Returning with a 360g (96x36x24) w/fishroom

[Kroamium]

Greetings ReefCentral,

Used to have a few tanks from 40g all the way up to 220g set up back on 2009 and had to tear down due to being stationed overseas for three years. Now that we are back in the states and pretty much settled up here in the northern tundra of North Dakota we have decided to get back in our passion of reef keeping.

We have decided to dedicate one of the basement rooms to a fishroom hosting a 360g (96"x36"x24") display tank in wall with the display into the family/entertainment room. It's a custom tank with an external coast to coast overflow on the back side, currently being built and should be completed here in the next couple of weeks.

I plan on it being a SPS, anemone and lots of fish tank

So far, as planning goes that's about as far as iv'e done. Well with probably having a 150g rubermaind sump along with a frag tank tied into the system as well. I have a crap ton of ideas of what i want to do, as i want to make sure i do it once and be done with the set up, so i want to make sure i plan for pretty much everything

For the large reef tankers out there i'm open to suggestions on the following areas at this time.

Lighting--LEDs were just comming into the hooby as I left it, so interested in this. Interesting overload of reads so far on the forums. But i think im kin the Kessil pendants, just like the idea if adding/placing lights as needed and be stuck with one or two whole fixtures.

Return pump--thinking of a pump powerful enough to have 2ea 1" return lines back to the display, a line to the frag tank, and provide the water to reactors and such. I think the less pumps in the system the better.

Circulation--Really looking into the MP40 and 60's because of the programmable features with the Apex's.

Skimmer--I still have my AquaC 120 from the past and really liked the the simplicity of the skimmers, less parts to go wrong with it.

Any input you have is greatly appreciated.
Thank you

 

[bpcardona]

Welcome back! I can't wait to see progress.

 

[tigershark4]

I have a180 and had two mp 40 I now have changed them for two mp 60. Don't spend your money on the 40s. I also service a 360 and we have two closed loops with darts one mp60 and two Tunze Hope this helps

 

[69bird]

Hi, glad to see you are getting back into the hobby. I live in Winnipeg and would like to see it when you get it up and running. Am in the process of gathering items for a 280 g myself.

What is it like for LFS in Fargo? If you need anything from up here let me know.:beer:

 

[69bird]

Sorry forgot to tell you for pumps I am using a Reeflo Snapper for the return and a Hammerhead for the closed loop. I also have 2 Ocean Motions I am going to plumb in.

Am also going with Led lights and was leaning to AI Vegas - hard decision to make.

 

[Kroamium]

Hi, glad to see you are getting back into the hobby. I live in Winnipeg and would like to see it when you get it up and running. Am in the process of gathering items for a 280 g myself.

What is it like for LFS in Fargo? If you need anything from up here let me know.:beer:

Im up in Minot, so Fargo is about a four drive for me right now. As for LFS, it's scarce up here theres one, and they carry a few corals and fish, but nothing that has impressed me. We do plan taking some weekend trips down to bismark and fargo but they will wait until the system is ready for livestock.

 

[Kroamium]

I have a180 and had two mp 40 I now have changed them for two mp 60. Don't spend your money on the 40s. I also service a 360 and we have two closed loops with darts one mp60 and two Tunze Hope this helps

Thanks for the feedback.
I was thinking of two 40's on the sides and one 60 on the back in the center possibly another 60.

As for closed loops, iv'e dealt with them before, and im just not too fond of putting holes in the tank if really the more holes the more chance of a tank failure/leaks.

 

[Kroamium]

My tank drawing being built for those visual folks.

I hope i can get this to work, been a while since iv'e posted on forums.

 

[albano]

My tank drawing being built for those visual folks.

I hope i can get this to work, been a while since Iv'e posted on forums.

My 450g acrylic tank is 96"x40"x27"h...I considered coast to coast overflow, but instead went with 2 corner overflows 24"x6"x6"...main reason being, that it would be impossible to catch any fish that was in 8' overflow...also having overflows visible thru side panel, makes it easier to see something in overflow, or any other problems!

 

[Epicreefer]

For those dimensions I would put two mp60s on each end or three mp40s along the back might be better, or even 60s! You need access to the back though and that may not be an option. The 40s aren't going to get you enough flow along the 8' length. I just put 4 mp60s in a 700g and 2 in another 700 both about 8x3x4 and the flow is nice but I would go for 6 if it were going to be an sps tank, so about 1 per hundred gallons. If you don't want to start out with that ticket price buy one mp60 to start and then decide on the other two. A 40 is only a 10x turnover in a tank this size.

 

[69bird]

I've been to Bismark and Minot once. Been to Fargo several times but never found a good LFS there. Didn't really have much luck finding one. Doesn't mean they isn't one though. There are several good ones in Minniapolis that I have been too. That is a 7 hour drive for me as I guess it is for you too.

I am using a closed loop but the only extra hole in the tank will be in the overflow. I am going to have a double wall overflow. First glass will be lower than the second piece and have the teeth on it. The second glass won't have teeth and will be the overflow. The space in between will be where the second hole is and will be big enough to allow the returns to come over the top and out through the glass into the tank. The first piece of glass will be dark so you can't see behind it. I figure doing it that way will have all the water roll to the overflow. There will also be enough room to put in a Tunze pump if needed.

 

[Kroamium]

Well it's been a while since any work has been done on the fish room and tank, summer life and other priority house projects got in the way and put things on hold for the fish room and tank. no that winter is here in put more effort on the inside of the house.

Shot of the tank sitting in the garage.

More to come.

 

[Kroamium]

A few shots of the framing for the fish room, adjacent to a bedroom that I completed last winter.

Shot of the closet for the room. Gas and electric lines installed and terminated to outside of the house for future projects back yard projects.

An Air King dehumidifier with auto on/off settings for different humidity ratings. This thing is super quiet at 130CFM. Standing under it you cant even hear it running.

 

[Kroamium]

Cutting hole in wall leading to the living room for the display tank. Huge 4' x 8' hole.

Back side of same wall. 20A electrical all routed. for the room itself.

 

[Kroamium]

Shots of the hole in the wall.

 

[Kroamium]

Couple more pics of framing. All completed now. Also, put in some installation in all of the walls, should help with deadening the sounds coming from the room.

 

[Kroamium]

We wanted to dress up the veiwing area. Thought about decking it out in wood and trim. But the wife and i decided we liked the look of stone. So in it went. I just layed up a 4x8 sheet of 1/4" playwood on existing wall. then glued the stone to the plywood. Came out better than i expected. The plan for now is to trim this out in hickory stained black.

Kids helped put all up so they had to get in the shot to show off thier work.

 

[Sonicboom]

i like the stone idea, will go well with the rock inside the tank. following along

 

[Kroamium]

Couple pics of the drywall up in the room. I finished up the mudding and sprayed up some texture in the past few days. If I remember I'll grab some pics before i start putting up the paint.

 

[Kroamium]

Mud and texture completed.