View Full Version : Will's 240 Reef Build
duryeah
02/18/2013, 08:17 PM
Hey guys, I am going to be putting a new tank into my home very soon. Currently at home I have a 55 gallon fresh water tank, and a 28 gallon JBJ nanocube reef, both will be removed. I also have a 75 gallon Cube Reef that I keep at my workplace as well.
I have decided to order from Charlie and Tank Factory. Read a lot of good things about him, quotes I got from him so far seem reasonable. I am going to do a 240 gallon tank, measuring 96x24x24. I want 3 sided star fire. It will be a lee-mar tank, with a lee-mar stand. Eurobraced.
First question for you guys: do I need two over flows in this tank? How many return nozzles. The 75 gallon I have is the biggest tank I have done yet, it has one overflow and two returns. I have not decided if the tank will be placed to the far left, as the crutches outline now, or if it will be centered on the wall. Fiance and I will have to argue about that. Here is where it will go, the outside line of the crutches represent the outside of the tank if it were to be flush with the wall on the left. There is going to be 4 inches of clearance behind the tank.
(I just hand my ACL replaced and meniscus repaired last week, thus the crutches).
Last question for now: What size sump should I do? I am thinking the bigger the better. Where should I get it? I have read Advance Acryllic does good work. While I do like DIY, I do not enjoy using silicon, so I do not want to make my own sump. The tank is going to be new, willing to buy a used sump if I find one that works. I intend on making this a pic heavy thread, as I need some help from you guys.
Thank you in advance for any feedback you can provide, Will
TripsterAK
02/18/2013, 08:22 PM
Someone Please correct me if im wrong. Overflows would be determined but the amount of flow you have from the pump in your sump to your display. Its appears most people do 2 overflows or 1 large one. I have 2 on my 180 and they are more then I need but I like it that way. That is going to be a very nice sized tank, I like the dimensions.
saltysailor2329
02/18/2013, 08:39 PM
My 200g DD has two 1" returns via two corner overflows. I don't have it up and running yet but I will be using a dart hybrid throttled back and running my reactors off the return as well. Good luck with the build.
duryeah
02/18/2013, 08:39 PM
I was thinking of doing two ehiem 1262 pumps for the return. I have one in my 75 gallon and it works great. They are rated at 900gph each, so 1800 gph give or take?
duryeah
02/18/2013, 08:45 PM
Oops here is the photo I mentioned showing the basic placement of tank. Sorry for crappy iphone pic. Will get better camera soon.
http://i116.photobucket.com/albums/o19/duryeah/240%20Reef%20Tank/IMG_7487.jpeg
TripsterAK
02/18/2013, 08:46 PM
Im running a Mag12 on my 180 which is rated at 1200GPH. I dont have it turned up all the way. im probably at 625gph with headloss and with it turned down. YOu dont want your water to go through so fast that nothing settles in your sump.
duryeah
02/18/2013, 08:49 PM
Good advice Tripster, how big of a sump do you run on your tank?
Sethjamto
02/18/2013, 08:54 PM
You could use your 55g as a sump. I know you don't want to mess with silicone, but you already have the tank so it'll save some money towards something else. If not, trade off the 55 and 28 for a nice pre made sump.
Just a thought!
My wife and I want to upgrade to a 240 too, so I'll be following along with your build. What are you thinking for lighting?
duryeah
02/18/2013, 09:08 PM
I would rather just get a new sump, so I will sell the two tanks for money for that. I am thinking of doing 4 radians. I have two over my 75 gallon, looks good and getting good growth.
duryeah
02/18/2013, 09:09 PM
Here is a quick pic of the 75 gallon tank I have at work. I will have to take a FTS tomorrow as I dont seem to have one. It has been set up for a year now, and already moved once.
http://i116.photobucket.com/albums/o19/duryeah/75%20Gallon%20Cube/IMG_1176.jpeg
TripsterAK
02/18/2013, 09:11 PM
Good advice Tripster, how big of a sump do you run on your tank?
75G Sump.
Your 75 is fantastic!
duryeah
02/18/2013, 09:14 PM
thanks! I will put up some more pics of it tomorrow. Has been a lot of work, and trial and error. Ok So I need at least that big of a sump...
TripsterAK
02/18/2013, 09:20 PM
thanks! I will put up some more pics of it tomorrow. Has been a lot of work, and trial and error. Ok So I need at least that big of a sump...
Take a look at my build thread (Posted in my Sig) I think the 75 is a bit large for it but its more water volume so I dont mind it and i built my stand large enough to accommodate it. I was going to use a 40G but i had the 75G laying around.
matt888
02/18/2013, 09:30 PM
Go with a 75 gallon sump! It will give you alot of flexibility with the size and plenty of margin for water capacity during a power outage or when you turn the pump(s) off. I will post my sump pic the next day or so in my build thread...
duryeah
02/19/2013, 12:03 AM
75 gallon sump sounds like is the ticket.
I am thinking of doing 3 radions over this tank (I already have 2). Do you think this is enough? Again dimensions are 96x24x24
duryeah
02/19/2013, 03:09 AM
Correction, I have 2 eheim 1260 pumps. They are rated as follows:
635 max GPH each, for a total possible max of 1270 GPH. Is this going to be enough? I am thinking about doing 1 40 vortech and 1 60 vortech as well.
Hendrix99
02/19/2013, 02:03 PM
Wow that is the exact tank that I was looking to get, do you mind me asking what they are quoting you? I got a quote for just a tank for $3,600 locally and about $1,000 less with stand and canopy via GC but am afriad of the quality. I'll definitely be following along so good luck! As for the vortechs, I was thinking 3 MP40's (one on each end and one on the back) had you considered that as an option? I also have 2 radions but am probably guessing that the 8 foot tank would need 4 to have an even spread.
duryeah
02/19/2013, 02:16 PM
I have not gotten the quote for this tank just yet. Hoping to get it today and will let you know. I thought about the 3 MP40s, but you are paying for a little more for a little less total flow versus getting 1 mp40 and 1 mp60. still debating that in my head. What makes you think that would be a better route to go Hendrix? Just curious. Yeah I am thinking that four is probably what I need to end up going with. Whew that is a lot of money. ;/
Hendrix99
02/19/2013, 03:48 PM
Thanks on the quote and in regards to the 3 MP40's I think it would create better flow coverage (less dead spots) then just having 2 pumps on either end plus create more unique flow patterns (like a gyre effect). I believe I did see some people complain that the pump on the back moved too much sand around but I figure if you placed it higher you could get away with it. One other point is that unless they changed something the pairing of an MP60 with the MP40 would cause them to operate at the same speed, so say you wanted to ramp the MP60 to 50% the 40 would also be at 50%. I guess you could leave them unpaired to get around this.
duryeah
02/19/2013, 04:37 PM
No worries, haven't heard back yet. I thought that I had read they could be operated in sync mode, where they are at the same power and anti-sync mode, which is where they are operated at different power levels. Can anyone else confirm or deny that?
rpjaws74
02/19/2013, 10:37 PM
nice tank...
duryeah
02/20/2013, 09:59 PM
OK, so quote for tank:
96x24x24 leemar, 3 side star fire, 2 overflows with 3 holes each, eurobraced, diamond polished all around, black back- $1850
Birch Stand- 950
12 inch birch canopy- 545
delivery to house- 175
4-5 weeks until delivery. Just waiting on an invoice so I can put down the deposit!
duryeah
02/20/2013, 10:01 PM
I am still not sure if I need 1 or 2 overflows on this tank with the 2 planned return pumps. Charlie originally quoted tank with just 1, and the price was lower by 125. Do any of you have any recommendations? Flow wise, etc. I want there to be a good amount of flow in the tank and through the sump, but I do not want it to be ridiculously noisy either.
Andy305
02/22/2013, 07:37 PM
Great build....tagging along
duryeah
02/24/2013, 07:39 AM
Could not help myself, getting new quote for a 300 gallon instead- 96x30x24... Once I get the quote and make up my mind, I will be ordering the tank and stand. Next up is finding a sump... Thinking of going custom.
duryeah
02/25/2013, 08:47 AM
Ok got the quote for the bigger dimensions.
The tank price is up to 1975
Stand is now 1050
Canopy is now 715
(Canopy is 12 inches high, and has flush doors, instead of flip open. This is apparently more expensive route to go, but its what I want)
delivery to my house is 175
Grand total is 3915 (I am not sure how taxes work with this, so could be more.)
Waiting on final invoice which should be today, and order will be placed! 4-5 weeks until I have it in hand! Now I have to start planning out all of the pieces....
duryeah
02/25/2013, 08:48 AM
Also, yesterday I saw a tank of these exact dimensions with one overflow, and was running great. So I decided to go with one center overflow instead of two.
tigershark4
02/25/2013, 04:05 PM
Are the overflows internal or external? Two internal would break the tank up causing dead spots in tank. External is great because you don't loose volume and looks better. I had a 180 started with two mp40 then had a chance to play with a mp60. I sold my mp40s. YOu will be better off with atleast 2 if not 3 mp60.
I maintain a 360 and we have two darts on closed loop 1 mp60 and 2 Tunze plus one pump from Germany. It always takes more flow in these larger tanks. By th way the tank is 96 x 36 x 26. Hope this helps
Hendrix99
02/26/2013, 11:07 AM
Thanks for posting the quotes, those look a lot more favorable than what I have found and the price isnt that much more for the 300 gallon! What size drains and how many holes were you getting done with the single overflow? were you putting them all in the bottom of the tank?
Hendrix99
02/26/2013, 11:10 AM
Also forgot to ask, how high of a stand are you going with? I was thinking of 32 inches but was debating if that would be enough space to work with. I also noticed you have a single outlet on the wall were you are putting the tank, are you getting another one added to handle the power load? Reason I ask is I have the same set-up, just a single outlet and was probably going to get another put in.
duryeah
02/27/2013, 03:46 PM
Ok, when he sent me the invoice it was actually for less due to dropping to one overflow. He gave me a discount. Total price with delivery is $3790.00.
There will be three holes in the overflow. I have no idea what sizes to go with. Recommendations?
As far as flow goes, I am thinking of doing the 4 way oceans motions now. The tank I saw the other day had it on the tank, and one MP60. Flow was great, and all of the corals were flourishing. I may copy this exact approach. The Ocean Motion is 500 and the little giant pump I need is about 275.
The stand I am getting is 31 inches high. There is an outlet you cannot see on the wall with the windows on it, so I will have two outlets easily accessible.
prop-frags
02/28/2013, 06:29 AM
Assuming you are wanting an internal overflow. I recommend a single, center-back-mounted overflow. Make it wide enough to get four holes. You can then have a herbie (full siphon submerged) drain, an open channel durso (emergency) drain, and two returns. Or, if you only want one return, you could add a second herbie or durso. The thing you want is plenty of surface skimming (linear) overflow length. The more the better - that's why many people like the Calfo coast-to-coast overflow design.
duryeah
03/01/2013, 06:00 PM
I like the idea of four holes. Do you know what sizes these should be? They are asking me. Also I checked out your build thread Mike, so amazing. I hope I can achieve your status someday.
Hendrix99
03/07/2013, 11:32 AM
Do you know if your supplier delivers all the way to Florida or are they only local to CA? I cannot find a custom builder over here that is cheaper than $3,400 just for the tank let alone the stand and canopy ($6k+!). I figured even if I had to pay $500+ for shipping I'd be way up.
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