Planning stages of my 300 gallon in wall build

[ryguy886]

Like the title states, I am in the planning stages of my 300 gallon in wall build. I currently have the tank (TruVu) acrylic 96L x 24W x 30T and my sump.

I have had a 150 gallon reef tank for a few years now, so this isn't my first walk in the park, but I've always wanted to go bigger and now I have the chance.

This tank will be in my basement theater / bar room and I will be building this tank into the wall and creating a "fish support room" behind the tank. Can anyone give me a list of the things they "have" to have in a support room. right now I am planning to have the tank, a tub sink, and my RODI unit, fresh and salt water holding tanks. I also plan to have a QT / hospital tank set up. and possibly a frag tank, but I'm not 100% sold on that yet. Any other pieces of equipment or advice from people who have done it before?

Also, what protein skimmer would you recommend for a 300 gallon reef tank?

Attached is a schematic of what I've been planning.

 

[dave.m]

I think you will curse yourself for not having made the fish room wider. I would add at least another 3-4' width to it so that you will have room to put shelving all over the back wall plus some counter space to work on and still have room to move in the middle.

You haven't given any information about the sump so we will have to guess that the new sump has room for all the filters, reactors, dosers, heaters and pumps that you want.

How will you remove high humidity from the fish room at all times of the year?

Dave.M

 

[ryguy886]

The proposed site of this fish room currently has a basement window that will be able to exhaust when humidity levels get to high.

As for the sump, I have a aqueon stage 4 sump that I use for my 150 gallon. Would anyone recommend a different setup? I am not opposed to building one out of a smaller tank. Let me know what all of you guys are using for your large reef tanks.

Cheers,
Ryan

 

[SPotter]

+1 on making the fishroom wider. I just built one in my garage. I originally planned on paper for it to be 9x6 but once I taped it out realized that was way too small so I increased it to 12x7. Now that its built, filled with equipment I am wishing that I went even wider to like 9ft. Fishrooms fill up quickly!

As far as handling humidity in the fishroom, the window will help but how will you handle cooling the room during the summer months?

 

[ryguy886]

Thanks for the comments Steve. I wish I could go wider with the fish room but where I would like to put it is only roughly 7 ft wide. I should have plenty of room for shelves on the far side of the room where I plan to make a rack for the QT tank and frag tank. I look at it as it is better than not having a fish room, like my current 150 gallon set-up .

As for the heat in the summer months, the whole basement theater room is cooled by HVAC ducting, I am planning on having one additional duct put into the fish room.

Cheers,
Ryan

I really am having a hard time deciding on a skimmer to use for this build?? I know there are plenty of various brands out there, but what is the skimmer of choice for very large reef tanks??

 

[SPotter]

Skimmer

Skimmer

I used an ATB 10.5 on my last build and its a great skimmer. I just picked up a new Reef Octopus Regal Skimmer for my new tank. I havent fired it up yet but I have seen videos of it in action and looks to be good. Whats your budget?

 

[ryguy886]

Budget isn't really a important as getting a good skimmer, but I would like to stay under $750 bucks. I also don't mind buying a used one if someone is getting out of the hobby.

 

[SPotter]

take a look at the Reef Octopus Regal 250.

 

[ryguy886]

Thanks Steve, will do

 

[ryguy886]

Ok, so I started playing around with google's new sketchup software and this is what I came up with...

The overall rough dimensions are 11' length by 6' wide for interior space. The display tank is 96" L x 24" D x 30" T. I am planning on using a Rubbermaid Stock Tank for a sump that will house my skimmer, some live rock and two media reactors (one for Carbon, the other for GFO). I will have a separate sump for a refugium and I will have a UV light plumbed inline.

The fish room will also have a QT tank set-up and a water storage / mixing station. This will later be transformed into a simple water change station where I can do large water changes with the flip of a switch :beer:!

I am planning on using 3 AI Hydra 52 LED units, for lighting, to cut down on the energy bills and heat transfer!

I haven't made up my mind about a calcium reactor just yet? If anyone has any recommendations or advice please share. I am planning on stocking with quite a few SPS corals so I will likely need to replenish Ca levels regularly.

Cheers,
Ryan

P.S. - I will post some pics of my sanding/polishing of the acrylic tank as I go.

 

[Spaced Cowboy]

Ok, so I started playing around with google's new sketchup software and this is what I came up with...

The overall rough dimensions are 11' length by 6' wide for interior space. The display tank is 96" L x 24" D x 30" T. I am planning on using a Rubbermaid Stock Tank for a sump that will house my skimmer, some live rock and two media reactors (one for Carbon, the other for GFO). I will have a separate sump for a refugium and I will have a UV light plumbed inline.

The fish room will also have a QT tank set-up and a water storage / mixing station. This will later be transformed into a simple water change station where I can do large water changes with the flip of a switch :beer:!

I am planning on using 3 AI Hydra 52 LED units, for lighting, to cut down on the energy bills and heat transfer!

I haven't made up my mind about a calcium reactor just yet? If anyone has any recommendations or advice please share. I am planning on stocking with quite a few SPS corals so I will likely need to replenish Ca levels regularly.

Cheers,
Ryan

P.S. - I will post some pics of my sanding/polishing of the acrylic tank as I go.

Fwiw, I'm planning an in-wall tank in about 6 months, and I wish I had the space you have for a fish room. My tank will be 84x30x24 tall, and it all has to fit into 127" by 46"...

I'll be watching how you go though, best of luck

Simon