300 Gallon, Two tank system Build thread!

[mattsreefadise]

Alright guys.
Its time.
For the most epic, jaw and panty dropping, earth shattering, foe and friend making, possible divorce, work over time to support addiction tank build thread ever????
Tank 1: "The Rescue Tank"
A 240 gallon rimless tank from glasscages.com 48" x 49.5" x 24" tall.
Powered by 2 radion gen 2s, with upgraded lenses. And x4 supplemented t5 HOs.
2 jebao RW15s will cycle about 40x the tank volume an hour.
150 pounds of my own cultured live rock (from my current setup)
200 pounds of black Hawaiian arrognite sand. (Love the black sand)
1000s of dollars worth of coral and fish.
Mainly rescued fish. Too many times do I see a fish that need over 200 gallons worth of tank, in a 55 gallon system.
Mainly LPS, and SPS that can handle some nutrients.
Tank 2:
A 50 gallon rimless from class cages. 36" x 18" x 16"
Ran by a reef breeders LED.
2 jebao RW 8s will cycle the tank about 35x an hour.
40 pounds of shelf live rock.
40 pounds of black arroginite sand (once again, love that sand)
Wrasses, clownfish, and any other fish my wife likes that are too small for the 240- so the lionfish can't eat them..
Filtration:
1) 20 gallon refugium with cheato, lit by a small t5 light flowing into
1) 75 gallon tank.
With 45 lbs live rock.
A Skims Protein Skimmer, rated for 350 gallons.
A 800 watt jager heater.
BRS dosers, dosing calcium, carbonates, and magnesium.
A reef angel controlling it all.
With a PH probe, salinity probe, 3 temp sensors (main, 50 gallon, and air temp) Jebao battery backup/control, leak rope detector, multi water level sensor, and a RF module.
The return pump will be a Jebao DC 12000 pump.
And, a new house to do it all in!!
The tanks will be connected through the wall.
One in the living room, one in my room.



I have the 50 gallon in my possession. On my way home from class cages now.
Those guys are awesome, and the tank looks fantastic.
They've got a neat set-up, and I've found out why they are so cheap..
The labor is cheap .
Jk, prob not, but good guys no doubt.....
*cough*

*takes breath*


*Realizes it was stupid to write "takes breath"*

But I digress.
I have the 240 ordered, and it will be here in about a months time. Until then, I'm setting up the 50 gallon and sump/filtration so all I have to do is plumb in the 240.
Pictures later!!!

 

[mattsreefadise]

Got the tank home, safe and sound.
Gotta say, I'm really impressed with glasscages and their handy work. Silicone is neat and tidy, and the tank is perfectly square. Very happy with this choice.

 

[BHAMR6]

Did you sell your 93g

 

[mattsreefadise]

No. Still have it. It won't be for sell for about a month.

 

[BHAMR6]

Hit me up when you want to sell it I'm still trying to get rid of my 185g but Ive fully decided the 93 is what in wanting

 

[mattsreefadise]

Alright. Awesome. Just a heads up, it will be for sale for 500 for everything on it, minus the light and reef angel. And the light will sell for 350 separate. I paid 600 for the light alone, so I can't go too cheap with it.

 

[mattsreefadise]

Update 1:
DIY screen, and finally decided on rock setup.

Got the glass to build the internal overflow. It's gonna be 1" wide, 20" long, and about 4" tall.
Got the 3/8" glass ordered for the external overflow.
The external will be 5" wide, 6" tall, and 20" wide.
2) 3/4" returns will be on the comers on of the tank, as seen in the last picture. Will be drilling tomorrow.

 

[BHAMR6]

OK that's fine I have all my own orohek led.. I really just need tank, stand, and maybe a sump but open to whatever

 

[mattsreefadise]

Yea, it will come with the sump, protein skimmer, heater, and return pump

 

[mattsreefadise]

Return Pump arrived today.
Decided to go with a DC pump so I can control it with the Reef Angel. Should be getting about 1400 gph for the 240, and about 500 gph with the 50 gallon.

 

[mattsreefadise]

DIY Internal overflow. 4" tall, 20" wide, 1" thick. Glass from Huntsville Glass.

 

[mattsreefadise]

Update:
Almost finished with the stand for the 240 gallon.
Just need some 4x4 supports in the corners and I can call it done, minus the outside pretty stuff, as my wife calls it. You'll notice I don't have have any middle supports, that's because I like access, and hate beams in my way.
Instead, I drilled 2x4s from one side to the other, and then another way below that.
This helps support those 2x4s.
The legs are made of 2x8s which should help support the almost 2000 pounds of water ill have.

Here is the top, upside down. You can see the horizontal beams, and their support beams.

The second photo is the stand before the bottom was attached.

The final pic is the stand finished. Perfectly level.
On carpet at least. Its getting moved to a bare wood floor, so it will def show any imperfections.
The stand is 32" tall, with 28" of workspace underneath
48" long. 50" wide.
This is gonna be a huge tank.
That's all for now! [emoji5]

 

[mattsreefadise]

Another UPDATE!!
I closed on my home! And spent the last 2 weeks moving in and prepping everything.
Now my attention has slowly turned to my tanks.
I've drilled the 50 gallon and made the internal and external overflows.
The tank has 2, 1/2" holes drilled in the back panel, in between the internal and external.
Also, I drilled a 1" hole above those 2 as an emergency drain into the external.
I've also installed 2, 3/4" bulk heads that will be the return lines.
The stand is almost done for the 240 gallon. My mother in law is putting the finishing touches on now.
I've hung my Chinese LED above the 50 gallon, and I have it setting on its stand.
Things are coming along!!

 

[stlcard]

Update:
Almost finished with the stand for the 240 gallon.
Just need some 4x4 supports in the corners and I can call it done, minus the outside pretty stuff, as my wife calls it. You'll notice I don't have have any middle supports, that's because I like access, and hate beams in my way.
Instead, I drilled 2x4s from one side to the other, and then another way below that.
This helps support those 2x4s.
The legs are made of 2x8s which should help support the almost 2000 pounds of water ill have.

did you brace the legs any more? i see that you stacked the x axis 2x8's directly on top of the 2x8 legs.? did you brace the back (inside the stand) of them? i presume you did pocket holes? I build furniture for a living and see a potential for racking here. but, thats just based off pictures. i realize it could be snug and very tight, just structurally kind of makes me scratch my head a little.

 

[mattsreefadise]

There is another 2x6" on the back, and 4x4s on every corner. Does what I said make sense?
Basically, there are 2x4s bolted from one end to the other, and then below that, there are 2x4s running the opposite bolted to the 2x6s that span the "rim."

 

[mattsreefadise]

I understand what youre asking.
How would I brace the legs more?
Maybe some metal brackets?

 

[stlcard]

Ill draft up a quick drawing for you today at work. Basically, just put in a 2x4 block behind the legs that connects your xAxis 2x8 with the yAxis 2x8 leg. You want to span the "gap" or "joint" where those two boards meet. Structurally from top down its great to have them stacked on end, but you need to brace it on the back side to prevent racking.
"Racking" is a term for furniture construction when a boxed shape is pushed at the top sideways, it begins to collapse and form a diamond shape before finally collapsing on itself altogether. Kind of like an accordian instrument.

Ill post back later with a quick drawing.

Sorry, not trying to be difficult or condescending just want to throw in some tips. And You are certainly not obligated to follow them in anyway.

 

[mattsreefadise]

Oh, I appreciate the input. By no means am I an expert on building stands. My expertise is in thee tank itself.
Wouldn't a metal bracket do the same thing as the 2x4s?

 

[mattsreefadise]

Got the 50 gallon painted, and the overflow box added to it. Will start plumbing it to the sump later today.
Progress!

 

[mattsreefadise]

UPDATE!!!!
I just got the most important piece for my house/ family reef build!!!!!!!!!!
She's 18.5" long
Weighing in at 6.4 pounds!
She's the prettiest thing I've ever seen.
Shes gonna be the most difficult thing to care for...
I give you......
Aaliyah Nicole Guess!