My 250 Gallon Deep Dimension build

[leveldrummer]

Well, now is as good of time as any to start a build thread.

I Grabbed a BEAUTIFUL new 250 gallon deep dimension tank, stand and canopy from a local store a couple weeks ago. Since around March, Ive been buying good deals on used equipment as they have come up to save a bit of money.

I currently have a 58 gallon oceanic tank with custom bean animal overflow and I will be transfering all livestock to the new nano.. I mean big tank once its setup and cycled.

a list of equipment that I already have,
Marineland deep dimension with custom stand and canopy.
2 lumenbrite mini reflectors
2 250 watt coralvue ballasts with XM 20k bulbs, after my first chance Im planning on switching up to radiums.
Reef octopus 3000int skimmer
2 Tunze 6105 powerheads with controller (will either add 2 more tunze on the controller, or find some more flow somewhere if I need it.
2 300 watt heaters, Jaeger.
Avast kalk stirrer
75 gallon sump, it came with baffles and sock holders in it, but Ive cut some of it apart and plan to add some other baffles to make it a stand sump with Fuge on one end, for pod production and very mild nitrate reduction.
Also already have 150 lbs of base rock from reef rocks.net, along with 240 lbs of sand.
I just ordered 6' of Rapid LED actinic rails for suppliments for the Mh's and dusk/dawn effect.

I still need a return pump, which I may have something worked out that I will find out this weekend. If not, Ill end up buying new or finding something else used.

Also future plans include a calcium reactor, and I will also need an ATO setup soon.

Here are a few pictures of what I have already.
Tank in place

One reflector placed in tank, hopefully 2 will give enough spread for a few SPS, a lot of LPS and and few Softies.

150lbs of dry rock spread on a sexy dinosaur blanket.

Used 75 gallon sump, right side (top) will eventually hold 3 4" filter socks, middle section will be skimmer and return area (need a couple more baffles) and left side (bottom) will be a small fuge for pods and a clump of chaeto.

Here is a shot of a ton of my crap in my garage thats making my wife mad.

Im excited about a nice build thread on here. please ask any questions, suggestions, constructive criticism is welcome.

 

[prop-frags]

Nice tank. Looking forward to seeing your design.

 

[leveldrummer]

Thanks! I grabbed some acrylic rods today at lunch to attempt to build a cool aquascape. Ive only ever just stacked rocks in the past, so this will be a new experience for me.

I intend on a multi-island scape.

Also ordered my RapidLED actinic suppliment lighting last night.

There will be a 4' fixture infront of the halides, and a 2' fixture behind them between the overflows.

 

[E.Rude]

Looking forward to seeing this come together! Seems like you have a good plan in mind

 

[leveldrummer]

Got reflectors hung this week. Im using a sliding tray type setup so I can push the lights back out of the way if I need to do any serious work in the tank. or I can pull the tray out completely too.

Close up of the tray slide setup.

This is with the lights pushed WAY back, tons of room to work in the tank without burning my face on the reflectors.

I think this is required too...

Also found a reeflo snapper for a return, and ordered some rapidLED actinic suppliment kits to get some color pop and to add a dusk/dawn effect.

 

[QUASIMOTO]

Looking Good

Looking Good

Love the DD 250's!!

 

[leveldrummer]

Sand and scape are in.

Added more sand then whats show in the pictures. All in all, its 240lbs of sand, 150 lbs of rock.

I started filling up earlier this week with a ro/di line, its up to about half full now, at 75 GPD, its taking a while. Im eventually going to get the 150 gpd add on with booster pump from BRS to up my production and cut down on waste.

I ditched the idea of going with the 75 gallon sump, I had a broken 50 gallon laying aorund, so I got some glass cut, siliconed a piece over the cracked panel, covered some holes, and added baffles I need for my sump. its a Frankenstein sump for sure, but it will work very well for my needs.

I should get it plumbed in as long as my 75mm glass hole saw gets here today, I need to drill the sump for a 2" inlet on my reeflo dart. then plump the bottom before the water level gets high enough to overflow. tick tock tick tock. Suggestions, comments, feedback, ideas, all are appreciated. let me know if I look like and idiot, or if there is somethign you would change to give me some ideas.

 

[dave.m]

Added more sand then whats show in the pictures

Umm... what pictures?

Dave.M

 

[leveldrummer]

Umm... what pictures?

Dave.M

The big ones in my post? I see them. Are you on mobile or computer?

 

[dave.m]

PC. I can now see the images in today's update. Thx.

Dave.M

 

[leveldrummer]

Ran into a series of snags with my sump configuration. I built the 50 gallon, added all baffles, cut a 2" hole for the pump, got eveyrthing in place and started plumbing the tank, then I tried to get the skimmer collection cup in and out, and this 50 gallon was too tall...

So I pulled it all back out, I found a 40 breeder locally that I will use the same baffles for the 50. Should be moving forward on the build again soon.

 

[leveldrummer]

Going forward!

I got the 40 breeder built into a sump, got it in place and plumbed.

I have a 3 port manifold ready. it will feed a BRS 2 chamber reactor, possibly a fuge. and will have 1 port unused for maybe calcium reactor or something else in the future.

Also started building my LED actinic fixtures.

Last night I added salt to the RO-DI, let it stir around a bit for the next couple days.

 

[leveldrummer]

well, I guess I let this thread die, I didnt keep updating because it didnt seem like much interest in it. but I dont want to just leave it hanging out there...

I got the system running and the dursos couldnt keep up with the return quietly, so i replumbed it to have dual herbies.

After cycling the tank for a couple weeks with just base rock to make sure there was no left over organics on the dry rock, I moved everything over from my 58 gallon. I had zero losses in doing this method. (knock on wood)

since swapping everything over, the tank has been running about a month, I had to re-route the return again to give more space to remove and clean the skimmer cup.

Ive also added a bunch of frags that i traded for, and have been adding 2-4 fish per week or so, now up to 12-13 fish. Here is a nice group of photos.

 

[leveldrummer]

Also, Ive gotten my ATO up and running, Im using the autoaqua smart ATO, so far its worked very well. Im working on getting my alk up to a high stable level, at that point im going to start running my ATO through my avast kalk reactor.

Any questions?

 

[Saltwater Hobo]

Tank is looking great nice job from start to present.

 

[leveldrummer]

Tank is looking great nice job from start to present.

Thank you, its certainly be a fun build, Ive had a 120 before, but that doesnt come close to comparing with the sheer size of this tank, its very fun learning about new fish I can keep that have never been an option in the past.

 

[cFloor]

Looking really nice! Good job

 

[ca1ore]

well, I guess I let this thread die, I didnt keep updating because it didnt seem like much interest in it. but I dont want to just leave it hanging out there...

I rather felt the same way with my own tank build but then decided that in part I was doing it for myself, as a way to document progress (like a journal). Anyhow, yours looks very nice. I really do like the extra depth the DD tanks afford you. BTW, in looking back, keep an eye on the halide reflectors connected directly to that piece of wood. I did something similar years ago and ended up scorching the wood. No fire, but I redid it using a couple of pieces of angle iron.

 

[leveldrummer]

I rather felt the same way with my own tank build but then decided that in part I was doing it for myself, as a way to document progress (like a journal). Anyhow, yours looks very nice. I really do like the extra depth the DD tanks afford you. BTW, in looking back, keep an eye on the halide reflectors connected directly to that piece of wood. I did something similar years ago and ended up scorching the wood. No fire, but I redid it using a couple of pieces of angle iron.

THanks for the tip on the MH reflectors, ill certainly keep on eye on that.

As for the journal, I have a local club that Ive cross posted all these updates too, and more frequently, I just didnt want anyone that might look for ideas in a certain build to run into a dead end, so I figured I would at least provide some closure to anyone that might find it in the future. :beer:

 

[Sonicboom]

looks great! are you adding 2-4 fish a week from your old 58 or are these guys brand new? also is the 40 gallon sump able to handle the flow and a power outage? sucks you were not able to at least use the 50 gallon.