A Sac-Town 225

[Poriferan]

I have decided to document my first large tank build. The internet forums have been invaluable to my success in reef keeping so I am hoping this thread will continue that trend.
The tank is a 225 gal starfire peninsula plumbed currently with closed loop. Dimensions are 72x30x24.

Sadly I will not have a place to set it up as a peninsula so at least one side will not be viewable.

My saltwater tank history starts in 1989 and has included a 55, 100, 85, 35, and 40 gal displays.
Current tanks are RSM 130D (4+yrs)and newly online 40B.

The plan is to set this up and eventually make it in wall. I hope to put a majority of the sump equipment in the garage, but that is still open.


The tank has been moved into the house but I will be changing the stand.


Where it will be placed



My ugly mug cleaning it up.

[Poriferan]

Here is some of the equipment I have collected for it so far. Most of it came with the tank purchase. It was a functioning reef when purchased.

Two 250W reflectors


A Skimmer with Bubble Blaster 5000




Calcium Reactor



RODI



Current RODI Storage

[Poriferan]

One of the sumps



The VHO's working

[Poriferan]

Last weekend I went and picked up my old acrylic 330(cracked ) and stand.

I will be switching out the stands as I put in a lot of effort restoring the old stand and it held up well to being outside under a carport for two years.

I also picked up my previously cooked live rock and homemade cured rock.





I hope to start the interior design this week.

Two 1/2 years ago

[Poriferan]

And a couple pics of the current tanks and what will be moved into the bigger tank one day

RSM 130D running 4+ years


40B newly online

[Poriferan]

During the next stages I hope I can get lots of feedback on sump layout, plumbing/flow ideas, rockscaping, etc.

I have the option to plumb this through the wall and into the garage where the 40B currently sits. My main fear is that it gets HOT in Sacramento in the summer and the garage would be adding a lot of heat to the sump water. My indoor tank is cooled entirely by the house Air and a fan. I keep the 250W MH about 8inches from the water on that one.

The tank will be run by my RKE. I just got the Net Module for it and may need some pointers on hooking it up correctly also.

I also have a 1/2HP (i think) chiller I can plumb into the system either in the garage or outside the garage if the sumps are put in the garage.

I welcome all ideas and criticism. Reading other build comments has allowed me the limited success in my reefing experience.

[Poriferan]

Any ideas or recommendations for a mat to go under the stand? I was thinking 4X9 to extend out a bit and catch any drips from arms etc.

[Poriferan]

Here is my first run at the rockwork. Right side is the overflow and returns.

Thoughts?

[maddmaxx]

arent setting up new systems great lol...looks good so far..how many vho you running? are you getting another MH?

[Poriferan]

Originally Posted by maddmaxx

arent setting up new systems great lol...looks good so far..how many vho you running? are you getting another MH?

I think most of my fun is building the thing. This is by far the largest one I have done so it is the most challenging. I thought it would be easier to take a used one and expand on it, but now I am not sure.

There are 2 VHO and the 2 MH that it came with. Once the tank is completely cycled I am moving all the livestock from the Nano. Then I will add the MH from that tank.

I am also a little worried about the drain that it came with,

I think this is two standard dursos, and I worry about not having a emergency drain.

I am thinking doing a herbie style drain might be better with a full siphon and an emergency drain. The drains are 1 1/2" will this be enough flow for the Dart pump to run full out? I think I might run the media reactors and chiller off it also if possible. Otherwise I have several iwaki pumps I could use.

[Poriferan]

These are the sumps I can use. I also have glass 55 if needed.

[maddmaxx]

are you looking to put the sump under the stand or in the basement? if under the stand use the biggest sump possible, maybe even 2 if they can fit if you wanna get daring. more water volume is always better. if your going basement, def use that black tub.. as far as pumps, depends on what you wanna run off the pump, plus how much flow you want returning into the main display..as far as the drains go. your pump shouldnt pump more then your drains can drain. incase of power outage, pump will back siphon, if no check valve, and the tank will drain to lowest point it can on the overflow box. i personally think the drains are fine. just dont put more water in the tank then it can drain..and im a fan of VHO, i run 4 of them over my 225 along with 3x250w mh

[Poriferan]

I have 2 options. Sump under the stand. At 10" water height it will hold about 40 gallons. No issues with heat, could easily be cooled with fans and a controller.



Or Sumps in the garage and deal with 90+ degree heat around the sumps in the summer and maybe 50 deg temps in the winter. But, get lots of room for sumps, frag tank, refugium, criptic, etc.
Deal with evaporation both ways.

This is the stand I restored/ beefed up. I plan to build a canopy that extends down on both sides of the tank to cover the extra 12" on each end. That will hide all the plumbing also for this peninsula tank.

[Adamc1303]

Although you have the heat issue it sounds like you can run a way bigger sump in the garage. I would go for the bigger sump. It also helps keep the mess away. Isn't your signature "must go bigger" lol.

[Poriferan]

Originally Posted by Adamc1303

Although you have the heat issue it sounds like you can run a way bigger sump in the garage. I would go for the bigger sump. It also helps keep the mess away. Isn't your signature "must go bigger" lol.

That is true... I want...



And mess in the garage make my wife happy...

[Adamc1303]

Originally Posted by Poriferan

That is true... I want...



And mess in the garage make my wife happy...

Way better in the garage less pressure on you when there's a mess too.

[Poriferan]

Wow... This was heavy and difficult, but the tank now sits on the new stand



VHO's on

[toofrigginswt]

Originally Posted by Poriferan

Great looking tank! In regards to the herbie, I would just run two straight pipes... one lower and one higher towards the top of the overflow line. That's how I have it set up right now on my tank and it's dead silent. No need for any dursos.

[Poriferan]

Originally Posted by toofrigginswt

Great looking tank! In regards to the herbie, I would just run two straight pipes... one lower and one higher towards the top of the overflow line. That's how I have it set up right now on my tank and it's dead silent. No need for any dursos.

So basically a siphon on one with the second as backup?

[Poriferan]

Plumbing is in. In an effort to keep costs as low as possible I reused some of the plumbing from the previous set up. If I decide the black valves on the manifold bother me too much I will change them out later.

Time for a leak check

[Poriferan]

Filling






Sucess.

[Stylaster]

Great start, gotta love a successful leak test!

[maddmaxx]

ut oh...once theres water, its a domino affect now lol...

[Poriferan]

Originally Posted by Stylaster

Great start, gotta love a successful leak test!

Thanks, I did have one small leak at the pump outlet. I switched from tape to plumbers putty, hopefully this will fix it.

[Poriferan]

Originally Posted by maddmaxx

ut oh...once theres water, its a domino affect now lol...

Still plenty to do...

next up will be rock placement.

I have always just put the rock on the glass but I have seen some put eggcrate under it.

Any advantage in the eggcrate?