Starting ~800 Gallon Custom Reef Tank Build

[D.train]

What’s that tool called to hold the diamond drill bit?

 

[ravi197699]

What’s that tool called to hold the diamond drill bit?

it is drill bit guide that prevents drill bit from moving around while drilling the glass, best investment, cost me 14 dollars and i can use this for any size drill bit as long as it is not bigger than 3 inches..

 

[ravi197699]

so I cleaned up my Jebao RW20 pumps from last tank, they have been in storage for more than year and I was trying to mount these pumps in the sump that I can agitate the water under the rock rack so that detritus won't build up, but i am questioning my idea - how will i be able to clean these pump if required which it will be at some point in near future.. So i have second plan to add jebao 10000 dc pump on each side of the sump and connect 2 pumps together via 1.5 inch pvc pipe and union for easy disconnect for servicing, these pumps will come on 2 - 3 times during day time to shake things up in the sump and under rocks.. here is my plan drawn. Please let me know if this looks good or anything needs to be changed...

 

[ravi197699]

I took some pictures of the aquascape from top, here are some of the pictures..

 

[BigMo]

I took some pictures of the aquascape from top, here are some of the pictures..

Very nice pics, please keep them coming. Regarding your sump, are you using 2 pumps and power heads together? Is that much flow really necessary? To be honest your system is so large that anything is possible[emoji16][emoji106]
I wish you all the best.

 

[ravi197699]

Very nice pics, please keep them coming. Regarding your sump, are you using 2 pumps and power heads together? Is that much flow really necessary? To be honest your system is so large that anything is possible[emoji16][emoji106]
I wish you all the best.

Power heads will be removed and only 2 pumps will be utilized in this plan, these pumps push 2700 gph each , so 2 pumps will be 5400 gallons and they will be laying flat and pushing water towards each other and water will come out from 1/2" nozzles...

 

[BigMo]

Power heads will be removed and only 2 pumps will be utilized in this plan, these pumps push 2700 gph each , so 2 pumps will be 5400 gallons and they will be laying flat and pushing water towards each other and water will come out from 1/2" nozzles...

Very well thought all the way through. I like the idea of high flow.

 

[ravi197699]

Very well thought all the way through. I like the idea of high flow.

Thank you BigMo, it helps watching youtube videos and read through threads of large tank builds and use own experience to implement right way, this time I am taking time with this build and think of all the " What If's" and take it from there...

 

[ravi197699]

Grates are done, I added pvc legs and raised them high (8") off the bottom so that dc pump with manifold can be installed below the grates, I used 2" pvc reducer that reduces to 3/4" pvc, so i have used 3/4" pvc pipes so that I don't block the flow to sweep under the grates, I put the rock on the grates and i used small to medium pieces of rock and tonga branches to bridge the gap between the grates, I am very happy with the outcome, I kept flat shelves on the front, might want to use for frags on the front and easy access, I am left with 20" x 68" space on the front to grow macro algae and 12" x 68" space on the side for dc pumps to be mounted to blow detritus from the bottom of the sump, I have kept the grates to the other side of the sump where most of my equipment is going to sit. not sure how many pounds of rock i have in the sump but I still have pile of rock left that I can use in frag tank set up and fish quarantine sump... here are some of the pictures

 

[ravi197699]

here is sneak peak on Actinic led bar with multiple spectrum that I bought for black Friday sale, I bought 4 of these bars and these are solid built and size is 48". this will be detailed write up on lights I will be using, but I just wanted to share this with you guys.. here are the pics if light bars...

 

[Thakki]

Is that Orpheck LED bar?

 

[ravi197699]

No I bought these from Kind Grow led, these were on sale for black Friday, built very well..

 

[dca22anderson]

Great build, love the racks for your sump rock!

 

[BigMo]

Grates are done, I added pvc legs and raised them high (8") off the bottom so that dc pump with manifold can be installed below the grates, I used 2" pvc reducer that reduces to 3/4" pvc, so i have used 3/4" pvc pipes so that I don't block the flow to sweep under the grates, I put the rock on the grates and i used small to medium pieces of rock and tonga branches to bridge the gap between the grates, I am very happy with the outcome, I kept flat shelves on the front, might want to use for frags on the front and easy access, I am left with 20" x 68" space on the front to grow macro algae and 12" x 68" space on the side for dc pumps to be mounted to blow detritus from the bottom of the sump, I have kept the grates to the other side of the sump where most of my equipment is going to sit. not sure how many pounds of rock i have in the sump but I still have pile of rock left that I can use in frag tank set up and fish quarantine sump... here are some of the pictures

Very well done Ravi, I bet the grates will reduce detritus considerably, I like the lights too and I hope they’re powerful.

 

[ravi197699]

thank you BigMo, these are just accent lights just to give extra pop if needed, always good idea to have few extra, it does not hurt, I can always turn these on and off just to give little extra light to corals. it is full spectrum.

 

[ravi197699]

Great build, love the racks for your sump rock!

Thank you dca22anderson, idea is to have 0 to none detritus and i want to be able to sweep under the grates multiple times a day

 

[ravi197699]

Hey guys, I am having hard time deciding what pump i should as my main return pump, goal is to run 1 pump that will work as main return as well as feed my manifold which run few other items, Goal is to have DC pump, I have used external AC pumps in the past (Reeflo) and they are loud and power hogs. So I want to try DC pump this time, I am not sure which 1 I should use for this build, I want something reliable and with good track records, This piece of equipment will be back bone of my system..

 

[ravi197699]

anyone ??

 

[CoralWealth]

anyone ??

I use my reeflo and love it, but mine is also in the basement so I do not hear it upstairs but I dont think its loud at all for the amount of power it produces. However if it was just in my sump, in my living room maybe I would think different

 

[ravi197699]

my last build reeflo pump was in garage but now it will be sitting in my sunroom which will be used for parties and such and my living room is next to it as well so I want something that is quiet, DC and reliable...