Gators 240G Dream Build

[G8trBait16]

Got most of my rock in. 125 of Marco dry rock and 50 pounds on Tonga shelf rock. I have been trying to create the aquascape I want, but holy cow it is difficult to do. At least for me, every other tank I have had, I just stacked them and went forward. Been trying for the last 4 hours to make it looks something like I envision in my head, hasn't happened yet. So taking a break, then will get back to the grind. Below is a picture of the rock u ha e to work with right now.

 

[Toomnymods]

Just a suggestion. if you are planning to paint the back wall black now is the time to do it. Lot easier to do this before sand, water, and rock are inside the tank. If you are like me and don't want to spray paint inside your house call any tint company that does on site tinting and ask them to bring over some "blackout" tint you cannot see thru it and took my tint guy about 10 mins to do the back pane of my 6' 220 reef.

 

[Mr_Banana_Pants]

FWIW I use a jebao dc-12000 to feed 3 tanks and absolutely love it... I don't have an external controller so I can't say anything about connectivity but it's super quiet and pushes a TON of water =)

 

[pdxmonkeyboy]

+1 on the dc-1200 Mine is flawless. For the price it's easy to have a spare one laying around in case something goes sideways. Sweet build dude!

 

[G8trBait16]

Been a long weekend, but at least got my drains plumbed, working on the return plumbing now.

 

[G8trBait16]

Plumbing is done, filling the return chamber of my sump up right now with rodi water to see if return plumbing is sound.

 

[G8trBait16]

Almost done hooking everything up under the tank. Got the new apex in and setup on Wi-Fi, also hooked up both energy bars. Also was able to hook up an LED strip in the stand. It is coming together rather nicely. I am waiting on a Neptune dos/dos containers and 1 gyre 280 with the controller. Need to do some wire management when those get in, but below is where I am at so far.

 

[G8trBait16]

Well got one island completed for the tank. It is a mixture of pukani, Tonga shelf and plate. Solo cup as size reference and of course the replica gator head (don't know what coral I want to grow on it yet) is going to be in the center of the 2 islands when they are done.

 

[G8trBait16]

Aquascape is done, now filling the beast up. Will mix the salt in tomorrow when it fills, then add the live sand.

Left side

Right side

 

[G8trBait16]

Sand is in and it is cleared up a lot. Also was able to put the gator head in its final resting place. I put 2 raw store shrimp in the tank yesterday and the ammonia is at 2ppm. So the cycle has begun. A buddy of mine is going to be custom making a 96" floating shelf over the tank, so I can hang my lights from it, but that won't be done for a few weeks. My 2nd ATI 48" 8 bulb dimmable fixture will be delivered tomorrow and I have 2 sbar's already. I am needing this new tank to cycle sooner than later due to a small leak in my 75g. As soon as there is no ammonia and nitrite I will be transferring the 6 fish from my old tank to the new one. The fish I have so far are below. I am also adopting a small 2-3" juvenile Australian harlequin tusk from my buddy, bc it is being bullied by his other fish.

purple Tang
2 - Snowflake clowns "bonded pair"
hoeven's wrasse "Male"
Leopard Wrasse "female"
Neon Dottyback
1 - Lyretail Anthias "Female"

 

[G8trBait16]

Well tank is cycled, but I am dealing with a bacteria bloom. A friend of mine is giving me one he had on his 350g which was only used for 1 month (don't know the brand). All the fish got moved over from my 75g last Saturday. I added to the list of fish this week.

2-3" Blonde Naso Tang
2-3" Orange Shoulder Tang
2-3" Niger Trigger
2-3" Vlamingii Tang

I think I am done with Tangs now. I got the ones I wanted.

My LFS is keeping a look out for a small Australian Harlequin Tusk (I know they are not really considered reef safe), but friends of mine have them and they are great. Different fish have different personalities.

The floating shelf will be done and installed on July first. Can't wait, bc I hate seeing the lights sitting on 2x4's. Diatoms have fully set in as of today.
Apex is running great, hooked up the DOS and the DOS containers. I'm loving the new apex, heck never had one before and I don't know why it took me this long to get one. Anyways the picture below was taken Tuesday. Happy Friday Eve!

 

[bubbaque]

Love the tank and scape! The gator will look awesome if you put an encrusting type of coral on it!

 

[ethridge78]

Awesome build so far.

 

[G8trBait16]

Love the tank and scape! The gator will look awesome if you put an encrusting type of coral on it!

Thank you sir. Yea I haven't decided what is going on the gator yet, but I am sure there will be some orange and blue somewhere.

 

[G8trBait16]

Well the build process is complete. My carpenter fire d came I re and mad a custom floating shelf to hang my 2 48" 8 bulb ATI fixture from. Also I bought and attach a 48" reefbrite xho actinic to each fixture. Below is the process and finished product.

 

[Clayton Jessup]

Looks really good

 

[bubbaque]

Update?

 

[Thoax]

Hows the tank coming?

 

[A_game43]

Great looking tank and stand!

 

[G8trBait16]

Sorry y'all been a busy few months. I lost basically all of my acros and lps, due to dinos before the hurricane then the rest after the hurricane, due to not having a generator for 6 days of the 13 I was without power. Was just able to run my return pump off my car power inverter. I was almost going to throw in the towel, until a friend of mine came over and helped me get it back to optimum parameters, then gave me a few corals. Since then my faith is restored and everything is going well. Acros are doing the best they ever have. Just so blessed and thankful for the many people that have helped with advice and time to help me out.