My 240 gallon reef project

[speedingredline]

The wife and I are planning on setting up a 240gallon reef. The dimensions are going to be 96Lx22Dx30H, we wanted to go at least 24D but because of spacing constraints its just not possible. We are going to transform the bare 12ft wall in the dining room, not built into the wall really. Rather it will sit against the wall with some glass cabinets on either side. Will probably take some pics of the current state of the wall tomorrow. For filtration I'm going to contact lifereef for "everything". Lighting is still up in the air, my initial plan is 4x250 MH, and 4x96 actinics, plus moon leds. The tank is gonna be acrylic, only because its lighter to move. We would have prefered starfire glass but its just to heavy. I don't know enough people to get it moved from truck to stand, which was another factor. The tank will be made by a company out of MN. All construction in my house will be done by me, the wife, and her dad. I think I am going to have to install another breaker box, as mine is full, the dining room is on its own 20amp breaker but I dont think that will be enough. Just as a safety measure I am going to brace up the floor. The tank is going on a support wall, but better safe than sorry. The house is only 4.5yrs old but rather not take any chances, I dont want to find the tank in the crawl space one morning. Well thats all I have at the moment, hopefully it turns out as well as I pictured in my mind.

 

[AEALOVESHERGIRLS]

Congrats on your new purchase!!!! I'm also getting a 240 soon. I'm looking at the 96x24x24. I decided on the height dimensions at 24 because I don't have long arms I'm going acrylic from Tenecor, and I'm in a new house as well, however, I"m putting the tank in the basement and eventually will build a wall around it. I look forward to watching the progress of your tank!

Amanda

 

[speedingredline]

I wish I had a basement, doesn't seem to be a popular thing here in NC. Maybe cuz of the sandy soil or something. At least I have one tag along.

 

[speedingredline]

Another day of research has come and gone. I've spent the last two days deciding on what kind of RO/DI system I want to go with. This morning I decided to get Typhoon III stage 5 unit. I am also going to get an aquatec 8800 pump and switch for automagic water production. I'm still working on the parts list for this but should be done in the next day or so.

I'm still trying to decide where I will mount the RO/DI unit itself. I wanted to mount it in the garage but even though its NC, my garage gets cold enough to probably reduce the efficeincy of the unit.

I contacted Jeff at Lifereef today, and place my order for a LF1-300 sump system with skimmer, Calcium reactor, and refugium. Its probably gonna be mid march before I get it.

I have a couple of pics of the dinning room, that I need to upload to my server. This will those interested in my project the before, during and after of the wall.

Todays activities include gettig in the crawl space and checking out the floor. While I have been told that no modification is needed, I am going to brace up the floor. I also have to re-arrange the fuse panel to accomadate the extra power outlets I'm gonna install.

 

[speedingredline]

Well I got into the crawl space today and took some measurements for reinforcing the floor. Not as bad as I thought, but I still hate going under the house. I'm not to fond of the idea of being bit by a black widow spider.

I ordered the tank yesterday, from Midwest Custom Aquariums. Not sure when it will get here, but at least its ordered.

Here is a list of the equipment I will be using. Let me know what you think.

Skimmer
LifeReef VS2-24 skimmer - haven't decided if its going in-sump or external, my other dilema is size, I wanted to go larger like a 30" but I won't have room in the cabinet.

Would 2 skimmers be possible?, or effective for that matter.

Sump
LifeReef LF1-300 Berlin System

Calcium Reactor
LifeReef LCR2 Reactor

Refugium
LifeReef Custom Refugium, size T.B.D.

Pump
2 Iwaki 70

Heater
2 250w Jager or
2 250w Pro-Heat II Titanium IC Heaters

System Controller
Aqautronica or
ReefKeeper 2

RO/DI System
Typhoon 3 5-stage
Aquatec booster pump
mechanical valves
RubberMaid Brute Trash Cans for holding water
Dual In-Line TDS Meter
Pressure Gauge

Lighting
2 48" Aqaulight Pro Systems, each one contains 2x250W 10000K HQI MH
2x96W Actinic 03 PC

Ozone Generator
If I need it

UV sterilizer
If I need it

Chiller
I hope not

 

[AEALOVESHERGIRLS]

Sounds awesome, I can't wait to be where you are in setting up, however, I'm starting my 24 back up in the mean time and it felt good to buy new lights and skimmer yesterday!


WHen will your tank arrive?


Amanda

 

[speedingredline]

I don't know. Construction might start this week. I have to call today and provide them some additional info.

 

[speedingredline]

My wife let me order some books for my 30th birthday, which is today. So here is the list I came up from my readings here on RC. What do you think?

* Clownfishes and Sea Anemones: Everything About Purchase, Care, Nutrition, Maintenance, and Setting Up an Aquarium (Barron's Complete Pet Owner's Manuals) - John H. Tullock

* Water Chemistry for the Marine Aquarium - John H. Tullock

* Reef Invertebrates: An Essential Guide to Selection, Care and Compatibilty - anthony Calfo

* The Marine Aquarium Problem Solver: Practical & Expert Advice on Keeping Fish & Invertebrates - Nick Dakin

* Invertebrates: A Quick Reference Guide (Oceanographic Series) - Julian Sprung

* Algae: A Problem Solver Guide (Oceanographic Series) - Julian Sprung

* Corals: A Quick Reference Guide (Oceanographic Series) (Oceanographic Series) - Julian Sprung

* The Reef Aquarium: Science, Art, and Technology, Vol. 3 - Julian Sprung

* Natural Reef Aquariums: Simplified Approaches to Creating Living Saltwater Microcosms - John H. Tullock

* The Conscientious Marine Aquarist: A Commonsense Handbook for Successful Saltwater Hobbyists - Robert M. Fenner

* Clownfishes - Joyce D. Wilkerson

* Marine Fishes: 500+ Essential-To-Know Aquarium Species (The Pocketexpert Guide Series for Aquarists and Underwater Naturalists, 1) - Scott W. Michael

* Aquarium Corals : Selection, Husbandry, and Natural History - Eric H. Borneman

* The New Marine Aquarium: Step-By-Step Setup & Stocking Guide - Michael S. Paletta

* A PocketExpert Guide to Marine Invertebrates: 500+ Essential-to-Know Aquarium Species - Ronald L. Shimek

* Reef Secrets: Starting Right, Selecting Fishes & Invertebrates, Advanced Biotope Techniques - Alf Jacob Nilsen

* Ultimate Marine Aquariums: Saltwater Dream Systems and How They Are Created - Michael S. Paletta

I also picked up 10 buckets of Instant Ocean. Should be enough to get me started.

 

[speedingredline]

Some Friends got me a gift card for HD my bithday, so I hope to go and get some lumber and other materials today and get started on the wall. I could start to remove the moldings, but I don't want to do that until other parts are ready to mount to the wall.

On another note I ordered the background for my tank, oceanvisions vinyl, in Black, 120"Lx30"H, nice alternative to painting. According to the directions easy to apply and easy to remove. Should be fun across an 8Ft span. We shall see.

 

[AEALOVESHERGIRLS]

Wow!!!! After all that reading, you should be able to write your own book!!!! Happy birthday BTW!!!!!!!

Istarted my 24 gallon up last night to fill my "reefing fix" until the bigger one gets started. The smell of the fresh SW was awesome! I'd wear a SW perfume if they had one!!!!


Amanda

 

[speedingredline]

saltwater cologne, hmmm maybe time for a new fashion trend. I guess your the only one interested in my aquarium. Shouldnt take me to long to read those, If its material I'm interested it doesn't take me long.

 

[Bax]

speedingrealine

That's a great equipment list you'll love your LifeReef equipment I almost bought that skimmer myself.

As for two skimmers, lots of people do it If you have the space, why not?

Good luck and Happy Reefing!

 

[speedingredline]

yeah, I'm thinking one in-sump and one external

 

[speedingredline]

Here are a couple of pics of the wall and floor taped off. Its an attempt to visualize how the tank is gonna look.

This pic is how high the tank is gonna be on the wall. The upper line is a rough measurement of light spacing. When the cabinet is done all the chairail moldings will be moved forward so it looks like the wall.

And here is the floor, again taped off for planning purposes.

And the newest member of our family.

 

[speedingredline]

on a side note, 4 of my 10 buckets of instant ocean showed up today. I have started the plans for my rock curing tank. Its gonna consist of some old 2x4s I have laying around from my fence installation. I'm gonna get a pond liner from HD and make a rectangular tank about 18inches high. Then, I have a crap load of 3/4" pvc pipe and fittings for the sprinkler system I'm putting in. So some of that pipe is gonna make rack in the curing tank to keep the rock off the bottom.

My live rock plans are as follows.

Live Rock:
Marshall Island
Pukani

Live Sand:
400 pounds Live SouthDown from local reefer
CaribSea SeaFlor to suppliment the SouthDown as needed to acheive desired depth
Garf Grunge for the refugium, lbs. needed...TBD

 

[asnatlas]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=6653915#post6653915 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by speedingredline
And the newest member of our family.

Little Rotty pup

 

[AEALOVESHERGIRLS]

WOW, it's going to look great!!! And BTW, our dining rooms look very similar!!!

Cute pup, socialize it like crazy and it'll be the sweetest dog ever!

 

[speedingredline]

I have another rottweiler, shes 2.5, my 4yr old nephew comes over and wrestles with her. His favorite move is a headlock, and the dog loves every minute of it.

 

[speedingredline]

Been researching away and I decided to go with 2 500w finnex titanium heaters, and I'm gonna go with the aquatronica controller. I'm hoping to start pulling the molding of the wall tomorrow, and start on my Live Rock curing tank.

 

[asnatlas]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=6668666#post6668666 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by speedingredline
Been researching away and I decided to go with 2 500w finnex titanium heaters, and I'm gonna go with the aquatronica controller. I'm hoping to start pulling the molding of the wall tomorrow, and start on my Live Rock curing tank.

I went with some 500w Finnex Titanium Heaters as well... I will be running two off of my Aquatronica Controller and two off of my Medusa Dual Stage Digital Controller...