Rev's 400+ Gallon Basement Inwall

[mfinn]

The tank is 96" x 36" x 24" tall. :)

Awesome. It's going to be a fun build.
I noticed lots of holes in the back wall. I'm assuming a closed loop. What pumps?
Are there holes down low for lower circulation?

 

[dbrewsky]

Sweet!!! just an idea to add- You could run a couple Vectra L1 pumps for returns instead of relying on a single pump. IF you have you have the room and budget this would more than guarantee tank turn over on a 400 gallon reef, and in the event that one goes down, your tank is limping along instead of in real trouble!

 

[revhtree Verified Admin]

What do you guys suggest I do for power?

 

[revhtree Verified Admin]

Awesome. It's going to be a fun build.
I noticed lots of holes in the back wall. I'm assuming a closed loop. What pumps?
Are there holes down low for lower circulation?

Big holes are for the overflows and the little ones are for returns.

 

[dbrewsky]

Run a couple 20 amp dedicated circuits for tank itself. What circuits do you already have feeding the fish room? do they supply any other parts of the house or other major equipment like a fridge?

 

[Harbor_Jer]

I believe he said Planet Aquariums earlier in the thread. :)

Looks awesome Rev! Is that the hybrid bottom (pvc/glass/abs)?
Just tell them to make sure it's really sealed well.
When I tore down my planet tank after just a year or so, water had penetrated under the top layer.

The top layer is strictly aesthetics. It's to hide the ugly silicone lines on the glass and protect the glass. The real seal in between the glass and bottom PVC layer.

 

[StikHedRon]

What do you guys suggest I do for power?

I would put the tank it self, lights, return pump and apex on one circuit, then QT and mixing station on another.

 

[StikHedRon]

But you could easily do a load study if you know what components you will be using and determine how to break it up if you need more circuits.

 

[jsker]

Thanks for the comments! I didn't want it too deep because I want to be able to reach most areas of the tank!

Going to have to get a harness so that you can reach the corners, that is going to be a long reach. What kind of glass are they using? nice and blue.

 

[Lionfish Lair]

Thanks everyone! Some days I'm super excited and others I'm real nervous to the point of rethinking it all. I feel like I am crossing the bridge though to being comfortable with this all. Thanks for the support!

I know this feeling well. Drilling the 4" hole in the side of the house to try something I didn't even know would work, ripping out the divider wall, tearing into the ceiling, covering a window. Blah.

 

[Zero Nitrates]

This such a fun build to follow! Can't wait to see the all coral and fish in the tank.:)

 

[rayn]

You can never have enough power or circuits. If you want two, run three. If you want three run four. I am constantly amazed at how many little things need power. Pump here, pump there. No reason to stress a line.

 

[Black Pearl]

I can see some awesome aquascape with those dimensions 3ft front to back sweet

 

[dbrewsky]

There will always be doubts and it's going to cost more than anticipated and complications..... It doesn't matter if the tank is 10 gallons or a 1000! It's worth it in the end just take things slow and it will come out!

If you are running new outlets running 3 instead of 1 is usually no more work ;)

 

[revhtree Verified Admin]

Thanks all. I definitely want to run dedicated power for this tank. My issue is I don't know what or how much I should run since I am clueless when it comes to power. The house we are in as two separate breaker panels. One is located just to the left of where the room is going.

 

[jsker]

Thanks all. I definitely want to run dedicated power for this tank. My issue is I don't know what or how much I should run since I am clueless when it comes to power. The house we are in as two separate breaker panels. One is located just to the left of where the room is going.

20 amp

 

[revhtree Verified Admin]

20 amp

20 amp breakers? How many? I have no idea what I am saying. LOL!

 

[rayn]

Each 20 amp breaker will power a circuit. Then the amp will carry so many watts before it "trips" and shuts the circuit down. Each circuit can carry multiple outlets spread over a area.

As I said, I would run probably three for a tank that size. Heck on my last build I ran two for a 120. I ran two just for this build, then another for the other tanks used for QT.

 

[jsker]

Speak with your electrician and this person should know this or find a different electrician. I am running a 15 amp breaker for my total system, much more. For example I run a commercial food truck with more demand then your system will ever use at 8700 kw with a 30 amp breaker. This is the key to find out what your equipment is drawing. Your system will most likely will be drawing 10 amps at the maximum draw and that is a lot of amps, about 5200 kw. My system at it high pulls about 4 amps total with all the equipment. With the size of your tank I would estimate that you would have a max of 11 amps and a 20 breaker would be more than enough and branching off with circuts/ aka plugs and make sure that a GFI is in place some were in the line . The other thing to consider is wire. Make sure that you run a 12/3 ground solid wire to carry the load. If you really want to kick up the have the electrician wire with 10/3 and if you have breaker issues the you can switch to a 30 amp break with can carry 10.5 kw. Rev it is all about the load on the line, and what the breaker can take. Now if you have a pump the is 220, the you will have to run 12/4 or 10/4 based on the load 12/4 and 10/4 will be stranded.

 

[Rob's Reef]

I didn't read through everyones suggestions so if it's been mentioned already I'm sorry for the repeat.

Biggest mistake I made to my in wall tank is not having access to the front of the tank... it's a pain in the butt to have to do everything from the back and top of the tank...