I NEED MORE TANKS!!! 110G Aquaculture Tank

[ReeferRayl]

Hello Everyone!
This will currently be my 5th tank but my first time documenting the build step by step from the beginning.
This tank is being put together out of necessity... all my other tanks are full and I have a coral addiction lol.
The main purpose of this tank will be to give my euphyllia collection room to stretch their little tentacles and grow out without the fear of warfare between species that I currently am experiencing from time to time. The tank will also be used for various other types of corals once I start fragging some of my SPS and LPS colonies.
I’ve been researching tank options and picked up a 110g Rectangular Open Top Aquaculture Tank from a local company called DuraCast. The dimensions of the tank are 58.5” x 34” x 17” deep.
It should have the room for the corals I’m looking for but at the same time still fit within the confines of my “coral room”.

I am also going with a 40g heavy duty plastic storage container I picked up from the local hardware store as my sump. I plan on running it baffleless. Water will over flow through a filter sock and I will most likely just run live rock and other bio filtration.

Stand and plumbing updates will be coming soon!

 

[xxkenny90xx]

Awesome, looking forward to seeing it all come together. Are you confident both totes are made with reef safe materials?

 

[ReeferRayl]

Awesome, looking forward to seeing it all come together. Are you confident both totes are made with reef safe materials?

The 110g blue tub is specifically manufactured for aqua culturing so I’m confident it’s made from reef safe materials. The 40g storage container I’m unsure of. I’ve seen them used before so hopefully after cycling and “breaking in” the system everything is good to go.

 

[mdb_talon]

The 110g blue tub is specifically manufactured for aqua culturing so I’m confident it’s made from reef safe materials. The 40g storage container I’m unsure of. I’ve seen them used before so hopefully after cycling and “breaking in” the system everything is good to go.

I used that exact brand of tub in an emergency recently when I had a small tank spring a leak. I checked the recycling number on the tub and confirmed it was a classification that was considered "food safe"(I think it was code 5 but dont remember for sure). That may not always guarantee reef safe but usually a good bet. What I did fine is that even after my bleach wipedown and let it dry when I filled with water I waited a couple hours and an oily sheen was on the top of the water. I drained the water and did a much more thorough scrubdown with vinegar.... then wipedown with water.... then another bleach wipedown and let it dry. The next time I put water in it was fine and had no other issues and corals seemed to do fine.

Other thing I will mention is I had mine filled to near the top and after a few days the sides began to bow much more than what I expected as it is pretty heavy duty. I ended up cutting out the center of the lid and putting the lid on to keep everything solid.

 

[sp1187]

what's the price for the blue tank? do they have distributors?

 

[ReeferRayl]

I used that exact brand of tub in an emergency recently when I had a small tank spring a leak. I checked the recycling number on the tub and confirmed it was a classification that was considered "food safe"(I think it was code 5 but dont remember for sure). That may not always guarantee reef safe but usually a good bet. What I did fine is that even after my bleach wipedown and let it dry when I filled with water I waited a couple hours and an oily sheen was on the top of the water. I drained the water and did a much more thorough scrubdown with vinegar.... then wipedown with water.... then another bleach wipedown and let it dry. The next time I put water in it was fine and had no other issues and corals seemed to do fine.

Other thing I will mention is I had mine filled to near the top and after a few days the sides began to bow much more than what I expected as it is pretty heavy duty. I ended up cutting out the center of the lid and putting the lid on to keep everything solid.

Thanks for all of the info! I will definitely do some wipe downs with bleach and vinegar before I get everything up and running. I plan on running my sump tub somewhere between 1/2 and 3/4 full so I will definitely be interested to see how much the container bows and if the lid trick is needed.

 

[ReeferRayl]

what's the price for the blue tank? do they have distributors?

Picked the blue tank up for $206. You can get direct from DuraCast in Lake Whales, FL with a 4-6 week wait. I got mine from a .com called TankandBarrel. Still sourced from DuraCast, same price, and was able to pick up in 3 days. Go figure!?!? If unable to pickup from DuraCast I believe shipping was approx. $160 in FL.

 

[sp1187]

Picked the blue tank up for $206. You can get direct from DuraCast in Lake Whales, FL with a 4-6 week wait. I got mine from a .com called TankandBarrel. Still sourced from DuraCast, same price, and was able to pick up in 3 days. Go figure!?!? If unable to pickup from DuraCast I believe shipping was approx. $160 in FL.

I'm in Michigan. shipping priced me out.
thanks.

 

[ReeferRayl]

Here’s the tank! This will be the placement of it.

Stand is built using 2x4s. The picture was taken mid build. Additional framing and bracing was done to properly support the weight.

Here’s the tank and stand mocked up.

 

[ReeferRayl]

I installed a 2” bulkhead for the drain for the center overflow. I will run a 2” drain with a “T”. Also, I Installed (2) 1” bulkheads in the side for dual returns.

I also got the stand painted black.

 

[ReeferRayl]

I ran the return in 1” braided flex tubing. I didn’t want to hard plumb the system because I wanted to be able to maneuver the sump around from time to time for various reasons.
Im still deciding on a return pump but thinking somewhere in the 1000-2000GPH

I currently make make own RODI using a BRS 5 STAGE RODI system 40 gallons at a time in a Brute trash can. 1st 40 going in!!

 

[Oregon Grown Reef]

I ran the return in 1” braided flex tubing. I didn’t want to hard plumb the system because I wanted to be able to maneuver the sump around from time to time for various reasons.
Im still deciding on a return pump but thinking somewhere in the 1000-2000GPH

I currently make make own RODI using a BRS 5 STAGE RODI system 40 gallons at a time in a Brute trash can. 1st 40 going in!!

I'd recommend using plastic hose clamps! No risk of them rusting and they're easily removable. You can get them at BRS, but I got mine at a local hardware store.

Ratchet Clamp for Braided Vinyl Tubing

Ratchet clamps are perfect to secure Braided Vinyl tubing to barbed fittings. If you are using silicone or traditional thin wall tubing we highly suggest measuring the outside diameter of the tubing you will be working with to select the correct ratchet clamp. Choose from ratchet clamps for the...

www.bulkreefsupply.com

 

[IanK]

I used two of ther home depot totes (the 27) gallon ones to mix up 20 gallons on water and it did bow outward after a day.

 

[ReeferRayl]

I'd recommend using plastic hose clamps! No risk of them rusting and they're easily removable. You can get them at BRS, but I got mine at a local hardware store.

Ratchet Clamp for Braided Vinyl Tubing

Ratchet clamps are perfect to secure Braided Vinyl tubing to barbed fittings. If you are using silicone or traditional thin wall tubing we highly suggest measuring the outside diameter of the tubing you will be working with to select the correct ratchet clamp. Choose from ratchet clamps for the...

www.bulkreefsupply.com

Thanks! I’m definitely using plastic hose clamps in the sump as well as for the inline valve that will be near the top of the sump for dialing in the return pump. I figured the plumbing already done with the “semi-stainless” clamps was far enough away from any water sources and shouldn’t be getting wet.

 

[ReeferRayl]

I used two of ther home depot totes (the 27) gallon ones to mix up 20 gallons on water and it did bow outward after a day.

To that point.... the 40g tote mentioned at the beginning of this build was a fail. It did bow considerably after 2 days of holding approximately 25-30 gallons of water. And upon attempting to tip the tote over to empty to water out this happened.....

I decided to ditch to 40 gallon storage tote and ended picking up this 40 gallon oval tank/trough from Tractor Supply. It’s definitely heavier duty and of course meant to hold water. Got it on sale for $35 so it was definitely worth the switch if solely for peace of mind lol

 

[ReeferRayl]

I ended up scoring these two 48” LEDs from a local reefer. They were gently used and I scored an awesome deal for the pair. On the left is a Reef Brite XHO Actinic and on the right is an Orphek OR3 120 Blue Plus.

Orphek on the left, Reef Brite on the right.

 

[ReeferRayl]

I got the light stand/support built and painted.

I decided to go retractable light fixtures for a couple of reasons. I can use light height to alter the PAR in the tank since the Orphek OR3 and Reef Brite XHO aren’t readily dimmable. Also, I want to be able to get the light up and out of the way when I’m in the tank doing work.

 

[ReeferRayl]

Frame for the lights got painted up and I mounted the Orphek and ReefBrite. I still have plans of adding a 2nd ReefBrite.

 

[ReeferRayl]

I picked up a bunch of dry rock from my buddy Aaron over at ReefDreamz in Clearwater, FL as well as this Vectra S2.
I should have water circulating soon!!

 

[ReeferRayl]

I got the Vectra S2 hooked up and running. I used an extra nem/mushie basket as well as some plastic gutter guard to build a cage for the return pump to deter any fish, snails, or other creatures from being sucked up into the return pump. I will also possibly experiment with a finer mesh material to keep baby snails and small particles out as well.

I went ahead and used the same gutter guard material to built a couple strainers for the “T” overflow

I have been throwing around ideas for what I would do to light the sump. I plan on using it to throw some BTA splits in a or I guess really anything.
It dawned on me that in a box somewhere I had the stock light off of a Fluval Evo 13.5 gallon tank I set up with an AI prime. I fashioned a mounting system with stainless “L” brackets where I can slide the entire Fluval Evo lid/light combo in and out.
Sump lighting solution solved!

I feel like my “Coral Room” is becoming somewhat respectable with 5 tanks in it now!

Water is running and circulating. Let the cycling commence! I will be phantom feeding as well as as introducing pieces of rubble from the other established tanks to help seed bacteria. Stay tuned!