SUPPOReefer's 280g Starphire Build (AKA: The Home Wrecker)

[SUPPOReefer]

Well, I have been trolling this forum for several years dreaming of the day when I would finally be able to have my own thread with the big boys.
I have learned much from the countless hours I have spent reading of others experience about the unique challenges involved with keeping larger systems. I have incorporated several ideas from many of your tanks. Since no two systems are alike, I had to adapt them to my specific needs.
I have one specific requirement that dictated the majority of my decisions: space. I don't live in a 1,000 sf condo or anything that extreme. I am in the Navy. Due to this, I might be forced to move every few years. For me, it is an absolute necessity that all equipment (with the exception of the RO/DI unit) fit under the tank. While my current house allows for me to have a remote sump and equipment room, I have no idea what the layout of my next house will allow for, and want to make sure that as long as i have a 7' wall, I can set up my tank.

A few specifics about the system:

Display:

My dream tank was 84 long x 36 deep x 24 tall. I called around to several tank manufacturers and received quotes varying from $3,500 to $5,000. I was prepared to pay the premium but had a used 84 long x 32 deep x 24 tall three sided starphire fall into my lap at a price too good to be passed up. The other difference between this tank and the one I was getting quotes on was I was planning on having an internal C2C overflow, and this came with a right side overflow.

Since everyone wants pics here are a few of the tank sitting in its permanent resting place (for at least the next nine months).

http://i186.photobucket.com/albums/x252/bluesdrummer24/280%20Gallon%20Build/20120909_003620.jpg

http://i186.photobucket.com/albums/x252/bluesdrummer24/280%20Gallon%20Build/20120909_003609.jpg

[salali]

Good luck Supporeefer the tank looks amazing

[SUPPOReefer]

Thanks, salali. I have several updates to make. I am almost completed with plumbing. I should have posted this thread a few months ago when I picked the tank up, but have been too busy. More updates coming.

[Loserland]

Get back to work! and post more pictures :)

[SUPPOReefer]

Get back to work! and post more pictures :)

That goes double for you. How is the kitchen remodel coming?

[Loserland]

Tile done! Waiting on cabinets to be made.

Sump arrives Wednesday.

I need to post pictures from what I did this weekend :)

[SUPPOReefer]

Okay. Where to start? It is hard to summarize several months of waking up in the middle of the night with ideas and not being able to go back to sleep worrying that I am doing something wrong.

Since I believe that the heart of my system is the skimmer, I guess I should start there. I really wanted to go internal. It is a huge savings on space. But every month when I tore apart my sump to clean it, I was amazed at how much detritus would get trapped around my skimmer. Even though it meant dedicating a huge portion of the stand to a skimmer, I went external. I selected the SRO-5000XP. I am worried about being able to maintain a consistent head for the first several months it is set up, as I slowly introduce new livestock.

The papillion is for size reference.

http://i186.photobucket.com/albums/x252/bluesdrummer24/280%20Gallon%20Build/20121001_205137.jpg

[SUPPOReefer]

Tile done! Waiting on cabinets to be made.

Sump arrives Wednesday.

I need to post pictures from what I did this weekend :)

Can't wait to see the updates.

[SUPPOReefer]

After selecting an external skimmer, my size needs for a sump went down drastically. I was originally planning on having a custom acrylic sump built that would incorporate a RO/DI reservoir and a salt water mixing reservoir. After receiving a few quotes, the wife put her foot down. The only down side to getting the tank at such a good price is it is hard to explain to the wife why the sump is going to cost more than the tank did.
Wound up locating a 65 gallon oceanic tank. It will meet my needs. After picking up the tank, I discovered that it is a low iron glass tank. Seems like a waste to use it for a sump, but no one in the area had a non-drilled one to trade.

http://i186.photobucket.com/albums/x252/bluesdrummer24/280%20Gallon%20Build/20121020_123245.jpg

http://i186.photobucket.com/albums/x252/bluesdrummer24/280%20Gallon%20Build/20121020_123255.jpg

[SUPPOReefer]

When moving the tank into the house, I neglected to place a piece
of plywood on top of the stand. The previous owner never had one,
and it probably would have been fine without it (the stand is constructed
of 2" steel), but better safe than sorry. The plywood support also gave
me something to drill into from the bottom to support pipes and wires.

Had to move the tank off of the metal stand on to a temporary rolling stand
(necessary because I only had two friends helping and we could not lift the
tank by ourselves)

http://i186.photobucket.com/albums/x252/bluesdrummer24/280%20Gallon%20Build/20121028_120236.jpg

http://i186.photobucket.com/albums/x252/bluesdrummer24/280%20Gallon%20Build/20121028_120232.jpg

All back together

http://i186.photobucket.com/albums/x252/bluesdrummer24/280%20Gallon%20Build/20121028_140925.jpg

[Brando457]

subscribed I am doing a 180g w/ the XP3000EXT :) can't wait to see how you plumb yours!

[SUPPOReefer]

Should be to that point by tomorrow in the updates. I have to get to work.

[Newbie Aquarist]

Man I have to respect the fact you are doing this build and serving. But why do it if you know you are transferring soon? Nice dimensions on the system.


Sent from my iPhone using Siri and Tapatalk.

[SUPPOReefer]

I am still hoping that I am able to stay local. But looking at the billet list, it doesn't look like that is going to work out. My only options at this point is to go to Afghanistan or Iraq for a year or be an Admirals aide. I would rather dodge bullets for a year.
While on active duty, there really isn't a good time to to set up a tank. Doesn't matter if I kept my 90 up and running or completed the upgrade to the 280. Every time I move, I am going to have to break down the tank. If I am going to have to break down and put a tank together the tank every couple years, it might as well be my dream tank. I fear that if I just kept my 90, I would just sell everything off as opposed to tearing it down and setting back up. After all of the work and planning I have put into this tank, I will set it up every time I move. I have invested too much time, energy, and money to not enjoy it for every moment that I can.

[Newbie Aquarist]

I am still hoping that I am able to stay local. But looking at the billet list, it doesn't look like that is going to work out. My only options at this point is to go to Afghanistan or Iraq for a year or be an Admirals aide. I would rather dodge bullets for a year.
While on active duty, there really isn't a good time to to set up a tank. Doesn't matter if I kept my 90 up and running or completed the upgrade to the 280. Every time I move, I am going to have to break down the tank. If I am going to have to break down and put a tank together the tank every couple years, it might as well be my dream tank. I fear that if I just kept my 90, I would just sell everything off as opposed to tearing it down and setting back up. After all of the work and planning I have put into this tank, I will set it up every time I move. I have invested too much time, energy, and money to not enjoy it for every moment that I can.

True true.

[d-man]

nice

[SUPPOReefer]

After being confident that the stand was structurally sound enough to support the ton and a half of weight, it was time to start worrying about plumbing.

In order to get water to the tank, it necessitated cutting a hole in the wall. There was already an unused cable outlet behind the tank, so I decided to use it.

After pulling the dishwasher out, it was as simple as cutting a hole, tying into the house's sewage line, and keeping the wife distracted so she didn't see the mess I was making in the kitchen.

http://i186.photobucket.com/albums/x252/bluesdrummer24/280%20Gallon%20Build/20121028_104835.jpg

The only thing that travels through the wall is a 3/4" receptacle for drain water when I complete water changes and a 1/4" RO/DI line.

http://i186.photobucket.com/albums/x252/bluesdrummer24/280%20Gallon%20Build/20121028_104854.jpg


It is imperative if you do this, to install a check valve and gas trap. The check valve ensures that sewage water does not back flow into the tank but does not prevent gasses from stinking up the house (thus the gas trap).

[SUPPOReefer]

The RO/DI unit is stored under the kitchen sink. It is fed by the cold water line. After passing through the hole in the wall it is split into three outlets.

-One outlet goes directly to the sump. It flows through a bulkhead and float valve to replenish any evaporation water and keep the water level in the sump at 9".

-The second goes to the 29 gallon water change tank. It flows through a float valve to keep the water level at 25 gallons.

-The last outlet is for sending RO/DI water outside of my system. It is simply 5' of hose with a ball valve on the end.

I installed a shut of valve, so that the RO is not constantly producing waste water.

I also installed ball valves inline to the sump and water change tank. This way, I can control when and where water goes at any time.

[SUPPOReefer]

Plumbing:

Brando, here is a little explanation on the plumbing for the skimmer:

Since I am running an external skimmer under the stand, I had to drill a bulkhead
for the skimmer return to pass through. The first task was to raise the skimmer
up so that the return would be above the waterline of the sump. Didn't want any
back pressure on the skimmer effecting performance.

http://i186.photobucket.com/albums/x252/bluesdrummer24/280%20Gallon%20Build/20121028_140932.jpg

The skimmer feed is teed off of the return pump. I didn't want the additional
power draw and maintenance of another pump. The return pump is a Dolphin
Ampmaster 3000. The output goes to a wye gate and is reduced to 1".

http://i186.photobucket.com/albums/x252/bluesdrummer24/280%20Gallon%20Build/20121028_213313.jpg

One of the 1" outlets feeds a wavy sea for return to the tank. The other goes
to the input of a 40w uv sterilizer. The output of the uv feeds the skimmer.
Hopefeully everything that is killed by the uv will be skimmed out.

http://i186.photobucket.com/albums/x252/bluesdrummer24/280%20Gallon%20Build/20121028_213344.jpg

Since all of my plumbing is sch40 and the skimmer uses metric, I just used a rubber
coupling to attach the skimmer to 1.5" PVC to travel through the bulkhead.

[SUPPOReefer]

I swore that I would have water in the tank by Haloween, so here goes:

http://i186.photobucket.com/albums/x252/bluesdrummer24/20121031_194113.jpg

[danfeig]

Looking good! Following along to see where this one goes!

[SUPPOReefer]

Thanks for following along, Dan. I completed plumbing last night. I was too tired to complete a leak test. Leak testing this evening, then it is time to begin aquascaping.

[SUPPOReefer]

Well, last night I finished plumbing. Here are a few pics. As you can tell by my photos, I am a huge fan of spaflex.

Completed Water change station:

http://i186.photobucket.com/albums/x252/bluesdrummer24/20121031_194236.jpg

Herbie overflow. The center line is the supply for the closed loop pump.

http://i186.photobucket.com/albums/x252/bluesdrummer24/20121031_194431.jpg

http://i186.photobucket.com/albums/x252/bluesdrummer24/20121031_194150.jpg

Closed loop pump (Iwaki 70rlt) running into a 1" SCWD

http://i186.photobucket.com/albums/x252/bluesdrummer24/20121031_194346.jpg

Closed Loop returns. These elbows are temporary. Still have to plumb the final ones together. Each side will have two eductors. One pointed towards the front center of the tank and the other pointed towards the rear center.

http://i186.photobucket.com/albums/x252/bluesdrummer24/20121031_194408.jpg

I should be pushing close to 4,000gph out of the Iwaki this way. The current will switch from side to side every 50 seconds. Between the closed loop and the wavy seas, there should be close to 5,000 gph of very random flow in the display. If needed, I will add three mp40s along the bottom of the back wall to keep detritus in suspension.

[SUPPOReefer]

Water test went great. Had to regrease the o-rings on my dolphin pump and readjust one bulkhead. Other than that, not a drip of water. The iwaki pump is much louder than I expected. DOn't know if I will be able to live with the noise. Might have to scrap the eductors and grab another dolphin or reeflo for the closed loop.

[Northside Reef]

nice build! I like it when I see a little destruction before the construction :)

[SUPPOReefer]

nice build! I like it when I see a little destruction before the construction :)

Thanks. It feels nice to cut holes in walls. Wife doesn't like it but I find it very therapeutic.

[Pearson]

As someone from a sister service, thanks for serving. I've worked with a few navy guys and y'all aren't that bad. Lol I know how moving goes every couple of years and while it's not enjoyable, I'm glad you're trying to make the best of what you have.

You're tank is coming along pretty well. I'm looking forward to watching this progress.

[Newbie Aquarist]

I cant see the photos.

[SUPPOReefer]

I cant see the photos.

Based on others' comments, some people are seeing them. Were you able to see them before, Wayne?

[SUPPOReefer]

As someone from a sister service, thanks for serving. I've worked with a few navy guys and y'all aren't that bad. Lol I know how moving goes every couple of years and while it's not enjoyable, I'm glad you're trying to make the best of what you have.

You're tank is coming along pretty well. I'm looking forward to watching this progress.

Thanks. I am just glad that you referred to yourself as our "sister" service so I didn't have to. :lmao:

[Newbie Aquarist]

Based on others' comments, some people are seeing them. Were you able to see them before, Wayne?

Nope. It says the photos have been deleted.

[SUPPOReefer]

Weird when I go through the thread, they are still there.

Anyways, sorry for the delay in posting. The build had been consuming all of my free time for the last few weeks so I took several days off to spend time with my family. We went camping and spent time with friends.

I will be back at it tonight. I have my marco rocks mortar and plenty of dead rock. Time to start aquascaping!!

[Osteoclast]

I am enjoying your progress. I have a Hammerhead driving a CL and moved the pump to three different locations in my house to reduce noise and vibration. Ultimately I needed to place the pump in my basement a (floor down) to dampen the vibration. Also I have a Bubble blaster 10k driving my SRO xp 8000 and there is a fairly good amount of vibration via the skimmer. Fortunately my skimmer is behind the tank in a dedicated room. You may need to work on sound proofing your area below the tank. I know that there are a few good companies with sound dampening mats, foam, and insulation that you can test depending on how it all goes. Good luck. Noise, vibration and pump chatter is hard to predict when you plan "the Monster Tank." I was unprepared for this even with reading all the big tank threads.

[d3hree]

I cant see the pics either...says they have been deleted.

[Newbie Aquarist]

Well, last night I finished plumbing. Here are a few pics. As you can tell by my photos, I am a huge fan of spaflex.

Completed Water change station:

http://i186.photobucket.com/albums/x252/bluesdrummer24/20121031_194236.jpg

Herbie overflow. The center line is the supply for the closed loop pump.

http://i186.photobucket.com/albums/x252/bluesdrummer24/20121031_194431.jpg

http://i186.photobucket.com/albums/x252/bluesdrummer24/20121031_194150.jpg

Closed loop pump (Iwaki 70rlt) running into a 1" SCWD

http://i186.photobucket.com/albums/x252/bluesdrummer24/20121031_194346.jpg

Closed Loop returns. These elbows are temporary. Still have to plumb the final ones together. Each side will have two eductors. One pointed towards the front center of the tank and the other pointed towards the rear center.

http://i186.photobucket.com/albums/x252/bluesdrummer24/20121031_194408.jpg

I should be pushing close to 4,000gph out of the Iwaki this way. The current will switch from side to side every 50 seconds. Between the closed loop and the wavy seas, there should be close to 5,000 gph of very random flow in the display. If needed, I will add three mp40s along the bottom of the back wall to keep detritus in suspension.

From Post #20 to the end of page one 1.

[Brando457]

awesome thank you

[SUPPOReefer]

Crazy. They arent showing up for me now. I will repost tomorrow when I am at a computer.

[Giovanni]

Like the build.

[SUPPOReefer]

Allright. Finally have some time to sit down and repost the pics.

Water change station
http://i186.photobucket.com/albums/x252/bluesdrummer24/280%20Gallon%20Build/20121031_194236.jpg

Closed loop pump. Actually, this is the 70rlt. I upgraded to a 100rlt.
http://i186.photobucket.com/albums/x252/bluesdrummer24/280%20Gallon%20Build/20121031_194346.jpg

SPAFLEX for the win!!
http://i186.photobucket.com/albums/x252/bluesdrummer24/280%20Gallon%20Build/20121031_194327.jpg

Overflow. The center line is actually the feed for the closed loop.

http://i186.photobucket.com/albums/x252/bluesdrummer24/280%20Gallon%20Build/20121031_194431.jpg

I will take pics of the rock scape later. I am headed to Lowes to return around $400 in unused plumbing parts.

http://i186.photobucket.com/albums/x252/bluesdrummer24/280%20Gallon%20Build/20121031_194413.jpg

[SUPPOReefer]

Like the build.

Thank you. Haven't had much time to work on it. I siliconed the HDPE to the tank bottom this morning. Tomorrow I will be placing the rock formations in the tank and starting the cycle.

[danfeig]

Great job with all of the plumbing work. Nice and clean!

I am glad to see that you used so many unions. It will make things much easier for you down the line.

[SUPPOReefer]

Great job with all of the plumbing work. Nice and clean!

I am glad to see that you used so many unions. It will make things much easier for you down the line.

Thanks, Dan. Yes, I learned my lessons about the need for true union ball valves after having to completely empty my 90 when I had to replace an impeller on the closed loop pump. :debi:

[SUPPOReefer]

Well, yesterday was a busy one. After waking up at 5:30 on the ship, I rushed home and got to work finishing up the rock scape.

I didn't take many shots of the actual process (only have two hands) but it was fairly simple. I created a scale footprint of the tank on my back deck. I played around with structures until I found rocks that fit well together. I would then drill holes in both rocks with a masonry bit, insert a piece of 1/4" fiberglass rod ($1.99 for 4' at Lowes) and apply mortar to the two pieces. If I wanted rocks to come off at crazy angles or create shelves coming off of a main structure, I would support the other end with anything that was handy (algae scraper, 5 gallon bucket, drill, another rock...)

Here is a shot of the right structure taking form on the back porch.

http://i186.photobucket.com/albums/x252/bluesdrummer24/280%20Gallon%20Build/20121109_175022.jpg

After curing overnight, it was time to bring them in and place then in the tank.

http://i186.photobucket.com/albums/x252/bluesdrummer24/280%20Gallon%20Build/20121112_085605.jpg

The center structure fell and seperated into two pieces once in the tank :(

I didn't know until I had them in the tank how I was going to place them. The plan was never for three pilars (right, left, center) I knew that i wanted one larger structure and one smaller. I decided to make the left structure larger, by placing the small "center piece" forward and to the right of the right structure.

http://i186.photobucket.com/albums/x252/bluesdrummer24/280%20Gallon%20Build/20121112_090714.jpg

FTS with the updated scape.

http://i186.photobucket.com/albums/x252/bluesdrummer24/280%20Gallon%20Build/20121112_090648.jpg

SHot from above showing the depth of the scape.

http://i186.photobucket.com/albums/x252/bluesdrummer24/280%20Gallon%20Build/20121112_090801.jpg

I am very happy with it. Not quite to chingchai standards, but being my first attempt at anything besides a wall of rock, I like it. Despite having close to 200 pounds of rock in the display, there is ver little touching the bottom. Should make detritus removal a breeze.

ON another note, I have asked my wife for a DSLR for Christmas. For those of you still tagging along, I should have much better pictures in a few months. :D

[Newbie Aquarist]

Nice job on the scaping. Even the rescape looks good.

[SUPPOReefer]

Nice job on the scaping. Even the rescape looks good.

Thanks! Looking forward to seeing your scape. You have challenges that I didn't have to worry about with a center overflow. I am sure that you will take your time and it will turn out amazing. I think I spent around 20 hours total working on my scape. I plumbed the tank in well under half that time.

[SUPPOReefer]

Last night I conducted another leak test. Good thing too! The leaking bulkhead from before was fixed, but one of the closed loop return lines started leaking. I gues I torqued it while changing out pumps. On a positive note. Although the 100 is not any qiter than the 70rlt, the wife said that she is fine with the noise. I think she just wants me to be done with the project (and she doesn't want me to spend an additional $3k on mp60s and mp40s). :)

Headed down to Miami for the week, so no updates until after Thanksgiving. Early Happy Turkeyday to everyone.

[B1N4RY]

Aquascaping has always been a fun part of the build process in my mind. lets you get creative in your own ways. What are you going to be using for flow within the aquarium?

[SUPPOReefer]

Wavy sea return pushing 1000 gph and an Iwaki 100rlt closed loop pump pushing 3 edutors on each side.

[Newbie Aquarist]

Thanks! Looking forward to seeing your scape. You have challenges that I didn't have to worry about with a center overflow. I am sure that you will take your time and it will turn out amazing. I think I spent around 20 hours total working on my scape. I plumbed the tank in well under half that time.

20 hours? :facepalm::facepalm::facepalm: Well thanks. My aquascape just went to another level. Yes mine will be a challenge but I will have to see when its all said and done.

[SUPPOReefer]

After a few weeks away from home, I conducted another leak test before filling with salt water. I found a leak in the supply side of my closed loop. So frustrating. If I don't get it fixed tomorrow, I am leaving town and I will have to wait another two weeks to fill with salt. I guess I should just be thankful that I discovered before filling it with salt water, but it is hard to be thankful for a setback.

[B1N4RY]

After a few weeks away from home, I conducted another leak test before filling with salt water. I found a leak in the supply side of my closed loop. So frustrating. If I don't get it fixed tomorrow, I am leaving town and I will have to wait another two weeks to fill with salt. I guess I should just be thankful that I discovered before filling it with salt water, but it is hard to be thankful for a setback.

Well just think of it this way. Be glad you found it now because it would probably set you back even further if you were gone for two weeks and didn't know about the leak. That would probably set you back even further. Better to double check and do it right.

[Jonboymd]

Subscribed. Looking good.

[petere1989]

nice tank. cant wait to see updates!

[SUPPOReefer]

Well just think of it this way. Be glad you found it now because it would probably set you back even further if you were gone for two weeks and didn't know about the leak. That would probably set you back even further. Better to double check and do it right.

I know. It is just frustrating. I took my time and planned this thing for months. I had a professional plumber help and this is the second leak I have found.
I had all of the plumbing done over a month ago. My work schedule has been nuts the last month. I have only been home for a few days this month and leave for ten more days on Wednesday. If I don't get the leak fixed tomorrow, I won't be able to start the livestock transfer until after the new year. :headwallblue:

[irish52]

tagin along on this ride

[B1N4RY]

I know. It is just frustrating. I took my time and planned this thing for months. I had a professional plumber help and this is the second leak I have found.
I had all of the plumbing done over a month ago. My work schedule has been nuts the last month. I have only been home for a few days this month and leave for ten more days on Wednesday. If I don't get the leak fixed tomorrow, I won't be able to start the livestock transfer until after the new year. :headwallblue:

I know what you mean. My 10 gallon freshwater resevior tank just sprung a leak from a hairline crack. I have no clue how the crack got their and I just changed my eshopps skimmer to a super reef octopus 1000int and I am wishing I had not from issues.

[SUPPOReefer]

Well, yesterday was a day of up and downs.

The day started off fantastic. I had posted locally to trade an android tablet that I picked up for some coral. A local reefer just moved houses and is in the process of breaking down his old tank to move to the new one. He told me to bring some 5g buckets and that I would leave happy. He was right. I was smiling ear to ear on the way home.

Spent the next few hours acclimating and placing coral in the tank. And then began work on replacing the leaking bulkhead. This is where my day took a turn for the worse. If you had told me a few days ago that I would look back with disdain on a day that I recieve large beautiful colonies of coral, I would have called you a liar. It happened.

When installing the bulkhead, I only placed enough PVC into the slip (bottom side) to ensure a good seal. I did not plan for having to remove the bulkhead in the future. Because of where the bulkhead sits (right next to a corner of 2" steel frame) there was no way for me to get a PVC cutter near the bulkhead. So, I thought I would just dremel through the elbow. After running through a dozen cheap cutting disks trying to cut through the elbow and pvc and only making it a quarter though the elbow, unfortunately, I had a bright idea.

After 34 years of being alive and seeing the chaos that results from my bright ideas, for some reason, I still act on them. My bright idea ( mistake #1) was to dremel through the bulkhead since it will be much thinner than an elbow and PVC pipe. In order to dremel the plastic, I had to pull the water change tank out, lie on my back, extend my arm all of the way up, get the dremel in position and then turn my head so that I avoided getting the burning plastic/ dremel disk shrapnel that was being spewed in every direction (mistake #2).

Needless to say, I made a bloody mess. I did get through the bulkhead eventually (after only 5 cutting disks), but the bottom of the bulkhead now looked like someone had taken an acetylene torch to it. In order to ensure that I only cut through the bulkhead and avoided the PVC, I cut as close to bulkhead tensioner as possible (mistake #3). Now, I had no way to remove the tensioner. :furious:

I was able to move the tensioner down approximately 1/4" and dremel it off. But the bottom of the bulkhead looked like a plastic factory located too close to Chernobyl. What I failed to recall, until after the tensioner was removed, was that the center hole had about .05" of clearance to fit the bulkhead. There was no way to pull the bulkhead out from above. This is about 2 hours into the process for those of you still reading.

Since I couldn't tackle the problem from below, I tried to tackle it from above. Problem with this is that my two drain pipes are located in the overflow box (obviously) in close proximity to the bulkhead that I was working on. By standing on a stool and reaching my arm between the two overflows, I was able to hold the dremel and move my hand a few inches in any direction. To ensure that the dremel didn't come in contact with the glass, I cut a 2x4 and raised the bulkhead as high as it would go from the bottom (about 1/4"). It was around this point that I seriously considered starting smoking again. :smokin:

I talked myself out of the drive to the gas station for cigarettes and started to work on cutting away the top of the bulkhead. After quickly burning through the last of my cutting disks (3) removing half of the top, I resorted to installing a thin masonry bit in the dremel and essentially melting away the top of the bulkhead. The bit moved much slower than the disks, but when you factor in not having to stop every min to spend 2 minutes changing out a disk, it was probably much faster.

So at the end of the day, it took approximately 15 cutting disks, 1 2x4, four painful hours, and one sore back, but I finally got the darn thing out. I was too frustrated to put the new one in. It was right at this point that my wife got home from work and asked what I did all day. :headwally:

[SUPPOReefer]

Feeling better after a day away from the tank. My back is still too sore to work on plumbing. Here are a few pics of a few of the coral I picked up the other day. I can't wait until Santa brings me a real camera for Christmas. Taking quality pics with my camera phone is beyond me.

Red Cap and birdsnest:

http://i186.photobucket.com/albums/x252/bluesdrummer24/20121129_171341.jpg

Green Cap:
http://i186.photobucket.com/albums/x252/bluesdrummer24/20121129_171424.jpg

[Loserland]

so nice!

[SUPPOReefer]

so nice!

Thanks, loser. They make everything else in the tank look small. I had gotten used to looking at my mini colonies (2-4"). These caps dwarf everything else and make them look like little frags again. Oh well. I guess it is a good problem to have.

[SUPPOReefer]

Clean setup!

Thank you. You joined in 08 and only have a few posts? I guess I should feel honored to have you come out of hiding to comment on my tank. :dance:

[bdw3031]

Nice tank, I,m in the process of setting up a 265 gallon tank. Lot of information in your thread. Thanks keepum commin

[SUPPOReefer]

Nice tank, I,m in the process of setting up a 265 gallon tank. Lot of information in your thread. Thanks keepum commin

No real update for today. I replaced the bulkhead after getting home from work early. Going to take the wife out for a date tonight, so no more time for the tank tonight. Saltwater starts going in tomorrow.

[SUPPOReefer]

Well, the wife came home from work exhausted and said she didn't want to go out (I was a good husband and tried). Soooooo... that gave me time to conduct my last leak test. Happy to say after an hour of running, there is not a drip anywhere. :dance: :dance: :dance:

[SUPPOReefer]

Haven't updated in awhile. Started the tank cycling a week ago. While I was out of town I told the wife to change the filter sock on my 90gal every day and put the dirty sock in the new tank. I also moved around 20 pounds of established live rock from my 90 and 20 pounds of rock rubble from a ghost shrimp tank we had set up. Came home and ammonia and nitrite are reading 0 nitrate reading 2. I have to work all day tomorrow but want to detest on Tuesday. Is it possible to have a tank completely cycle in a week with only 10% established rock?

[Newbie Aquarist]

If you had no bio load, what little death you had might have done it. I would conduct an ammonia chloride test and if it disappears in 24 hours then your cycle will be complete.

[SUPPOReefer]

Tank is done cycling but I am going to wait until after Christmas to break down the 90 and my wife's 65 and move all livestock over.
On a side note, my wife decided to get me some toys for the tank (bio pellet reactor, ORP probe, carbon, filter socks) so I went and bought myself the other toys I wanted for Christmas. I can't wait to learn how to use it

http://i186.photobucket.com/albums/x252/bluesdrummer24/20121215_123722_zpsa91805ae.jpg

[littleguy210]

Nice toys!

[SUPPOReefer]

Nice toys!

Thank you

[SUPPOReefer]

Alright, I have been neglecting the thread. I have been too busy working on the tank and entertaining guests. So anyways, here comes the mother of all updates:

Closed loop:

So I played around with having two eductors on one end and three on the other to figure out which I wanted to go with:

Please ignore the filter socks, the pics were taken while I was cycling the tank
http://i186.photobucket.com/albums/x252/bluesdrummer24/280%20Gallon%20Build/018_zps9b8ed227.jpg

http://i186.photobucket.com/albums/x252/bluesdrummer24/280%20Gallon%20Build/016_zps75aadcf8.jpg


In the end, I loved the flow that three eductors provided, but, to make it easier to hide, I went with two. Still around 8,000 gph.

In order to make them blend better, I gave each return a few coats of Krylon Fusion
http://i186.photobucket.com/albums/x252/bluesdrummer24/280%20Gallon%20Build/043_zps87832483.jpg


Manifold:

In order to keep my sump as clutter free as possible, I built a manifold that goes inline with my skimmer feed to provide flow to reactors
http://i186.photobucket.com/albums/x252/bluesdrummer24/280%20Gallon%20Build/060_zps959bd98e.jpg


They are quite lengthy due to the number of adapters needed. Composed of 1" tees, 1" to 1/2" bushings, 1/2" FPT to 1/2" John Guest adapter, and finaly 1/2" John Guest to 3/8" John Guest adapter

Installed:

http://i186.photobucket.com/albums/x252/bluesdrummer24/280%20Gallon%20Build/081_zps765a36a8.jpg

Livestock move:
Since the tank has been cycled for awhile, we decided to go ahead and break down my wifes tank and move her coral and fishies over.

My wife's Zoa Island:
http://i186.photobucket.com/albums/x252/bluesdrummer24/280%20Gallon%20Build/073_zps45c7dffb.jpg

Softie Island #2
http://i186.photobucket.com/albums/x252/bluesdrummer24/280%20Gallon%20Build/072_zps9f974872.jpg

Right side:
http://i186.photobucket.com/albums/x252/bluesdrummer24/280%20Gallon%20Build/076_zps023e97ca.jpg

Left Side:
http://i186.photobucket.com/albums/x252/bluesdrummer24/280%20Gallon%20Build/077_zps437767f9.jpg

FTS:
http://i186.photobucket.com/albums/x252/bluesdrummer24/280%20Gallon%20Build/070_zpsaa99288d.jpg

[SUPPOReefer]

Pics of some of the first residents (I really like how the fish stand out against the black bottom)

http://i186.photobucket.com/albums/x252/bluesdrummer24/280%20Gallon%20Build/083_zps99a34c1b.jpg

http://i186.photobucket.com/albums/x252/bluesdrummer24/280%20Gallon%20Build/084_zps6cc0b2fc.jpg

Greatest thing about a bare bottom tank: I can see every bit of detrius/ food that needs to be siphoned.
Worst thing about a bare bottom tank: I can see every bit of detrius/ food that needs to be siphoned.

I will be moving my tank over next Saturday/Sunday I will be taking a few pieces of rock from my tank and will use those to completely cover the closed loop return.

That is it for now. Hope you enjoy.

[Newbie Aquarist]

The black bottom looks good. I did black sand in my 225 and it has the same symptoms as yours. Tanks looks good with the inhabitants.

[Osteoclast]

The tank is looking good,
Keep up the good work!

[SUPPOReefer]

The black bottom looks good. I did black sand in my 225 and it has the same symptoms as yours. Tanks looks good with the inhabitants.

I love the look of black sand. I wanted the tank to be as easy to clean as possible. That meant going barebottom and being able to see everything that needed cleaned out. Only problem is, I am extremely OCD and now I can see every flake that is on the bottom of the tank. I am worried that I will spend three hours a day siphoning the bottom. Or investing in four mp40s to go along the back wall to ensure that nothing is able to settle on the bottom of the tank. :spin1:

[SUPPOReefer]

The tank is looking good,
Keep up the good work!

Thank you very much. I am originally from right around the corner from you. Smyrna, TN.

[Newbie Aquarist]

I love the look of black sand. I wanted the tank to be as easy to clean as possible. That meant going barebottom and being able to see everything that needed cleaned out. Only problem is, I am extremely OCD and now I can see every flake that is on the bottom of the tank. I am worried that I will spend three hours a day siphoning the bottom. Or investing in four mp40s to go along the back wall to ensure that nothing is able to settle on the bottom of the tank. :spin1:

You might want to try Tunzes. More flow and least expensive.

[Osteoclast]

Smyrna is a nice area with amazing growth. Every year we cut down our Christmas tree at a tree farm near there just off 840. Love the tradition! BTW how do you like the SRO 5000?

[SUPPOReefer]

Smyrna is a nice area with amazing growth. Every year we cut down our Christmas tree at a tree farm near there just off 840. Love the tradition! BTW how do you like the SRO 5000?

I love it. I was worried that it would be too much skimmer for me since it is rated up to 700 gallons, but it produces a nice thick foam with only half of the livestock moved over.

[Newbie Aquarist]

I thought that skimmer was rated for a 500 gallon tank?

[SUPPOReefer]

You might want to try Tunzes. More flow and least expensive.

I love the Tunzes, but can not stand looking at cords in the tank. With Vortechs, I can put them on the bottom along the back wall and not have anything distracting me from the fish and coral.

[Eddie V]

What do you have on the bottom of the tank? Looks like some kind of mat.

[SUPPOReefer]

What do you have on the bottom of the tank? Looks like some kind of mat.

Black HDPE. It is the same material that they make cutting boards out of.

[SUPPOReefer]

Well after 12 hours of work, all of the coral and fish are finaly moved over ^-^

Fragged several pieces unintentionaly, but all-in-all it went pretty smoothly.
Here is a FTS. I will post more photos tomorrow.

http://i186.photobucket.com/albums/x252/bluesdrummer24/280%20Gallon%20Build/235_zps5024a96d.jpg

[SUPPOReefer]

I attempted to take some better photos of the new tank. Picked up some amazing pieces from a local reefer to help fill in some smpty spots.



FTS

http://i186.photobucket.com/albums/x252/bluesdrummer24/280%20Gallon%20Build/003_zps314d88c2.jpg



Right Structure

http://i186.photobucket.com/albums/x252/bluesdrummer24/280%20Gallon%20Build/019_zps39f6751b.jpg



Right Closeup

http://i186.photobucket.com/albums/x252/bluesdrummer24/280%20Gallon%20Build/011_zps7b7aac0a.jpg



Right closeup

http://i186.photobucket.com/albums/x252/bluesdrummer24/280%20Gallon%20Build/012_zpsb03fece9.jpg



Left Structure

http://i186.photobucket.com/albums/x252/bluesdrummer24/280%20Gallon%20Build/007_zpsf9d2f9cd.jpg

[skimeister56]

I think your rock work is really awesome. As a former bubblehead, it is amazing to me that you have done this. I am guessing you are not in base housing. Good luck.

[ScottMcN1]

Vortechs should work for what you are looking for. The way the intake is designed, there is a flat part with no screen that you could face to the sand and that would help eliminate how bad it sucks it up and stirs.

I have used mine about 8" from the sand and it works pretty good. No interior cords.

[Newbie Aquarist]

Tank looks good Suppor.

[SUPPOReefer]

I decided to do something about the rat's nest of wires under the stand.

Before:
http://i186.photobucket.com/albums/x252/bluesdrummer24/280%20Gallon%20Build/067_zps6008161e.jpg

After:
http://i186.photobucket.com/albums/x252/bluesdrummer24/280%20Gallon%20Build/077_zpse88778bc.jpg

http://i186.photobucket.com/albums/x252/bluesdrummer24/280%20Gallon%20Build/078_zps67b31997.jpg

Tomorrow I start work on the skin for the stand.

[SUPPOReefer]

Vortechs should work for what you are looking for. The way the intake is designed, there is a flat part with no screen that you could face to the sand and that would help eliminate how bad it sucks it up and stirs.

I have used mine about 8" from the sand and it works pretty good. No interior cords.

I don't have sand, so sandstorms are no issue. Just ordered a second MP-40. Should be here on Thursday. If the detritus finds somewhere else to hide, I might mount some tunzes in the corners of the tank.

[joe_himself]

Lookin good,, .. I like

[SUPPOReefer]

Today, I began construction of the stand. I would have been able to accomplish more, but I had to make three trips to Lowes and a few people stopped by to check out some some stuff I had for sale.

Since I don't have a truck, I wasn't able to move 8x4 sheets of lumber so I picked up red oak boards to create the base. I simply joined them with a Kregg jig.

http://i186.photobucket.com/albums/x252/bluesdrummer24/280%20Gallon%20Build/002_zps7351e80b.jpg

Since I have a metal stand, I thought, why not have the base attach to the stand with magnets!! I picked up some of these bad boys from ebay:

http://www.ebay.com/itm/Neodymium-Disk-Magnets-N42-1x1-4-Strong-NdFeB-Rare-Earth-Magnets-Lot-100-/230907001676?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item35c3213b4c

I really underestimated how strong these things would be. I ordered 20, and only needed 6 to attach the skin to the stand.

I used a spade bit to create a 1" recess for the magnets to fit snugly in.

http://i186.photobucket.com/albums/x252/bluesdrummer24/280%20Gallon%20Build/005_zps44159d4a.jpg

Adhered the magnets with superglue and covered them with 1" felt circles to prevent scratching the stand.

http://i186.photobucket.com/albums/x252/bluesdrummer24/280%20Gallon%20Build/012_zps90a3cfab.jpg

All 3 panels completed and adhered with magnets.

http://i186.photobucket.com/albums/x252/bluesdrummer24/280%20Gallon%20Build/009_zps435c6cb7.jpg

The three panels will remain independent. That way if I need full access to the right side of the tank, I don't have to remove the whole skin, only slide that panel off.

Tomorrow I start work on trim. Wife has already picked out the stain that she likes. I have to be back to work on Friday. Hope to have everything completed by then.

[SUPPOReefer]

Progress made before breaking for lunch

http://i186.photobucket.com/albums/x252/bluesdrummer24/280%20Gallon%20Build/003_zpse0066ab3.jpg

With crown moulding applied under the ledge

http://i186.photobucket.com/albums/x252/bluesdrummer24/280%20Gallon%20Build/012_zps67c9084b.jpg

Done for the day

http://i186.photobucket.com/albums/x252/bluesdrummer24/280%20Gallon%20Build/017_zpsb7718462.jpg

Side angle:
http://i186.photobucket.com/albums/x252/bluesdrummer24/280%20Gallon%20Build/018_zpse4303d6e.jpg

Unfortunately, I only have enough vise grips to make one door at a time. So I will be making doors for a few days and staining this weekend.

http://i186.photobucket.com/albums/x252/bluesdrummer24/280%20Gallon%20Build/010_zps43d7d5f7.jpg