RedStangGA
New member
So, I finally get to join the large'ish tank club. Woohoo!
We're moving to Orlando and we decided that the move would be the perfect time to upgrade from my 60 cube. Once we got an offer on our house in GA I broke down the 60 cube with a great friend holding my 3 favorite fish and a couple of corals for me until I get a tank set back up.
In the mean time, I found a good deal on a standard 220gal tank with Starphire front, stand, and canopy on my local club board. Jumped on it and put it straight into storage. This weekend, it should finally make the trip to FL.
For a sump I bought a 40 breeder and asked a cousin of mine who owns a glass shop to cut baffles to size for me. I haven't silicone'd them in yet but I'm excited to get started on that this weekend too. For a skimmer, I bought an Aquamaxx ConeS CO-3 on Black Friday. I have one MP40 powerhead but am likely to go with an Apex WAV starter pack. This will allow me to put the 40 on the back wall or possibly keep it on my 60 cube.
Plan for the 60 cube is long term QT. I'll pick up 2 40 breeders at a future $1/gal sale to use for TTM.
As for the setup. I had planned on putting the sump and fuge in the garage. But, a joy of building a new home hundreds of miles away is the occasional surprise you get. Like 2 water heaters instead of one. Exactly where I was planning on building the stand for sump and fuge... Another bump is that in the tank room when you walk in you'll be staring directly at the side(right side) of the tank meaning I really don't want to put my overflow on that end, and that end happens to be where the space between water heaters and wall in the garage allow for pipes to run.
So, plan B. Overflow will go on the left side of the tank and drain almost directly down in to the sump. I'll have to cut a hole, or 3, in the side of the stand to allow the piping to go through. The plan is to use flex PVC to eliminate 45's or 90's. Drain system will be a bean animal. Primary drain will have a gate valve to tune.
Speaking of the overflow, I'll be using a Synergy Reef ghost overflow. I'm inclined to go with the 20" model but am wondering if the 16" would be enough. I'm not a fan of monstrous flow through the sump but there's a 1,000gal/hr difference in capacity between the 2 overflows. I do like the smaller size of the 16". I'll likely go with the 20" unless someone gives me a good reason to go with 16". I can always dial down the 20" drain. This will of course necessitate cutting out the old dual corner overflows. It breaks my heart to reclaim all of that space for the display but sacrifices must be made.
Return pump plan had been an Eheim 1262. I realize many may think that's way too small but see my previous statement about flow through the sump. However, it's just loud enough that I may look at something quieter to replace it. My heart says a Vectra, my wallet may lead me elsewhere for a different DC pump. Perhaps a Deepwater Aquatics pump. The return will just go up and over the top, again using flex PVC as much as possible to eliminate angles. Would it be wise to place the return at the opposite end of the tank from the overflow pointing towards the overflow to encourage surface flow in that direction? Or best to let "natural" surface skimming occur?
Lighting. What to do? At first I looked at some MH pendants, then fell in love with the Hamilton Cebu Sun. Currently I'm considering an 8 bulb ATI Sunpower with the idea of retro fitting some Kessil A360's into the ATI fixture replacing the 2 center bulbs. That would give me 6 80w T5's to go along with 3 Kessil A360's. I had(still have actually) an A360w over my 60 cube and, other than the shadowing, I loved it. Not sure I'll keep the canopy. I've never looked at someone's tank and thought their lighting system looked frankensteinish. A little cable management goes a long way. But then again, I might use it. Have to keep the blasted thing somewhere.
I have a calcium reactor that I'll be using on this tank. I also have an Apex DOS that I use for AWC.
The refugium. Still plan on putting this in the garage. Easy to run a few lines through the garage and feed it with a MJ1200, or something, depends on how high up I put the fuge. I'll be using a 65'ish gallon stock tank with 2 return drains to have a safety. Ultimately protection will be provided by a float valve and my Apex. Any issue with just covering the fuge with a piece of acrylic to minimize evap?
Planning on a Tunze ATO. Suppose I'll have plenty of room in the stand for the ATO container.
Anything I'm missing besides pictures? Those will come this weekend as long as there is room for the tank in the U-Haul :lolspin:
We're moving to Orlando and we decided that the move would be the perfect time to upgrade from my 60 cube. Once we got an offer on our house in GA I broke down the 60 cube with a great friend holding my 3 favorite fish and a couple of corals for me until I get a tank set back up.
In the mean time, I found a good deal on a standard 220gal tank with Starphire front, stand, and canopy on my local club board. Jumped on it and put it straight into storage. This weekend, it should finally make the trip to FL.
For a sump I bought a 40 breeder and asked a cousin of mine who owns a glass shop to cut baffles to size for me. I haven't silicone'd them in yet but I'm excited to get started on that this weekend too. For a skimmer, I bought an Aquamaxx ConeS CO-3 on Black Friday. I have one MP40 powerhead but am likely to go with an Apex WAV starter pack. This will allow me to put the 40 on the back wall or possibly keep it on my 60 cube.
Plan for the 60 cube is long term QT. I'll pick up 2 40 breeders at a future $1/gal sale to use for TTM.
As for the setup. I had planned on putting the sump and fuge in the garage. But, a joy of building a new home hundreds of miles away is the occasional surprise you get. Like 2 water heaters instead of one. Exactly where I was planning on building the stand for sump and fuge... Another bump is that in the tank room when you walk in you'll be staring directly at the side(right side) of the tank meaning I really don't want to put my overflow on that end, and that end happens to be where the space between water heaters and wall in the garage allow for pipes to run.
So, plan B. Overflow will go on the left side of the tank and drain almost directly down in to the sump. I'll have to cut a hole, or 3, in the side of the stand to allow the piping to go through. The plan is to use flex PVC to eliminate 45's or 90's. Drain system will be a bean animal. Primary drain will have a gate valve to tune.
Speaking of the overflow, I'll be using a Synergy Reef ghost overflow. I'm inclined to go with the 20" model but am wondering if the 16" would be enough. I'm not a fan of monstrous flow through the sump but there's a 1,000gal/hr difference in capacity between the 2 overflows. I do like the smaller size of the 16". I'll likely go with the 20" unless someone gives me a good reason to go with 16". I can always dial down the 20" drain. This will of course necessitate cutting out the old dual corner overflows. It breaks my heart to reclaim all of that space for the display but sacrifices must be made.
Return pump plan had been an Eheim 1262. I realize many may think that's way too small but see my previous statement about flow through the sump. However, it's just loud enough that I may look at something quieter to replace it. My heart says a Vectra, my wallet may lead me elsewhere for a different DC pump. Perhaps a Deepwater Aquatics pump. The return will just go up and over the top, again using flex PVC as much as possible to eliminate angles. Would it be wise to place the return at the opposite end of the tank from the overflow pointing towards the overflow to encourage surface flow in that direction? Or best to let "natural" surface skimming occur?
Lighting. What to do? At first I looked at some MH pendants, then fell in love with the Hamilton Cebu Sun. Currently I'm considering an 8 bulb ATI Sunpower with the idea of retro fitting some Kessil A360's into the ATI fixture replacing the 2 center bulbs. That would give me 6 80w T5's to go along with 3 Kessil A360's. I had(still have actually) an A360w over my 60 cube and, other than the shadowing, I loved it. Not sure I'll keep the canopy. I've never looked at someone's tank and thought their lighting system looked frankensteinish. A little cable management goes a long way. But then again, I might use it. Have to keep the blasted thing somewhere.
I have a calcium reactor that I'll be using on this tank. I also have an Apex DOS that I use for AWC.
The refugium. Still plan on putting this in the garage. Easy to run a few lines through the garage and feed it with a MJ1200, or something, depends on how high up I put the fuge. I'll be using a 65'ish gallon stock tank with 2 return drains to have a safety. Ultimately protection will be provided by a float valve and my Apex. Any issue with just covering the fuge with a piece of acrylic to minimize evap?
Planning on a Tunze ATO. Suppose I'll have plenty of room in the stand for the ATO container.
Anything I'm missing besides pictures? Those will come this weekend as long as there is room for the tank in the U-Haul :lolspin:
