I've recently started browsing R2R and I'm really liking it here. I also recently finsihed my 240 gal. full ZEOvit build and figured I would post my build thread here from my local clubs forum. Tank has been up and running now for 21 days. My cycle is complete and I'm slowly adding fish and coral. So here you go, I hope you enjoy the build.....
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After 1 year and 7 months I have decided it's time to upgrade my 100 gallon D.A.P. tank. I did some shopping around for tanks and decided I wanted to go with Mike over at Aquarium Design Group (ADG). We've been having meetings over at his place for some time now and I just love the build quality in his tanks. I spoke with him a bit at the photography workshop about getting a tank from him and he was more than willing to help me out. We met for lunch today and finalized the details and payment was made to make it official. I should have my new tank in 4-5 weeks!!!
The specs on my new tank are the following.....
• 96 x 24 x 24 = 240 gallon custom aquarium
• Stainless steel black powder coated frames
• Starfire glass front and both end panels
• Overflow box center of back w/2- 1“ returns and 2- 1 ½“ drains
• Custom ADG fabricated durso stand pipes
• Black overflow box cover
• No bracing open top style aquarium
• Solid oak stand / finish black
• 36†finish height
• Solid top no lip
• 2-full front doors , 2 – full doors on each end of stand
• Raised panel doors
• Bottom of stand to have sealed lip for minor water retention
• Water proof finish seal on cabinet finish work
• Interior cabinet oil base paint seal / black
• Quality stainless hinges for all doors
• Black vinyl background
• Black silicone
• 100lbs reef base rock large pieces
• Delivery and installation , includes leveling of stand and aquarium
I'm really leaning towards making this an SPS dominant reef. I will still have a few LPS corals around the sand bed but not quite the mix I have now. I seem to be constantly fighting chemical warfares between my SPS and LPS corals from 1. having them too close together and 2. just being overstocked in general. I've learned a LOT over the past year and a half and want to do quite a bit different this time. First off, I'm taking my time and buying all my equipment first. My current tank is a wiring nightmare because I added a bunch of stuff after the fact and can't really get in the stand to clean up the wiring. I want to do my sump different and have one custom made to fit my needs. I want to see if I can get my skimmer far enough away from my fuge section so it will quit growing algae inside it from the light spill coming from my chaeto light. So much more I could go on and on about.
My plan of action so far will be to first paint my room. It's been 9 years and the walls are looking bad. That is a must before the new tank is in place. Then I will get the tank in and set up. After that I will slowly start piecing the equipment together as paychecks come in.
Equipment list so far.....
• 5 Ecotech Radion XR30w LED fixtures for lighting
• 2 Ecotech VorTech MP40wES powerheads for flow (not sure if that will be enough for an 8' tank)
• Neptune Systems Apex controller
• Custom sump/fuge (leaning towards Precision Marine making me one. Not sure yet)
• Precision Marine GAC & GFO media reactors
• Super Reef Octopus XP3000 Internal skimmer (need to do more research here. I like the Skimz skimmers also
• 2 BRS 1.1 ml. dosers for Alk. & Cal.
• 2 titanium heaters
• internal return pump. Need help here!
• Autotopoff.com ATO float switches w/ usplastics.com 30 gallon black reservoir
• Hmmm...... I know there's other things I'm forgetting
• Oh I'll be going with 100% dry rock this time. No live rock and unknown critters. Something in my tank is eating my cleaner shrimp and small fish!!!
• Sand TBD later.
So that seems to cover things so far. Last night I built a wood mock up of the tank and made sure I could manuver it through the house and into place. No problems there. Here's a pic of where it will go. The wall is 20' wide but has a door on it. That eats up 4' leaving 16' of wall space. The tank is 8' which gives me 4' on each side of the tank.
yes I collect Dallas Cowboys memorabilia and yes I used my dogs kennel as a stand LOL! Sorry room was a mess and I just shoved the couches out of the way.
I have also drawn the tank in 3D to give me (and y'all) an idea of what it will look like. Here it is!! I may model that stand later if I have time.
So what are y'all's thoughts? I'd love to hear your opinions on the equipment choices. I really need help with the return pump. I have no idea at this point what I'm going to use. I'd like it to be an internal if possible. Thanks for looking!
________________________________________
After 1 year and 7 months I have decided it's time to upgrade my 100 gallon D.A.P. tank. I did some shopping around for tanks and decided I wanted to go with Mike over at Aquarium Design Group (ADG). We've been having meetings over at his place for some time now and I just love the build quality in his tanks. I spoke with him a bit at the photography workshop about getting a tank from him and he was more than willing to help me out. We met for lunch today and finalized the details and payment was made to make it official. I should have my new tank in 4-5 weeks!!!
The specs on my new tank are the following.....
• 96 x 24 x 24 = 240 gallon custom aquarium
• Stainless steel black powder coated frames
• Starfire glass front and both end panels
• Overflow box center of back w/2- 1“ returns and 2- 1 ½“ drains
• Custom ADG fabricated durso stand pipes
• Black overflow box cover
• No bracing open top style aquarium
• Solid oak stand / finish black
• 36†finish height
• Solid top no lip
• 2-full front doors , 2 – full doors on each end of stand
• Raised panel doors
• Bottom of stand to have sealed lip for minor water retention
• Water proof finish seal on cabinet finish work
• Interior cabinet oil base paint seal / black
• Quality stainless hinges for all doors
• Black vinyl background
• Black silicone
• 100lbs reef base rock large pieces
• Delivery and installation , includes leveling of stand and aquarium
I'm really leaning towards making this an SPS dominant reef. I will still have a few LPS corals around the sand bed but not quite the mix I have now. I seem to be constantly fighting chemical warfares between my SPS and LPS corals from 1. having them too close together and 2. just being overstocked in general. I've learned a LOT over the past year and a half and want to do quite a bit different this time. First off, I'm taking my time and buying all my equipment first. My current tank is a wiring nightmare because I added a bunch of stuff after the fact and can't really get in the stand to clean up the wiring. I want to do my sump different and have one custom made to fit my needs. I want to see if I can get my skimmer far enough away from my fuge section so it will quit growing algae inside it from the light spill coming from my chaeto light. So much more I could go on and on about.
My plan of action so far will be to first paint my room. It's been 9 years and the walls are looking bad. That is a must before the new tank is in place. Then I will get the tank in and set up. After that I will slowly start piecing the equipment together as paychecks come in.
Equipment list so far.....
• 5 Ecotech Radion XR30w LED fixtures for lighting
• 2 Ecotech VorTech MP40wES powerheads for flow (not sure if that will be enough for an 8' tank)
• Neptune Systems Apex controller
• Custom sump/fuge (leaning towards Precision Marine making me one. Not sure yet)
• Precision Marine GAC & GFO media reactors
• Super Reef Octopus XP3000 Internal skimmer (need to do more research here. I like the Skimz skimmers also
• 2 BRS 1.1 ml. dosers for Alk. & Cal.
• 2 titanium heaters
• internal return pump. Need help here!
• Autotopoff.com ATO float switches w/ usplastics.com 30 gallon black reservoir
• Hmmm...... I know there's other things I'm forgetting
• Oh I'll be going with 100% dry rock this time. No live rock and unknown critters. Something in my tank is eating my cleaner shrimp and small fish!!!
• Sand TBD later.
So that seems to cover things so far. Last night I built a wood mock up of the tank and made sure I could manuver it through the house and into place. No problems there. Here's a pic of where it will go. The wall is 20' wide but has a door on it. That eats up 4' leaving 16' of wall space. The tank is 8' which gives me 4' on each side of the tank.
yes I collect Dallas Cowboys memorabilia and yes I used my dogs kennel as a stand LOL! Sorry room was a mess and I just shoved the couches out of the way.
I have also drawn the tank in 3D to give me (and y'all) an idea of what it will look like. Here it is!! I may model that stand later if I have time.
So what are y'all's thoughts? I'd love to hear your opinions on the equipment choices. I really need help with the return pump. I have no idea at this point what I'm going to use. I'd like it to be an internal if possible. Thanks for looking!