Mike's 300 Double-D

[prop-frags]

OK large tankers, I'm taking the plunge into the "big leagues".

Yeah, we currently have a 180 with remote fish room, but we still never felt like we quite measured up to the kinds of whopper builds here, so we're considering this one our 'initial foray' into big tank land.

Here's what we're thinking about for the initial set up:

Marineland 300g DD
125g sump
75g refugium
Deltec AP851 skimmer
Custom-built wrap-around stand and canopy with quartz counter trim
custom slide-out light rail:
3x Lumenmax Elites SE w/ 250w icecap electronic ballasts
2x VHO super actinics
Bottom-drilled closed loop 2" intake BH, two 1" outlet BH powered with Dart
2x Tunze 6105, 2x Tunze 6055 on 7096

For some context of the current tank, here's the slightly dated FTS from the 180g:


and one of my favorite end-on shots:


We have our old 125g setup in the garage, and we'll be using that for our holding system while we tear down the 180 and build the new setup.
Here's a shot of it with some of the rock we're curing:


The cabinet maker we've contracted to build the stand has done some very impressive local work.
Here's a couple of shots of a very similar style to what we've designed:




The stand and canopy are being stained now. Hope to take delivery this weekend. Got a lot of work to do to tear down the 180...

 

[PSU REEFER]

Going to look great Mike. Can't wait to see it up and running

 

[Last Version]

Awesome tank. I really like your coral.

 

[prop-frags]

Thanks for the nice words!

OK, here's a bit of an update.

The last month or so, I've been getting the old 125 up and running to be able to act as our holding system for all our livestock. We used about 50% salt mix, and 50% water change from the 180. This helped ensure the 125 has matching water parms and when we move all the livestock over, they won't be ticked off.

The last few nights after work, I've been emptying out the 180.
The first thing was to take care of the wife's demand that I not ruin the floors during this process. A quick run to walmart and a bunch of el-cheapo shower curtains placed on the floors:


Then we just start pulling corals and liverock out:





Eventually, nothing left but fish:

 

[theshiver]

Hey looks like it is going to be a great build cant wait for More pics

 

[prop-frags]

As I mentioned, the 125 is going to be our "holding pen" while we tear down the 180 and install the new "Double D"

It's got a 40B sump. I picked up a used & bruised deltec ap600 to take care of skimming business, and I had a spare return pump laying around. Only took a few hours to get "ol' bessy" cleaned up and plumbed. She's been running for about a month to get nice and stable for the move:




And we filled her up pretty well:




Some of the fish:

 

[gtaylor67]

Looking good can't wait to see the end product. I also have the 300DD and will be watching to grab a couple ideas.. Gonna be a great tank....

 

[prop-frags]

This is going to be an SPS-dominated build, and so adequate flow in the tank is a big concern. We are going to use both of the bulkheads in each stock overflow as drains. One will be a herbie (full-siphon) drain, and the other will be the emergency durso. We'll also be modding the weirs to lower, widen, and cut those narrow teeth out.

Since we're using all four B/H in the overflows as drains, we'll be needing a way to get the return from the sump back into the tank. For this, we are looking at two options; drilling another 1" BH in the right overflow and bringing the return up through there, or bringing it up the back of the tank into a 2' spraybar.

I have an initial design for the closed loop, but would appreciate your feedback on this. The plan is to use a Reeflo Dart to power the CL. I think a single 2" intake, and four 1" outlets should do the trick. We intend to plumb a 1.5" line from the Dart to a manifold with four 1" spa flex lines to each CL outlet.

Here's the drawing:


What do you think?

 

[Untamed12]

Consider adding an OM4 way to your planned closed loop. You'll get 2 of the four outlets going at any given time and get a more random flow.

The single 2" intank for the single Dart works well. Make sure you use a really large strainer on it to prevent suction and save critters. Also make sure you can easily access that strainer for quick replacement/cleaning.

I really like the planned layout.

 

[z34fiend]

the 180 looked really good can't wait to see the 300

 

[SMOOTHIE]

Subscribing now.
Wow! Can't wait to see the new one up and running

 

[BWIPlumbing]

your 180 was awesome!!! nice tank.. can't wait to see the 300

 

[J.P.Reef]

tagging along

 

[prop-frags]

Consider adding an OM4 way to your planned closed loop. You'll get 2 of the four outlets going at any given time and get a more random flow.

The single 2" intank for the single Dart works well. Make sure you use a really large strainer on it to prevent suction and save critters. Also make sure you can easily access that strainer for quick replacement/cleaning.

I really like the planned layout.

Thanks Untamed. I have two concerns about the OM4. Noise and maintenance/failure. I've heard (this is somewhat dated) that OM4 is prone to locking up with sand grains or debris. Also, since this is the only equipment in the display, that it will add noticeable noise. Justified?

the 180 looked really good can't wait to see the 300

We appreciate your comment. The 180 went through a rough spell about a year back with AEFW and the colonies getting too big (poor husbandry on our part!), but it sure did do very well overall. We're really excited about the 300!

Subscribing now.
Wow! Can't wait to see the new one up and running

Right there with you, Smoothie. It sure is exciting doing the planning.

your 180 was awesome!!! nice tank.. can't wait to see the 300

Thanks BWI.

tagging along

Cool - Appreciate any feedback you have!

 

[prop-frags]

We are still waiting on the stand. The cabinet maker went out of town this weekend, so we got delayed a little bit. We took the opportunity to get the 180 moved out of the display room and tidy up. Terry and I cleaned up, re-painted the back wall, and cleaned the floor up. Then, I laid out the dimensions of the stand and the tank on the floor with some tape:



You can see where the tank will sit in the middle of the wall, with the cabinets on either side. The outline is the approx 4" of overhang that we'll get from the quartz countertop that will surround the tank and top the side cabinets.

The tape running up the wall is the height of the stand (36") and side cabinetry.

The spa flex you see there is the 1.5" drain line and the 1" return line from the fish room down in the garage.

For some context, here is a drawing of the "interesting" part of the house:


Everything is to scale except the new display tank which is a big ol' DOUBLE D muwahahaha!

 

[PSU REEFER]

With the W and H both being 36'' do you have "doubledoors" your getting it thru or is the cabinetmaker assembling it in the display room?

 

[Bax]

Nice work on your 180!

This DD is going to be sweet too!

Are you planing any internal power heads, Tunze, Vortech, etc. to supplement the CL?

 

[Bax]

Oops! Answered my own questions. I see you have 2x 6105s and 2x 6055s ...

... OK then

 

[knpjdad]

Tagging along!

 

[Ghetto Man]

Looking forward to an epic build!