NEW 210 build!!
- Thread starter Sn8kbyt
- Start date
dwebster86
New member
Nice, look forward to more!
Worked on buying some equipment tonight for the build. So far I am going with the following which is ordered:
-Skimz SM253 Monzter D-Series
-Reef Octopus Diablo 10500 DC return pump
-Herbie style drain 2-1" siphon and 2-1" emergency drains
-Dual 3/4" returns (over the back) with loc-line
-90 gallon DIY sump
-All the various plumbing pieces
Things I have:
-BRS RO/DI unit
-BRS dual reactor for carbon and GFO
-Two titanium heaters
-4 Hydor Koralia Magnum Pump/Powerhead (for now may upgrade to down the road)
To be ordered once the stand and plumbing are done:
-Full Apex Gold
- Bubble Magus BM-T01 doser
-Apex controlled ATO
-Anything else not thought of at the moment, comment if you think I am missing any thing that is a must have.
To be decided yet:
-Lights (leaning toward Rapid LED right now) you guys have any opinions on them?
-Skimz SM253 Monzter D-Series
-Reef Octopus Diablo 10500 DC return pump
-Herbie style drain 2-1" siphon and 2-1" emergency drains
-Dual 3/4" returns (over the back) with loc-line
-90 gallon DIY sump
-All the various plumbing pieces
Things I have:
-BRS RO/DI unit
-BRS dual reactor for carbon and GFO
-Two titanium heaters
-4 Hydor Koralia Magnum Pump/Powerhead (for now may upgrade to down the road)
To be ordered once the stand and plumbing are done:
-Full Apex Gold
- Bubble Magus BM-T01 doser
-Apex controlled ATO
-Anything else not thought of at the moment, comment if you think I am missing any thing that is a must have.
To be decided yet:
-Lights (leaning toward Rapid LED right now) you guys have any opinions on them?
Doesn't look like much progress after working all day on the stand. I spent a good few hours of it thinking, planning, and then more thinking to make sure it is exactly how I want it. I don't want to say when it is done I wish I would have done this instead, or that is REALLY hard to access.
I did get all of the final pieces installed in the frame, got the compartments boxed in, and got 3 coats of gloss white brushed on. I also got all four sides of the oak plywood cut to size, and just need to lay it on the frame to draw the door cut-outs when the paint dries.
I did get all of the final pieces installed in the frame, got the compartments boxed in, and got 3 coats of gloss white brushed on. I also got all four sides of the oak plywood cut to size, and just need to lay it on the frame to draw the door cut-outs when the paint dries.
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Not much more progress on the stand I work long days, but did get some laminate applied and sealed in where the 90 gallon sump will sit and where the compartment is next to it. Sump will be sitting 2" inside a tray that was built into the stand and although not a lot of room it will hold water. There will be a apex leak monitor in there for alerts and to shut things down.
I got all of the panels to skin the stand drawn out for cut-outs for openings and after the delay the holiday will bring should have it assembled this coming weekend. It is starting to come together and looking like that little plan I had planted in my brain.
I did not elaborate much on the design previously so here are some missing details. The stand is 38" tall by 73" long and there will be four 16" wide by 28" high doors on the front of the stand and one of the same size on each end. They will be mounted with a product called tree-lok fasteners which will allow them to be snapped on and off for full access. The right side will house all the controllers and electronics and is about 5" deep and segregated from the rest of the stand interior as best as possible.
Apex Gold has been purchased yesterday with all the expansion modules and goodies needed for this build. Other than some Home Depot plumbing type items I now have everything needed to finish the build except lights.
Thanks to everyone in this community for sharing the good, bad, and ugly with all of us. I have been reading these forums a good 2 years before my first reef tank and any contributions on my behalf. This place has been invaluable.
Let me know your thoughts, ideas, and any critique of this build, I appreciate all of it.
Chris
I got all of the panels to skin the stand drawn out for cut-outs for openings and after the delay the holiday will bring should have it assembled this coming weekend. It is starting to come together and looking like that little plan I had planted in my brain.
I did not elaborate much on the design previously so here are some missing details. The stand is 38" tall by 73" long and there will be four 16" wide by 28" high doors on the front of the stand and one of the same size on each end. They will be mounted with a product called tree-lok fasteners which will allow them to be snapped on and off for full access. The right side will house all the controllers and electronics and is about 5" deep and segregated from the rest of the stand interior as best as possible.
Apex Gold has been purchased yesterday with all the expansion modules and goodies needed for this build. Other than some Home Depot plumbing type items I now have everything needed to finish the build except lights.
Thanks to everyone in this community for sharing the good, bad, and ugly with all of us. I have been reading these forums a good 2 years before my first reef tank and any contributions on my behalf. This place has been invaluable.
Let me know your thoughts, ideas, and any critique of this build, I appreciate all of it.
Chris
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Toddrtrex
Premium Member
Looking good, I finally got my 210 running with water last week.
Heard that some people have issues getting the Herbie to work properly with the dual overflows (( I set mine up the same way )), but I haven't had any major issues. The right side took a little more tweaking of the gate valve, but it is darn quiet. The fans for my light fixture is the biggest noise producer.
I would just make sure that you use gate valves, and not ball valves, really do need to be able to make small adjustments to get it just right.
I have a similar skimmer, went with the Skimz Leopard SL183, shocked at how little noise it makes. Can't speak too much on performance yet, since I only have dry rock in there.
Heard that some people have issues getting the Herbie to work properly with the dual overflows (( I set mine up the same way )), but I haven't had any major issues. The right side took a little more tweaking of the gate valve, but it is darn quiet. The fans for my light fixture is the biggest noise producer.
I would just make sure that you use gate valves, and not ball valves, really do need to be able to make small adjustments to get it just right.
I have a similar skimmer, went with the Skimz Leopard SL183, shocked at how little noise it makes. Can't speak too much on performance yet, since I only have dry rock in there.
Toddrtrex,
I actually read your whole build thread on your 210. I must say you had some awesome looking pics of your past tanks.
I will be going with gate valves, but good to know that getting them right will entail small adjustments.
I know there is not much out there for long term reviews of any skimmer or return pump running DC power, but I am under a power restraint and not able to run a 20 amp service to the tank and need to conserve where I can to keep a tank that large running reliably on a 15 amp breaker. That by far is what I see as my weakest link in my build plan, and hope it isn't an expensive downfall or bad decision going forward.
Chris
Thanks Dreech!
Hope to have it finished by the end of the week. I was just telling my GF this morning that I spent 20 hours on it this past weekend and it looks like I got very little accomplished.
Toddrtrex
Premium Member
Thank you.
I just added up the max amps used for my set up so far, I got 10.6 amps, max, and the average being 5.21 (( got to love the APEX and its graphs )).
Equipment;
Ehiem return pump
2 MP40s powerheads
1 150 heater
1 250 heater
Skimz skimmer
2 CF fuge lights
2 Clip on fans
8*80 T5s and its fan
LED stand lights
ATO DC pump
Not running,
Dosing pump
2 Reactor Pumps
Even with the 3 items not running, running, still would be under 12 amps, which is what you are suppose to be at --- 80% of the circuit's rating.
So, if you have a similar load, and nothing else on that circuit, you should be fine.
Got some progress done today. All but one of the Apex modules mounted, got all of the oak skin on the stand frame, and got it stained. Now 3-5 coats of poly before the end of the weekend and I will have met my goal, and it is only Friday. My GF even volunteered to help and is working on making the old 90 gallon tank clean and like new so it can be made into the sump. Nice that she is on board with this project and doesn't always think I am crazy 
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The holidays and work have killed most forward build progress the last week or so. I have managed to get some finish work on the stand and spend another butt load on orders UPS has steadily been delivering daily. Stand is completely finished less the doors, I only have 2 of 6 finished and complete.
Started working on the sump and have almost everything laid out. Hope to have the sump tank in the stand and start on the plumbing by the end of the week. The glass for the dividers should be cut and ready for pick-up on Saturday.
Originally planned on setting this tank up in the living room of the house, but now having 2nd thoughts. I have a finished office/man cave in the basement where I spend most of my time awake when not at work and spend very little time upstairs in the living room. Yes it would be an awesome focal point in the main room of the house for visitors but it is my tank and baby so is that more important than where I spend most of my time to enjoy it? I easily have room to put it up in either place that will look awesome.
What would you my fellow RC members do in this situation?
Started working on the sump and have almost everything laid out. Hope to have the sump tank in the stand and start on the plumbing by the end of the week. The glass for the dividers should be cut and ready for pick-up on Saturday.
Originally planned on setting this tank up in the living room of the house, but now having 2nd thoughts. I have a finished office/man cave in the basement where I spend most of my time awake when not at work and spend very little time upstairs in the living room. Yes it would be an awesome focal point in the main room of the house for visitors but it is my tank and baby so is that more important than where I spend most of my time to enjoy it? I easily have room to put it up in either place that will look awesome.
What would you my fellow RC members do in this situation?
Well was a good day. The glass for the 90 gallon sump baffles were ready a day early so I got started today instead of Saturday. I got all the baffles in except the last one which will go in tomorrow once the silicone sets and I can remove the braces. It will be setup from left to right: Drains, filter socks, skimmer, Heater #1, in the first section. Dosing tubes will go into the middle baffle before the return pump. Return pump, and float switches in section #2. The last section will be the fuge and house Heater #2 (the back-up).
I am not sure where to put the Apex probes though (PH, Temp, ORP, Salinity) what do you all recommend?
I also got the doors finished and the last coats of poly on everything.
Last thing completed is the lights for inside the stand. I ordered a 20 foot waterproof strip of LED lights and glued them to the upper part of the stand.
I am not sure where to put the Apex probes though (PH, Temp, ORP, Salinity) what do you all recommend?
I also got the doors finished and the last coats of poly on everything.
Last thing completed is the lights for inside the stand. I ordered a 20 foot waterproof strip of LED lights and glued them to the upper part of the stand.
Toddrtrex
Premium Member
How big is each room?
Our "basement" (( ground level in the back/garage, 1/3 under ground in the front, they call it an English basement )), is where I have my home theater, and spend a lot of time too. However, it is a smallish room. Even the 75 makes this room feel a bit cramped.
I wanted the 210 down here, but knew that putting it on the main floor was the best choice -- it is a family/dinning room combo, so the biggest room in the house.
A buddy of mine from college is a designer, had him over a while ago -- back when I had my 40 breeder up in the family/dinning room. He said "why do you have the smallest tank in the biggest room. Get rid of the small one, and the downstairs and get a big one for here" That is why mine is where it is, and it makes the most sense.
The rooms are very close in size. The basement is slightly larger but also has more wall space as there is only one window. My upstairs is a family room only and divided from the dining room and kitchen. My hang up is that my job has me working away from home 2-3 days a week and the rest of the time I work from home in my basement/office/man cave. My bedroom and bathroom are also in the basement. I literally spend maybe 15 minutes most days in the upper portion of the house unless I am cooking or eating neither of which would be in view of the tank.
From a designer standpoint it should go upstairs as a "show piece" as an "enjoy piece" it should go in the basement. That is my predicament. My GF wants it upstairs so everyone can see it when they enter the house as a show piece, I think more as I continue the build I want it where I spend the most time.
Toddrtrex, if the size of your rooms were reversed are you saying it would be in the basement without a doubt?
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