My 240 Gallon Build

M

mitch91175

Premium Member
I am moving my build log to RC from my local reef forum. Here are the details that I have thus far for the build. All input is definitely welcomed.

Well I am back in the game after a short hiatus. This time I am going with a 240 gallon (84x24x27) aquarium. I am looking to have a heavily stocked fish tank with lots of LPS/softies and a few SPS. Stay posted for more to come in the next few weeks.

So far I have the following in route or on hand:

Tank/Stand/Canopy ordered from My Exotic Fish & Corals (Rodney is the MAN!!!)
315 lbs of Live Rock ordered from My Exotic Fish & Corals
Reef Breeder 32 Photons LED x 2
Vertex Alpha 200 Skimmer
4 x Vortech MP40W ES Powerheads

Milwaukee Low Range Ammonia Photometer
Milwaukee Mi412 Phosphate Low Range Photometer
Milwaukee MA887 Digital Salinity Refractometer with Automatic Temperature Compensation
 
Here is what I am think about for my live stock once I get everything up and going:


Live Stock List:
Flame Fairy Wrasse
Purple Tang
Blond Naso Tang
Chevron Tang
Blue Tang
Flame Angelfish
Coral Beauty Angelfish
Anthias
Blennies
Clownfish
Hawkfish
Damselfish
Trigger fish
Foxface
Yellow Tang

Coral
Polyps
Anenome for clowns
Frogspawn
Acans

I am getting all of the above from Rodney with My Exotic Fish & Corals. He has been great to deal with on the entire system (tank/stand/canopy and live stock all with this build).
 
Here is a link to my original build log a few years back. http://www.dfwmas.org/Forums/viewtopic.php?f=100&t=47245 It was a 210 gallon that I loved building out. I learned a lot from that build and will try in incorporate some of what I learned back then into this build. All input is definitely welcomed from the community throughout this build. I have been out for and while, but now it is that time.
 
Ordered the following this morning from BRS:

Tunze Osmolator Universal 3155 Auto Top Off
1 Gallon - BRS Bulk Premium ROX 0.8 Carbon
 
Well tomorrow is trash day so it was time to unbox some of the brown boxes that I have had piling up over the past few weeks. Here are some pics of some of the goodies that I have for this 240 build:







 
The pics above have the following:

5 x Vortech MP40W ES power heads
1 Mag 18 pump (going to use for water changes)
1 Mag 3 pump (just purchased for circulating water while curing live rock)
1 Reefbreeder Proton 24 (will go with 2 Proton 32s if need more light for tank)
Apex Gold System
VorTech Wireless Module: WXM - Neptune Systems
Neptune Systems I/O Breakout Box
BRS 5 Stage RO/DI Replacement Filter Kit
Vertex Alpha 200 Skimmer with Vertex Vectra Engine Universal Cleaner Unit with 200mm Lid
Tunze Osmolator Universal 3155 Auto Top Off
1 Gallon - BRS Bulk Premium ROX 0.8 Carbon
 
Quick update. When I got home I had some new goodies waiting for me at my front door. I got my Vertex Libra doser and vessels in the mail. Here is a pic I took of it all:

 
I am going with a center overflow for this build. I wanted the extra space for a aquascaping and pure water volume. It will have 1 1/2" drains and 3/4" returns. I would ideally like to turn it about 6/7 times per hour.

For return pump I am thinking about going with the hybrid Reef lo Snapper/Dart. Anyone have any suggestions on the return pump besides that particular hybrid?
 
Well I finally began the break-in process for my Vertex Alpha 200 skimmer. This skimmer is awesome. Here are some pics of it skimming:



 
I originally ordered 2 Reefbreeder 32" Protons for this build, but have made a slight change to use the new Aqua Illumination Hydra 52s for this build. I should have four of them coming in the mail sometime next week. I also got some great news from Rodney with My Exotic Fish & Coral today that my tank will be available next week. I cannot wait to get it home so I can begin the real setup process.
 
On this build, I was thinking about using a Reeflo Snapper/Dart hybrid so I can turn the water 6/7 times. This is the one I am thinking about from BRS: http://www.bulkreefsupply.com/reeflo-snapper-dart-hybrid-4300-2600gph.html

On the aquarium, the drains will be 1 1/2" and the returns 3/4". I definitely plan on using the return pump to feed a manifold that will have my GFO/Carbon and room for 2 additional reactors for future needs (if necessary). In the tank, I will have 4 Vortech MP40W ES power heads so flow in the tank should not be an issue. Also, the overflow will be a center overflow. I plan on have a mixed reef (Fish, LPS, SPS, softies). Hopefully this information will assist in the community helping me chose a good return pump for this build.
 
I was just about to ask what you'll be using for a sump and return pump when I saw the last post. A dart is a good choice as long as the head height isn't too far. Have you looked into any dc pumps though? I went with a wave line 12000 on my 210 and I gotta say, having the option to control flow rate is pretty awesome. At least as easy as pushing a button instead of inventing a recirculating loop. And the saving a tree somewhere with the tiny amount of power it uses isn't a bad thing either :)
 
dante411x said:
I was just about to ask what you'll be using for a sump and return pump when I saw the last post. A dart is a good choice as long as the head height isn't too far. Have you looked into any dc pumps though? I went with a wave line 12000 on my 210 and I gotta say, having the option to control flow rate is pretty awesome. At least as easy as pushing a button instead of inventing a recirculating loop. And the saving a tree somewhere with the tiny amount of power it uses isn't a bad thing either :)
Click to expand...

I had read some about DC pumps but have not had any experience with them. I will definitely look into the wave line 12000. I definitely want to save as much energy cost as possible with this build. Are the DC pump pretty quite?
 
mitch91175 said:
I had read some about DC pumps but have not had any experience with them. I will definitely look into the wave line 12000. I definitely want to save as much energy cost as possible with this build. Are the DC pump pretty quite?
Click to expand...


After the led's it's the quietest thing with my setup. Mp40's make more noise than it does. Granted it's an "in-sump" pump, so some people think that they will have issues with heat transfer, and perhaps if you live in the tropics and haven't had air conditioning invented yet, that could be an issue. Maybe. They run cool. They're also no good with large head height, but then nothing will be except a pressure pump.
 
Just looked at the pump. That thing is tiny compared to the Dart that I had prior. Have you had any issues with your pump? I also wonder how they are for customer service. I will research further on this cause that might be the pump I will go with. Definitely appreciate you pointing me in that direction.
 
mitch91175 said:
Just looked at the pump. That thing is tiny compared to the Dart that I had prior. Have you had any issues with your pump? I also wonder how they are for customer service. I will research further on this cause that might be the pump I will go with. Definitely appreciate you pointing me in that direction.
Click to expand...


It's been running for 8 months with no issues. I pulled it apart to clean it two months ago and didn't even have to do it, it was still clean.
I think the issue with them is that they're still somewhat new, so there is no very long term usage reviews.
Also, there's the RLSS Waveline DC pumps and the cheap Chinese knockoff jebao dc pump. They're about exactly the same, but up to you if you want to go which route. Both seem to have worked fine for people. I personally have the RLSS one.
 
I like that I can control the Waveline with my Apex (which will be awesome). Any other sugestions that you have for this build Dante? I haven't decided on my sump/refugium yet, but going with the Waveline I will be able to have it in sump.
 
I just talked to RLSS about the new controllers and they are saying summer now. We will also have to buy the controllers to replace the existing ones. I am trying to see if they have a ballpark on cost and if they will have a buyback program. I love the pump and skimmer I have but it is going to really sour me if I have to put out major coin so I can get them to work with my Apex as promised. You might want to hold off until you find out what the cost to make it work with the Apex is.
 
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