Need Advice about in wall design

[bobafet1]

Here are the latest pics of my setup...I had covered the frame with wood and coated it with some blue paint to make it somewhat water resistant.

after all that was done I started with the drywall

Here the drywall is all done..next I will fill any screw holes and any seems...after that is all done I will texture coat the drywall to match the rest of the walls in the room...and finally repaint to match the existing color scheme....

I will install the tank and still have access from the other side for the components...

 

[bobafet1]

Now Im trying to figure out what to use for a return pump, lighting, and water movement devices...I was thinking of going with 4 MH lamps total with Luminarc III reflectors...2 250W and 2 400W...I have an extra IceCap 660 VHO ballast lying around that I will probably use in congunction with the MH to create a sunrise/sunset effect... Right now my 100 gallon has the cool touch lighting 250 W dual ballast that I will be using for the new tank...Im not sure what ballast to get for the 400W or if I should just replace the cool touch ballast as well...Im not to savy on ballast so if there is a better one out there I would like to know...Also, if I can get away with all 250W ballasts then I would like that as well...my tank depth is 30" so Im not sure if I will be able to do so...I would like to be to keep all types of SPS, Clams, etc.. now Im just rambling on...so if you guys think this configuration will/will not work then let me know..

Any advice is greatly appreciated...

 

[Charles99]

i definately got to get a setup like this when i move...

Looking great dude!

 

[bobafet1]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=6800248#post6800248 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by Charles99
i definately got to get a setup like this when i move...

Looking great dude!

thanks...just let me know when your ready...

 

[Scott S]

Its looking great. I would think about putting some kind of access to the front glass for cleaning. I thought I would be o.k. to get it from the backside. It is a p.i.t.a. let me tell you.

 

[mhurley]

<i>This thread has been moved to the current forum at the thread starters request.</i>

 

[bobafet1]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=6807131#post6807131 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by mhurley
<i>This thread has been moved to the current forum at the thread starters request.</i>

Ive never actually seen nanooks' tank...do you have any pics..

 

[bobafet1]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=6800205#post6800205 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by bobafet1
Now Im trying to figure out what to use for a return pump, lighting, and water movement devices...I was thinking of going with 4 MH lamps total with Luminarc III reflectors...2 250W and 2 400W...I have an extra IceCap 660 VHO ballast lying around that I will probably use in congunction with the MH to create a sunrise/sunset effect... Right now my 100 gallon has the cool touch lighting 250 W dual ballast that I will be using for the new tank...Im not sure what ballast to get for the 400W or if I should just replace the cool touch ballast as well...Im not to savy on ballast so if there is a better one out there I would like to know...Also, if I can get away with all 250W ballasts then I would like that as well...my tank depth is 30" so Im not sure if I will be able to do so...I would like to be to keep all types of SPS, Clams, etc.. now Im just rambling on...so if you guys think this configuration will/will not work then let me know..

Does anyone have advice on my post???? Please..
Any advice is greatly appreciated...

 

[bobafet1]

Ok, its been some time since I updated this thread but I finally finished painting the living room side of the tank. Here are the rest of the pics in sequence...All thats left is to order my oceans motions 4 way and install the closed loop...also, since Im gonna run some powerfull lighting and new homes aren't exactly built with the best electrical wiring I opted to add a seperate breaker to my set up. Instead of the standard 14 size wire that is used Im changing to gauge 10 so that I can run anything I want without burning down the house..I hope...

 

[NexDog]

Looking great, Mike. About the CL - I only see one hole on the overflow side? Is that for the intake and you'll be returning over the top of the tank?

Four Hamilton or Phoenix 14k 400w Halides would be perfect on an 8 ft tank but with LAIII's I hear the spread is so wide that you get away with 3. I have the 400w 14k Hammies powered by Pulse Start ballasts and I think they could be brighter. I hear the IceCap magnetic ballast makes teh lamps burn the brightest? Maybe someone could confirm that.

I built my tank with 2 CLs on 4-Ways in mind but have decided to ditch them and try out those new EM Vortech powerheads. Two reasons - microbubbles and space. Even though I have a room behind the tank, space is limited to mainly under the tank and with a big sump and teh big Deltec 902 and teh Hammerhead running the one CL I'm keeping, I don't have alot of space. If I ever get to upgrade I will be build an extension for a 600g tank. I see an extension to your office in your near future too.

 

[bobafet1]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=6941035#post6941035 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by NexDog
Looking great, Mike. About the CL - I only see one hole on the overflow side? Is that for the intake and you'll be returning over the top of the tank?

When I originally designed the tank I wanted a hole on the side of the tank to act as a drain for water changes. Now, that I decided to use a closed loop with a 4way OM I am converting the drain hole to be the intake for the CL and will drill more holes along the bottom side of the tank for the returns. Im gonna post the entire CL set up next weekend.

Also, thanks for the advice in regards to the lighting..I think Im leaning towards PFO ballasts with Iwasaki bulbs...I hear a lot of people are using mogul bulbs with HQI ballasts but Im not sure I would like to overdrive my bulbs and replace them more often....I just hope someone comes out with an LED set up sometime soon!!!

 

[alien9168]

THis has a really neat built in look too it.
The tank seems to really fit in in this space.

-alien

 

[bobafet1]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=7007169#post7007169 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by alien9168
THis has a really neat built in look too it.
The tank seems to really fit in in this space.

-alien

Thanks for the kind words...I was trying to go with a fitted look...I just can't wait to fill it...Ive started with whatever extra LR and sand I have but I am now looking for some more to finish the aquascaping.....here is a pic of what I got so far... the PVC is my closed loop set up that will run on an OM 4 way...

 

[BrentH]

looking good mike
thats going to be one nice tank once you have it all set up
keep us posted on the progress

 

[BrentH]

opps double post

 

[alien9168]

Looks good to me so far!

-alien

 

[bobafet1]

So far I have just been letting the water and soon to be live rock cycle...I have been short on cash so I havent made any stellar progress yet..here is a pic of my closed loop...Im running a sequence dart with an oceans motions 4 way...although the manufacturer says this pump is quiet I can still hear the motor humming...I wasn't expecting that...also, I think Im going to have to switch to a sequence baracuda or hammerhead because Im not too impressed with the flow...

 

[alien9168]

:thumbsup:

 

[Charles99]

looks good mike.

 

[bobafet1]

Here are some pics of the sump I built this weekend...all thats left to do is finish the top with a 2" border so that the salt creep doesnt come up over the side..I probably won't add water to the sump for two weeks to allow it some time to cure.