Stepping up to a 280 gallon tank build

[Bono]

I'm thinking about getting a bigger tank soon and have just starting to shop around. How was your experience with GC and how is the fit and finish?

 

[ScubaSteve826]

This is my 4th tank from GC they have always had great service. I started with a 120 gallon 48X24X24 tank, then got a 40 gallon frag tank first one got damaged in shipping. They shipped out the replacement 40 gallon frag tank in the following week. Then i got another frag tank cause one is never enough. Then this last tank a 280 gallon 72X36X24. I have been very happy with them there not as nice as a Reef Savvy tank but i also didn't have 6000 to spend on a tank either. The 280 gallon was 2400 with shipping.

 

[ScubaSteve826]

Tonight the wife worked on the aqua scape, not sure on the style we are going for yet. I worked on the piping coming out of the ghost overflows. Here are a few pics opinions wanted on the scape.

 

[awaxdee]

Going to be nice

 

[ScubaSteve826]

Got all the holes drilled in the tank today along with the 3/8 thick spacers to get the ghost overflows at the proper height. We also got the first coat of black paint on the back of the tank, starting to look like something.

 

[Joe0813]

id be to afraid trusting nothing but plywood to hold up my tank. looks good though and seemed to work for you. did you treat the ply with anything to keep it from absorbing water?

 

[ScubaSteve826]

The tank stand was stained and then had 4 coats of a semi gloss finish. This is the same i had done on my 120 gallon tank stand and that still has no water damage and over the last 7 years it has defiantly have seen its fair share of water. So hoping with this new tank i will have the same luck. There will be 4 water sensors with the Apex system on this tank so in case of water leaking I will be notified be for something turns into a disaster.

 

[ScubaSteve826]

Went to Menards today to get some of the plumbing fittings and was very disappointed in the selection of schedual 80 fittings almost nothing in 1 1/2 and very few in 1 inch. Anyone know of a good place online that is reasonably priced with a good selection? So all that got done today is i installed the 2 Synergy ghost over flows and the 2 water returns with the flow inductors. I have never tried the flow inductors will so how they work. Also cut the starboard for the bottom of the tank, it is starting to take shape. In the pics you cant even see the over flows it is almost like they are a ghost, lol.

 

[ScubaSteve826]

Quick update working a little more on the aqua scape and plumbing.

 

[ScubaSteve826]

Trying to decide on the main pump for the 280 gallon system. This going to be a Triton Tank which calls for 10 times turnover. There are three pumps that i have been looking at first on is an L1 from ecotech marine which i have one already running my UV, GFO, and carbon, been fairly happy with it and has a decent price. The bad thing is i have been seeing some bad reviews on it and has been out of stock now for months at bulk reef supply. The second pump is the dart/snapper pump from reeflo never had one but seems to have good reviews and last along time and at a cheap price. The third pump is the abyzz 200 dc control pump, very expensive, gives opportunity to change flow through the day lower flow at night. Does anyone have good info on these pumps would love to here other peoples likes dislikes of these pumps. Hoping to order on Black Friday deals in a few weeks. Thanks in advance for your input.

 

[ScubaSteve826]

Well since my last post my ecotech L1 pump died. I had for just less then six months and i had bought through Bulk Reef Supply. I had called BRS about the pump selection for my new tank build and discussed all three choices i had. They were very helpful and even started the return process for me to return the L1 to ecotech. Ecotech was very quick with there response and have a new pump in my hands already in less then one week. Even though i was very happy with the service of both BRS and Ecotech I could not trust the L1 as a main return pump. I chose the Reeflo dart/snapper gold pump which has pretty good reviews, maybe sometime i will upgrade to the Abyzz pump. I went with two of the dart/snapper pumps planning on running one with the dart propeller 4300 gallons per hour during the day and the other with the snapper propeller 2400 gallons at night time. Here is a few pics of the plumping so far. Right now my sump room is such a mess but it will get better.