Bills CDA 225 gal 72x30x24 tank upgrade/SPS Dream Tank!!!

[Reef370]

I have thought about the same, for the gyres, but I like not having any wires in the tank. You really don't see the wires for the gyres as they can sit so high in the tank, I figure I have about a week or so to change it. I do love the gyres and the way they move the water.

I think you would like it. I’m pretty sure you could add them and if you don’t use them they will be there if you ever need them... for anything... I turned the one in the back of my tank into the feed for my Uv sterilizer.. lol

 

[Camaro Show Corals]

@Billldg the new tank is barebottom correct?

 

[Billldg]

@Billldg the new tank is barebottom correct?

I thought about it, but I like sand, so I will go with a, roughly, 1 in sand bottom. I am going with roughly a 1 in sand bed so it doesn’t become a dumpster for detritus.

 

[Billldg]

I am in the process of soaking/cleaning my second trash can full of Marco rock today. Probably will not get to do any aquascaping today as I will let the batch soak as I did the other batch and then let it dry. At least I am in the position to start to aquascape when I get a chance.

 

[Billldg]

I received a ton of PVC parts from BRS today, now I just need to remember what I wanted them for, LOL!!! Most of the plumbing for my upgrade has been done in my head as I think of something. I figured why I ordered most of the fittings, but will need to start to plumb to see why I order the rest. In all likelihood, I will change a few more things on the plumbing when receive the tank and stand.

All the bigger fittings are for my mixing station, the smaller pvc stuff is for my tank. I ordered a plumbing kit with my tank, so most of what I need will come with it, but I didn't add a manifold to the build, thus the smaller stuff for my Carbon Reactor. I will run the Algae Scrubber on its own pump, so no need to add it to the tank plumbing.

 

[Billldg]

Picked up some cardboard today to start to build a template of the tank so I could start to aquascape. After getting a rough template, still need to marker out exact measurements, I am realizing, MAN this is a lot of tank to aquascape, LOL!!! ;Hilarious ;Hilarious ;Hilarious

The yellow cardboard is within a 1/2 in of actual size.

 

[Reef370]

Let the fun begin! Can’t wait to see what you come up with!

 

[fishguy242]

going to take a few days ,needs to work out on new bench before he can lift them buckets again

 

[Reef370]

Hahah!

 

[Billldg]

Ha Ha!!! ;Hilarious

That bench isn’t new, I used it to strength train when I was doing Ironman triathlons.

I will definitely recommend, after washing the Marco rock, to spread it out on a flat surface to see what you have. I plan on having a bunch of overhangs and tunnels and such, and after seeing the rock @Bulk Reef Supply sent me, it will be much easier than I first thought. After seeing the rock spread out I found I have much more bigger rocks than I first thought which will make overhangs easier.

Foundation rock

170 pounds of Marco Shelf rock

 

[VikS]

Following for ideas, I have same size tank in peninsula layout coming in a few months.

 

[TexAgReefer]

Picked up some cardboard today to start to build a template of the tank so I could start to aquascape. After getting a rough template, still need to marker out exact measurements, I am realizing, MAN this is a lot of tank to aquascape, LOL!!! ;Hilarious ;Hilarious ;Hilarious

The yellow cardboard is within a 1/2 in of actual size.

That's a great problem to have!!

Ha Ha!!! ;Hilarious

That bench isn’t new, I used it to strength train when I was doing Ironman triathlons.

I will definitely recommend, after washing the Marco rock, to spread it out on a flat surface to see what you have. I plan on having a bunch of overhangs and tunnels and such, and after seeing the rock @Bulk Reef Supply sent me, it will be much easier than I first thought. After seeing the rock spread out I found I have much more bigger rocks than I first thought which will make overhangs easier.

Foundation rock

170 pounds of Marco Shelf rock

You've got some great pieces to work with there!

 

[Billldg]

I started to mess around with the aquascape today, it is very hard to scape with Marco rock and get the look you want, but after a while you start to get the hang of what the rock wants to go together. The pictures are just the beginning. I do like where the scape is going. I want areas for the fish to sleep and hide if need be, but I also want a lot of surface areas for SPS. I also want it stair stacked so the frags don’t look flat went they grow out. Again, this is the beginning. I plan on having 4 tunnels for the fish to swim thru and for the tangs to sleep in.

 

[Billldg]

As you can see, I still have a ton of rock to work with, LOL!!!

 

[Reef370]

Looks good Bill, that top down picture really shows how much surface area you have for the sps! Great job!! Keep it going!

 

[Billldg]

Looks good Bill, that took down picture really shows how much surface area you have for the sps! Great job!! Keep it going!

Thank you.

I am actually going to build out a few sections to give me more area to stair stack it. I plan on doing that to the center right of the structure. At the same time I am trying not to over build it.

That structure is only 9-10 inches high so far. I plan to raise it at least another 5 to 6 inches. That's where the stair stack come in.

 

[Reef370]

Yes sir, trying to find that happy medium ! So, the stair will cross over to the lil island?

 

[Billldg]

Yes sir, trying to find that happy medium ! So, the stair will cross over to the lil island?

Yea, that will be the 4th tunnel. Just not sure if I want to have 2 focal points or one on the left. I have always found that tunnels have a tendency to be a focal point as you look to see what will swim out. Plus, at the same time I can trying to keep it from being a pan to clean. If I went bar bottom them it really wouldn't be an issue, but I will end up going with sand, and I need to be able to gain access to it to clean. I will only go with roughly 1 in though.

 

[Reef370]

Yea I only have about 1in of sand In my tank and the tunnels get blown out about once a month... so, I definitely understand were your coming from.

 

[Billldg]

For whatever reason, I went upstairs and looked at the scape and messed around with it some more and BINGO!!! I was able to add to it and get a look that I wanted it. It may be small to some, but, for me it was a Ah Ha moment, found it. I will have to take pics tomorrow as their is only a blue fluorescent light in the room, it was in the house when I bought it and I have never changed it. The pics will sorta explain it though.

As you can see I added a shelf rock to the structure on the right side. This is where I was able to get a look I wanted.

Circled in the blue is where that rock in the frontal photo is.

In the red is where I added a big piece of rock that totally changed the look. I it will also give me a big area to stair step.

I added a few smaller pieces to support it in the area circled in blue.