.

 

[DaveJ]

I then added some rigidity plates to the rack and cleaned up the wiring using regular plastic wiring tubing and anchored them to the rack with clamps/screw combos.

 

[DaveJ]

My friend Hank is doing the woodwork on the stand and canopy, so while he was busy working on the canopy, I needed to get the lights up temporarily in order to get the tank cycled and have some sort of light for it. I fashioned some supports out of plywood to set the rack up above the tank. The lights were not really needed, but I wanted to get them up anyway so I could finish the wiring and make sure I had enough play in the wiring etc and that everything aligned above the tank properly.

 

[DaveJ]

Now that the T-5 lighting was completed, I moved on the MH. I purchased 3 Lumenbright reflectors after seeing how well they worked over Marcs tank, so I stole his setup.....

I went with 3 icecap 250W ballasts and decided to run the Reeflux 20K bulbs... that decision didn't work well as the bulbs are different colors currently, but that is being rectified.... I'll be giving 12K's a try first and if those are not up to my liking, I will say goodbye to reeflux and hello to Radium.

So the first thing I needed to do was get the reflectors unpacked and all that packing plastic off the reflectors, assemble the mogul bases and then work on the wiring for the ballasts.

I wired up some male/female plugs for these ballast to make it easier on myself.

 

[DaveJ]

After waiting several weeks.... I was ready to start stocking the tank a bit. I got a big bloom of Ulva algae from the rock, which I didn't mind. It was a macro algae and I knew that when I put my tangs in there, they would make short work of it. Still it was amazing how much survived the 3 weeks of freezing temps in the garage and then the cycle etc.....

My first inmate was a blue throat trigger. Once he settled in, he did just fine and is a great addition to the tank. He eats anything I feed him at this point, but loves krill...

I then added a couple of larger clams...

 

[DaveJ]

Then the big day arrived... my friend Hank finished the first part of the canopy... and we installed it over the tank getting rid of my temporary wood racks.

The wood I decided on for this tank is Cherry. We got a couple of types, Cherry Ply and Hardwood. The hardwood will be used for accent and rail pieces, along with a few other very visible areas. The ply will be used where we can. Nothing with be stained, just finished with a marine finish designed for salt water. Here is the canopy minus the doors. The doors will go on at a later date once we get the side cabinet installed and before the skirt for the stand is completed. We will be using a vaneer for the panels that is simply amazing.....

As you can see, there is a rail that runs from front to back in the canopy. I installed HDPE sliders on the rack to allow the whole thing to move side to side. We have since installed a rail about 3-4" above the one in the photo here to increase MH coverage as the one in the photo was actually too low.

 

[DaveJ]

Then since I had livestock on that tank.... I hooked up the skimmer from the old system.

And transferred all the fish from the 140G over to the new tank. These included a large Purple Tang, a medium sized Sailfin Tang, a pair of ORA Black and White clowns (who are now hosting a montipora), a Coral Beauty, a Sri Lankin Wrasse and a Copperband Butterfly.

 

[DaveJ]

And of course... what is a reef tank without corals right?? Another friend of mine, Mark (MBZ), was kind enough to spend an afternoon with my epoxying corals into the new system.... here are some of those we set and a few that were placed at the bottom...

ATL Crown Jewel Favia

Tyree Peace Coral Favia

Garf Bonsai

ORA Tri Color Valida

Franks Unknown Blue/Green Acro

FHI Bushy Green Acro

Purple Rim, Green Body Montipora with Red Polyps (similar to Emmas Mind Trick but not as intense)

 

[DaveJ]

Gomezi

ORA Joe the Coral

ORA Blue Voodoo

Prostrata

ORA Borialis

Vivids Tri-Color Prostrata

ORA Red Planet

Tyree Fire Engine Montipora

 

[DaveJ]

True Reverse Sunset Montipora

Tyree Forest Fire Montipora

ATL Apple Berry Montipora

Fish2Morrow Plana

Franks Deepwater Kryponite Acro

FHI Predator Coral

Franks Unknown Table Acro

Tyree Undata

 

[DaveJ]

Tyree Purple Monster

Purple with Lime Green Polyp Secale

 

[DaveJ]

Raspberry Fruity Pebbles Chalice

Raspberry body, Ice Blue Swirls (under higher light), Yellow/Orange/Red eyes.

Golden Child has Pink Eye Chalice

Green/Gold base with Bright Pink Eyes

DareDevil Chalice

Bright Red Base, Yellow/Orange Sprinkle Eyes

 

[PSU REEFER]

Tanks looking REALLY good. I want your exact set-up. Your giving me so many good ideas--THANKS. What powerheads are you running and what is that one pump that I see on one of the long sides near the bottom? Also if you don't mind me asking was it real expensive to add the other 2 sides w/ starfire glass?