Planet 400G Overhang Reef

[skyrne_isk]

I have been in the planning stages for a couple months on a new reef tank to replace my 235G Planet tank, thread of which can be found here: https://www.reef2reef.com/threads/planet-235-upgrade-the-requiem-reef.985584/

The plans are more or less done and some work has been happening to get prepped for the new tank - sufficiently far enough along to start up a thread so here we go.

Tank
Sticking with Planet again for this build, my current tank is fantastic from them.
Dimensions: 84 x 48 x 25 peninsula
Volume: 430G
Full eurobrace, low iron on three sides.
Current drawing is here:

A couple things on this drawing are new for me and I am excited to work them out in a build.

I wanted a 4-foot-wide tank and with that much dimension, I had no desire to run the layout standard and struggle with reaching the back edge of the tank. So flipping to peninsula was the best way to give me this width and give me the opportunity to run "two" aquascapes. My guess is this will make it not feel like 4 feet wide at all!

I read up on several of the excellent large peninsula threads on here for the various approaches for how to handle getting adequate flow to the opposite end of the drains. With the aquascape I have in mind, running Vortechs or gyres on the open end of the tank is a total non starter. So, the plan is to run a closed loop on this tank, which I have also never done before (and quite frankly terrifies me!) The idea of having two bulkheads that are all that stands between 400G of water on the floor is a little unnerving. But the reality is bulkheads on the overflows are all that stands between 20-30G of water on the floor so what's the difference? At least that's the story I am telling myself


Stand

All of my stands have been wood to date and this is a part of the hobby I really enjoy. However, these days I am more pressed for time with work and life so I am going to go with an aluminum stand from Framingtech. I will eventually trim it out, but no decisions on those details yet.

Aquascape Design

One aquascape on here influenced me more than any other. @Smite has an amazing singular structure that gives the appearance of an overhang but is actually cleverly supported to pull off the illusion. Also, this is on a standard layout and as I mentioned above I want to pull it off on a peninsula.

Here's a natural example of the hanging reef structure with enough space for fish (!) to be able to swim under (less the sharks).

And a few others for how coral placement could work:

Other Equipment

The plan is to continue using my 80G basement sump (details can be found on my last build thread) but the tank will be a little farther away. My expectation is the Iwaki MD-100 RLT will be able to keep up but will see as we go.

The lighting will need a new canopy built but will expand on keeping Reefis as the workhorses. Also, this build: https://www.reef2reef.com/threads/aquaviva-110gal-solatube-reef-tank-build.155312/ really caught my attention with using solar tubes, I am going to give at least one of those a shot and see how much full spectrum light I can get on the tank. I haven't actually installed the solar tube yet and this is the part I am most iffy on doing, but for now it's still the plan.

I will be using T5s and actinic VHO tubes for fill lighting on this tank as well as on my last system. They can pry actinic VHO from my cold dead hands (and shoutout to https://championlighting.com/ who still stocks them and said they will continue to as long as they are made). I did pick up an old Icecap 660 from eBay so I have a couple extra ballasts around for backups. I will give a more detailed writeup on the lighting when I built the fixture.

Also in this drawing below is a top-down sketch of the aquascape concept.

 

[Glowurm]

Very nice, will be watching closely as i'm looking to build my own 4ft wide peninsula and have just started the planning stages. Like what you are doing, solar tubes looks interesting....

 

[Glowurm]

One of the things i've been struggling with is flow, i dont want wavemakers on the glass, so was toying with a closed loop but with holes in the back as opposed to the bottom with flow being directed via a loop above the tank.

This is likely to be in the centre of the house so its will be viewable from 4 sides and i'd like that view to be unobstructive.

 

[skyrne_isk]

One of the things i've been struggling with is flow, i dont want wavemakers on the glass, so was toying with a closed loop but with holes in the back as opposed to the bottom with flow being directed via a loop above the tank.

This is likely to be in the centre of the house so its will be viewable from 4 sides and i'd like that view to be unobstructive.

Yup, if you don’t want anything on the glass loops are your only option. I did see a number of folks use a closed loop above in a canopy to good effect.

I know how much flow has clogged up on my 6 foot tank as sticks have grown in. I currently run 2 MP40s and 2 MP60s AND a Tunze 6255 (that needs aimed in a non parallel way) and just had part of a colony RTN that was in the middle of the tank I could just not get enough flow to.

So the closed loop I have will have an intake about a foot off the drain side and then return 3 feet from the open end. Keep me posted on your loop design…

 

[MasterClassReefs]

I have been in the planning stages for a couple months on a new reef tank to replace my 235G Planet tank, thread of which can be found here: https://www.reef2reef.com/threads/planet-235-upgrade-the-requiem-reef.985584/

The plans are more or less done and some work has been happening to get prepped for the new tank - sufficiently far enough along to start up a thread so here we go.

Tank
Sticking with Planet again for this build, my current tank is fantastic from them.
Dimensions: 84 x 48 x 25 peninsula
Volume: 430G
Full eurobrace, low iron on three sides.
Current drawing is here:

A couple things on this drawing are new for me and I am excited to work them out in a build.

I wanted a 4-foot-wide tank and with that much dimension, I had no desire to run the layout standard and struggle with reaching the back edge of the tank. So flipping to peninsula was the best way to give me this width and give me the opportunity to run "two" aquascapes. My guess is this will make it not feel like 4 feet wide at all!

I read up on several of the excellent large peninsula threads on here for the various approaches for how to handle getting adequate flow to the opposite end of the drains. With the aquascape I have in mind, running Vortechs or gyres on the open end of the tank is a total non starter. So, the plan is to run a closed loop on this tank, which I have also never done before (and quite frankly terrifies me!) The idea of having two bulkheads that are all that stands between 400G of water on the floor is a little unnerving. But the reality is bulkheads on the overflows are all that stands between 20-30G of water on the floor so what's the difference? At least that's the story I am telling myself


Stand

All of my stands have been wood to date and this is a part of the hobby I really enjoy. However, these days I am more pressed for time with work and life so I am going to go with an aluminum stand from Framingtech. I will eventually trim it out, but no decisions on those details yet.

Aquascape Design

One aquascape on here influenced me more than any other. @Smite has an amazing singular structure that gives the appearance of an overhang but is actually cleverly supported to pull off the illusion. Also, this is on a standard layout and as I mentioned above I want to pull it off on a peninsula.

Here's a natural example of the hanging reef structure with enough space for fish (!) to be able to swim under (less the sharks).

And a few others for how coral placement could work:

Other Equipment

The plan is to continue using my 80G basement sump (details can be found on my last build thread) but the tank will be a little farther away. My expectation is the Iwaki MD-100 RLT will be able to keep up but will see as we go.

The lighting will need a new canopy built but will expand on keeping Reefis as the workhorses. Also, this build: https://www.reef2reef.com/threads/aquaviva-110gal-solatube-reef-tank-build.155312/ really caught my attention with using solar tubes, I am going to give at least one of those a shot and see how much full spectrum light I can get on the tank. I haven't actually installed the solar tube yet and this is the part I am most iffy on doing, but for now it's still the plan.

I will be using T5s and actinic VHO tubes for fill lighting on this tank as well as on my last system. They can pry actinic VHO from my cold dead hands (and shoutout to https://championlighting.com/ who still stocks them and said they will continue to as long as they are made). I did pick up an old Icecap 660 from eBay so I have a couple extra ballasts around for backups. I will give a more detailed writeup on the lighting when I built the fixture.

Also in this drawing below is a top-down sketch of the aquascape concept.

Using sea sweeps for my peninsula on the viewing end to help with flow. I refuse to use low closed loops because of the risk for leaks. A bulkhead will not last forever and 400 gallons would lead to a VERY costly and long road of repairs not to mention the loss of life in the system. I always plan for the worst though. 40 gallons compared to 400 isnt even in the same world . Ive been in floods so I have seen enough.

The solar tube is a cool idea. Would be awesome to use 2 of them between the lights. My tank is essentially in a fortress under 2 other floors so its not an option for me though I always wanted to play with solar tubes. In that 4ft peninsula reaching the middle will be still a challenge . Love the natural inspiration!

 

[skyrne_isk]

A bulkhead will not last forever and 400 gallons would lead to a VERY costly and long road of repairs not to mention the loss of life in the system. I always plan for the worst though. 40 gallons compared to 400 isnt even in the same world .

Tell me about it. It’s the only thing about this build that has me a bit uneasy, but I keep telling myself it’s all mental. I’ve been at this 20 years and haven’t actually ever had a bulkhead fail - including the 5 that are on my tank now (2 in the tank, 3 on the drain). But if it were to happen, yeah I’d just be out of the game at that point. Have you ever had a bulkhead fail?

 

[skyrne_isk]

The solar tube is a cool idea. Would be awesome to use 2 of them between the lights. My tank is essentially in a fortress under 2 other floors so its not an option for me though I always wanted to play with solar tubes.

In my house where the tank will sit I barely have access to a first floor roof, but it’s there. Technically the roof faces east, but with neighbors I am guessing at max I can get 6 hours of direct sun on it. And with the way the rafters run I am not sure if I can get two in. And access for the one I know will work will have to be at a 45 from the ceiling in the room to the roof. I’ll see if I can get a pic up. But I am hoping it works - full spectrum lighting is huge to get the best colors out IMO.

 

[MasterClassReefs]

A bulkhead will not last forever and 400 gallons would lead to a VERY costly and long road of repairs not to mention the loss of life in the system. I always plan for the worst though. 40 gallons compared to 400 isnt even in the same world .

Tell me about it. It’s the only thing about this build that has me a bit uneasy, but I keep telling myself it’s all mental. I’ve been at this 20 years and haven’t actually ever had a bulkhead fail - including the 5 that are on my tank now (2 in the tank, 3 on the drain). But if it were to happen, yeah I’d just be out of the game at that point. Have you ever had a bulkhead fail?

I have unfortunately. This is another reason I really like external overflows. They dont go to the bottom of the tank limiting the mess should a leak ever occur and fixing it will be considerably easier. I actually plan my entire plumbing assembly to remove and swap parts like flow sensors, gate valves, ball valves etc. Also for periodic cleaning as things grow in the pipes. Its nice to have the choice to shut an entire line down and take the pipes and pump aside to clean while the system runs. This also allows inspection and repair or replacement to be easy which helps me avoid disasters. I use 2 pumps for return for redundancy and for this very reason. In the end you are really relying on a rubber gasket and those dont last forever. They can become stiff and brittle over time and then leaks can occur.

 

[MasterClassReefs]

The solar tube is a cool idea. Would be awesome to use 2 of them between the lights. My tank is essentially in a fortress under 2 other floors so its not an option for me though I always wanted to play with solar tubes.

In my house where the tank will sit I barely have access to a first floor roof, but it’s there. Technically the roof faces east, but with neighbors I am guessing at max I can get 6 hours of direct sun on it. And with the way the rafters run I am not sure if I can get two in. And access for the one I know will work will have to be at a 45 from the ceiling in the room to the roof. I’ll see if I can get a pic up. But I am hoping it works - full spectrum lighting is huge to get the best colors out IMO.

Absolutely. This will be cool to see.

 

[areefer01]

Tell me about it. It’s the only thing about this build that has me a bit uneasy, but I keep telling myself it’s all mental. I’ve been at this 20 years and haven’t actually ever had a bulkhead fail - including the 5 that are on my tank now (2 in the tank, 3 on the drain). But if it were to happen, yeah I’d just be out of the game at that point. Have you ever had a bulkhead fail?

Increasing the bulkhead budget will go a long ways to put your mind to ease. Schedule 80 like Hayward reverse thread. Money well spent.

Also expand your search on internal flow if you do not go with closed loops. Include some of the higher priced cannons. You might be surprised as you start adding up x number of other products a single of another will be of similar cost and offer more flexibility.

Good luck!

 

[skyrne_isk]

Absolutely. This will be cool to see.

Here's a crude drawing of what access I am working with on the solar tube, will probably have someone come out to quote it and see how pressed they are to draw it up and then maybe do it myself .

 

[skyrne_isk]

Increasing the bulkhead budget will go a long ways to put your mind to ease. Schedule 80 like Hayward reverse thread. Money well spent.
Good luck

Will do! Here’s what I’ve got for the the closed loop.

 

[MasterClassReefs]

Increasing the bulkhead budget will go a long ways to put your mind to ease. Schedule 80 like Hayward reverse thread. Money well spent.
Good luck

Will do! Here’s what I’ve got the the closed loop.

I cant find Hayward 1 1/2 inch thread x slip bulkheads anywhere for my project. I may end up having to use another brand.

 

[skyrne_isk]

I cant find Hayward 1 1/2 inch thread x slip bulkheads anywhere for my project. I may end up having to use another brand.

Here’s where I got mine… maybe what you are looking for?

https://www.zoro.com/hayward-flow-c...12-pvcfpm-socket-x-fpt-bfa1015cfs/i/G1483745/

 

[MasterClassReefs]

I cant find Hayward 1 1/2 inch thread x slip bulkheads anywhere for my project. I may end up having to use another brand.

Here’s where I got mine… maybe what you are looking for?

https://www.zoro.com/hayward-flow-c...12-pvcfpm-socket-x-fpt-bfa1015cfs/i/G1483745/

Ill look and see if they have some.

 

[hatfielj]

Awesome plans so far! I'm waiting for my custom Planet to arrive any week now. I went with 72 x 48 x 30 for mine. I like your dimensions a lot though. I could have gone with a much longer tank but I was getting concerned with overhead costs and initial start up costs, which tend to go up exponentially as the tank gets larger, lol.

I also really like your aquascape plan. I want to do something similar. I'm a big fan of this guys tank and how he did his aquascape:
Kind of thinking of doing several islands with bridges of rock connecting them. I want minimal rock touching the bottom and lots of space under the rock.

I might start a build thread too, but I'm kind of lazy with that right now, lol. Looking forward to seeing how yours turns out!

 

[skyrne_isk]

Awesome plans so far! I'm waiting for my custom Planet to arrive any week now. I went with 72 x 48 x 30 for mine. I like your dimensions a lot though. I could have gone with a much longer tank but I was getting concerned with overhead costs and initial start up costs, which tend to go up exponentially as the tank gets larger, lol.

Tell me about it. I went back and forth on if the T5s should have been ran short ways at 36” tubes but ultimately felt like it doubled my bulb and ballast costs, so no thanks (and those 36” bulbs are even harder to find than 60”).

I also really like your aquascape plan. I want to do something similar. I'm a big fan of this guys tank and how he did his aquascape:
Kind of thinking of doing several islands with bridges of rock connecting them. I want minimal rock touching the bottom and lots of space under the rock.

What’s your plan on flow? Am pretty sure I am heading away from Ecotech. I had to send a Vortech in 3-4 times last year to finally get it fixed and I was furious. Those pumps only get louder as you run them >50% as time wears on.

So far am thinking it’s going to be Tunze for me. Probably 3-4 6255s, but thought I saw @rvitko say there was a stream rework in process so might wait and see. I don’t have a good sense of if I could get away with 3 pumps if they all aim in the same direction…. my Vortechs aim into each other on my current tank which does give plenty of good turbulence but no ability to aim and could be counterproductive to letting the pumps magnify each other (like a gyre if I had them all going the same way). But now I have to worry about reach over a foot longer to boot. Should get my aquascape posted here shortly to get input. Luckily that parts already done!

I looked at Abyss cannons, one of them is probably 2x expensive as a total Tunze solution but the main drawback is I still think they will peel the flesh off anything in front of them for several feet with all that flow originating at one source.

I might start a build thread too, but I'm kind of lazy with that right now, lol. Looking forward to seeing how yours turns out!

Thank you! And you should! The best part is being able to see what others do that works (and doesn’t!).

 

[MasterClassReefs]

Awesome plans so far! I'm waiting for my custom Planet to arrive any week now. I went with 72 x 48 x 30 for mine. I like your dimensions a lot though. I could have gone with a much longer tank but I was getting concerned with overhead costs and initial start up costs, which tend to go up exponentially as the tank gets larger, lol.

I also really like your aquascape plan. I want to do something similar. I'm a big fan of this guys tank and how he did his aquascape:
Kind of thinking of doing several islands with bridges of rock connecting them. I want minimal rock touching the bottom and lots of space under the rock.

I might start a build thread too, but I'm kind of lazy with that right now, lol. Looking forward to seeing how yours turns out!

Same size as mine.

Going to be fun reaching the bottom and middle.

 

[hatfielj]

Tell me about it. I went back and forth on if the T5s should have been ran short ways at 36” tubes but ultimately felt like it doubled my bulb and ballast costs, so no thanks (and those 36” bulbs are even harder to find than 60”).

What’s your plan on flow? Am pretty sure I am heading away from Ecotech. I had to send a Vortech in 3-4 times last year to finally get it fixed and I was furious. Those pumps only get louder as you run them >50% as time wears on.

So far am thinking it’s going to be Tunze for me. Probably 3-4 6255s, but thought I saw @rvitko say there was a stream rework in process so might wait and see. I don’t have a good sense of if I could get away with 3 pumps if they all aim in the same direction…. my Vortechs aim into each other on my current tank which does give plenty of good turbulence but no ability to aim and could be counterproductive to letting the pumps magnify each other (like a gyre if I had them all going the same way). But now I have to worry about reach over a foot longer to boot. Should get my aquascape posted here shortly to get input. Luckily that parts already done!

I looked at Abyss cannons, one of them is probably 2x expensive as a total Tunze solution but the main drawback is I still think they will peel the flesh off anything in front of them for several feet with all that flow originating at one source.

Thank you! And you should! The best part is being able to see what others do that works (and doesn’t!).

The only thing I’m certain for flow so far is a closed loop with sea swirls. I had an extra intake hole drilled in the back for this. I will probably add a few power heads on the back wall as well but not sure on which yet. Probably a couple gyres in that mix. Will have to see how my rock work looks at first and how powerful the closed loop is.

 

[MasterClassReefs]

I cant find Hayward 1 1/2 inch thread x slip bulkheads anywhere for my project. I may end up having to use another brand.

Here’s where I got mine… maybe what you are looking for?

https://www.zoro.com/hayward-flow-c...12-pvcfpm-socket-x-fpt-bfa1015cfs/i/G1483745/

I ended up finding what I needed at SupplyHouse and Alsco Industrial. I needed black haywards for the tank and grey for the overflow drains and sump to match my tank side and the plumbing. Had to hunt all afternoon and evening! I wanted the EPDM gaskets rather than the FPM also. Not cheap, but worth it.