New 220 gallon build

[KurtsReef]

Well, I guess its time to start my own thread...building a 220 that will be viewed from both our dining room and television room.

I was going to order a custom tank to fit the opening (80" long) with starfire on both sides...you know planning without really adding up the total cost of this sort of system. Found out that the skimmers alone run $700 and up to get close too the skimming capabilities that I wanted and the aquarium estimate coming back at $2300 made me rethink that and now will be going with a standard 72" size and putting up some drywall to fill in the other 8 inches.

The tank will be going here:

I will be building the stand myself, the tank should be here next Thursday-Saturday.

The skimmer I decided on is the Octopus TDNW-300 which will be in the cellar along with a 300g rubbermaid tub as the sump. I also picked up a used calcium reactor to use and plan on setting up the basement this weekend.

Cellar currently looks like this:

Just picked up the plumbing and utility sink yesterday, need to work on placement and plumbing today and get the RO unit started filling up the 300g tub.

Hoping to sell either the 75 or 45g tanks I have running now and will be using the other as a refugium.

Also have some 400w MH lights that will be on the main tank.

My kids are looking forward too being able to get more fish...

 

[Henry Colf]

NICE!!!!Keep us updated on the build.I love the in-wall tanks,and the penninsula tanks.I like to be able to view the tank from both the front and the back,plus it gives you room for more corals.Have you decided on what you are going to use for flow in the tank,return from sump ?Good luck with the build and keep us posted.

 

[chrisguy]

Gotta keep an eye on this one!!

 

[KurtsReef]

Henry, I have not decided on a return pump yet. Plan on using the Mag7 on the closed loop, wanted to actually do most of the plumbing to see what kind of head were talking about getting it back into the tank.

Would like to have a pretty high flow rate, semi-quiet and low energy consumption...any suggestions?

 

[RandyO]

When your designing the stand, make sure you leave room for the Bulkheads in the bottom of the tank. Sometimes people forget about this when putting together a stand and have uprights or cross beams where a bulkhead will be sitting.

 

[SkiFletch]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=10386667#post10386667 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by KurtsReef
Henry, I have not decided on a return pump yet. Plan on using the Mag7 on the closed loop, wanted to actually do most of the plumbing to see what kind of head were talking about getting it back into the tank.

Would like to have a pretty high flow rate, semi-quiet and low energy consumption...any suggestions?

Well, with a basement sump you'll have to also consider high-head pumps. You're prolly talkin 18-20ft of head when all is said and done and that's lot of head. That much head will quickly kill the flowrate on many high-flow pumps. As a general rule of thumb, high head pumps have relatively thin pumps (front to back) while high flow pumps have wide pumps (front to back). Physics and fluid dynamics pretty much force that design

When you say pretty high are we talkin like 2000gph, or more like 4000?

 

[KurtsReef]

Closer too the 4k, I was actually wanting too find about 3500 for a 15 ft head which is my estimate of what it should end up being.

Thanks Randy, I was thinking that exact thing and tried to find a perfecto 220 diagram online last night but was unsuccessful too see exactly where those two overflows were drilled into the corners. I will be assuming that other than the 2x that the tank will set on if I leave 6" around the rear corners there should be plenty of room there?

Edited to add:
Gladly accept any help in building the stand, will be working on it this week.

 

[SkiFletch]

Figured that's about the flowrate you were talking about. Probably looking at Sequence Hammerhead or Manta Ray pumps at those stats

 

[triggerjay]

I am working on a similiar project, with a 100g basement sump, approx 12ft head.. I have decided on a sequence barracuda for the return, and a sequence dart for my CL on the main display (125g). Have not decided on a skimmer yet though...

Jason

 

[KurtsReef]

Today I finished plumbing the utility sink and running a new line for a hose outside by the wifes deck.

I also braced the floor where the tank will go. This is an exterior wall and may not have needed the added bracing, however better safe than sorry. Used a 10' 4x4 and two jack stands:

The plumbing (me and plumbing do not get along too well, go figure with aquariums being one of my big hobbies...) need to be repaired in two spots, outside where the hose hookup went and where I started the job...an old unused washer/dryer hookup, the cold water connection is leaking but i think that may be the inside of that old fitting.

 

[RandyO]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=10389470#post10389470 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by KurtsReef

I will be assuming that other than the 2x that the tank will set on if I leave 6" around the rear corners there should be plenty of room there?

.

You should be safe with 2" around the perimeter, but I would leave a little more than 6" in the corner.

 

[Gary Majchrzak]

Randy gave some good advice.
I'm wondering if you considered getting an aquarium with built in overflows at the center of each end rather than the corners, Kurt.
(Similar to the aquarium at the entrance of 'Reef Creations'.)
Corner overflows will end up being visible in one room or another in your situation. You might be able to do center end overflows if you offset the aquarium from the support wall, but then again you might not- I can't tell from here.
Just thought I'd make the suggestion...

 

[KurtsReef]

Thanks Gary, in this case the back side of the aquarium will be 'inside' the wall for six inches that is why I went with the back corner overflows. The picture frame room where the stand will not be so the tank will look built totally into the wall will have the overflows on that side and appear shorter in size than the room with the stand. The sides of the tank will also be viewable, so we will really have all four sides and the center side overflows would be very visible.

Filling the 300g tub up, had the ro/di unit on all night. Tested the water coming out today it is reading 5 with my new handy dandy meter (water straight out of the pipes is in the 190's) there was some sand and salt residue in a tank I have sitting in the rubbermaid which may attribute to a bit of that....needed to get some ro/di for top off last night.

 

[jet_jer]

Kurt - Nice build - If you need a hand with anything let me know I'm in Eden so it's not to far to help. Look forward to this.

Jer

 

[KurtsReef]

The 300 gal tub is filling with RO/DI water still, I would guess there is 120 gallons in there now.

Today I took out the windows with a bit of help.

It was harder to remove the window than I had imagined, we needed too use a reciprocating saw to cut the window out. A couple neighbors came by to help get it out.

Now to build a stand...

Edited too add....do not tell my wife I did not crop her out of that last shot, it is not too flattering.

 

[chrisguy]

Kurt - You are flying on the progress. I need to get moving.

 

[KurtsReef]

Well, I am getting done what I can...

Randy wants me too pick the tank up this week, and if I do not get the stand done it will not happen as if I put it in the garage where you have yours the kids would crack it before a few hours passed.

I need too have the stand ready too at least hold a tank, getting it trimmed can wait a bit.

 

[mr evolution]

Nice write up, keep us posted

 

[acdraindrps]

Great progress, Kurt. Give me a shout through a pm or call the store and I will help out any way I can.

 

[KurtsReef]

Thanks Chris, still have that Dart pump you were selling?

Edited to add update:

Should have added what I accomplished last night...no photos to accompany the text this time.

The Octopus TNWD300 (Hope I have the model number correct here) arrived and I put it together on the deck. Big monster, lots of 'dust' from the packaging is the reason for the outside assembly. The instructions were a piece of paper with a crude drawing, however not too difficult. Picked up the second too last piece and found the package of washers that should have gone onto each item I had just attached so got to do it twice...must be an expert now on the skimmer. Dusted it off with the air compressor wiped it down and placed it in the cellar where there is now about 240g of ro/di water in the rubbermaid tub. Dumped a bucket of salt in and mixed it, boy is that water cold need to get a temp probe and a couple larger heaters today.