150 Miracles Tank (200 gal total)

[TreyC2010]

Hey everyone. I’ve had an eventful last few months but I’m finally beginning a new chapter in my life. My wife and I are building a home and I want to incorporate a tank in my office. Ive seen lots of your tanks and have been envious of the large tanks! I’ve had a DD 150 and a few tanks around the 60 gal.

So I really just want opinions or “must haves” from some of you guys. I’m just now getting my blueprints and 3D room schemes set up so I still have time but I’d like to prepare. I thought about doing FOWLR and possibly converting to reef in the future. I also considered a large FOWLR and a smaller reef tank separate. Here are some of my ideas.

150-200 gal tank
I’m not sure if I want to get a Red Sea tank or build my own. Opinions on that please

I know I need a refugium. Should I just use those porous blocks and Chaeto or something else? I have the Kessil grow light for growing. Also should I make a separate tank for it or incorporate it with the sump?

I’d like a separate water room and I’m excited about that. I will share blueprints when I get them for ideas on where to place that.

What type of lights should I save for? LED or Halides?

I’m sure I will have other things come to mind but these are the starting points for me. If you have a suggestion please let me know. I’m looking forward to diving into this one .

 

[glb]

I’d recommend a sump over an all-in-one with the filtration in the back of the DT. I’ve had both and the sump is so much easier to work on imo.

 

[TreyC2010]

I’ll definitely have a sump. I was wondering if the largest Red Sea Reefer tank was better than piecing together a tank myself.

 

[Daniel Strickland]

I’d go with the Red Sea setup. WAY cheaper...
Love my Hydra 52’s. If your gonna go reef.. if your going Fish only it doesn’t matter go cheap.
I have a 24x24x72 it’s to deep to work in the bottom without getting into the water to my armpits, which ends up making a mess.. wish someone would have told me to go 18x30x72. Same gallons more bottom for aquascape, more swim area that the fish will actually use.. maybe a bit harder to get flow to all areas but that’s the only downside..

I run a algae scrubber instead of a fuge, can’t help you much there..

Good luck

 

[TreyC2010]

I’m not stuck on a fuge if the algae scrubber works the same or better. I might have misunderstood but you recommend the Red Sea, right? I didn’t see it in an 18 deep. I do agree with you there. I had a 150DD and a 24” cube. It was always a mess to get to the bottom of those tanks.

 

[Daniel Strickland]

I have not looked at the RedSea setups enough to know what sizes they offer up, sorry. Just know it’s way cheaper to go that way than what I ended up paying for my tank..

Running a algae scrubber and a skimmer I have never had a nitrate issue, they keep my water stripped.
Sometimes I think to well. That being said I think it is easier to establish a copapod population in a fuge, a fuge gives you a great place to isolate problem fish or inverts.
It’s really whatever you want but I revomend reading up on scrubbers mine works great!! I do have a good pod population just took me longer to get them going I think..

 

[TreyC2010]

150 gal tank

48”L x 30"W x 24"H

Ghost overflow

LED lights-

Triton friendly sump

Large skimmer

Kessil H380 or T5 for fuge

Apex
Apex DOS (x2)
DOS Reservoir (x2)
Probes: Salinity, PH, Temp, Temp2, ORP, Dissolved oxygen
Leak detector (x2)
Flow monitor kit

Return pump (x10 volume)

MP40 (3-4) or Gyre (x2)

Sea Swirl (x2)

 

[TreyC2010]

This is where I am, so far. I have some things that have options. If anyone has an opinion, I’d like to hear it.

I also need input on lights. I want LED for the longevity and less cost of maintaining.

 

[TreyC2010]

I need help on where to put this dude.

It will go where that butler pantry. I would like a fish room but that room behind it is my office. I really want to have water storage as well. Any tips?

 

[TreyC2010]

Still redoing plans... I may have to change the rooms around. Too many choices!

 

[TreyC2010]

So I got my price from Miracles and this is my tank:
All edges machine polished
5/8" glass all around
Starphire 2 long and 1 short
Tempered end with 2 holes for ghost overflow
Ghost overflow
Eurobraced, end euro opposite overflow to have two holes for returns

48”x30”x24”

I’m super excited to get this started. I am meeting with the architect tomorrow to go over the plans.

 

[litenyaup]

I don’t like the idea of it going where the butlers pantry is. I think it would look better to face a room where you would spend time instead of a hall way....

We are doing the same thing and mine is going in the study with a picture frame see through to the living area.

 

[TreyC2010]

I will use that bedroom 2 as my office. It will be viewable from that side as well.

I considered extending that coat closet and making a small room for the sump or accessories. I would move the office door to the west wall. It will be a glass pane door.

Then I might put either water tanks or quarantine in the closet of the office.

 

[litenyaup]

Updates?

 

[TreyC2010]

Well I had the plans changed up a bit.. going to get them back and I will put a picture up when that gets done. The tank size will be 48x30x24. Other than that I’m just planning on how I want to run it. I’m pretty sure I will do Triton. Just trying to figure out all of the equipment I want to put on it.

 

[TreyC2010]

So here’s the new plans. Tank will be a peninsula style “room divider”. I have a sump room, which I really wanted. Any tips on the install or the sump room are greatly appreciated.

I will put the notes I have saved for this build. Please let me know if you see anything that I should consider. Even if I shouldn’t run Triton. I would like a way to make water changes easier, if I didn’t go Triton, but didn’t know if I had the space to accommodate the water tanks. Thanks for looking!


150 gal tank

48"L x 30"W x 24"H

SUMP:
Needs at least 30 gal refugium
Triton preferred
Fuge before skimmer section

Ghost overflow

LED lights-
Kessil AP700 (x2) $799.99 per

Custom sump

Skimmer- REGAL 200EXT 8" RECIRCULATING PROTEIN SKIMMER (VARIOS)
$839.99

Kessil H380 or T5 for fuge


Apex DOS (x2)
DOS Reservoir (x2)
$449.95 each
Apex
Probes: Salinity, PH, Temp, Temp2, ORP,
$799.95
Dissolved oxygen
$94.95 + $699.95
Leak detector (x2)
Flow monitor kit (x2)
$199.95 each
PAR monitor
$299.95
ATK top off
$199.95
Breakout Box

Return pump (x10 volume) Various-8
$349.99 2700 gph (x2)

Secondary pump for manifold

MP40 (2-3) or Gyre (x2)
$350 per

Sea Swirl (x2)
1.5” $489.95 per(5000 gph)
1” $234.95 per (1600 gph)

Ground probe




FISH LIST:

⁃ Tangs
Chevron 11” Ctenochaetus
Purple 10” Zebrasoma
Lemon Peel 8” or Blue Caribbean 9” Acanthurus

⁃ Clownfish
(x2)

⁃ Wrasse
2-3 wrasse

⁃ Hawkfish
Flame Hawkfish

⁃ Dragonet
1 or pair

 

[litenyaup]

So how’s it looking? Any further changes? I actually have my plans finalized.

 

[TreyC2010]

This is where the tank will go and the sump room. I made the sump room completely waterproof and I added a vent and bathroom recirculating fan/light. It’s only 7x7 but it’s way more than I’ve had before. Progress is slow but it’s going.

I’m also debating bare bottom or sand. Seems like bare bottom is good long term if the accumulation of detritus is true about sand. I’m just thinking long term.

 

[Xclusive Reef]

Looking good so far. Good luck with build. will be following along to see hoe this turns out. I would go with the 2 gyre 280 and take it from there. then Add the mp40's as needed. I am a fan of sand so can't comment on that. Various 8 return? I had one on my 4 foot 100 gallon and it was ok. I would probably not choose it again for my next large build. I would go with Abyss or Echotech L1. 30 gallon sump? thats too small if your main display is 200 gal. I would be looking for 75-90 gallons sump if not bigger.

Take a look at this Reef room. you might get some ideas.

 

[TreyC2010]

Looking good so far. Good luck with build. will be following along to see hoe this turns out. I would go with the 2 gyre 280 and take it from there. then Add the mp40's as needed. I am a fan of sand so can't comment on that. Various 8 return? I had one on my 4 foot 100 gallon and it was ok. I would probably not choose it again for my next large build. I would go with Abyss or Echotech L1. 30 gallon sump? thats too small if your main display is 200 gal. I would be looking for 75-90 gallons sump if not bigger.

Take a look at this Reef room. you might get some ideas.

Thanks! Yeah I downgraded it to about 150 gal with the Triton44 Sump. I looked at Abyss but something made me like the various. I’ll check into them again.