New Marineland 300 DD Setup Log

[ReefSalt]

Hey Everyone,

My new Reef aquarium building will start slowly, I will keep all my old equipment because it works perfectly, and was purchased for a large tank volume of water to start.



Marineland Aquarium StarFire 300 Gallon DD 72 X 36 X 27
Monteray Stand and Canopy


Sump filtration will be a 75 gallon and will incorporate a refugium and auto top off.


Lighting will Ecotech Radion 6 Pro`s G3
Return Pump Reef Flo Hammerhead/Barracuda Gold Series
Skimmer Reef Octopus SRO5000
JNS Sulphur Reactor for Nitrate control
Reef Octopus Ozone Reactor
4 x Tunze 6105 with 2x Ecotech Vortech MP40
2 x 550 Phosban reactors( GFO and Carbon)



So I received this beast of a starfire glass tank, I also picked up the stand and cover Marineland Monterey in black wood grain. Very well done better than older models with doors at the front and on the side for easy access. The canopy is sweet since it has doors and also folds upward to give me lots of room to play in the tank.

 

[ReefSalt]

Tank delivery day

 

[ReefSalt]

took only one guy with a jigger and tail gate





Got to love Starfire Glass

 

[ReefSalt]

Time to unload the Cabinet and Canopy

 

[ReefSalt]

Oh yeah like I said before I have kept SPS Reefs for over 15 years here is my old one.

 

[ReefSalt]

The rear tank glass sprayed with plastidip.



Tank back wall sprayed




this stuff sticks to everything lol.

 

[ReefSalt]

Since the Radions needs to be 8" from the water, conventional hanging options were out of the question with the Marineland Monterey Canopy its oddly made inside.

So I devised a way to have good airflow above the Radion and still get my 8".

This is what I came up with. it actually looks really nice and solid I can move and tilt my lights as i wish.

I used 2 lengths Galvanized Angle Iron 1 1/4" x 72".
Cut them into 6 x 24" strips.

and protected them with PlastiDip

 

[ReefSalt]

supports are finished and ready to be tested. The foam is expanding insulating foam strips which expands to 1.1/4" this will give a tight fit and allow me to move the Radions and Tilt them if needed.

Right now the foam has not completely expanded but will slowly.



Close up

 

[ReefSalt]

And now for a Fit Test.



Sweet fits like a charm and holds well.

 

[ReefSalt]

next step install the supports into the canopy.

 

[dave.m]

Probably a better solution to your hanging kit problem would be to use aluminum framing like 8020.

Dave.M

 

[ReefSalt]

Probably a better solution to your hanging kit problem would be to use aluminum framing like 8020.

Dave.M

Damn those are nice didn't think of using that oh well , maybe in the future thanks for the link.


*** Ouch just checked out the price its expensive stuff, 100$ for 96" on average I would need 2 x , I paid $60 buck everything included.

 

[ChrisKirkland]

Looking forward to this build. I have a 300DD also.

 

[orly20]

Good stuff so far! I'll be hanging around

 

[ReefSalt]

All Plumbing,valves ,uni-seals ,bulkheads ect in Sch 40 and 80 has been bought, also drill guide ,new glass hole saws ( old ones were tired) . I will be cleaning all the plumbing down with some acetone . now its time I have to get.

 

[ReefSalt]

Looking forward to this build. I have a 300DD also.

@ ChrisK,

How do you find using 4 Radions on the 300 DD ?
I`m going to be using 6 G2 Pro`s

 

[Comedy Fish]

What would you recommend as far as radions go on an 8' 300 gallon?

 

[stinkyreef]

Thats a great tank, always liked that 300 DD. Nice idea on the light supports!

 

[ReefSalt]

What would you recommend as far as radions go on an 8' 300 gallon?

After running 3 on a 84" x 24"x30" as per Ecotech suggestions, I found it not sufficient for a SPS Reef. I increased it to 6 and the coverage was much better and the growth.

A 8' foot tank I think the same amount of 6 units would be needed if you are keeping a SPS tank and would be my suggestion. This is for the G2 Pros of coarse, If I had the G3 Pros with wide angle reflectors then you can probably get away with 4 units with the reflector but it would have to be tried to be sure.

 

[ReefSalt]

Thats a great tank, always liked that 300 DD. Nice idea on the light supports!

Thanks, they actually look real good and work like I intended.