SPS In-wall 2.0

[javajaws]

Its been more than two years ago that I tore down my in-wall tank (due to a number of factors). I ripped it out of the wall and sold the tank as well as almost all of the equipment. Starting up a new tank therefore isn't something I've taken lightly due to the cost involved. But I'm here to say that my in-wall is coming back! And better than before! It'll be an almost all-new build with only a couple exceptions.

I'll fortunately be able to take advantage of most of the "wall" part of the build that still exists from the previous build. This includes most of the woodwork for the cabinet the tank will be built into, the electrical work, and the RO/DI system (still plumbed!). I get to skip right to all the fun stuff this time around.

Here's some specs to wet your build thread appetite:

Tank

• A.G.E. custom tank
• 47.5 x 23 x 23
• Rimless
• PVC bottom
• External Overflow w/CNC routed glass & acrylic teeth guard
• Starphire front and back
• 88 gallon approximate INTERNAL volume @ 2" waterline from top

Supporting Equipment

• ATI 8x54w Powermodule
• 2 x Vortech MP40
• SRO XP-2000 Skimmer
• Tunze Silence return pump
• 2-part dosing w/BRS dosing pumps
• BRS dual carbon/GFO reactor
• DIY custom sump
• Apex Controller

 

[javajaws]

So to get this party started...how about some sketchup? Back when I originally did all the heavy lifting I was using autosketch. I've long ago though moved most of my designing into Sketchup. So for most of the last week I've been recreating what I had in Sketchup and then modified it for the new tank. Here's the result as it stands now:

This is the side facing the living room. I haven't modeled the wall itself...just the cabinet holding the tank:

Here's the backside (the "rimless" side). The part where you can see under the tank hasn't been modeled yet. There is a set of cabinets that run along the wall on this side that aren't shown:

Here's a couple of just the tank itself:

 

[javajaws]

Differences from In-wall 1.0

Differences from In-wall 1.0

I plan on doing a few things differently this time around (for better or worse). Some things I wanted to purposefully change or do different, others I just wanted to mix things up.

• Tank - Had glasscages build my last one...it wasn't pretty to look at (even in the wall). A.G.E. this time - it better be pretty for the price difference I'll be paying!!!
• Supplementation - I ran a Ca reactor in my old tank, but plan on doing 2-part dosing this time around. I didn't like fiddling with the Ca reactor to keep it consistent. Always had problems with the drip line getting clogged, etc.
• Automation - I only had a pH controller and manual timers on my old tank. Going all out with a full Apex setup this time around.
• Skimmer - had an H&S external skimmer last time, going SRO internal this time. Gonna see how these cheaper skimmers compare nowadays. Also going internal this time around to free up some space in the cabinet (not that I had a shortage of space last time or anything) and reduce flooding potential (happened once to me before while fiddling with the H&S).
• Lights - Ran MH before, going T5 now. I want less heat and more color temp options. I'll miss the shimmer though for sure!
• Circulation - old tank I ran a closed loop Sequence pump with Oceansmotions. This time going Vortechs to save money on electricity, get something quiter (I hope), and take up less space in the cabinet (too much plumbing before)
• Stocking - No monti caps or digitata. That stuff took over my last tank I couldn't frag fast enough.

Overall I'm hoping for less heat, less electricity, and less space.

 

[javajaws]

Oh yeah, I forgot!

Oh yeah, I forgot!

The other big change will be with what's going on inside the tank. I don't plan on going barebottom anymore! I couldn't stand the look of my barebottom tank anymore with all that splotchy coralline and other stuff on the bottom. I'm gonna go SSB this time around with CaribSea Seaflor special grade.

I'm also gonna change up the overall aquascape. I'm going to go much more minimalist in design with much less live rock.

 

[d-man]

looking forward to it all. When is the eta on starting this thing?

 

[d-man]

looking forward to it all. When is the eta on starting this thing?

 

[javajaws]

Well, I'd like to think I already have started! Either that or a bunch of money has already disappeared from my checking account!

I should be ordering the tank today. Already have the quote. I'm going through AquaTek here in Austin and will be picking up the tank directly from A.G.E. so I don't have to pay shipping. A.G.E supposedly only takes a couple weeks to get something built so it shouldn't be a long wait.

In the meantime I'm going to get everything else ordered and start on my sump. I'll probably design it this week and build it this weekend.

 

[sahin]

Susbscribed!

 

[fishez4alivin]

Well, I'd like to think I already have started! Either that or a bunch of money has already disappeared from my checking account!

I should be ordering the tank today. Already have the quote. I'm going through AquaTek here in Austin and will be picking up the tank directly from A.G.E. so I don't have to pay shipping. A.G.E supposedly only takes a couple weeks to get something built so it shouldn't be a long wait.

In the meantime I'm going to get everything else ordered and start on my sump. I'll probably design it this week and build it this weekend.

Good luck on the build, and good luck on the two weeks, try two months, but the wait is worth it for sure.

 

[javajaws]

Good luck on the build, and good luck on the two weeks, try two months, but the wait is worth it for sure.

Heh...lets hope for the best!

I just paid for the tank and should be getting the CAD drawings to sign off on by the end of the day.

If it takes longer than 2 weeks, no problem. I've already bought a QT tank I look forward to filling with something and can always start some out of tank rock cooking before then as well.

 

[fishez4alivin]

You will be so happy when you get it, once the crate opens up, you will know you made the right choice. You may consider having them make that end with the overflow out of black acrylic. The only part of the tank, I don't like is my overflow box has a insert to hide the overflow. It's a pain to clean. Next tank will have the back and overflow box made out of black acrylic.

 

[javajaws]

Oh man, the UPS guy is gonna HATE me this week. 2 buckets salt, 120lbs sand, 50 lbs dry rock, and probably another 50lbs of 2-part chemicals and such. I'm so evil....

Skimmer should be here tomorrow. I'm really curious as to its build quality.

 

[javajaws]

You will be so happy when you get it, once the crate opens up, you will know you made the right choice.

No crate...I'm picking it up directly from AGE to save on shipping/crating fees. Should cut off some time too...

The only thing I think I might regret is hiding 2 of the sides inside a wall!!! From what I've seen these tanks are hot looking!

 

[Acrotrdco]

Nice design! Can't wait to see the actual tank / wall photos!

 

[javajaws]

Been really busy last couple days working on things. I've primarily been coming up with a sump design and I think I've just about got it nailed down. My primary concern for the sump was to accomodate all of the overflow pipes (herbie/bean style overflow) as well as accomodate the return pump being at the same end as the overflows. I also wanted the skimmer to be closer to the middle of the cabinet under the tank for maintenance as well as accomodate a 7" filter sock. Here's the design I came up with (more information in this thread):

I've also gotten a TON of boxes in from Premium Aquatics, Marine Depot, and BRS. I haven't even had time to play with it all. I did take time though to assemble the SRO skimmer that I got in. Pretty nice but nowhere near the build quality of my old H&S. Here's hoping it performs great though!

More pics of the sump this weekend. I've got a whole sheet of 3/8" acrylic ready to start cutting/gluing.

 

[javajaws]

Couple updates...

Spent the other night bringing my RO/DI (Typhoon III) up to spec. Put in all new filters and a new membrane. Also installed a new inline dual TDS meter:

After I got that done I ran some trash water for a couple hours then did a full brute run so I could fill up a little 20g quarantine tank I'm getting started up. It's nothing fancy...just a 20g long, hang on filter and a MJ1200 for circulation. I'm gonna through some other stuff in there this week and try to get a cycle started.

 

[javajaws]

Sump, part 1

Sump, part 1

Most of my time the last couple days has been working on my sump. I would have finished today but I had to stop early and take my wife out to dinner with some friends. Dinner ALMOST cost as much as my sump.

But no excuses...I'll have this sucker done tomorrow with the exception of some probe/dosing tube mounts I'll still need to add.

Here's a couple in-progress shots just to prove I can DIY with the best of them...can anybody find my mistake?

Just getting started...

Most of the overflow area is done, still have to add the dividers between the overflow/skimmer section and the return section:

Here's an updated mockup...notice I've moved the plumbing to the left side of the tank. I really wanted to have the overflow on the right so you wouldn't see the overflow as much (the left side will be more visible from both rooms than the right side). But it works out better with all the plumbing on the left because most of my electrical outlets are on the right. I figure it won't matter much in the long run anyway because coralline will be covering the sides for the most part.

FYI, I still haven't finished all the cabinet detail in the above mock - all of the internal supports in the bottom aren't shown yet. So even though it may appear I could have made the sump deeper front to back...I can't because of supports that are actually there. As it stands, the sump is 16.5" front to back and 44" long.

 

[javajaws]

And oh yeah, after reading this thread...if somebody doesn't want to see this build thread in the SPS forum you won't offend me greatly if you report this thread to have it moved.

However, I'll add that I put it here because this IS going to be a tank who's primary (and secondary) reason for being is to grow SPS. I believe starting and maintaining a tank specific for SPS is reason enough to be in this forum rather than say a general forum.

Having a thread for an SPS tank build in the reef discussion forum will just result in noise being added to it that isn't relevant to the topic at hand.


Don't forget...the tagline for the SPS forum says: A forum for people who are obsessed with keeping SPS corals

 

[javajaws]

Sump, part 2

Sump, part 2

OK...one more progress shot of the sump. I'm just about to set the last divider between the skimmer/overflow section and the return section (not counting the baffles):

And here's the final product. I'm not a big fan of flame polishing (especially on a sump), but all of the exposed edges are rounded over with a 1/4 round router bit.

You'll notice an oddity about the second baffle (the high baffle) in the back...I ran out of acrylic and had to piece two pieces together!!! I didn't want to wait until Monday nor did I want to have to drive back over to Regal plastics. The baffles are spaced 3" apart for low flow and easy hand access for cleaning.

The eggcrate is there just for utility...temp holding of frags, etc. It was a bonus after I added that extra reinforcing support that is holding one side of it up.

The PVC overflow returns are just a slip/female thread adapter screwed into a male thread/slip adapter on the bottom with the acrylic sandwiched between. I can unscrew them as necessary.

I also added 2 bulkheads to the sump for future expansioon if necessary. One in the skimmer section and one in the return section (hard to see in the above pics).

 

[javajaws]

Here's a better indoor shot of the sump without as many reflections. I've thrown in some "stuff" to see how it all fits.

It's sitting on the cabinet behind where the tank will be going. I have yet to clean out the cabinet under the tank where it'll eventually go.

I still have to make a skimmer stand...