265 split tank. Reef/Predator

[Rendos]

This is a customer's tank. He wanted to be able to keep predatory fish (eel, puffer, trigger, etc.) on one side and reef fish on the other but share the skimmer, chiller, UV, etc.
I had Perfecto make a custom tank to accomplish this for him. The tank is 84"x24"x30" with the overflow and tank divider about 2/3 to 1/3 ratio.
The sump is an Eshopps RS-300 with a CoralVue Ocotpus Pro 250 with upgraded pump. Other equipment includes a AquaLogic 1/3 HP chiller, 40 watt Aqua UV sterilizer, Tsunami ATO, Aquacontroller Jr., and a Current Outer Orbit 3 x 150 watt MH light suspended from the ceiling. The stand was custom built by a local furniture builder (who just happens to work at our shop).
The tank has about 300 pounds of Tonga Live Rock. There is an OceanClear canister filter that houses filter floss, carbon, PURA Complete, and Purigen. For additional circulation there are 5 Koralia pumps of various sizes.
The tank is a room divider. Here is a FTS from the left side...
http://fishman.smugmug.com/photos/357433049_DN6pm-XL.jpg

FTS from the right side.
http://fishman.smugmug.com/photos/357433167_esJVJ-XL.jpg

From the end.
http://fishman.smugmug.com/photos/357432639_77cD2-XL.jpg

Here are a few close up shots of the corals.
http://fishman.smugmug.com/photos/357432636_ZfEgw-XL.jpg
http://fishman.smugmug.com/photos/357432825_btRzw-XL.jpg
http://fishman.smugmug.com/photos/357432797_Jh5Rz-XL.jpg
http://fishman.smugmug.com/photos/357432820_T5goT-XL.jpg
http://fishman.smugmug.com/photos/357433128_GiLRF-XL.jpg

This tank has been set up since April of this year.
He is so happy with the tank that he has commissioned me to built a new system which will be two 125 gallon tanks running end to end along a wall and will look like one continuous 12' long tank. Again, this system will share filtration, etc.

[forddna]

I'm confused. He's going to keep triggers and eels in the little section??

[Rendos]

Yes. Anything that gets too large for that tank will eventually be moved to the new system.
The main challenge with this is to maintain reef-like water quality when you have carnivorous fish in the same system. Not impossible, but definitely a little more challenging. The maintenance schedule includes weekly 25-35 gallon water changes. That adds up to nearly 1/2 the water being changed monthly.

[REEF-n-Chicago]

The water quality was my concern but it is possible for anything other than an SPS tank. Im sure softies and zoos would love it!
Interesting design > always something new :)

[forddna]

I like the future plan way better. That's an awful small portion for Triggers and Eels. They won't have much time at all in there before they outgrow it. Neat idea - just too small of a portion for the types of fish he wants in there. JMO. :)

[forddna]

BTW, the tank itself looks gorgeous!!!

[8BALL_99]

Not a bad idea. But I think the tank should be the other way around.. The small section should be Reef and the large section should be for the triggers, ect. Most predator fish need lots of swimming room. I would think 48" min. Really most are in 6 foot tanks. Looks like the tank is split into a 5 foot and 2 foot. If thats the case the predator section is only 24"x24"x30". Thats pretty small for a predator tank. Not bad for a small Reef though.

With 3x150watt Mh on a 30"high tank, I don't think he plans on sps. At least I hope not lol.. Keeping softies and predator fish in the same system is NP at all.. Why does he have a chiller with only 450 watts of light on a 265?? I run over 1000 on my 190 with no chiller

[Rendos]

forddna - I agree, and thanks for the compliment.

8BALL+99 -
He runs a chiller because without it, it gets too hot - 86F.
Remember - lights are not the only factor in whether or not you need a chiller. Ambient room temperature, pumps, UV sterilizers, etc. add heat to the water also.
It is my belief that a chiller is more of an insurance policy. It is to help maintain stability...not just to cool the water.

The reef section is 54" and the predator section is 30" in length. I realize that this is not the optimum setup, but the in retail the customer gets what he wants. You can only advise people...they have the final say so in what they buy.

The next setup should get underway in the next month or so. I will be sure to post pics when we start that project also.

[caorca]

Interesting tank. I would put a volitan lion in the preditor side. I can't wait to see the two 125s. Good luck.