PurdueMAN_08's 72x48x25 360gal tank

[PurdueMAN_08]

Well, I am sending my final plans of the tank and sump to oceaaquariumproducts.com within a week so I figured I'd start my first big tank thread.

First, here is the intended equipment list I will be purchasing.


Tank: 72x48x25 1/2" glass with 6" Eurobracing (Overlapping)
Sump: 48x24x24 1/2" glass with 4" Eurobracing (Overlapping)

Controller: ACIII
Skimmer: Octopus 400 recirculating skimmer (Rated for 800 gallons)
Calcium Reactor: Geo 618 with reef fanatics regulator
Return Pump:Reeflo Dart (3600 gph)
Circulation Pumps: (2) Koralia Mag 8
Wavemaker: JBJ Ocean Wave Quad (Cheap but should work out)
Lighting: (3) 250 MH with 12k Reeflux bulbs and large Lumenbright's
Phosphate Reactor: Precision Marine 45 with MJ 1200 pump
Heating: (2) 400 watt sub heaters
Live Rock: 200lbs fiji
Base Rock: 240lbs south lace (premium aquatics)
Salt: Seachem

Here is a simple drawing of the tank

And the sump

 

[PurdueMAN_08]

External Overflow 18x7x10
I will be using the 3 standpipe fail safe overflow system that I saw in a thread by Bean Animal.

For water changing I will allow a batch of NSW to flow into the sump over a span of 3 hours and as the water level rises it will simultaneously drain through a standpipe in the sump that leads to a drain in the ground. I have found that most people build enough room in their sumps for the extra amount of water the display holds above the overflow but that is not needed for my sump since it has an emergency drain towards the top that also leads to the drain in the ground.
I will be using a 100 gallon Rubbermaid stock tank for the NSW batch mixing and that will be the container dripping the NSW into the sump during water changes.

Aquascaping:
I will be using live/base rock on pvc built stands with eggcrate shelving to hold the rock and will be using "Great Stuff" foam with resin/sand to cover it up just like Energy used on his 1700gal stingray reef.

TOP OFF:
For top off there will be a 1/4" bulk head with a float valve connected to a small (15 gallon) container. You can see the small hole in the picture of the sump near the top right corner.


All critiquing of my system so far is appreciated btw!

 

[PurdueMAN_08]

Here is a very crude flow of the system. This is very susceptible to change.

 

[TandN]

Looks awesome

 

[waynem]

What if you have no power, the sump drains to the flood resevoir and then the power comes back?

Will the ATO then add water ?

Why the need for that extra tank anyway and how does the water return? I cant help think its suffering from over engineering. Would like to hear what your thinking is behind it.

 

[PurdueMAN_08]

waynem: The sump should be able to hold just enough of the display water in case the power shuts off, however, just in case there happens to be more water in the system at any point in time it won't overflow the sump. That water will not go back into the system and I will just replace water in the drain tank, if any, with NSW if any water ever appears there. This will also tell me if there was a power outage when I'm gone. ( I guess the clocks would do this as well )

Honestly, since my skimmer will be external I'm more worried about the skimmer overflowing than anything else. I hope a float switch in the collection cup will work. I might even put a redundancy switch in there. Has anybody ever had any problems with two float switches ran in series before?

Also, I may use my 40gal tank with 20gal sump as a hospital tank or frag tank. I could just use the old water change water form the main system. Any thoughts on this idea?

Thanks for the question and I hope everybody keeps them coming

 

[PurdueMAN_08]

Okay, I just got a nice full size fridge from my mother. She had two in her garage plus the one in her kitchen and all are pretty close to new so I "borrowed" it for a while. I plan on drilling two bulkheads in the side and run a bunch of tubing in it so I can use it as a chiller. I know the dorm fridges will NOT work but what about a full size one? Plus it will double as extra fridge space in the garage at my house. I will have a pump in my sump wired through my AC3 and that will turn on if the temp rises to high that will in turn push water through the tubing in the fridge. Anybody try this yet?

Also, there have been changes in the design of the tank/sump. I'm sure glad I hadn't sent the plans into the builder yet. I will post them soon.

 

[TandN]

Sounds like a lot of electric to use

 

[burton14e7]

Yeah, fridges are energy hogs...unless you plan to double it as a kegarator like in my man room aka garage...then it's fully understandable

 

[PurdueMAN_08]

I agree, fridges are energy hogs but since it will be pulling double duty as a second fridge/freezer in the garage I think it will be better than spending $1000+ on an aquarium chiller that will use a lot of energy as well but won't be able to house a beer or two....... or twelve... :beer:

Here is an updated system operation pic. Anybody have any suggestions?
Thanks again for the replies so far everyone!

Notice the two return bulkheads to the right of the overflow on the right side of the tank on the sketch below.

SIDE NOTE: I am thinking of making the front panel of the display tank starphire since the tank is 4' wide but I don't know.... I looked down the side of a 75 gallon reef (4' long) and didn't notice any discoloration. Is the starphire really worth it?




.

 

[Corndork2]

First - The design pics look great

Second - GOOO FIGHTING ILLINI

 

[kcdan87]

agreed GO ILLINI o yeah tank design looks cool too haha

 

[da5speed]

very nice design

 

[PurdueMAN_08]

Guys, is the starfire really worth it? With this tank being in wall only the front panel will be visible and I don't know if I want starfire added or not. Like I said earlier, I looked down the side of a 75 gallon (4') tank and I didn't notice any discoloration, granted only 130 wattes of PC is lighting the tank and I will have 3 250w MH on my system. Will I really need the starfire, or can you not really tell the difference?

 

[waynem]

Get the front panel only, with your tank the rest would be a waste.

Dont forget the thicker the glass the bigger the effect, your new tank will be lots bigger then the 75.

I post u a side on pic to see the difference in the glass sheets

 

[waynem]

 

[PurdueMAN_08]

Waynem, thanks for the pic. I didn't think about the difference with the thickness difference of the glass.

 

[PurdueMAN_08]

Anybody know of a stingray species that can be kept in a tank of this size? The rockwork will allow the ray to swim behind the rocks and in front of the rocks in complete circles like Energy's stingray reef tank.