Beef33's room divider SPS tank build

[Beef33]

Introduction​

Hey everyone,

After a decade away from the world of reef-keeping, I'm excited to dive back into the hobby. In the years leading up to my break, I managed three tanks of varying sizes, concluding with a 90-gallon setup. This time, I'm aiming for a more substantial and carefully planned system, incorporating automation wherever possible. This thread will be the place to document and get support along the journey from concept to a fully operational tank.

While the initial threads were somewhat fluid, I've revisited and refined the content for better organization and ease of navigation after the initial thread was made.

Here's a quick outline, complete with key details and a recent photo of the tank. I'm thrilled to be back and hope you enjoy following along on this journey.

1. Goals & Planning
2. Mixing Station Plan
   1. Mixing Station - The Build
3. Hardware
4. Lighting Saga
5. Fish
6. Coral
7. Automation
8. …

By the Numbers​

• Tank Size: ~210 Display
• Temp: Coming Soon
• Salinity: Coming Soon
• pH: Coming Soon
• Nitrate (No3): Coming Soon
• Alkalinity (dKH): Coming Soon
• Calcium: (Ca): Coming Soon
• Magnesium (mg): Coming Soon
• Phosphate (PO4): Coming Soon

Fish​

• Coming Soon

Corals

• Coming Soon

 

[Beef33]

Goals & Planning​

My Goals

Apart from getting back into Reef Keeping, I have a few goals for this tank:

• Set it up to be as automated as possible for insights when I am away.
• Create a mixed Reef but with a focus on having a more SPS-dominant tank.
• Achieve a good mix of fish.

This is a quick overview; I'll delve into more details for all the goals and questions as I go along. For now lets chat about where the tank will go and how I planned it out.

The Space

To start, one of the main reasons I can do this project is there I have a great location that is ideal for setting up a room-divider-type tank. The space is between our main entryway and the living room.

The initial step was to think about the size and layout and get the full complete measurements and using SketchUp to visualize what I wanted.


Initially, I started considering the impact of overflows on the tank size. While the aim is to maximize the tank space, there must also be room for equipment. This led me to contemplate both internal and external overflow options.

Following these considerations, I constructed the space and the tank as they would appear when installed, to assess how each idea might influence their appearance.

External in Place​

Internal In Place

After that, it was time to contact a few places that actually build tanks to get their thoughts and a price estimate.

Getting the Tank

To get the tank built, I reached out to several places and after a lot of reading and research, I decided to go with Waterbox Aquariums. The main factors that sent me in this direction were the price, positive reviews, and overall good interactions in the initial steps. Waterbox was quick and responsive, making the design process easy.

Design Process​

To achieve the final design following the initial draft, Waterbox and Jess (who was fantastic) took into account all my questions and feedback. They crafted a custom tank and sump that aligns seamlessly with my long-term goals and the equipment I intend to use.

After finalizing the design, I updated my initial SketchUp model to match the actual build plans. While it might have been considered overkill, as an engineer, I find this part of the process enjoyable and a great way to dive back into the hobby. Although not perfect, it gave both myself and my family a clear idea of how everything would fit and look in the space.

And that completed the process of finding and getting a tank on its way. I will have more updates later once the tank arrives and I can start to get it into place.

 

[Beef33]

Mixing Station Plan

In pursuit of my automation goal, I aimed for a top-notch mixing station to simplify water mixing, automate RODI, full ATO (Auto Top-Off), and streamline auto water changes. After spending way to much time looking at forums and places to buy larger water tanks, one of the most informative threads I came across was located here: (https://www.reef2reef.com/threads/mixing-station-supply-list.844233/post-9153705) Based on this, I explored two different approaches. ). With that I took 2 different approaches.

Attempt #1

In this iteration, my focus was on fitting the mixing station into a garage space close to the tank. While it served as a good initial attempt with some positive aspects, there were certain drawbacks that led me to try again and pick the second design.

Pros

• Compact size, fitting well into the available space without using the entire space.
• Met the goal of facilitating easy water mixing.
• Supported both Auto Water Changes (AWC) and Auto Top Off (ATO).

Cons

• Felt too small for the intended size of the tank.
• Difficulty in sourcing tanks that would work with the design.

Attempt #2

After finishing the smaller design, for the second and final attempt, my focus was on making sure I would have a substantial water supply to reduce the frequency of refills or water production.

I chose two 105-gallon vertical tanks and developed a stand for them constructed from T-Slot aluminum.

The plumbing design adheres to a standard approach based on my research. In an effort to pay it forward from the informative posts I've encountered, I'll outline the design along with the parts list at the end. The stand will be constructed using 3030 Aluminum sourced from ZYLtech. If anyone is interested in a full parts list, I can provide one, although it's fairly specific to my space and the tanks I purchased.

Continued: Mixing Station - The Build - Coming Soon

 

[Gumbies R Us]

Following along!

 

[Beef33]

Hardware​

Still have a few things to settle on but the overall equipment is looking good and started to place some orders where I can. First items are for the mixing station

Tank​

• Tanks, Stand, Sump: Waterbox Aquarium
• Rock: TBS or CARIBSEA
• Sand: TBS

Automation

• Controller: Apex Pro
• Water Change: Neptune DOS
• ATO: Tunze 3155
• DOS’ing: Echotech Versa’s
• Testing: Trident

Water

• Return: Vectra L2
• Powerhead: Gyre XF350
• Powerhead: Vortech MP40
• Heater: 1000W Helio PTC

Filter, Pest, & Pollution

• Skimmer: Regal 200SSS 8”
• Ozone: Poseidon 200 Ozone Generator
• UV: Aqua Ultraviolet 57 Watt
• Refugium Light: Prime 16 LED Fuge Light

Misc

• Red Sea Salt Mix
• Mix of Flow sensors, optical sensors, leak sensors, etc

Mixing Station

• Tanks: 2 x Norwesco 105 Gallon
• Pump: Nepture Core 15
• RODI: BRS 7 stage
• Stand: Self Built out of Zyltech 3030

Overall happy with how things are shaping up, let me know what you think or if you have any comments.

 

[Beef33]

Lighting Saga

 

[Beef33]

Mixing Station - The Build

 

[cilyjr]

One thing I am still stick on is lighting. I keep bouncing between several options like do I use 2 Radion X30 G6 Pro's, a few Kessil's with AI blades, or recently was thinking that maybe a mix of Kessil and Radion.

Would love to hear what people think would be a good setup for a tank like this

I'd do 4x or 6x somethings .. maybe the small radions or hydras or something with 4 t5s.

I have a 6x36x30 tank and am using 8 hydra32hd with 4 t5s.

I will never run led without a few t5. I want a linear source light with a point source.

I won't tell you which brand to go with, at this point anything with a decent Cree led or quality competitor will work. Heck even the Amazon stuff will work.

 

[Beef33]

I'd do 4x or 6x somethings .. maybe the small radions or hydras or something with 4 t5s.

I have a 6x36x30 tank and am using 8 hydra32hd with 4 t5s.

I will never run led without a few t5. I want a linear source light with a point source.

I won't tell you which brand to go with, at this point anything with a decent Cree led or quality competitor will work. Heck even the Amazon stuff will work.

Yeah this is very close to what I am leaning to, may just start with the 4 smaller led and then add in some fill light as things need it.

 

[cilyjr]

Yeah this is very close to what I am leaning to, may just start with the 4 smaller led and then add in some fill light as things need it.

Man, it's such a PITA trying to hang new lights over an existing tank.

If the money is not an issue then do it all in the beginning.

If money is an issue, consider 3 LED fixtures in the 4 t5 hybrid. That would get you by.

 

[Beef33]

Yeah I may also do it all now. I am also trying to figure out how to make it so I can raise and lower them to make getting into the tank easier.

 

[cilyjr]

Yeah I may also do it all now. I am also trying to figure out how to make it so I can raise and lower them to make getting into the tank easier.

When I had an in-wall tank I wanted to be able to work at it from both sides, so I had cabinet doors on the finished room side but the lights were mounted on a rail system that could be pushed in either direction to be out of the way. That was a metal halide setup with lumenbright reflectors and they were big.

 

[lubeck]

Looks like a fun build following along.

 

[Beef33]

When I had an in-wall tank I wanted to be able to work at it from both sides, so I had cabinet doors on the finished room side but the lights were mounted on a rail system that could be pushed in either direction to be out of the way. That was a metal halide setup with lumenbright reflectors and they were big.

Yeah rails are a possible option but with the tank being visible on both sides up/down would let me get in from both.

 

[Beef33]

Looks like a fun build following along.

Thank and yeah it’s been great to be back and going through all the planning. Can’t wait for the tank to get done!

 

[cilyjr]

Yeah rails are a possible option but with the tank being visible on both sides up/down would let me get in from both.

I had dual drawer slides mounted to each other so you could pull it in one direction or push it in the other, but they folded up to the length of the tank so the enclosure over the top could be closed up.

 

[Beef33]

I had dual drawer slides mounted to each other so you could pull it in one direction or push it in the other, but they folded up to the length of the tank so the enclosure over the top could be closed up.

Ooo that’s a cool idea. Will have to check that would and see how it would look.

 

[cilyjr]

That tank had a HVAC spiral duct over it so going up and down with the lights wasn't an option there.

 

[Beef33]

Sorry for all the changes (not sure if it send things out for edits). I revamped how I posted things to clean it up, and should make it easier for me to manage and link things together.

For the last bit its been a waiting game, but I finally got the tanks for the mixing station so will be building that this weekend / next week and will post shots of how it goes. The tank is still a ways out, but have most stuff ordered now other then lights.

 

[Beef33]

Wow time flies and a lot has happened and things took much longer then I wanted but between some delays and work it took as long as it did. But the cycle is going and will get some better pictures, but here is the tank right before water went it a few weeks ago (Sorry for all the reflections)