240g Miracles Build By PMG

[Advanced Reef Aquarium]

Hi Guys,

My name is Paul and I am one of the Co-Owners of Advanced Reef Aquarium. Besides that, I am also an avid hobbyist. Over the last few months I have started a new build to replace my old 150G SPS tank, and have been documenting it over on one of my local club forums. Since we as a company have been spending a lot of time over here as a R2R sponsor, I thought I'd share my personal build with the community here at R2R.

For the first few posts I'm going to do a little copy/paste action to catch everybody up to date.

 

[Advanced Reef Aquarium]

4/6/2013 - I finally got started on the new set-up this past week.

Due to arrive this week is a 72" x 36" x 22"h Starphire tank from Miracles Aquariums that I ordered a few months back.

I still need to run a few power lines and network cables in the wall behind where the tank will sit. I also need to patch up and paint that wall after we decide on a color.

More details to come over the next few weeks.

Tank Details:
72" x 36" x 22"H
(3) Sides 3/4" Starphire Low Iron Glass
Black Silicone
Black Back
Internal Overflow Box W/ (2) 1-1/2" Drains
(2) 3/4" Returns In Back Glass
Glass Euro Bracing (No Center Brace)
All Edges Machine Polished
(4) Holes Drilled In Back Euro Brace To Route Cabels

Stand Details:
11' x 36" x 42" Tall
Red Oak Skin
Raised Panel Doors
Red Mahogany Stain

Sump/Fuge Details:
Poly Propylene Sump - 36" x 36" x 16" H - 90 Gallons
Poly Propylene Fuge - 36" x 30" x 14" H - 66 Gallons

Sump

Fuge

Lighting:
(5) Aquaillumination Vega Color
Vega Wireless Controller (Now Director BETA)
EXT Mounting System

Other Equipment:
SRO3000INT Skimmer
(2) Tunze 6105's
(2) Tunze 6055's
(2) Tunze 6125's
Pan World 150PSS Return Pump
Tunze Auto Top Off
DIY Reactors
Neptune ACIII
DA LifeGuard
3/4" Eductors

 

[Duffam3434]

Can't Wait!!!

 

[Advanced Reef Aquarium]

4/8/2013 - Here it is. Ready to ship :bigsmile:

 

[Advanced Reef Aquarium]

4/9/2013 - Did some painting today, and boy do I love painting.

Painted the stand base white, and also painted the wall behind after fixing a few holes and running the utilities. I installed (2) 20 Amp circuits, a network cable, and a RO/DI line.

I may get into installing the lights later this evening, and then get the stand level and reinforced with some steel "L" brackets.

4/9/2013 - Let there be lights!

 

[Advanced Reef Aquarium]

4/12/2013 - I've got the stand sitting in it's final resting place all level and reinforced with (20) steel "L" brackets. The box on the right side of the stand in the picture below is where I plan to install as much of the electrical as possible.

Test fitting the Sump/Fuge and planning the plumbing.

 

[Advanced Reef Aquarium]

4/18/3013 - The tank made the transit from Miracles in perfect condition.

Now it's time for the not so fun part of hauling it to the basement this evening.

 

[Advanced Reef Aquarium]

4/18/2013 - Hope I never have to move this one again.

I know it's not the heaviest aquarium out there, but it's by far the heaviest one I've ever helped move.

3/4" glass make a huge difference.

Thanks again to all the guys that helped move this tank tonight.

Some pictures taken by one of the lucky people to help move this beast.

 

[Advanced Reef Aquarium]

4/19/2013 - Well...This is my first attempt at a rock scape, and I'm not overly thrilled about it. I'll sleep on it, and see what I think of it in the morning before starting over.

 

[Advanced Reef Aquarium]

Here's a quick video that is a part of a series that Than is doing on my build.
More videos to come.

[video=youtube;dOsdNYj49Y0]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dOsdNYj49Y0[/video]

 

[Advanced Reef Aquarium]

4/24/2013 - Got a good part of the plumbing done this afternoon, and got the filter sock holders welded in the sump and fuge.

 

[spspirate]

Great looking build! Tagging along. Since your using 3/4in glass was adding the euro bracing optional around the parameter?

 

[Advanced Reef Aquarium]

4/25/2013 - Here's a few Pics of some of the stuff I am trying to finish up now.

 

[Advanced Reef Aquarium]

4/25/2013 - I need to disassemble and clean my RO/DI unit, change the filters/DI resin, and install a booster pump. As soon as thats complete, I plan to start the filling. I need about 350 gallons. So if I start tomorrow, about 3-5 days until it's full.

 

[Advanced Reef Aquarium]

4/26/2013 - 10:32a, The first few drops

4/27/2013 - 8:13a - A little over half full now. At this pace the tank/sump/fuge should be full Monday morning.

4/28/2013 - 8:49 Sunday Morning Update.
The display is now full, and the Fuge is about 2/3 full. About 90 more gallons to go until I can kick the return pump on and start heating the water.

The wiring and systems are about 95% complete. I just need to run a few probes once the sump is full and install a fuge light.

 

[Advanced Reef Aquarium]

4/30/2013 - Everything is up and running smooth now.

Electrical box is finished.

Plenty of room left for the reactors and such. The top off bucket is going to be replaced soon with a 20g holding tank, and I will move the UPS either to the electrical box or behind the stand.

I need to fabricate some probe holders out of acrylic as none of my magnets will hold on the 3/4" sump.

 

[Advanced Reef Aquarium]

5/5/2013 -
Part II of the video series Than is doing is now up.

[video=youtube;oPhv-QoVZcY]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oPhv-QoVZcY[/video]

 

[Advanced Reef Aquarium]

5/18/2013 - I've just kinda let the tank do its own thing the last few weeks while it cycled, but I did add a few more pieces of equipment.

I swapped out the 5 gallon orange bucket for a custom 20g poly tank to be used for a top-off reservoir, and set the calcium reactor in place. I still need to hook up the reactor components, but I have plenty of time before that necessary.

I also installed a 15" ReefBrite with all white LED's above the fugue.

In the shop I'm working on fabricating some acrylic brackets to hold probes, float switches, Ect. down in the sump.

 

[Advanced Reef Aquarium]

OK.... Should be all caught up now.
I will be updating this thread with some current pics of the tank and livestock as well as a 3rd video with in the next few days.

 

[Advanced Reef Aquarium]

Great looking build! Tagging along. Since your using 3/4in glass was adding the euro bracing optional around the parameter?

I'm not sure if it was optional or not. I specifically asked for euro bracing on this tank. I've done the rimless thing before, and I don't think I'll ever have another one.