New Build Design Phase

C

CuzzA

Active member
So, originally I planned a 96x24x24, but someone on here offered me a 96x30x30 steal stand and I would be stupid not to accept it. So, I'm planning on that size and I'll just have to dial back the "bold column look" stand to accommodate the extra width. Nevertheless, if that falls through it won't change my build much other than the tank depth.

Here's what I've come up with so far.

I'm still on the fence about the overflows. Coast to coast sounds great, but I have no experience with it and as I mentioned in another thread I like how my current Megaflow pulls debris from the entire water column, but hate how much space it takes up. So I'm trying to solve both issues and the triangle is the best I can come up with so far. Thoughts?

I'm also a little concerned about the Jebao DC12000 return pump. If there's any piece of equipment in my system that I want to be reliable it's my return. Right now I have an Eheim 1262 on my 90 and I'm very satisfied. But I do like the idea of a DC return pump on the Apex VDM. Also, between the two returns I'm estimating 2,000-3,000 gph total would be great. Any suggestions here?

I could probably do better on the lighting, but since I have a Photon 48" right now it makes sense to just pick up another one. They seem to hold their value, so later on I could probably sell them both for $800 if I wanted to upgrade. Right now everything in my 90 has great color and growth.

The Reef Octopus skimmer looks to be sufficient for a heavy bio load up to 400 gallons. I'm very happy with my NWB 150 right now. It's very well built and easy to maintain. Of course I'll gladly entertain any suggestions.

I didn't add any of the small details to the illustration. Just the big important stuff. So, what do you think?

 

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Looks good to me. Are you going sand or BB? Since my system is very close to yours I will be watching to see your progress. I wanted to do a coast to coast also but since the tank is going to be a room divider it wont work
 
sirrealism said:
Looks good to me. Are you going sand or BB? Since my system is very close to yours I will be watching to see your progress. I wanted to do a coast to coast also but since the tank is going to be a room divider it wont work
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2-3 inches of sand. For me personally it looks more natural. I currently have a Melanurus wrasse that will need it, plus I'll likely add more wrasse's and thus far my Diamond Watchman Goby has kept my current sand bed spotless, although occasionally he goes nuts and excavates a mountain, but he normally puts it back. Perhaps he's grown accustomed to the look of disgust I give him and knows it's time to stop playing. :-)
 
The return pump would be my biggest suggestion. I don't want to start a war or anything :), but just not enough history on the inexpensive DC pumps for me. I am planning my 300 as well and I was going to go with the Fluval Sea SP6 Water Pump and run external. I also have Photon 48 over my current 120 and was going to just add one on the 300. Not sure if 4 WP25s will be enough, but that is easily changed as you experiment. Skimmer, stick with what you like if it works well for you. I like it simple and you have kept that theme!!
 
janes_mw said:
The return pump would be my biggest suggestion. I don't want to start a war or anything :), but just not enough history on the inexpensive DC pumps for me. I am planning my 300 as well and I was going to go with the Fluval Sea SP6 Water Pump and run external. I also have Photon 48 over my current 120 and was going to just add one on the 300. Not sure if 4 WP25s will be enough, but that is easily changed as you experiment. Skimmer, stick with what you like if it works well for you. I like it simple and you have kept that theme!!
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I agree... Not enough history on those yet. Maybe I'll just add another Eheim 1262 and run separate returns. I like redundancy and that would do it.
 
I have two suggestions, on the sump, make sure the last baffle is the shortest. The first baffle in the bubble trap needs to be higher than the last or you'll have a surface scum build up on in the skimmer section.

The second suggestion is upgrading the pump to the reactors and UV, it seems a little under powered to me for both of them and your UV will nuke anything with that little flow.

I'm also sceptical about your overflows, I would fear the bottom half would be more of a dead zone for detritus regardless of the holes in them closer to the bottom.

Great renderings and looks to be a good build.
 
CuzzA said:
I agree... Not enough history on those yet. Maybe I'll just add another Eheim 1262 and run separate returns. I like redundancy and that would do it.
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Can't beat the reliability of the Eheim for sure! One of the staples of the hobby, a lot to be said about that! Good luck on the build. I have just about pulled the trigger twice on my 300, but then backed off, but I have secretly been "hording" stuff for it :).
 
I'd run a herbie overflow for noise, and run your return through a hard plumbed "T".

For your return pump, I wouldn't skimp. Reeflo dart gold would give you enough flow to add a manifold and plumb future expansions to (calcium reactor, carbon, biopellets, etc)

The size of you power heads and the height at which they are set up is not going to be enough for sps. Maybe three or four 40s on the back, but you'll definitely need some good side to side action for a tank that long WP-60s should get the job done if you want to go the Chinese route.

Your heater is fine, but you'd better get two of them as they like to fail.

Two photon 48s will likely not be enough if you're going to try and cover the whole tank. Those lights have a narrow spread and would likely leave you with a spotlight effect/shadows.

I don't like the BRS reactors personally. I use two of the big two little fisheries reactors so I can control flow a bit more widely. They also won't clog and you'd like the higher capacity, especially if you run into phosphate problems early in the tanks life.

Your water change sounds a bit small for that big of a tank. I'd go with 55 at the least, I do a 35 gallon water change every week.

I'd also recommend looking to the future. Eventually you'll need to control calc and alk and that will be through a dosing system or calcium reactor (a big expense).

Finally, if you're going to do it all custom, go with a closed loop for each rock structure and I'd say a coast to coast overflow because they're more effective (IMO) and show up less in the tank.

Good luck, take your time, and don't skimp on anything!
 
If this tank is being custom made I'd put a nice external coast 2 coast overflow w/bean animal drain setup. Just me personally. Also just for simplicity maybe make a manifold to run the BRS reactor, UV sterilizer and have another valve for water changes. Again, just personal opinions really. The renderings do look absolutely amazing though. Also I'd run two smaller heaters opposed to one larger heater.


Edit: Chad beat me to it on the c2c and two heaters lol.
 
In my experience the DC12000 is a good pump, although I have a backup on hand in case I have issues.

You will definitely need more flow than 4 WP25s. I have a similar sized tank and I have 2 WP40s and 2 WP60s running. I probably have a bit more than I need, but I have 3 WP25s running in my 90 gallon tank and I just don't think those pumps are powerful enough to provide all the flow for that big of an aquarium.

Everything else looks pretty good though.
 
Thanks for all the suggestions everyone.

So I went to FAOIS today and the mean Fish Nazi set me straight. Lol.... In all honesty John was very helpful and explained the flaws in the system. I'll be drawing up a new design and posting it here.

The custom triangle over flows are out. There's no way I'll be able to achieve enough flow. Due to space constraints it looks like I'll have 6 bulkheads with an internal coast to coast overflow.

The reason I listed 4 WP25's is because I can't run 2 in my 90 past 50% without everything getting beat to hell including SPS. However, they are controlled by my Apex and for whatever reason as soon as I hooked them up with custom settings the flow increased substantially. So maybe I'll add a 60 blowing left to right.

The UV will have to be upgraded to 80 watts if I want to be able to kill parasites at a rate higher than they can reproduce.

As for the lights, right now I can't run them higher than 50% without scorching something. They're 8 inches off the water with 90 degree optics. Perhaps I could raise them up and use 120's.

That being said, I clearly have to work out some of the issues. But I'll get there.

Thanks again for the suggestions.
 
LOL .... Million ways to make water flow and no two are perfect! You'll be fine what ever you do i am sure :)
 
lynardskynard12 said:
With that length of a tank is it possible to get a nice simulated wave going?
Click to expand...

I would imagine if you went bb you could get a nice long wave going. A strong pulse at the top and another one at the bottom in opposite directions. Basically an undertow effect.
 
CuzzA said:
Thanks for all the suggestions everyone.

So I went to FAOIS today and the mean Fish Nazi set me straight. Lol.... In all honesty John was very helpful and explained the flaws in the system. I'll be drawing up a new design and posting it here.

The custom triangle over flows are out. There's no way I'll be able to achieve enough flow. Due to space constraints it looks like I'll have 6 bulkheads with an internal coast to coast overflow.

The reason I listed 4 WP25's is because I can't run 2 in my 90 past 50% without everything getting beat to hell including SPS. However, they are controlled by my Apex and for whatever reason as soon as I hooked them up with custom settings the flow increased substantially. So maybe I'll add a 60 blowing left to right.

The UV will have to be upgraded to 80 watts if I want to be able to kill parasites at a rate higher than they can reproduce.

As for the lights, right now I can't run them higher than 50% without scorching something. They're 8 inches off the water with 90 degree optics. Perhaps I could raise them up and use 120's.

That being said, I clearly have to work out some of the issues. But I'll get there.

Thanks again for the suggestions.
Click to expand...

That's interesting about the Apex. When I set mine up I'll have to check that out and see if it makes a difference in my system.
 
anbosu said:
That's interesting about the Apex. When I set mine up I'll have to check that out and see if it makes a difference in my system.
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Yeah I was shocked.... More like "whoa, whoa, whoa!!!" Like a damn tsunami just unleashed its fury on my tank. For me, anything drastically higher than 50% and plates get tossed, clam gets knocked over, small fish go flying and needless to say I'll have a sandstorm. It could have something to do with my aquascape and I have them each positioned at opposite corners against the back glass at the top pointing toward the font center. I think the stock controller greatly limits their capabilities. Although, maybe that's by design because they would eventually fail.
 
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