Reefsi 240 gallon In-Wall Build

[Reefsi]

So I have been lazy and haven't posted any updates. Actually just been spending more time working on the tank than on the forums!

This is the rest of the stuff that arrived Wednesday.


GAC and GFO reactors! These things are HUGE!


Apex Gold controller, Lunar and Light controller(VDM) is on the way still!


That was the end of the day Wednesday, I did send one ATI 60" back and bought 3 more Kessil A360's I'll post more.


KMU: Thanks buddy! Visited your build as well, Looking good!

 

[Reefsi]

Thursday all of my sump materials arrived and started putting it together. Ill show a timelapse over the last 3 days for the build of it. But here is the build as it stands now.

Yesterday the rest of the Kessils arrived, totaling for the whole build! Along with the rest of the modules for the Apec controller.


Rear view.


Side View.


Apex controller hooked up!


Going to get a lot more done today!

 

[muttley000]

Apex envy...

 

[Mavilez]

the lighting coverage is going to be amazing. I cant wait to see pictures.

 

[OutsideBrian]

Nice, keep em coming

 

[Dbondaruk]

Very nice build man but. WHERE IS THE WATER?
Can't to see the lighting running

 

[Reefsi]

Thanks for the compliments! Just finished the sump today and ill post some pictures in the morning of it!

Ill also get some more pictures of the lighting up and running, finally finished the wiring to the VDM and been messing with its features.

Waiting on a calc reactor and everything will be ready to rock and roll, expect it to be full with water next weed sometime, trust me its been a loooong waiting game.


Thanks for the comments!

 

[Newbie Aquarist]

Waiting on a calc reactor and everything will be ready to rock and roll, expect it to be full with water next weed sometime, trust me its been a loooong waiting game.

I am thinking you meant next week. I don't think weed and reefing should be combined and it could be illegal in 46 out of the 48 continental United States. :lolspin::lolspin::lolspin:

 

[Reefsi]

ROFL, yeah definitely a typo there!

Clearwater, Florida huh? How long you been there? We own 2 condos in St. Pete Beach, 2 blocks from the Don CeSar. What a nice a quiet area that place is.

 

[ca1ore]

I don't know if the consensus has changed in the last year or so, but I've always heard that if the tank sits in a trim you should not use styrofoam under it. I have a 300 gallon DD tank directly on a similar stand and I have had zero issues with the tank in 4 years of operation. Can you elaborate a little on whey you're using the styrofoam?

I'm not the OP, but Glasscages is one of the customer tank makers who stipulate foam under all their tanks as a condition of warranty.

 

[ca1ore]

Any suggestions on a Calcium Reactor that would keep up with a pretty well stocked SPS tank? Tank is 240gal+120Sump

Not sure if you have decided on one yet, but I have been using the MTC Pro-Cal for years and its a beast!

 

[Reefsi]

Ya, besides Glass Cages making it a stipulation I still think it is a great idea. I actually just posted something along this topic on another thread. But I actually sat back and thought about it. 9 times out of 10 people with large tanks tend to build there stand, well lumber is never perfect(trust me I've been a carpenter since the age of 10) and there is always some sort of human variation. Placing a tank full of water with the littlest mistake can create mass amounts of stress on the glass. By putting a simple piece of foam down you allow the tank to settle evenly throughout the entire surface letting the tank rest on the stand stress free.

I may be wrong but something is telling me I'm right.

 

[Reefsi]

So this has been what I have been working on the past week.

Sump
Total Volume: 100 gallons
Actual Volume that will be held: 72 Gallons
All 3/8 Acrylic with 1/4 Acrylic baffles

This was the original plan that I completely changed because I decided against a refugium and wanted more volume in the return pump area.

Top View


Side View


Day One: Bottom and Sides up


Day Two: Majority of Baffles in Place




Day Three: Last Side put on


Day four:


Day Five: I tested the tank with success!




Side View


First true acrylic sump I have built, I learned a lot as far as everything goes through the build. A couple things I wish I changed as far as volume and adding more baffles. I really can't complain about neatness and it being square because I made sure of that. I will be adding a probe/ATO sensor holder to it, but this was the true test I was worried about!

I do wish I nipped the corners of my squares because, as you can see in one picture, some of the square got stuck behind with the glue lol

 

[crvz]

I'm not the OP, but Glasscages is one of the customer tank makers who stipulate foam under all their tanks as a condition of warranty.

Do glasscages place their tanks in a bottom trim or just flat glass? If the latter, then I fully appreciate their stance.

Ya, besides Glass Cages making it a stipulation I still think it is a great idea. I actually just posted something along this topic on another thread. But I actually sat back and thought about it. 9 times out of 10 people with large tanks tend to build there stand, well lumber is never perfect(trust me I've been a carpenter since the age of 10) and there is always some sort of human variation. Placing a tank full of water with the littlest mistake can create mass amounts of stress on the glass. By putting a simple piece of foam down you allow the tank to settle evenly throughout the entire surface letting the tank rest on the stand stress free.

I may be wrong but something is telling me I'm right.

I was under the presumption that the trim itself was to accomplish just this; to help distribute the stress along the tank floor without creating pressure points (I spoke with some of the engineers at marineland when I purchased my tank for what I thought were some inconsistencies, who told me as much). I would be surprised if the foam creates new problems, I just don't know if it is helping in any way, and I know the dialoge for years was to not use it in combination with tanks in a trim.

Of course I don't have any definitive answers, so I imagine I'm helping you very little.

 

[dave.m]

Just a couple of thoughts on your new sump:

If you turn off all the pumps on the aquarium, i.e. simulate a power failure, do you have enough room in your sump for all the water that will drain into it?

Also, I would strongly suggest some euro-brace type strips along the long sides at least. It doesn't look it now but over time those long sides are going to start to sag outwards and when they do your baffles may start to pop.

Dave.M

 

[Reefsi]

Dave,

Thanks for your suggestions!

1. Yeah, actually had a bad experience with my first reef tank with a sump. It was a 180 bowfront and had some people help me along with the build about 12 years ago. Well they suggested I put a 35 gallon tank in for the sump, no baffles and so forth. Well one day the power failed and yup about 30 gallons of water ended up on the floor...
So to answer your questions yes I made sure I could account for the extra water in the event of a power failure. I figured about 8 gallons for every inch of tank and in the event of a power failure I should only lose 2-3 inches max which is 24 gallons.

2. Thanks for the suggestion, I was on the fence about bracing but never thought about the effect over time. I'm going to rip some 1/4" thick 2 1/2" Wide strips tomorrow and slap them on.

 

[Reefsi]

Did some math, Actually the sump will be holding 61 Gallons at all times.

Intake: 10 Gallons
Skimmer Section: 19 Gallons
Heater/Reactor Discharge: 13 Gallons
Return Pump Section: 19 Gallons

Leaving 39 Gallons extra room for power failure

 

[Reefsi]

Pictures of some of the plumbing, mostly done.

Starting from the bottom line:
Pump into GFO and Carbon reactors
Drain for Carbon Reactor
Drain for GFO reactor
Line running up the wall goes to sewer for water changes


Starting from the bottom line:
Pump into GFO and Carbon Reactors
Drain for Carbon Reactor
Drain for GFO
1 1/2" Drain line from overflow
1" Main Return


So this is a picture mainly of the Drain lines, I have two 1 1/2" overflow drains on the tank which both run into the manifold for 3 downspouts
The other line in the photo is my 1" Main Return


This is the GFO and Carbon Reactors
The bottom line is the feed line which splits and feeds both reactors.
The valve pointing down is for my Calc Reactor when it arrives


The sump!

 

[ca1ore]

9 times out of 10 people with large tanks tend to build there stand, well lumber is never perfect(trust me I've been a carpenter since the age of 10) and there is always some sort of human variation.

Got sick of crap lumber, so on my most recent big tank stand I ended up laminating two layers of 3/4 inch ply and ripping 8" beams on my table saw. Ruler flat and less deflection than 2x8 beams. Used them for all horizontal runs along top of stand.

 

[dave.m]

I'm going to rip some 1/4" thick 2 1/2" Wide strips tomorrow and slap them on.

If you have it I'd suggest 3/8" thick strips would be better.

The best option, of course would be a full sheet across the top with access hole(s) routed out of the top, but there's probably a cost factor that you'll have to consider.

Dave.M