Wen’s 280 Build

[Wen]

Wow, I’ve been waiting for this moment a long time, so here we go.
This is the official build thread of my dream, and final tank.

Current tank photo:

150 mixed
Reasons for upgrade:
The stand was not made to support a fish tank. It was a bookcase I picked up at Salvation Army about 8 years ago?. The aquarium is no longer level and the cabinet doors don’t close properly. Scary.
Another reason is the width...16”. The proportions aren’t good for aquascaping an environment for the fish to swim nor corals to grow out.
It didn’t take too long to persuade my better half.
February 2019, I contacted Gaston at Tankme USA. I was officially on the waitlist in March.
August, I dropped in to meet Gaston in person and see his shop. He had some big tanks in process and some ready to be delivered. I was super impressed with his attention to detail and craftsmanship.
November, he gave me a call to let me know it was time to get serious, I was up next.

I’ve ordered a 64” long x 34” deep x 30” wide tank with a sump and aluminum stand.

The new tank will locate on a wall that has a small closet behind it. Now I can hide some noisy equipment.

 

[Wen]

The future equipment closet had no water supply nor drainage. We eventually plumbed water and drain line through the ceiling from/to a bathroom close by and added a sink with sump pump.

Please excuse the mess.

 

[Peace River]

Congratulations @Wen! This is exciting!!!

 

[Eggs]

Congrats Wendy, following along. Like the idea for the equipment room sink water supply/drain, facing similar challenge for adding a sink where I want.

 

[Wen]

Congrats Wendy, following along. Like the idea for the equipment room sink water supply/drain, facing similar challenge for adding a sink where I want.

I’m curious how loud and how much that sump is going to be running with the RODI waste draining in it, not to mention the 30 gal weekly waterchanges.

So your thinking about a similar scenario?

 

[Eggs]

I’m curious how loud and how much that sump is going to be running with the RODI waste draining in it, not to mention the 30 gal weekly waterchanges.

So your thinking about a similar scenario?

Merry Christmas!
You’re further along than I am, I’m looking at putting RODI/Mix Station and sink in the garage....same problem with no drain. I wasn’t thinking about noise for this but that’s a good question regarding sound. Is the pump similar to ones used in homes with basements? The ones I had while living in Ohio weren’t that loud.
Water changes would be big, can you run the RODI waste water through a wall to the outside?

The person I bought my 300g off had his water station outside, opposite to the tank display room. He ran 1/4” line tubes through wall.
I thought about this but HOA would have a fit if I had large storage tanks on the side of the house, but I thought about utilizing a storage shed of some sorts......doesn’t help with the sink situation though.

 

[Wen]

Update on the 280 build:

YES!!!! Gaston at Tankme USA is beginning the build.
I changed the orientation of the tank to be a peninsula, for the purpose of retaining maximum interior dimensions and having a tidily plumbed sump. The tank will still be against a wall, but I’m happy with the choice. Black vinyl will be applied to wall side.
Drew up this sump design.

 

[Wen]

Gaston working out the sump specifics now.

Going with 3 1.5” drain lines, 4 filter socks (I alternate between the thin mesh socks and heavy socks depending on what’s going on with the tank.)

I am excited about having a bigger fuge! One of my favorite critters is an orange ball of death. .

Pseudocorynactis corallimorphs

 

[Wen]

My plan for the stand and canopy is to replicate fellow R2R member TheHarold’s set up.

I ran across his thread and am working toward something similar.

 

[Eggs]

Did you get a chance to try out the sump and the noise concern?

About a week before Christmas I saw a thread that also used a similar sump-pump; been trying to locate but haven’t been successful.

 

[Wen]

Did you get a chance to try out the sump and the noise concern?

About a week before Christmas I saw a thread that also used a similar sump-pump; been trying to locate but haven’t been successful.

So I don't have the aquarium yet and have not tried the sump-pump, until your question.

Ran water to fill sump, when it was full, pump starts and it sounds like a toilet flushing, then when pump stops I hear what I think is the (plumber's idea) check valve make a loud "thump" while water continues to fall back down into the sump. It sounds like more water is dropping back into sump then where the check valve is installed. ugh. The amount of water falling back down the pvc into the sump is not what I want to hear.

This is going to require some more investigating... and professional help.

 

[Wen]

This check valve has a loud thump shut. Maybe because it’s resting against the wall.

 

[tdlawdo]

Love the excitement of a new build! Lots of issues to solve with every build you are doing a great job

 

[Wen]

Currently planning to use this 5 gal beverage dispenser as my ato reservoir.
Pros:
I can fill dosing bottles easily.
It sits on a sink in case of emergency.
Easy to see inside.
Cons:
Too small.
Takes up sink elbow room.

 

[tdlawdo]

That seems a bit small to me for that size tank. I Have a 20 gallon ATO for my 6 foot waterbox and that barely lasts 7-10 days.

 

[Wen]

That seems a bit small to me for that size tank. I Have a 20 gallon ATO for my 6 foot waterbox and that barely lasts 7-10 days.

I agree, probably would get 2 days of top off. My current 150 gal averages 1 gal per day evaporation.

 

[Gablami]

Hey Wen, which Bk skimmer did you end up deciding on? I saw your other thread. Based on what I read, I think the 200 deluxe sounds great for a 280g tank. It seems more easily tunable down to the lower stock end as well. A less expensive option would be a dc 200 or 250. I’ve read reviews of the SM series that make it seem less appealing (like it more easily overflows, and you need to skim wetter).

I’ve had a mini 180 and have a dc 180. I’ve ordered a 240g and am researching the Bk skimmer that’s right for me. I feel like I’ve read every post about Bk skimmers on the internet by now...

 

[Wen]

Hey Wen, which Bk skimmer did you end up deciding on? I saw your other thread. Based on what I read, I think the 200 deluxe sounds great for a 280g tank. It seems more easily tunable down to the lower stock end as well. A less expensive option would be a dc 200 or 250. I’ve read reviews of the SM series that make it seem less appealing (like it more easily overflows, and you need to skim wetter).

I’ve had a mini 180 and have a dc 180. I’ve ordered a 240g and am researching the Bk skimmer that’s right for me. I feel like I’ve read every post about Bk skimmers on the internet by now...

lol, I’m with you in reading post after post on bk skimmers.
I went back and forth between the bk 200 deluxe and the ro regal 250. However, what I really wanted was s good old fashioned recirculating skimmer, but I don’t have room.
One of the posts here was from a guy who had experience with many of the skimmers we are looking at and he claimed the Lifereef skimmer was hands down better then all the high $ skimmers. Jeff at Lifereef made a sump, fuge and cal reactor for me long ago, so thought I’d give his skimmers a look.
Long story short, I bought his svs2 model and it arrived yesterday.
No eye candy here, but I want a workhorse.

You mention sm skimmers, I had one, the pyramid 207 and the skimmate was too wet and too light green that it felt like a waste of electricity. And that thing overflowed all the time! Sold it and going no skimmer until new tank arrives.

Where are you getting your 240?

 

[Gablami]

It’s ordered. Will be a long 4 month wait. But I have projects planned. Dedicated tank electrical, reinforce the subflooring in the crawl space, move light switches, start getting fish and treat them, cooking rock etc.

I’ve been hearing a lot of about life reef skimmers. Maybe I’ll give them a second look and spend the money I save on more radions.

 

[Gablami]

Oh I misread your question. Went CDA.