Room/equiptment layout suggestions for 598G Reeftank

[Buk_A_neer]

OK ... so some background info ... I used to have a 330G inwall reeftank in my last house ... had it running for about 6 yrs till we sold the house and the tank could not come with us ... so I moved everything into a "smaller" 270G tank and put it in the unfinished basement of the new house ... that was 4 yrs ago ... the tank languished in the basement as we did not go down there very often it fell into neglect with algae all over the glass etc so I sold all the coral, fish, tank and stand about 2 years ago ... kept the hood with 4 X 400W MH & 4 X 96W VHO, Most of the rock, DIY Calcium reactor, GEN X Mak 4 & 5 pumps, eductors, 50G refugium

Fast forward to today and the basement has a Delta FL subfloor, framed for home theater, games room, gym, bathroom, electrical R/I with subpanel just for basement, drywall delivered and started sheeting. 1 X 20 amp and 1 X 15 amp electrical service for tank room

Here is a pic of the basement layout and the tank will be located at back of stairwell facing games room ... all electronics for HT & games room located directly beneath stairs

Here is a sketchup of what I have in mind for the new tank ~ 598G - 96" X 48" X 30"

So here are my thoughts on this new tank build and looking for some constructive criticism and suggestions

My last tank was a plywood tank and I am not sure if I will go that route this time too ... I do know I will want a starfire front as a minimum and maybe a all glass tank too ... obviously a build onsite

I am thinking 2 rear corner overflows ... last tank had just one overflow and I had to direct the eductor on the far side angled toward the surface to push the surface water in the direction of the overflow

Not sure about whether to drill tank for closed loops ... I had 2 closed loops with 4 eductors and pressure rated pumps in the last setup which moved a LOT of water but the pump was power hungry so looking for a more energy efficient solution

Speaking of energy efficiency would a T5 setup be a good solution instead of the MH & VHO's ?

Looking for some suggestions given my limited space to get a sump, skimmer, calcium reactor, refugium, QT tank etc to fit below and above while having access for servicing - maybe removeable upper & lower panels and light hood that I can raise out of the way

Any suggestions for automation - in my old tank I had a humidifier float valve to control evap and X10 to control light cycle

Also concerned about heat/humidity and maybe a HRV to control room temp as it is adjacent to a outside wall

I know I am trying to get a massive tank into a small space but after having a 8' tank I just cant go any shorter and I found that having only 2' of spacefront to back too confineing ... I also want a more open rock structure and a 4' deep tank will give me that option

 

[Buk_A_neer]

In the far right of tank room is a laundry sink already plumbed in so I can tap into that for a RO/DI unit - any suggestions for a good unit that is inexpensive for cartridges ?

 

[Buk_A_neer]

Oh yea ... need a energy efficient skimmer suggestion ... I had a 4' tall DIY dual Beckett running on a Mak 4 but A) I dont think it would keep up with a tank almost twice as big and B) it used alot of power to run and C) I need something that will fit under the stand - insump preferably


A DIY skimmer design is OK by me too as I do enjoy that side of the hobby and if I can utilize the 8" acrylic tower from the old one in a new energy eficient design all the better

 

[Buk_A_neer]

bump ... no suggestions at all ?

 

[Shekki]

I think everyone is too in awe of your basement plans to suggest anything! The only thing I would suggest is adding a bathroom down there, unless you plan on using the laundry sink. Oh yeah, don't forget to put surround sound in the bathroom!

 

[purebullet417]

i would look into some sort skimmer with a dart needle wheel. darts dont use that much energy for a skimmer that size and are fairly quite. otherwise that basement looks awsome .

 

[Bax]

I agree on the skimmer. Look at the ORCA 250 and run with that on a DYI project. I am headed in this direction long term as I run a dual becket skimmer and love it! But, it chews a lot of juice.

I see you already have a bathroom in the plans. I also agree that we are all in awe of the overall floor plan, it's way cool!

At 30" of depth, you'll need to stay with MH and T-5 supps IMO you may be able to step down to 250s if you scape it right. JMO i am wressling with the same issue on a 375 I am setting up. My issue is, I love MH and I love T-5s therefore, I have to pay the electric bills!

 

[Buk_A_neer]

Thanks for the compliments on the basement development ... I will post pics as it progresses ... not much drywall hung yet but I have the next couple days off so I should make some headway and hopefully finish the first layer in the games room.

Is there a more energy efficient pump than the dart ? ... I did a google on the Orca and it seems it is a stand alone skimmer ... I would prefer something insump. ... when I searched for the Orca the Bubble Kings came up every time ... here is a interesting debate LOL

http://www.canreef.com/vbulletin/showthread.php?t=45941

Is there any DIY Bubble Kings ? ... dont think I could spend as much on a skimmer as I would on the whole tank

 

[Buk_A_neer]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=14425962#post14425962 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by Bax
I agree on the skimmer. Look at the ORCA 250 and run with that on a DYI project. I am headed in this direction long term as I run a dual becket skimmer and love it! But, it chews a lot of juice.

I see you already have a bathroom in the plans. I also agree that we are all in awe of the overall floor plan, it's way cool!

At 30" of depth, you'll need to stay with MH and T-5 supps IMO you may be able to step down to 250s if you scape it right. JMO i am wressling with the same issue on a 375 I am setting up. My issue is, I love MH and I love T-5s therefore, I have to pay the electric bills!

Yea ... maybe the 250's would work at 30"

Can I use the workhorse 7 ballasts to run T5's ?

 

[Buk_A_neer]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=14424293#post14424293 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by Shekki
I think everyone is too in awe of your basement plans to suggest anything! The only thing I would suggest is adding a bathroom down there, unless you plan on using the laundry sink. Oh yeah, don't forget to put surround sound in the bathroom!

Well I do have a bathroom already roughed in awaiting drywall ... but it will be the last room to be completed as it is the storage room for tools/materials etc

It is funny you say about the surround in the bathroom because I was planning to wire it for 2 inceiling speakers and a small LCD facing the can but the wife vetoed it ... I could not argue as I will have the " man cave " of my dreams anyway

 

[Buk_A_neer]

Re: Room/equiptment layout suggestions for 598G Reeftank

[
I know I am trying to get a massive tank into a small space but after having a 8' tank I just cant go any shorter and I found that having only 2' of spacefront to back too confineing ... I also want a more open rock structure and a 4' deep tank will give me that option [/B]

Any suggestions for layout under the tank for sump, refugium, reactors etc ?

space I am working with is basically 36"H X 96"L X 49"D ( less height of stand base ... thinking of a metal base this time to maximize height under stand )