Prevailing Reef’s 262 Gallon In-Wall Reef Build Thread

[Prevailing Reef]

I’m in the process of figuring out power head placement and flow.

The front and right side of the tank are viewable.

So I need to figure out a way to avoid dead spots on the right side.

I want to go with MP40’s and have all cords behind the tank since it is an in wall build.

In a way, it is similar to a peninsula, except I can put power heads on the left side and back wall without seeing any power cords.

Any suggestions how to best make this work?

 

[SeaDweller]

I would do just that, left and back; maybe a gyre on the right if you want some flow from that direction.

 

[Prevailing Reef]

Hoping to begin plumbing next weekend.

 

[Prevailing Reef]

I got a little progress done over the last couple weekends.

On the back access to the tank, I built some barn doors and ordered the hardware kit off Amazon.

This opening was so large, and without enough room for 1 large door to slide to the left and allow full access to the opening, I made bypass doors.

Typically with bypass doors, 1 door will slide right or 1 will slide left bypassing the other allowing access to only 1/2 of the opening.I had to have them both slide to the left because the right side doesn’t have enough wall space to slide on.

 

[Blue Ring Octopus]

Following along, I have purchased a new tank it is a 72" X 30" x 24" euro braced. I see that you have a good eye on equipment, your build thread and post seeking all the information is very informative. I wonder if you could put links within your build thread showing your research?

 

[Prevailing Reef]

I’ve officially decided that I dislike plumbing greatly.

I installed the Modular Marine overflow but I had to razor the paint off the back of the tank around the overflow holes to make sure the gasket between exterior box and the back of the tank have a good seal.

I installed 3 unions coming off the exterior box and was able to finish the main siphon with Spears schedule 80 gate valve. That thing is a beast of a valve. I’m using schedule 80 fittings and Formafit black PVC ordered through Home Depot (most cost effective).

This took me the entire day!

 

[Prevailing Reef]

Got a little more done today.

Man, hard plumbing is no joke. Everything has to be perfect.

 

[Prevailing Reef]

Another picture of the sump and overflow.

 

[Prevailing Reef]

I got the lights hung.

I got a piece of 1 1/2 inch metal conduit from Home Depot and cut it just under the length from wall to wall.

Painted it black.

Used some lumber to make a wall track that keeps the conduit in place.

Used hooks to attach a couple of pulleys to the conduit so I can slide the lights up and out of the way to do tank maintenance.

I lined the track with felt so the conduit slides easily.

I’m trying to decide if I should go with a compact right in the middle of the two full size units.

 

[CasaReefer]

Hey Tuffy.. Sorry I was late to the party... First Class Bro... You are a Craftsman... I need to sit down for A Minute cause I got a little bout of Tank Envy... No No I will be O.K... Everything Looks Awesome... i was there was a place in my house I could do a In-Wall. Without my wife leavin me... Very Nice... Excited to follow along... ;)

 

[Prevailing Reef]

Hey Tuffy.. Sorry I was late to the party... First Class Bro... You are a Craftsman... I need to sit down for A Minute cause I got a little bout of Tank Envy... No No I will be O.K... Everything Looks Awesome... i was there was a place in my house I could do a In-Wall. Without my wife leavin me... Very Nice... Excited to follow along... ;)

Ha ha ha! Thanks dude!

She trusts me because she knows I do good work and make it look nice, whatever it is I’m doing.....remodeling bathrooms, in-wall fish tanks.......

This has been the longest, ongoing project I’ve ever had although I haven’t been working on it none stop.

Building our 1000 sq ft addition was faster! ;Facepalm

 

[CasaReefer]

Ha ha ha! Thanks dude!

She trusts me because she knows I do good work and make it look nice, whatever it is I’m doing.....remodeling bathrooms, in-wall fish tanks.......

This has been the longest, ongoing project I’ve ever had although I haven’t been working on it none stop.

Building our 1000 sq ft addition was faster! ;Facepalm

You are very good at what you do... I always do better when I am not rushing things...

 

[chizerbunoi]

How does the pulley work? I don’t see any wheel spindles at the top. Is it just a chain you pull and then hook into a link when at a certain height?

 

[Prevailing Reef]

How does the pulley work? I don’t see any wheel spindles at the top. Is it just a chain you pull and then hook into a link when at a certain height?

They are like these.

Amazon product ASIN B010PYWE54
I may install some more elaborate ones down the road, but these work for now to just pull the conduit up and get the lights out of the way to do maintenance.

 

[dca22anderson]

Love how clean your build is!! Well done!!

 

[Prevailing Reef]

Love how clean your build is!! Well done!!

Thank you!

I learned a lot from my 90 gallon, which was my first reef tank.....learned what to do and what not to do and how to make maintenance easier for the long haul!

 

[Prevailing Reef]

I ran wire in my attic for the gfci outlet I installed above where the lights are going.

I also installed a shelf for the wiring and drivers to the lights. This keeps it all tucked up and out of sight.

 

[Prevailing Reef]

Got the light fired up! :D

 

[Prevailing Reef]

I got the mixing station containers situated in my laundry closet using cinder blocks and 3/4 plywood. It’s a very tight fit but it will work. Plumbing will be tight!

 

[Prevailing Reef]

I was able to almost finish the plumbing for the return. I am using “reverse check valves”, an idea I got from @melev on both separate return lines. Each line has its own return pump.

You can see a T-valve between 2 unions on each return line. This is so I can tie into the frag tank that will be on the other side of the wall. I am going to stub the pipes and cap for now.