The Tank that REEF CENTRAL Built - 450 gal display, 800 gal volume

theReefKing

theReefKing

New member
My wife and I have been in the hobby for a number of years now, and Reef Central has been such a big part of our education. We currently have a 180 gal, a 110 gal, a 65 red sea, a 35 gal cube, and 6 bio cube HQIs up and running. But now it is time to get serious.

We are currently building a new house, and while the house is not 100% custom (hence no fish & filtration room) it is brand new so we were able to work a few things into the build with the fish tank in mind. For example extra footers where the tank will be located, a drain in the floor, upgraded wiring and breakers for the electrical load, extra outlets, and extra GFI.

The house will not be ready to move into for a few months still, and the tank will come a few months after that, but I want to use that time to really dive into the details of how to build our dream tank. I want to get into the nitty gritty of everything. From what equipment to use, to how to properly plum the system. I will be relying on the advice, experiences, and feedback of all of you who have gone before me to do it exactly right from day one.

I plan to follow the directions of the Reef Central community explicitly! So by the time the tank is full of life and thriving, this truly will be:

THE TANK THAT REEF CENTRAL BUILT!

Thank you in advance to all those who are going to contribute to the success of our dream.
 
The tank will be 96" long, 34" front to back, and "32 deep.
On a Steel Frame, 36" high.

Sump - 47" in X 30" X 20"
Refugium -30" X 18" X 18"
Bed room display (isolatable quarantine tank) -48" X 24" X 30"
 
Here is the rough draft of the main display tank, and the undertank equipment.
I will expand on the design more tomorrow, but I wanted the Reef Central community to get started with the ideas and critiquing right away.

Dream Tank 1.jpg
 
Cool idea.. Question what are the different color boxes your CL is running from? Have you thought of using the ocean motions in your CL for the random currents? And some time covering those returns from it with rock/cement goes a long way for aesthetics on those big tanks.. I'm wondering what this is going to turn into so I'm along for the ride ;)..

Good luck and it looks like it's gonna be interesting.. Hope you have deep pockets cause you know everybody's gonna recommend the cream of the crop in equipment for it all lol..
 
Very nice...

Are you looking for overall ideas? OR do you already have some must-have's and have-not's?
 
Makes it special to be able to make some changes to the house build for the tank.
Had the same scenario when we purchased our appartment with the building still being built. Made a lot of changes for my 400g Tank 88x34x30:
-Incorporated vent tubes and Suction turbines in the walls to outside the building
-Dedicated electrical supply separate from home power, with dedicated lines for UPS and generator backup.
-in wall tubing to fishroom, drain, water supply with connection to water mixing station in the basement
Check out my build thread and you might get some ideas.
http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?t=2015174
 
worm5406 said:
Very nice...

Are you looking for overall ideas? OR do you already have some must-have's and have-not's?
Click to expand...

Do have a few must haves but not too many, because I really plan to let this be the tank that RC builds. I plan to outline the contraints of our tank location,design, and desires, then let everyone weigh in. I will do my best to make an informed decision, then execute the best plan based on everyone else's and my knowledge. But mostly everyone else's! :o)

One of the things I have narrowed the seach down on is the Skimmer. At the sujestion of DCA I am looking at the Reef Octopus Super Reef 7000 External Skimmer, can that be plummed to be outside of the sump? I would really like to have the skimmer out of the sump. One of the goals is to have no "electricity in the water".

The PURPLE box is the exact dimensions for the 7000.
 
maroun.c said:
Makes it special to be able to make some changes to the house build for the tank.
Had the same scenario when we purchased our appartment with the building still being built. Made a lot of changes for my 400g Tank 88x34x30:
-Incorporated vent tubes and Suction turbines in the walls to outside the building
-Dedicated electrical supply separate from home power, with dedicated lines for UPS and generator backup.
-in wall tubing to fishroom, drain, water supply with connection to water mixing station in the basement
Check out my build thread and you might get some ideas.
http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?t=2015174
Click to expand...

THANKS!
I will make this thread my midnight to 2AM reading tonight!
 
dca22anderson said:
Looking great so far! Interested to hear a little more on the design tomorrow.

Following along for sure!
Click to expand...

Thanks Dave!

Still at work right now, but will give some more details of the rough draft design tonight so everyone can start chiming in.

Just taking a quick break from sitting and watching loan status for two closings I have tomorrow that STILL are not clear to close..... its days like this that I know why they put the Underwriters in a different state!
 
Dapg8gt said:
Cool idea.. Question what are the different color boxes your CL is running from? Have you thought of using the ocean motions in your CL for the random currents? And some time covering those returns from it with rock/cement goes a long way for aesthetics on those big tanks.. I'm wondering what this is going to turn into so I'm along for the ride ;)..

Good luck and it looks like it's gonna be interesting.. Hope you have deep pockets cause you know everybody's gonna recommend the cream of the crop in equipment for it all lol..
Click to expand...

The blue box looking things on the returns of the closed loop are supposed to represent Sea Swirls, so that will help with the randoms.
I also already own 2 MP-40s and an MP-10 which I will add if needed.

I dont know much about the ocean motions, would you recommend those in place of the 4 sea swirls? or in addition?
Thoughts everyone?

Regarding the Deep Pockets, I will be staying budget aware, but plan to not let cost get in the way of making the right decision for the maximum health, beauty, and success of the system when at all possible.

Now that rates just went up a full % I might be singing a different song in 6 months! HAHA! ha..... ha.... (vomit) (DCA knows my pain)
 
theReefKing said:
Thanks Wayne!

I have tank stalked your whole build thread, and learned a lot!

Looking forward to getting your input!
Click to expand...
Tank stalked? Is that legal? Thanks for following my build and if I can help a fellow reefer with one of my ideas is a good feeling for me. Stalk away.
 
Newbie Aquarist said:
Tank stalked? Is that legal? Thanks for following my build and if I can help a fellow reefer with one of my ideas is a good feeling for me. Stalk away.
Click to expand...

I think it is legal until I actually show up unannounced and start peeping through windows to see how you plummed your system....
 
The Master Plan

The Master Plan

So this is what I have so far, I am hoping that everyone will get into the fine details with me. Im talking about all the things you see when you look at your tank and are like. "It works good, but if I could do it again I would....."

As I explain my ideas and plan I will insert questions and concerns i have IN RED BOLD FONT, if you have experience or input about ANYTHING please dont hold back. By the end of this build I hope to have a through overview of the "In's and Out's" of Large Builds as EXPERIENCED by ALL of YOU!

Then at the end I will write a blog/article outlining the ideas, lessons, and best practices that I implimented at the advice of everyone. I will site (with permission) the fellow refer's experience and suggestions that were used in the design, giving credit where credit is due. TO THE REEF CENTRAL COMMUNITY.

If we can get some good involvement from all the experience in here, this could be a really rewarding experience and provide a useful product to the all the Large builds yet to come!!!

I am really excited about getting going.
And thank you AGAIN to everyone in advance!

~Bill & Dana
(Dana is my wife and she is the REAL pro, Im just the designer, she takes care of all 10 of our current systems and still has time to keep the 4 kids in line! incredible)
 

Attachments

  • Dream Tank 2.jpg
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  • Dream Tank 3.jpg
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What you can see in the design

What you can see in the design

THE RED PATH - Filtration Loop
The red box represents the filtration pump, which I have sized for a ReeFlo Hammerhead/Barracuda Gold Hybrid Pump (5555/4680 gph). with total volume through the sump and tank around 600 is this enough?. From the discharge of the pump there are 4 returns to the bottom of the tank which I have placed linearly at the back 1/3 of the display. Should I have just one check valve before the split, or 4 check valves? Maybe two check valves in series before the split for redundancy? From there you see that the overflow runs the entire length of the tank, I like this idea as it creates a consistant look, and since the tank will be up to a wall I am not giving up any viewing area. There are four overflows which will drain into 4 of the 5 sockfilters (the 5th is for the skimmer return). Then through the sump and back to the pump.

Thoughts?
 
What you can see in the design

What you can see in the design

THE BLUE PATH - closed loop
The blue box is scalled to fit another ReeFlo Hammerhead/Barracuda Gold. The discharge is split to 4 returns each of which lead to 1 1/2" sea swilrs. (that is what the 4 little blue boxes represent) the return to the closed loop has 4 retuns back behind the overflow.
Do i need to have 4 returns to match the 4 discharge lines?what am I missing? I have never designed a closed loop before so I feel like I need a lot of input here
 
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