Project Patriot’s Serenity - Where The Lake Meets The Ocean (365 Gallon Reef Tank)

[Gablami]

I've had mitras before, and to be honest, it was a pain to setup IMO (at least 3 years ago) and was not intuitive to use. It's more technical, and you can control every aspect of it, but the user interface was difficult for me to figure out. If you use windows on a laptop or desktop at least that might things easier. There was also an issue of a temp controller limiting my par that I had to figure out how to release in the software.

My recommendation of the three is going to kessil 360x. Nothing beats kessil shimmer, and it's strong enough to shine through a big panel of T5 lights. You buy T5 for the coverage, and LED for the shimmer and spectrum control. Kessils are also the easiest to setup and use.

 

[Karliefish]

I've had mitras before, and to be honest, it was a pain to setup IMO (at least 3 years ago) and was not intuitive to use. It's more technical, and you can control every aspect of it, but the user interface was difficult for me to figure out. If you use windows on a laptop or desktop at least that might things easier. There was also an issue of a temp controller limiting my par that I had to figure out how to release in the software.

My recommendation of the three is going to kessil 360x. Nothing beats kessil shimmer, and it's strong enough to shine through a big panel of T5 lights. You buy T5 for the coverage, and LED for the shimmer and spectrum control. Kessils are also the easiest to setup and use.

thanks for the recommendation....this is turning out to be the most difficult decision I've had to take on my new build.

 

[Karliefish]

Tank Build Update - Almost Done!

Just got these pictures and video today from Gaston. All of the Euro Bracing is now installed along with the back brace for the dual Hybird Zero Overflow boxes. Tank now needs to cure for a few days and then we’ll be just about complete. Gaston informed me today that next week he is starting on the tank stand. It looks like we are still on target for a mid-December delivery! Here is the video and pics.

 

[Karliefish]

I've had mitras before, and to be honest, it was a pain to setup IMO (at least 3 years ago) and was not intuitive to use. It's more technical, and you can control every aspect of it, but the user interface was difficult for me to figure out. If you use windows on a laptop or desktop at least that might things easier. There was also an issue of a temp controller limiting my par that I had to figure out how to release in the software.

My recommendation of the three is going to kessil 360x. Nothing beats kessil shimmer, and it's strong enough to shine through a big panel of T5 lights. You buy T5 for the coverage, and LED for the shimmer and spectrum control. Kessils are also the easiest to setup and use.

I’m leaning towards following your comments here on skipping the Mitras and sticking with the 360X’s. Curious for your opinion here....My wife is concerned that 12 Kessil 360X’s might put off too much shimmer. Do you think since I’ll be using two 48” ATI SunPower 8 buld T5 light fixtures (right down the middle of my 365G tank) that it will be enough to tone down the shimmer. The 360X’s will be installed 6 on each side of the ATI SunPower Fixture?

 

[Gablami]

If you’ve got an 8 bulb T5 fixture, that should do the heavy lifting and the kessils are for supplemental light, dusk and dawn, and shimmer. I think you could get away with 6-8. But if you’re trying to blast par, then 12 might be what you’re looking for.

check out this video and his lighting.

 

[kenchilada]

Nice tank! I like your plans, looking good.

 

[Karliefish]

If you’ve got an 8 bulb T5 fixture, that should do the heavy lifting and the kessils are for supplemental light, dusk and dawn, and shimmer. I think you could get away with 6-8. But if you’re trying to blast par, then 12 might be what you’re looking for.

check out this video and his lighting.

I love Evan’s tank - have watched the video several times.

Nice tank! I like your plans, looking good.

thank you....trying my best to take my time and get this tank done right.

 

[Gablami]

So what size t5 are you planning to put in? Two 4-footers? One 6 foot? That would affect number of kessils needed.

 

[Karliefish]

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[Karliefish]

So what size t5 are you planning to put in? Two 4-footers? One 6 foot? That would affect number of kessils needed.

I have bought two 48" SunPower Dimmable 8 bulb fixtures. I am now tossing-around the idea of changing these out (if the supplier will take them back - never been opened) for the new ATI Stratons - these look really nice. If i stick with the ATI SunPower fixtures I'm thinking 12 360x's - 6 in front and 6 in back.

 

[Karliefish]

Update on the Bark Wall

I’ve mentioned a couple of times in some early post that, our 365G TankMe USA custom tank will be placed in a wall (front only showing) and that the wall is going to be very unique - a wall made of real tree bark. The wall project is as large, complex, expensive and time consuming as the tank build! There are a total of 5 bark panels measuring 10’Lx5’W and two measuring 10’ x 3’. These Bark Panels need to be treated before being installed (which will be after the tank is delivered in mid December). The back of the Bark Panels are MFD Board. Because these panels will be installed around the tank where there will be a fair amount of water evaporation, it is importamt that the back of the panels be primed and then sealed with varnish to protect them. These panels are extremely heavy and require two large adults to carry. The pictures below start to give you a sense of the size and scale of the wall project.

The first pic is opening the large shipping crate

Here is a video of a “small” panel (10’x3’) being carried down to the lower section of the home to be primed and varished


This picture really shows the beauty of these unique bark panels

Back of panel that has been primed and ready to be varished

Great pic that gives you a really good feel for the size of the bark panels

Panels have been varished and are drying in the room where the new 365G tank will be installed

This last picture shows more of the panels drying. Additionally, you can see the floor and ceiling molding for the walls as well as the molding that will be installed around the front edges of the tank

 

[Karliefish]

Electrical Work is Underway

In laying out the design for the electrical work I wanted to ensure the following:
1) Overkill the number outlets so I would never have to worry about running out of plugs
2) Place outlets everywhere to ensure I would NEVER have to run extensions cords
3) Create resiliency in my electrical design (dedicated circuits) to ensure that the tank would never risk having too much equipment running on the same cicuit. Another words, half the lights on one circuit and half on a second separate circuit. Same thing for heaters and all pumps. This tank will have dual redundancy for all critical life support components.
4) Automate as much as possible, e.g., both main utility room and computer controller room are on motion detectors to automatically turn lights on/off, including sump area.

In total there are over 20 (4 plug outlets) and five separate dedicated circuits. I believe (if I’ve done my math right) no cord will ever be more than 5 feet from an outlet and no circuit will use more than 1500 watts (peak)

Here are some pics taken right after the electrician completed today. First one is the electrical for computer controller room. The other pics are various views of the tank area and utility room where the frag tank, quarantine tank and RO water system/tanks will be housed.

 

[Karliefish]

Tank Update

Gaston from TankMe USA just sent me this short video to let me know that the black vinyl has been installed on the back glass and the side glass panels. The tank is almost complete!

 

[Karliefish]

Tank Stand Build Has Started!

Now that the tank is just about complete, Gaston (TankMe USA) has started building the tank stand. The stand will be made of 2x2” aluminum framing and will weigh approximately 250lbs. The stand measurements are 96” L x 33”W x 36”H. The stand will have a marine quality board on the bottom to the hold the sump and there will be pressure treated 2x6 boards in between the top support bars. This will allow me to attach the plumbing as high-up and secure as possible, giving me plenty of access to work in the sump. Next week the tank goes in for its powder coating which will be done in black. Below are a couple of pictures of the stand approximately 50% complete.

Tank and stand are still on schedule to be delivered in three weeks (December 15th)!

 

[Karliefish]

365G Tank Stand Is Complete

Gaston, at TankMe USA, sent me this picture of the tank stand that just finished being powder-coated. Last step is to install the marine quality board on the bottom and to install the pressure treated wood that will go in-between each of the top cross bars. This will be used to anchor all of the plumbing going from the overflows and the returns to/from the sumo. Another high quality job by TankMe USA!

 

[Karliefish]

A VERY VERY Good Black Friday weekend

Well patience paid-off in a big financial way, as we waited until Black Friday sales to order the majority of the equipment for our new 365G tank. Here is a partial list of the goodies we ordered:

Lighting
4 ATI Straton LED lights
3 Kessil a360x lights (to be placed in-between the Straton Lights)
1 Kessil Refugium Grow Light
4 Wifi Dongles for the Kessil’s

In-the-Sump
Return pumps: 2 Abyzz A200 Pumps (always got to have redundancy)
Circulation pump for reactors, UV, Chiller, etc: 1 Royal Exclusiv Red Dragon Speedy 100W Pump
Skimmer: 1 Bubble King SuperMarin 250
Heaters: 2 800W Finnex (still have to buy controllers - currently investigating)

Reactors
Carbon and GFO Media : 2 BRS Dual Reactors with 1 Gallon Bulk Premium ROX 0.8 Carbon and 1/2 Gallon BRS GFO
Calcium: 1 Deltec CRTT 1500 with Tunze Dual Stage Regulator and 5.5 Kg Calcium Reactor media


In the tank
- Powerheads: 2 EcoTech VorTech MP60QD (installed at each end of 8 foot tank)
- Still have to decide on what pumps we’re going to put on back of tank. Either 2 Gyre’s or 3 MP40’s
- 1 Ecotech Marine VorTech MP60wQD Wet Side Assembly (will make cleaning a heck of a lot easier)

Controlling The Tank & Dosing
1 Neptune System Trident & Apex Controller Dream Bundle
1 Neptune System DOS & DDR Dosing System Package
1 Neptune System DDR DOS Dual Reservoir
1 Neptune Systems ATK V2 Auto Top Off Kit
1 Neptune System DOS Dosing and Fluid Metering System - used for Auto Water Changes
1 5L Set Triton Method CORE7 BASE ELEMENTS

Plumbing
- 40’ of 1.5” Red Pipe
- 40’ of 1” Red Pipe
- 12 1.5” Bulkheads
- 5 1” Bulkheads
- 50+ Unions (1” & 1.5”)
- 20+ Elbows
- various T’s and reducers
- 4 1.5“ Gate Values
- 5 1.5” Ball Values
- 5 1” Ball Values

Other Stuff
1 RO System: BRS 7 Stage RO/DI System
1 BRS Universal Air Filter
1 6-Pack Triton ICP-OES Testing Kit
1 40G Innovative Marine Mini Fusion PRO AIO Aquarium Bundle - will be used as quarantine tank
1 Sicce Ultra Zero Utility Pump - always good to have a utility pump around in case I need to drain MDT, Quarantine Tank for sump

Big Stuff to still purchase:
- Adaptive Reef Controller Boards (all sold out quickly on Black Friday). I have a lot of crap to hide.
- 2 65 Gallon storage containers for RO water and salt water mixing
- 1 Mixing pump - haven’t figured out what brand/model - suggestions?
- Frag Tank - haven’t even begun research on this yet. Figure that we have lots of time to sort this out
- 300llb Rock - still having internal debate between live rock versus dry rock
- Sand - thinking of going without sand in MDT
- Large Co2 tank for Calcium Reactor

The result of all of these purchases.....it took three different rooms to store all the boxes and still have stuff on the front porch. Our credit cared is in intensive care - I think a coma!

 

[Karliefish]

Not Your Typical Aquarium Stand

Gaston (TankMe USA) and I have been collaborating for a couple months now on the stand for the new 365 Gallon tank. I wanted this stand to not only be highly functional, but also have a distinctive look. A couple of key features: (1) a removable leg that provides complete access to move the sump in/out. (2) A ceiling underneath the stand that could support all the plumbing, making it both accessible but also completely out of the way to work underneath the tank. The result....well check-it out on this video that Gaston made for his website along with a couple of pics that shows the underside of the tank stand before and after that ceiling is installed.

 

[Karliefish]

Tank Is Ready To Ship
I have gotten behind on my updates with the holidays and most importantly the arrival of my tank. Our tank from TANKME USA was completed and shipped on December 14, 2020. Here is a video that was taken right before the tank was crated for shipping. Of course we partial to our new baby, but isn't she beautiful?!

 

[MaddyP]

Following!

 

[RobB'z Reef]

Nicely detailed!