Steven's 360gl Starphire inwall Project

[pennyguy23]

Well I figured it's time to start my thread. My tank is going to be a 360gl 96x36x24 starphire in-wall with the front and side panel showing. Here a few pics of what my new house looked like about two weeks ago. The second is about a month ago. I have to take a few new pictures and I will post them tomorrow.

This is where the tank is going.

This one is where all the plumbing is going to.

 

[Bebo77]

building the house around the tank... NICE....

 

[pennyguy23]

Here are some newer pictures.

I have no idea why this one is so big?? This is the outside of the upstairs fish room.

The framers didn't build it the way I wanted it. So tomorrow I get to rip it out and start over. It will have the whole 36in on that side also showing. If you want it done right, DO IT YOURSELF.

Heres where everything is going to be plumbed to. Also the door is on the wrong side. "Framers come on BACK."

Since I am moveing the tank forward so that you can see the front and the side. I now have to double all the I beams.

Heres a couple of my mermaid that you all keep showing. I feel a little weird putting it on but hey I guess if you have a cute one show her off. I caught a young one.

 

[Nanook]

Nice mermaid!!!

Oh yeah, the tank room looks good.

dave

 

[spsboy]

Just out of curiosity, who are you getting the tank from?
Drew

 

[rberrie]

This is going to be fun! I dream of being able to build a house around my tank. My only advice would be to go for broke. Think of everything you can imagine and make room for it. You have a rare opportunity to really get it right with little or no compromise!

I look forward to seeing the progress of this project. Please give us an idea of your plans including maintenance, water changes, livestock and equipment. Also your experience in the hobby and what led you to this stage.

I can tell by your lovely wife, that you have great taste.

 

[pennyguy23]

Well I originally started this project thinking I was going to set up a 180gl and that changed to a 240 to a 300 to now a 360gl.
So alot of the equiptment I bought wasn't going to cut it anymore.
Luckily Saltycritter.com took back the G4x skimmer I bought which would have been WAY to small. And they ordered me a Geo that will fit my needs. And then some if I upgrade to a larger tank later on in life. Which I KNOW will happen.

Well for water changes I am going to have a ball valve to just open for water changes that will lead to a drain.

I am getting the tank from AO. I have been working with Will and his father John for about two months or so. AquariumObsessed.com
It will have 2 2" drains and 2 1.5" returns, pumped by a Hammerhead return pump.
External overflow on one side panel. (incase I want to do a three sided view on my next house)

LIGHTING: 2 Sfiligoi infinity fixtures. 4 400w MH, 8 54w T5's. w/ 4- 400w ACLS units. Its only product that can dim Metal Halides from 0 to 100%. I will have a sun-rise sun-set every morning and everynight for my corals and fish. Just like the ocean. They are really state of the art. I am also getting it from AO. You can read more about them here. http://www.sfiligoi.it/


4- 6100s tunzes w/ Mulit. for flow since the over flow is on the side of the tank.

JBJ Chiller. Only 1/3 Hp. But the room will be Ac and Heated as needed. So I think it will work just fine. I don't really have anything that will heat up the tank but the lights. Which are lot of light but. I can always upgrade.

I also about these for Temp and humidity. They will be on a Cap 1 controller and will turn on when the temp or humidity in the room
reaches what every temp and humidity I set on it.

I will be growing large angels and what ever else I decide. SPS's also. I know that angels and coral don't get along but I love them both to not have them both. So if the angels mess with the corals. So be it. But I have a blue face right now and as long as I feed them my fish don't bother them. YET??

 

[pennyguy23]

Heres my getto settup for curing live rock. The tank is 120gl and rubbermaid is 100gl.

 

[rberrie]

Steve,
Very serious setup! Love the lighting. Do you need an ACLS for every bulb? Are the bulbs double ended hqi or single ended? Will is an excellent resource with some of the best products on the market. I almost bought the aquatronica but for the lack of ethernet connection. are you using his controler? What about skimmer and refugium?

 

[jacob30]

Nice setup! I am also getting a tank from AO next month similar size. I like the ventilation fans. I will have to look into those.

 

[pennyguy23]

NO I am not using a controller. I like everything "FREE HAND"

Yes you need a unit for every bulb and they are DE bulbs. So it gets a little pricey but ...... I liked them.

 

[skippyreef]

I have the same fa nin my fish room to exhaust out teh air. it is quiet and I think a great choice.

Kudos on the Mermaid. She looks as if she enjoys the hobby or at least supports her King Neptune in his endeavors to create an inland ocean No tank is colplete without the support of a Mermaid

Love the house construction so far!! Please keep those coming as well.

 

[SunnyX]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=7037316#post7037316 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by pennyguy23
NO I am not using a controller. I like everything "FREE HAND"

Yes you need a unit for every bulb and they are DE bulbs. So it gets a little pricey but ...... I liked them.

Tank build up i slooking great!!

Let me know if you need any help.

 

[pennyguy23]

Yes she does support me very much. She likes the fish rather then coral. But at least she doesn't HATE it all together. And I can ACTUALLY tell her what everything cost.


Hey thanks for the offer. I will be setting up the tank in about a 5 or 6weeks. Maybe before but I don't want to rush it and get all the house dusts in it while finishing the house. It HAS to be completed by June 7th for the Parade Of Homes. So about the middle of May.


I just got home from building the stand that the framers messed up on. It was kind of a pain but we got. I will post some new pictures of it later tonight maybe.

 

[Black71gp]

looks great.. i am building a tank close to that size.. 72x36x26high.. pennisula style as well.. i am in oxford, mi.. great looking tank and house build. you should also start this build log on michiganreefers.com we would all like to see it there i am sure.. cant wait to see it come more into completion...
jarrod

 

[skippyreef]

I am actually in Michigan as well Near Ann Arbor though. I am building a 270 gallon system. My Mermaid is also a great support and like the look I get when discussing fish She is also aware that I have spent enough money on my current endeavor to have paid cash for a new car.

Finishing a basement along with the tank but be ye' nit fooled the tank cost exceeded the living space long ago LOL.

BTW I love the little tank room you're having built into the house. I will likely do the same for the next house we build but tahts down teh road in another 5 years or so LOL

 

[pennyguy23]

Ya I know. Everytime I hear that sebring radio commerical about a new car for 14,995. I'm like I could have bought one of those. And them some.

I'm pretty young so this is my first house so hopfully I will be getting bigger and better. But I am trying to get the BEST right now. So maybe only bigger

I will be doing this every 2 1/2 - 3 years. For the next 4 houses or so...

 

[pennyguy23]

Skippy does your exhaust fan blow right out the side of the house? Or......

 

[NexDog]

Looking forward to following this! I'm very interested in this light fitting as I've been searching for the ultimate Halide + T5 fitting and that certainly looks like it. Are you going with teh HQI ballasts to run those DE bulbs? And where are you getting then and how much do those fittings cost?

 

[pennyguy23]

The ACLS units runs the Halides. I have 4 ACLS units so I can control all four MH's. I can run that as high or low as I want. If I want a cloudy day. I program that in. Its slightly over case. I program that in. I will be having the "sun rise" on one side of the tank and have the "sun set" on the other side.

MH 1 Starts, Then 2, Then 3, Then 4, The 1 starts to dim, then 2 then3 then4. By that time the moon is up.
And you can program in seasons. So everyday isn't the same. For a few months is REALLY HOT. then it cools off for a week. Then hot, cloudy. Whatever you want. They really are neat.

They cost alot. You can find the prices by googling it.