Will's 240 Reef Build

[duryeah]

Hey guys, I am going to be putting a new tank into my home very soon. Currently at home I have a 55 gallon fresh water tank, and a 28 gallon JBJ nanocube reef, both will be removed. I also have a 75 gallon Cube Reef that I keep at my workplace as well.

I have decided to order from Charlie and Tank Factory. Read a lot of good things about him, quotes I got from him so far seem reasonable. I am going to do a 240 gallon tank, measuring 96x24x24. I want 3 sided star fire. It will be a lee-mar tank, with a lee-mar stand. Eurobraced.

First question for you guys: do I need two over flows in this tank? How many return nozzles. The 75 gallon I have is the biggest tank I have done yet, it has one overflow and two returns. I have not decided if the tank will be placed to the far left, as the crutches outline now, or if it will be centered on the wall. Fiance and I will have to argue about that. Here is where it will go, the outside line of the crutches represent the outside of the tank if it were to be flush with the wall on the left. There is going to be 4 inches of clearance behind the tank.
(I just hand my ACL replaced and meniscus repaired last week, thus the crutches).

Last question for now: What size sump should I do? I am thinking the bigger the better. Where should I get it? I have read Advance Acryllic does good work. While I do like DIY, I do not enjoy using silicon, so I do not want to make my own sump. The tank is going to be new, willing to buy a used sump if I find one that works. I intend on making this a pic heavy thread, as I need some help from you guys.

Thank you in advance for any feedback you can provide, Will

 

[TripsterAK]

Someone Please correct me if im wrong. Overflows would be determined but the amount of flow you have from the pump in your sump to your display. Its appears most people do 2 overflows or 1 large one. I have 2 on my 180 and they are more then I need but I like it that way. That is going to be a very nice sized tank, I like the dimensions.

 

[saltysailor2329]

My 200g DD has two 1" returns via two corner overflows. I don't have it up and running yet but I will be using a dart hybrid throttled back and running my reactors off the return as well. Good luck with the build.

 

[duryeah]

I was thinking of doing two ehiem 1262 pumps for the return. I have one in my 75 gallon and it works great. They are rated at 900gph each, so 1800 gph give or take?

 

[duryeah]

Oops here is the photo I mentioned showing the basic placement of tank. Sorry for crappy iphone pic. Will get better camera soon.

 

[TripsterAK]

Im running a Mag12 on my 180 which is rated at 1200GPH. I dont have it turned up all the way. im probably at 625gph with headloss and with it turned down. YOu dont want your water to go through so fast that nothing settles in your sump.

 

[duryeah]

Good advice Tripster, how big of a sump do you run on your tank?

 

[Sethjamto]

You could use your 55g as a sump. I know you don't want to mess with silicone, but you already have the tank so it'll save some money towards something else. If not, trade off the 55 and 28 for a nice pre made sump.

Just a thought!

My wife and I want to upgrade to a 240 too, so I'll be following along with your build. What are you thinking for lighting?

 

[duryeah]

I would rather just get a new sump, so I will sell the two tanks for money for that. I am thinking of doing 4 radians. I have two over my 75 gallon, looks good and getting good growth.

 

[duryeah]

Here is a quick pic of the 75 gallon tank I have at work. I will have to take a FTS tomorrow as I dont seem to have one. It has been set up for a year now, and already moved once.

 

[TripsterAK]

Good advice Tripster, how big of a sump do you run on your tank?

75G Sump.

Your 75 is fantastic!

 

[duryeah]

thanks! I will put up some more pics of it tomorrow. Has been a lot of work, and trial and error. Ok So I need at least that big of a sump...

 

[TripsterAK]

thanks! I will put up some more pics of it tomorrow. Has been a lot of work, and trial and error. Ok So I need at least that big of a sump...

Take a look at my build thread (Posted in my Sig) I think the 75 is a bit large for it but its more water volume so I dont mind it and i built my stand large enough to accommodate it. I was going to use a 40G but i had the 75G laying around.

 

[matt888]

Go with a 75 gallon sump! It will give you alot of flexibility with the size and plenty of margin for water capacity during a power outage or when you turn the pump(s) off. I will post my sump pic the next day or so in my build thread...

 

[duryeah]

75 gallon sump sounds like is the ticket.

I am thinking of doing 3 radions over this tank (I already have 2). Do you think this is enough? Again dimensions are 96x24x24

 

[duryeah]

Correction, I have 2 eheim 1260 pumps. They are rated as follows:
635 max GPH each, for a total possible max of 1270 GPH. Is this going to be enough? I am thinking about doing 1 40 vortech and 1 60 vortech as well.

 

[Hendrix99]

Wow that is the exact tank that I was looking to get, do you mind me asking what they are quoting you? I got a quote for just a tank for $3,600 locally and about $1,000 less with stand and canopy via GC but am afriad of the quality. I'll definitely be following along so good luck! As for the vortechs, I was thinking 3 MP40's (one on each end and one on the back) had you considered that as an option? I also have 2 radions but am probably guessing that the 8 foot tank would need 4 to have an even spread.

 

[duryeah]

I have not gotten the quote for this tank just yet. Hoping to get it today and will let you know. I thought about the 3 MP40s, but you are paying for a little more for a little less total flow versus getting 1 mp40 and 1 mp60. still debating that in my head. What makes you think that would be a better route to go Hendrix? Just curious. Yeah I am thinking that four is probably what I need to end up going with. Whew that is a lot of money. ;/

 

[Hendrix99]

Thanks on the quote and in regards to the 3 MP40's I think it would create better flow coverage (less dead spots) then just having 2 pumps on either end plus create more unique flow patterns (like a gyre effect). I believe I did see some people complain that the pump on the back moved too much sand around but I figure if you placed it higher you could get away with it. One other point is that unless they changed something the pairing of an MP60 with the MP40 would cause them to operate at the same speed, so say you wanted to ramp the MP60 to 50% the 40 would also be at 50%. I guess you could leave them unpaired to get around this.

 

[duryeah]

No worries, haven't heard back yet. I thought that I had read they could be operated in sync mode, where they are at the same power and anti-sync mode, which is where they are operated at different power levels. Can anyone else confirm or deny that?