ds4x4's Perfecto 220g Build

[ds4x4]

Tonight the tank made it into the basement, so here goes. I am going to layout my ideas and what i think I'm trying to do and make happen. Everything is open to your opinions and criticism. I am here to learn as well maybe teach a few people in the process.. Nothing is set in stone. I have a few ideas that i want to keep a secret for some action for later, a few of the ideas came from Bax (baxreefs) and I'm sure he will be happy to see some incorporated into the tank

Perfecto 220g with Dual Corner overflows Still in the bed of the Chevy. the overflows give me 5ft of space between them and each have a pair of holes drilled in the bottom. I don't currently plan on drilling the tank any further.

The stand is made from 2x4's and 2x6's with no vertical center brace. it is reinforced underneath with 2x6's bu t a brace my find it's way in there. there is foam glued to the top already and holes cut for the overflows.

I also got a canopy with the tank that took it's beating getting here from the garden state parkway and the NJ turnpike.

 

[ds4x4]

I also got 3 VHO Tubes 72" Super Actinic with the tank and a 2 bulb harness/endcaps.

here is the temp/perm spot for the tank don't mind the before junk.

The ultimate plan is to have a Den/fish room for the tank setup and we may possibly be getting into Diving. That will be tested here soon. I have a full basement on 3/4 of the house. The addition in the 70's/80's was a dining room, kitchen and dormer/master bedroom (2nd floor). about a 20X20 section at least. IF the foundation goes as deep as the rest of the house i will be cutting a doorway and digging the crawlspace out by hand then concreting it in.

The proposed doorway

crawlspace

 

[ds4x4]

It's in.. holy mackeral was it heavy for two people. we had to get it out of the truck down some stairs and bilco doors then over to the stand.. a broom handle acted like a roller once we slid it down some ramps into the basement.. phew. time for bed!

tomorrow i will be sorting out the plumbing a little and figuring out what i am gunna need then I'll have to change into Diver Dan and clean the inside of the tank

I will also be digging tomorrow 10-20-08 to find the depth of the foundation and the ability to make a fish room

 

[ds4x4]

Plans of making a fish/dive room are scrapped .. Dug a hole outside, foundation hardly goes 2 rows below grade. talk about code in the 70's now off to see what supplies i need to start plumbing this beast..


Some plumbing plans:

Most of the plumbing for the tank was supplied, it's just a case of realizing how it was setup and repairing some breaks. I'm going to measure under the cabinet, but i think i'm going to try and go with a 120-150gal sump/fuge or a slightly smaller sump and external fuge. 100-150gal seems to be the norm for tanks in this range maybe a little overkill but that would bring my total water in the ballpark of 400gal after a topoff setup.

there is a two direction return on each of the overflows which i will be using. I won't be drilling this tank in the foreseeable future. Power heads will be providing my additional flow needs, which kind and how big is yet to be determined.

 

[ds4x4]

ok made a sump out of luan and duct tape.. kinda got my plumbing figured out.

 

[Mr. Brooks]

I finally get to see Bax's 220! Click on my red house to see my build. Bax I had similar builds going for a while. Looks like you've taken over. Congrats! BTW my sump is around 70 gallons. I feel like it's plenty big.

 

[ds4x4]

some Updates..

picked up a 40 gal long sump.. going to use this as a sump only then use a 10 or bigger for a refuge just above it. i will have a t coming off he return pump trickling water into the refuge then gravity feeding the sump..

Plumbing is all PVC no rigid tube or flex tube.

Lighting.. I think that the light rail may be out.. Talking to some people and my own worries. The light rail takes 20mins. to go from one end to the other. So, to travel the 6 foot from the right side to the left and back would be about 45mins for the right side not to have lights. Some guys at Premium Aquatics DE also wondered the adverse effects of this on Corals. I may just use 250w halides at least two of them and then the 6ft VHO actinics.

Canopy will be sealed almost air tight then the hot air will be pumped outside. the tank stand is getting shortened today since i only have a 1' 1/2" space above the tank at current height.. Then on to the leak test tonight and i will have to wait to get things circulating till i get a return pump.

 

[ds4x4]

I haven't updated in a little while so here goes..

So far because of the sump issue (not having the correct one) the Mag 18 is plumbed in with flex tube and the flow is not the greatest. There is currently a 29gal sump with a 25mircon sock inside. I will be using a standard 75long sump or a RR 75 as a sump very soon.. I'm currently using (3) 250Watt Stealth heaters and a 4th smaller heater to keep the temp up due to the location in the basement. an ICe Cap 430 Ballast is lighting 1 10K 72" VHO and a 72" Actinic

There is 210 lbs of Oolite sand and 40lbs of Live sand which had some shells and larger pieces that burrowing fish like.. only a few lbs of lace rock also.

The tank is currently a nursing home of sorts to a slightly emaciated Sailfin Tang and a Coral Beauty that a Trigger had it's way with. Lets not forget the white/black stripe damsel i threw in the sump a condi resides there as well.

That is all heres a few pics and a video of the CB

 

[ds4x4]

Coral Beauty didnt make it through treatment.

ordered a phosban reactor and a MSX250 skimmer. picking up a 75 RR to use as a sup or fuge tonight.

 

[ds4x4]

Came today and it's massive!

 

[ds4x4]

posting some missed updates here

skimmer with old baffles in a 75RR that i made into a sump.

FTS with 2 baby Hippos and 50 additional lbs of Fiji

some of the rockwork with totonka and tonga added

FTS

 

[ds4x4]

The latest Update.
Added 50lbs of Marco rock and got the fuge going correctly

The stock list includes- 1 Pair of yellow Tangs
1 Pair of Hippo Tangs
Trio of Flame Firefish
1 green reef Chromis
1 Sailfin tang
1 Pair of Green Clown Gobies
1 Pair of Ocellaris Percs
1 Fire shrimp
2 Pep Shrimp
1 Porcelain Crab
1 serpant star
Cerith, nerite, turbo, astrea, nassarious Snails
Blue leg, Zebra, Scarlet reef hermits

FTS

fuge in the center of the 75RR

 

[Anemone]

[moved]

 

[dvanacker]

I just want to be honest here and say it's not a good idea to have "pairs" of tangs. It's not noah's ark. Aggression will usually be a big problem in this situation..now or eventually.

Other than that nice build.

 

[ds4x4]

some back logged updates

I got a PFO Dual 400watt ballast, pendants and bulbs from a friend. What a difference they made. Even with old bulbs things come to life I'm still running a Dual VHO, 1 Actinic and 1 10k Daylight bulb on an ice cap 430 ballast.

picked up a new (to Me) Camera, Sony Cyber Shot DSCH1 . Still learning how to use it

Stichodactyla sp Carpet Anemone for $20 mouth closed and looks healthy

Zebrasoma veliferum Sailfin

I had also added a Ring Tail Tang which most other reefers dont have, but he wondered into the Carpet and that was all she wrote.

 

[ds4x4]

update before a big change in the next two weeks. Me and my brother are going to completely redo the rock work and add more rock, put the 75RR on a stand of it's own and i'm going to plumb it all in with a 100gal stock tank ( so far) This will give me a Full 75RR fuge to keep mangroves and whatever else i want. also no more bumping my head for the skimmer.

but some progress shots. Corals haven't made it down there too much because i knew that i needed more rock (200lbs or so looks tiny). I'm also kicking myself in the butt for using the Fine oolite sand.. The sleeper goby is making a mess, i even had a filter sock overflow.. on with the pics!

Group shot. 3 baby Oc. Clowns with a larger Oc. Clown

Diamond Sleeper Goby

ORA Green Damicornis

blue steel Acro

75RR setup as a sump below the main tank

FTS before the Change.

 

[ds4x4]

The Most Recent FTS

I have to find another 400watt ballast/pendant (Used) at a good price or decide to go all new and use 250watt or stay at 400watt

I put the sticky blue background on, added a Tiger Tail Cucumber, a Torch Coral From Dr. Mac's and my Hammer. we have a single Orange Skunk Clown in the GBTA sharing it with the Porcelain Crab. the RBTA is still empty.

The Sleeper Goby was a casualty of the move while i hate to lose fish i did not like the fine sand being cast into the water column. i'm 50/50 about the loss.

 

[ds4x4]

I know most people are probably Eh' on my build since i dont have all the fancy tech. but anyone who is following be ready for some updates around the mid-end of august when we get back from Jamaica. i'll be finishing off the rock adding plenty of corals and livestock.



I've added the Ehiem Feed Air Auto Feeder and i am impressed with it's capacity and ease of use. i also re added a cleaner shrimp and a Sharknose Goby. pretty much done adding stuff and playing till we get back


I'll be an official Prisoner serving a LIFE SENTENCE (IE Married) when i return from beautiful Negril Jamaica with plenty of Scuba/snorkeling pictures !

 

[tangtang clown]

Congrats man! On the build, and getting married. I am have been trying switch from a 75 to a 125. I now know it takes a ton of time, especially with a girlfriend, 3 dogs, family, fishing, RC, soccer, and maintaining my 75. Keep updating.
Thanks.

 

[Bax]

Congrats on The Nups Brandon!