ShadowRamys 220 Build

[Shadowramy]

For over 3 years now I have been contemplating a larger upgrade, originally thinking a 180 gallon reef tank, I was conviced of a 220 in wall system.

We have just recently moved to a larger house with a fully finished basement which provides plenty of room for an in wall system. There is a perfect location in which a storage room is located on the other side.

The other side currently houses my 120 gallon and directly behind will provide enough room for all my needs.

As with any build, I take much more time in the planning stages so there is little time in the actual build. The tank actually will arrive to the store on 7/13/2009.

Tank Specs
Tank - Aquarium Masters from Aquarium Warehouse

Size - 220 extended - 72 x 30 x 24

Lighting:
3 x 400w 20K XM bulbs running on new 400w IceCap ballasts.
3 x LumenMax Elite reflectors
6' VHO Icecap 660 ballast, using ULV Super Actinics (2)

Flow:
Closed loop (4 outputs) using DART pump. Behind reef and over top of the reef.
Return pump will also be a different DART pump
2 - 1" Sea Swirl
2 - Vortec MP40w

Sandbed:
Will incorporate a SSB (Shallow Sand Bed), this is mostly for astetics, shallow sand only at the front of the tank. Frag tanks will house no sand.

Filtration:
ZeoVit 3L reactor
Bubble King 300 Skimmer
GAC Carbon 24/7 for 30 day (2 cups)

Live Rock
Fiji from Dr. Foster and Smith (from 120g) ~120 lbs.
Will also add more local Fiji rock

Design Layout
So I went back and forth on if I still wanted the tank in the wall, partially out of the wall or totally out of the wall. If the tank would be in the wall I would lose space in the fish room be the room is a weird shape 8 x 5 with short side that is about 4 x 8.

After really thinking about it, I decided to go in the wall, I figured it was the easiest and best looking with a few changes.

Additionally, the door just wasnt wide enough to get a tank in.

 

[Shadowramy]

Tear Down Start
Its on, well there is no turning back now. In order to fit the tank stand in I had to cut the wall.

The Stand
A friend came over to help me out with the design of the tank stand. It is the typical template (21 piece).

 

[Shadowramy]

Design Change
After careful consideration, a some prodding from friends, a change in design is to extend the tank out into the living space 20" and build canopy that will resemble a drywalled finish.

Design Change

One problem I encountered was that I have a drop ceiling, removing some of the panel show how the ceiling joist run.

After finishing some more demol, removing the rest of the upper dry wall this what it looks like.

And the ceiling looks after removing the drywall.

 

[elijaher]

Tagged alone

 

[eran]

Nice Shadowramy............................... Now I have to post my build thread as well just to keep up with the Jones's. Send me a PM on Sat. when you are ready to get the tank!

 

[rc1626]

Hey Bruce,
Glad I was able to help w/ the funding of this project. LOL. Looking foward to receiving the frags. Good luck w/ the build.
Rob

 

[Shadowramy]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=15428026#post15428026 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by rc1626
Hey Bruce,
Glad I was able to help w/ the funding of this project. LOL. Looking foward to receiving the frags. Good luck w/ the build.
Rob

Hey Rob, appericate your help. My current 120 just doesnt have any room any longer for growth.. had to move up to something bigger.

 

[Shadowramy]

The tank came in cracked across one of the bracing supports so this weekend that is being replace.

Forgot to mention, this is starfire on the front glass.

 

[strout]

Very interested in your build, I have been contemplating at some point a 250 gallon tank.

 

[Shadowramy]

The Tank Is In
Patrick at Aquarium Wholesale did all the repair work to fix a crack in the bracing. I will be picking the tank up Saturday from AW in Olathe, Kansas - the best store around the midwest!!!:

Update 07/29/09

Picking the tank up this Saturday, Aug 1st. On the follwoing Monday or Tuesday Mike is coming down from St. Joe to help with the lighting canopy. Looks like we are going to build a frame then skin it in 1/2 birch ply. The front is going to have 2 doors on drawer slides to make the front accessable. It will be like a half canopy that is fully accessible from the back fish room of the tank. It will also have built in cleets to support the lightrack that will hang 16" from the water line.

Kopper came down when it all started and wired me up 2x 20amp dedicated circuits. We were going to do a sub-panel but since the run was so short he just ran two lines for me!!

Finished up the stand and had the kids paint it!!

Ordered all my plumbing yesterday from SpaFlex.com so that should be in by next week.

The final LumenMax Elite, 6' VHO SuperActinic bulbs and 400w XM20K came in on Monday from Aquacave.com.

I believe I have just about everything set and ordered so hopefully by mid next week I should have some water in the tank!!!



strout - I have comtemplated it for years, first I wasnt sure if I want the extra hassle, then I went to T5's and didnt want to redo my lighting, finally I just said what the heck.

 

[Ed Reef]

Can't wait for pictorial updates....

 

[Shadowramy]

Not much an update just some painting and the final LumenMax Elite came in.

We go pick up the tank on Saturday, frame in the canopy on Monday or Tuesday and should get the final fittings in by Wednesday.

Little Helper Paiting

Lumen Max Elites

 

[Ed Reef]

Nice....those Elite looks cool !!

 

[sbanks78]

looking good! cant wait to see the tank:smokin:

 

[Shadowramy]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=15447715#post15447715 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by Ed Reef
Nice....those Elite looks cool !!

Thanks! It was actually an accident how I got them. About 2 years ago I wanted Lumen Brights and tried to order them, I needed then quick so the guy at AquaCave promised me my lights by the following week. He was having troubles getting them and wasn't getting much response back from the company so he said he would sell me these new reflectors called Lumen Max Elites for the same price. Great deal!! and great service!!

I know have both Lumen Max Elites on my 120 and Lumen Brights on my shallow frag tanks, both work very well for their application, the Maxes give off an incredible amount of light.

 

[elijaher]

I notice that you are using mh&vho instead of mh&t5.

 

[Shadowramy]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=15452143#post15452143 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by elijaher
I notice that you are using mh&vho instead of mh&t5.

Nothing gives coral better "pop" then the UVL Super Actinic. I used to run T5s, I didnt like the pastel look and I could not find a T5 bulb that comes close the UVL Super Actinic (formely URI Super Actinic 03).

 

[Shadowramy]

The Tank is In!!
Okay today we went and got the tank, eddiet, Rusty and myself on the pick up and Dave and Doug helped on the massive unload.

Eddiet Hauling the tank from Kansas to Missouri.

Tank installed and adjusting

Installation of the Mermaid

Huge thanks guys for everyones help.. will have to make a plaque with everyone name on it who has help pitch in..

 

[sbanks78]

right on man! now for the real fun to begin!

 

[elijaher]

Way to go, nice size tank.