Reeferstace's 300g Dream Tank

[reeferstace]

This past May I bought a used 300g tank from a club member who was doing the "divorce downsize". His unfortunate loss was my fortunate gain.

The tank dimensions are 96"x30"x24". It is made of 3/4' glass and is heavier than me after a dozen doughnuts and a couple of Diet Dr. Peppers.

It is reported to be a tank that Ken Stockman had built for himself. Now it sits in my basement where it will stay. It will join a 40b turtle tank, a 55g freshwater tank, and a 29g saltwater tank. The basement is currently unfinished.

There will be a 75g sump and 40g refugium plumbed in with the 300g.



This summer I had a fellow club member build a basic stand that will be skinned later.

Stand outside the basement doors.

Checking to see if everything is level.

 

[reeferstace]

Stocking plans for the tank-

It will officially be a mixed reef. I am much more interested in fish than corals so they are my top priority. I have a pair of onyx clowns that will move from the 29g to the big tank.

I also plan to add:
Tangs-
a small Naso lituratus- lipstick Naso
an Acanthurus nigrofuscus- Lavendar tang
a Zebrasoma flavescens - yellow tang
a Ctenochaetus tominiensis- Tomini tang

Angels
a Pomacanthus xanthometopon - blue-face angel
a Pomacanthus navarchus-majestic OR other large angel

Butterflies
a Chaetodon xanthurus-pearlscale butterfly (although I would rather have it's Red Sea cousin Chaetodon paucifasciatus
maybe a couple of Hemitaurichthys polylepis- pyramid butterflies

Others
Grouping of Apogon leptacanthus-threadfin cardinals
Grouping of anthias- perhaps Pseudanthias ignitus since they seem like a good choice for anthias novices like me. Opinions??????
Cryptocentrus cinctus-Yellow watchman
Valenciennea puellaris- diamond goby
Opistognathus aurifrons- pearly-headed jawfish
Salarias fasciatus- lawnmower blenny

Wrasses
Halichoeres chrysus- yellow coris
a couple more fairy/flashers to be determined later.

CUC
I just ordered a large CUC from John at reefcleaners.org.
Included are:
Dwarf Ceriths, Fuzzy Chitons, Emerald/Ruby Mithrax Crabs, Nassarius Vibex, Sea Cucumbers, ZigZag Periwinkles, and Blue Leg Hermit Crab.

I love echinoderms and will also be adding some pencil urchins and brittle stars.

The refugium will house a variety of macro algae including (also from reefcleaners):
Flame Algae, Botryocladia (Red Grape), Halimeda (Monile/Incrassata), Pencil Cap (Small), and Ulva.

 

[reeferstace]

Tank arrival

Tank arrival

The tank arrived at my house. It needed to enter the double-basement doors around the back of the house. No problem, the guys just took a section of my fence down and drove the tank to my back door. :lol2:

Stand was moved over to the door...

The smallest guy was UNDER the tank- out of sight in this photo.

Stand and tank just inside the doorway about 20 feet from where it needed to be.

20 feet was no match for these guys.

 

[reeferstace]

Finally in its resting place.

First order of business is to remove the hitchhiker.

Todd is keeping the drill bit wet as Chris drills my return holes.

Evidence of the "Day of Plumbing"

Right side return hole

 

[reeferstace]

The tank was drilled for a closed loop. I decided aganist going this route and covered the CL bottom holes with appropriately sized glass.

There are two bottom drains that lead to the sump. Here is one drain hole as seen from under the stand.

This is what it looked like from above.

Next up was siliconing. I chose to have Chris remove all the old silicone and replace it with fresh.

I can't believe how much silicone was on there already.

Loading up and ready to go.

Chris made my new black acrylic covers for my internal overflows.

Cutting them down to size.