Hi All!
This will be my first build thread, so let's see how this goes.
After about 14 years of reefing, I'm finally building my dream tank. I'm fairly well along in the planning stages, but I'm always open to input and suggestions. I'm buying what I can used to try to keep costs as reasonable (haha) as possible. At the same time, I'm buying some higher end gear to make sure I only have to buy it once. This will be a mixed reef. I'm just starting to get into SPS, so I'll probably only have a few in there.
The tank: Crystal Dynamics 260 gallon custom tank - 84" long x 30" deep x 24" high, eurobraced with reinforced seams and starboard bottom
The stand: Crystal Dynamics steel stand. Since the sump will be in the fish room, I'll have plenty of room for the closed loop pumps and storage of some fish supplies.
Sump: 135 gallon 72" x 18" x 26"? can't remember the exact height. It's a beast. This will be in my fishroom in the basement, at the other end of the house.
Water movement:
The sump return will be a Reeflo Barracuda/Hammerhead gold (bought used) which will also run a manifold and the protein skimmer. With the total pipe length and vertical rise, I'd be getting around 3000 gph before running the manifold - plenty for my needs.
I'll be running 2 closed loops in the main tank. One will be off a Red Dragon 3 80 watt, the other will be an Abyzz A100. Both of these I bought used from reefers on forums. I'm planning to run them with a controller to get opposing, synchronized wave motion. Between these 2 pumps and the return, I should have plenty of flow for anything I want to do in the tank.
Filtration:
I'll be including a refugium in my sump. This will probably have a deep sand bed as well as chaeto for nutrient export.
Skimmer will likely be RK2 systems, if I buy new. If I find a recirculating skimmer used with a price I like, I may get one of those.
I'll probably be using a UV sterilizer at some point. With what BRS has been doing lately, it seems like a good thing to be running.
Lighting:
I'm not 100% decided on this yet. I'm probably going to run Kessil A360x's, likely starting with 3 or 4. If I need more, I can always add later.
That's it for now. I'll add more details on planning as I go. I've already thought a lot about the fish room as well, so will post more details of that, and maybe some photos.
This will be my first build thread, so let's see how this goes.
After about 14 years of reefing, I'm finally building my dream tank. I'm fairly well along in the planning stages, but I'm always open to input and suggestions. I'm buying what I can used to try to keep costs as reasonable (haha) as possible. At the same time, I'm buying some higher end gear to make sure I only have to buy it once. This will be a mixed reef. I'm just starting to get into SPS, so I'll probably only have a few in there.
The tank: Crystal Dynamics 260 gallon custom tank - 84" long x 30" deep x 24" high, eurobraced with reinforced seams and starboard bottom
The stand: Crystal Dynamics steel stand. Since the sump will be in the fish room, I'll have plenty of room for the closed loop pumps and storage of some fish supplies.
Sump: 135 gallon 72" x 18" x 26"? can't remember the exact height. It's a beast. This will be in my fishroom in the basement, at the other end of the house.
Water movement:
The sump return will be a Reeflo Barracuda/Hammerhead gold (bought used) which will also run a manifold and the protein skimmer. With the total pipe length and vertical rise, I'd be getting around 3000 gph before running the manifold - plenty for my needs.
I'll be running 2 closed loops in the main tank. One will be off a Red Dragon 3 80 watt, the other will be an Abyzz A100. Both of these I bought used from reefers on forums. I'm planning to run them with a controller to get opposing, synchronized wave motion. Between these 2 pumps and the return, I should have plenty of flow for anything I want to do in the tank.
Filtration:
I'll be including a refugium in my sump. This will probably have a deep sand bed as well as chaeto for nutrient export.
Skimmer will likely be RK2 systems, if I buy new. If I find a recirculating skimmer used with a price I like, I may get one of those.
I'll probably be using a UV sterilizer at some point. With what BRS has been doing lately, it seems like a good thing to be running.
Lighting:
I'm not 100% decided on this yet. I'm probably going to run Kessil A360x's, likely starting with 3 or 4. If I need more, I can always add later.
That's it for now. I'll add more details on planning as I go. I've already thought a lot about the fish room as well, so will post more details of that, and maybe some photos.
