Aquaph8's 225 Build

aquaph8 · 05/27/2011, 03:02 PM

After many years, I have finally talked my wife into letting me have a bigger tank. She doesn't like the size I chose but its what I always wanted, well, within reason of course. I have been accumulating parts for some time now and its just about ready to come all together. While Im really nervous about all my livestock, im sure it will all go smoothly. Well I hope it will. Enough of my rambling, here are the details.

The Tank: Lee Mar 60x36x24 Euro braced with black silicone, beveled edges and an external overflow. The overflow will be on the left side and will have 3 1.5" drains for a bean animal style drain. I havent decided whether to go with 1 or 2 returns. The front and right sides are starfire and the back and left sides have a black epoxy coating.

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Sump: Lee Mar 42x24x16 rimless. I will add baffles myself as I see fit during the setup of the tank.

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Skimmer: Royal Exclusive Alpha 300 ( yes im scared this skimmer is too big, I got a good deal on it and really underestimated the size but I figure since I have it, I might as well give it a shot. I would love to hear everybody's thoughts on this.

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Flow: 2- Tunze 6105's with a 7092 wave controller and maybe 2- Korralia Evo 1400's if needed.

Lighting: Sfiligoi Stealth 12 x 54watt All T5
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Stand: The stand will be 1.5" steel tubing with custom made wood face attached with magnets. The wood face is still under construction.

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Substrate: Seaflor special grade. should be about 3" deep.

Most of my corals have been LPS and zoanthids in the past but this tank will be more geared tword SPS. I'll be looking for tips and help from you SPS guys and gals along the way. Here are a few pics of my current system.

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I would like to thank a few people for helping me throughout my planning of this tank.

Mike- from my LFS Simply Elegant Aquatics (SEA)

Carlos- also from my LFS

JBanks- thanks for answering all my questions and for inspiration from your beautiful tank.

BradleyJ- for an insane ammount of inspiration from all the amazing pictures over the last few years, your wrasses always keep me interested.

Huskerreef- for all the wrasse threads. Without those, I may of lost interest in this hobby a long time ago.

Iamwrasseman-for always being eager to answer all my questions.

Davocean-for going above and beyond to help a fellow reefer.

Thanks to everyone else on this forum and others for all the great info and inspiration. There are truley some really great people in this hobby always eager to help. Please post your comments and help me out along the way. There are no hijacks in this thread, my thread is your thread.
Thanks for looking.

nuccadoc · 05/27/2011, 03:53 PM

Your current system appears healthy. Good luck with the new one!

aquaph8 · 05/27/2011, 06:05 PM

Thanks for looking Scott, hopefully I can get some water in this thing soon.

Just finished the top. No carpet surfing here.

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wsz594 · 05/27/2011, 07:07 PM

nice man

Tanque Verde · 05/27/2011, 07:25 PM

Really nice. Very clean, beautiful, and functional.

714albert · 05/27/2011, 07:53 PM

Regarding your skimmer, I love the match to your tank. I always say buy the biggest skimmer you fit and afford. I am currently running a 120 with a large ATB skimmer. The skimmer will soon enough get a hybrid match with a Bubble King pump, pushing alot more air. Over feed the livestock, skip water changes and if something dies don't worry.

itsmateo · 05/27/2011, 10:26 PM

Im diggin that tank Brett! love the size!

oscarslr · 05/28/2011, 12:23 AM

Sweet!

evo_2679 · 05/28/2011, 12:58 AM

Nice tank - can't wait to see it filled up and running!

savageAJC · 05/28/2011, 01:23 AM

Sweet Brett! That tank is too nice to be a sump!!! no way you can do that to that beautiful tank!! aagggghhh

aquaph8 · 05/28/2011, 09:50 AM

Thanks for all the nice comments everyone.

aquaph8 · 05/28/2011, 09:58 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by savageAJC

Sweet Brett! That tank is too nice to be a sump!!! no way you can do that to that beautiful tank!! aagggghhh

I thought the same thing when I picked it up. It would make a nice display tank. I had a 60 gallon but the Skimmer didn't fit in it.

Satori · 05/29/2011, 11:58 AM

Looking good! I remember when I built my stand like that, people from all over the internet told me it was too wimpy to hold a 180 and it would collapse before it finished filling with water. lol. That was back in the days of waaay over building metal stands with 4" steel tubing so close together you couldn't hardly reach in there to do anything. Good job!

aquaph8 · 05/29/2011, 12:38 PM

Thanks a lot Mike. Its funny how much more comfortable people are with wood stands than steel. I would take a steel stand over the MDF factory built stand I have now any day of the week. Im a steel worker for a living and I can honestly say that the stand I built is way overkill as far as what is needed. With that said, I still get the chills any time I think of 200 gallons of water on my floor. Overbuilding within reason is the way to go IMO. Thanks again for looking Mike, I was a big fan of your 180 and would love to see more pics of your 37 as it matures.

sillygoose · 05/31/2011, 11:37 AM

Looks great Brett. I love the dimensions of your tank. And yes - that sump is waaaay too pretty.

As for that stand that Mike built - it better not wimp out because it is at my house now lol.

Are you going to do anything special with the tank back? I'm scheming on some cool stuff that I saw in the DIY forum.

aquaph8 · 05/31/2011, 03:19 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by sillygoose

Looks great Brett. I love the dimensions of your tank. And yes - that sump is waaaay too pretty.

As for that stand that Mike built - it better not wimp out because it is at my house now lol.

Are you going to do anything special with the tank back? I'm scheming on some cool stuff that I saw in the DIY forum.

Thanks, I love all the feedback from the local scene, it means a lot. That stand Mike built is really nice, his wood working skills are great. That steel will hold a truck too. The back of the tank is a black epoxy. I'm a pretty simple Guy.

sillygoose · 06/02/2011, 10:22 AM

In the FTS of your current tank (above), what kind of coral is the large one right over the yellow tang? Is it some kind of chalice? I really like it.

aquaph8 · 06/02/2011, 05:49 PM

Its a pagoda cup. I see them at SEA once in a while but they're usually pretty small. Ive had that one probably 7 or 8 years, its really changed over the years.

trickedout900 · 06/02/2011, 06:03 PM

Your old setup looks very nice. Can't wait to see the new one.

aquaph8 · 06/02/2011, 07:54 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by trickedout900

Your old setup looks very nice. Can't wait to see the new one.

Really appreciated, please come back and chat sometime.

aquaph8 · 06/04/2011, 10:18 AM

Couple Sump Shots:

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feedback appreciated, Thanks

riseandfloat · 06/04/2011, 08:57 PM

Hey aqua, I'm loving the build so far... What is that you used to enclose the top of the tank to eliminate carpet surfers? (: I want to use that for my tank.

aquaph8 · 06/04/2011, 09:52 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by riseandfloat

Hey aqua, I'm loving the build so far... What is that you used to enclose the top of the tank to eliminate carpet surfers? (: I want to use that for my tank.

Thanks, I'm glad your liking it. The top is a DIY window screen kit with a clear 1/4" mesh used in place of the screen. Bulk reef supply caries it all up to 30". If you need bigger than that PM me for details cause I would have to look it up.

prop-frags · 06/07/2011, 12:01 AM

Tagging along Brett...

Great build thread so far. Your new tank and sump look awesome!

aquaph8 · 06/12/2011, 10:41 AM

Thanks for looking Mike, I should have some nice updates coming soon. The wood face has finally been started and Im just about to wrap up the plumbing. Its so hard being patient right now with all the great fish coming through PIA lately.

05/27/2011, 03:02 PM	#1
aquaph8 Love The Fish Join Date: Jan 2003 Location: Tucson, AZ Posts: 5,652	Aquaph8's 225 Build After many years, I have finally talked my wife into letting me have a bigger tank. She doesn't like the size I chose but its what I always wanted, well, within reason of course. I have been accumulating parts for some time now and its just about ready to come all together. While Im really nervous about all my livestock, im sure it will all go smoothly. Well I hope it will. Enough of my rambling, here are the details. The Tank: Lee Mar 60x36x24 Euro braced with black silicone, beveled edges and an external overflow. The overflow will be on the left side and will have 3 1.5" drains for a bean animal style drain. I havent decided whether to go with 1 or 2 returns. The front and right sides are starfire and the back and left sides have a black epoxy coating. [IMG][/IMG] Sump: Lee Mar 42x24x16 rimless. I will add baffles myself as I see fit during the setup of the tank. [IMG][/IMG] Skimmer: Royal Exclusive Alpha 300 ( yes im scared this skimmer is too big, I got a good deal on it and really underestimated the size but I figure since I have it, I might as well give it a shot. I would love to hear everybody's thoughts on this. [IMG][/IMG] Flow: 2- Tunze 6105's with a 7092 wave controller and maybe 2- Korralia Evo 1400's if needed. Lighting: Sfiligoi Stealth 12 x 54watt All T5 [IMG][/IMG] Stand: The stand will be 1.5" steel tubing with custom made wood face attached with magnets. The wood face is still under construction. [IMG][/IMG] Substrate: Seaflor special grade. should be about 3" deep. Most of my corals have been LPS and zoanthids in the past but this tank will be more geared tword SPS. I'll be looking for tips and help from you SPS guys and gals along the way. Here are a few pics of my current system. [IMG][/IMG] [IMG][/IMG] [IMG][/IMG] [IMG][/IMG] I would like to thank a few people for helping me throughout my planning of this tank. Mike- from my LFS Simply Elegant Aquatics (SEA) Carlos- also from my LFS JBanks- thanks for answering all my questions and for inspiration from your beautiful tank. BradleyJ- for an insane ammount of inspiration from all the amazing pictures over the last few years, your wrasses always keep me interested. Huskerreef- for all the wrasse threads. Without those, I may of lost interest in this hobby a long time ago. Iamwrasseman-for always being eager to answer all my questions. Davocean-for going above and beyond to help a fellow reefer. Thanks to everyone else on this forum and others for all the great info and inspiration. There are truley some really great people in this hobby always eager to help. Please post your comments and help me out along the way. There are no hijacks in this thread, my thread is your thread. Thanks for looking. __________________ Brett Current Tank Info: Leemar 60x36x24, 8x80 T5/LED Sfiligoi GENESIS Alpha 300 skimmer

05/27/2011, 03:53 PM	#2
nuccadoc Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2010 Location: Oklahoma Posts: 482	Your current system appears healthy. Good luck with the new one! __________________ Scott Current tank info: 34 gal Solana and a 400 gal FOWLR with 4-250 watt MH's, Aquamedic Turboflotor 5000, Korralin sulphur denitrator, 4-Koralia 7's. 120 gal LED sps reef in the works. Currently raising true Perc's.

05/27/2011, 06:05 PM	#3
aquaph8 Love The Fish Join Date: Jan 2003 Location: Tucson, AZ Posts: 5,652	Thanks for looking Scott, hopefully I can get some water in this thing soon. Just finished the top. No carpet surfing here. [IMG][/IMG] __________________ Brett Current Tank Info: Leemar 60x36x24, 8x80 T5/LED Sfiligoi GENESIS Alpha 300 skimmer

05/27/2011, 07:53 PM	#6
714albert Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: near my home Posts: 54	Regarding your skimmer, I love the match to your tank. I always say buy the biggest skimmer you fit and afford. I am currently running a 120 with a large ATB skimmer. The skimmer will soon enough get a hybrid match with a Bubble King pump, pushing alot more air. Over feed the livestock, skip water changes and if something dies don't worry. __________________ 120 mix Current Tank Info: 120 rimless, lovely softies, ATB large 1260 white skimmer

05/28/2011, 12:23 AM	#8
oscarslr Registered Member Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: Tucson, AZ Posts: 782	Sweet! __________________ Patience is bitter, but its fruit is sweet. Aristotle Current Tank Info: 225g All Starphire tank/ SPS dominated 4 mp40s ATB 1050A 8 60w T5

05/27/2011, 07:07 PM	#4
wsz594 Moved On Join Date: May 2009 Location: Tucson Posts: 212	nice man

05/27/2011, 07:25 PM	#5
Tanque Verde Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2007 Posts: 607	Really nice. Very clean, beautiful, and functional.

05/27/2011, 10:26 PM	#7
itsmateo Registered Member. Join Date: Feb 2010 Location: Tucson, AZ Posts: 415	Im diggin that tank Brett! love the size!

05/28/2011, 12:58 AM	#9
evo_2679 Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2010 Location: ****NORCAL**** RELOCATED TO TUCSON, AZ Posts: 476	Nice tank - can't wait to see it filled up and running! __________________ Current Tank Info: 26.2g Rimless / 15 g Acrylic Sump / APEX / MP10 / Radion XR30w G2 / Vertex Omega 130 / BM T-01 Doser / ATO

05/28/2011, 01:23 AM	#10
savageAJC Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: T Posts: 1,379	Sweet Brett! That tank is too nice to be a sump!!! no way you can do that to that beautiful tank!! aagggghhh

05/28/2011, 09:50 AM	#11
aquaph8 Love The Fish Join Date: Jan 2003 Location: Tucson, AZ Posts: 5,652	Thanks for all the nice comments everyone. __________________ Brett Current Tank Info: Leemar 60x36x24, 8x80 T5/LED Sfiligoi GENESIS Alpha 300 skimmer

05/29/2011, 11:58 AM	#13
Satori Cancer Sucks Join Date: May 2004 Location: Sierra Vista, AZ Posts: 3,134	Looking good! I remember when I built my stand like that, people from all over the internet told me it was too wimpy to hold a 180 and it would collapse before it finished filling with water. lol. That was back in the days of waaay over building metal stands with 4" steel tubing so close together you couldn't hardly reach in there to do anything. Good job! __________________ I'm reaching for the random or whatever will bewilder me. --Tool, Lateralus

05/29/2011, 12:38 PM	#14
aquaph8 Love The Fish Join Date: Jan 2003 Location: Tucson, AZ Posts: 5,652	Thanks a lot Mike. Its funny how much more comfortable people are with wood stands than steel. I would take a steel stand over the MDF factory built stand I have now any day of the week. Im a steel worker for a living and I can honestly say that the stand I built is way overkill as far as what is needed. With that said, I still get the chills any time I think of 200 gallons of water on my floor. Overbuilding within reason is the way to go IMO. Thanks again for looking Mike, I was a big fan of your 180 and would love to see more pics of your 37 as it matures. __________________ Brett Current Tank Info: Leemar 60x36x24, 8x80 T5/LED Sfiligoi GENESIS Alpha 300 skimmer

05/31/2011, 11:37 AM	#15
sillygoose Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: Tucson, AZ Posts: 1,092	Looks great Brett. I love the dimensions of your tank. And yes - that sump is waaaay too pretty. As for that stand that Mike built - it better not wimp out because it is at my house now lol. Are you going to do anything special with the tank back? I'm scheming on some cool stuff that I saw in the DIY forum.

06/02/2011, 10:22 AM	#17
sillygoose Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: Tucson, AZ Posts: 1,092	In the FTS of your current tank (above), what kind of coral is the large one right over the yellow tang? Is it some kind of chalice? I really like it.

06/02/2011, 05:49 PM	#18
aquaph8 Love The Fish Join Date: Jan 2003 Location: Tucson, AZ Posts: 5,652	Its a pagoda cup. I see them at SEA once in a while but they're usually pretty small. Ive had that one probably 7 or 8 years, its really changed over the years. __________________ Brett Current Tank Info: Leemar 60x36x24, 8x80 T5/LED Sfiligoi GENESIS Alpha 300 skimmer

06/02/2011, 06:03 PM	#19
trickedout900 Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2010 Location: Fort Wayne Posts: 104	Your old setup looks very nice. Can't wait to see the new one.

06/04/2011, 10:18 AM	#21
aquaph8 Love The Fish Join Date: Jan 2003 Location: Tucson, AZ Posts: 5,652	Couple Sump Shots: [IMG][/IMG] [IMG][/IMG] feedback appreciated, Thanks __________________ Brett Current Tank Info: Leemar 60x36x24, 8x80 T5/LED Sfiligoi GENESIS Alpha 300 skimmer

06/04/2011, 08:57 PM	#22
riseandfloat Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Saginaw, MI Posts: 68	Hey aqua, I'm loving the build so far... What is that you used to enclose the top of the tank to eliminate carpet surfers? (: I want to use that for my tank.

06/07/2011, 12:01 AM	#24
prop-frags SPS Slave Join Date: Aug 2003 Location: Richmond, VA Posts: 3,388	Tagging along Brett... Great build thread so far. Your new tank and sump look awesome! __________________ - Mike & Terry "Less technology, more biology ... indeed." - Gary White Current Tank Info: 200g temp garage tank

06/12/2011, 10:41 AM	#25
aquaph8 Love The Fish Join Date: Jan 2003 Location: Tucson, AZ Posts: 5,652	Thanks for looking Mike, I should have some nice updates coming soon. The wood face has finally been started and Im just about to wrap up the plumbing. Its so hard being patient right now with all the great fish coming through PIA lately. __________________ Brett Current Tank Info: Leemar 60x36x24, 8x80 T5/LED Sfiligoi GENESIS Alpha 300 skimmer

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