My largest aqaurium yet! 265 Gallons

[Dyspnea]

Well it has been along road to get to here! I've been into saltwater aquariums for over 10 year now, now finally I have moved into my new home and have room for a large aqaurium. (+200 gallons)

Recently my free time has been consumed by other hobbies, I never really lost interest but my time and money went more to other hobbies. It didn't help I could never seem to get ahead, I love sps corals but my aquarium seem to turn into a graveyard of sps skeletons, despite my best efforts.

Well a new tank and fresh start.

Shortly after moving into my new home a member posted a large 265 gallon, euro-braced aquarium with metal stand, sump, mixing tank, for what I felt is a great deal. So I scooped up the opportunity. I was in a pinch too, because days before after moving my old aqaurium too the new house the old aqaurium bottom pane of glass cracked, when the bulkhead caught on the stand.

The tank is 84x24x30, approxaimately 265 gallon :)! The size is perfect as it will fit down the stairs into my basement. Any larger and I would have to build the aqaurium in the basement pane by pane.

Updates will likely be slow, but I can't wait to get my fish into their new home! They have been living in plastic kiddie swimming pools for the last month :(

They include my PBT which I had for 6 years, yellow tang and tomini tang, plus my female clown fish which I've had for 10 years (my first saltwater fish). Due to my stupidity of not covering the pools to start her mate jumped out of the pool :(


My goals for this tank are mostly LPS corals. Thus far the only live stock i plan to add are a naso tang and sailfin tang :) but I'm sure they will be more to the list later!

Now some photos!

Here it is before the first of many cleanings

http://i1153.photobucket.com/albums/p504/dyspneaa/0F302063-E79B-4059-B813-5297F4EAEED8-2748-000002CA78DB94FA_zps184c08f5.jpg


The aqaurium as it sits today! It passed its water test after redoing the silicone seals, filled with water for 72hours.

http://i1153.photobucket.com/albums/p504/dyspneaa/89688196-038D-455F-ADC0-CB19F647F449-2748-000002C88FEBA6CC_zpsa23d00e0.jpg

Right now I'm working on the sump, cleaning and resealing.

http://i1153.photobucket.com/albums/p504/dyspneaa/046A80AF-6817-4AB2-8580-05409B882A32-2748-000002CBCF08433A_zpsb61c9173.jpg

And a boring photo of the mixing tank :p

http://i1153.photobucket.com/albums/p504/dyspneaa/83A5A660-B5F8-4E36-93A6-C1B0DF4F320E-2748-000002CBD3539346_zps939335e6.jpg

Now just waiting too recruit some help to move it too the basement!

Kind of a boring start but I promise it will get better, but thanks for looking!

[Madreefer]

Nice i'll be following along.

[eli@fijireefrock.com]

Full LPS system is my favorite..
Following along...build

[Seriak]

Full LPS system is my favorite..
Following along...build

+1

[duncangweller]

Definitely following this one. I hope to do the same when I move into a bigger place.

Sent from my Nexus 4 using Tapatalk

[Dyspnea]

Thanks for the interest! I'm thrilled to finally have a tank of this size!

[Parker]

I remember bringing my 265 down to the basement. To be honest it wasn't as bad as I thought it would be, four of us did it pretty easily.

I look forward to seeing it come together.

[explor3r]

Thats a nice size tank, Looking forward to see the progress:biggrin:

[pinkreef]

:couch2:

[Dyspnea]

Reached a small yet large milestone!

Here is the intended home of the aquarium! The sheet of plywood is 4x8 too get some perspective.

http://i1153.photobucket.com/albums/p504/dyspneaa/907D99A7-AC73-4D5B-A8FB-35EEB9736C5C-215-000000110CED3691_zps1ca06b55.jpg

After a nearly 2 hour struggle, removing a door, then the external overflow. And then removing handrail it finally made its way into the basement! Minus the overflow, but it maybe a good thing as I can have larger holes drilled for 1.5 inch bulkheads.

http://i1153.photobucket.com/albums/p504/dyspneaa/BCE4ACB0-A39C-4386-894A-39A49767E5F5-215-00000011150253FC_zps3f0e0ca6.jpg

It was late and I was tired after the fight, so tonight I will inspect and start the filling!

[baker_jeff]

Nice! I bought a bunch of stuff from the same guy and was envious of that tank. I had just picked up a 6' 230g or I would have grabbed it as well. Looking forward to the build!

[Dyspnea]

Well nearly 48 hours of filling done and here's were the tank stands!

http://i1153.photobucket.com/albums/p504/dyspneaa/7C0944DC-6F86-410A-9D10-AE479C0FB8E1-1055-000000F13D49CB30_zps16493677.jpg

I've added a few pieces of rock I've been cooking and added a low level of sand, I may add more when I move the rest if my rocks.

Right now I'm bringing the temperature up from a chilly 61F and continue filling!

I'm pushing getting the main tank ready as i feel sorry for my fish , not being able to swim around as much in the kiddie pools.

[SeaHorse_Fanatic]

I love a mostly LPS tank myself. Such a nice long tank for bigger tangs to swim in.:mrgreen::mrgreen::mrgreen:

[Dyspnea]

Well today I finished filling the tank (until I reattach the over flow and install the sump.)

The water has warmed up too a nice 78 degrees as well!

My three tangs, clown fish and cleaner shrimp all made it in safe and sound :) now they are exploring and stretching there fins! My PBT is doing long laps as I write this!

Once the sump is up and running I'll remove a couple pieces if rock, but otherwise the aqua scaping is done!

http://i1153.photobucket.com/albums/p504/dyspneaa/18215CAA-1002-4E1D-8954-15E9A704FFBA-2065-000001D3ADF2FD1C_zps6a93c8e4.jpg

[wickedfrags]

turn it sideways and make a peninsula!!!

[Dyspnea]

turn it sideways and make a peninsula!!!

The thought had crossed my mind, but the room wouldn't allow for it. Plus I want to be able to lounge on the couch and stare at the tank.


All my fish look very happy today, exploring and doing laps, the tangs are schooling together occasionally. And everyone is eating. :)

[asylumdown]

man I want a PBT. They're so beautiful.

Awesome thread, can't wait to see it develop!

[Dyspnea]

Well it has been quite awhile since my last update.

I was waiting for some glass holesaws to redrill larger holes in the overflow. During that time I had some major issues occur.

#1 - I had thought I left enough room too slide the sump under the stand. Well as it turns out I didn't. No big deal I the spent hours pulling the glass panes apart and scrubing, scrapping and rubbing off the old silcone.

Well I got the bottom pane of glass into the stand without a problem. The I had too slide that pane into position to begin rebuilding. Well the corner of the pane hit the stand and sent a large crack down the pane! What a costly mistake, but I bought a new pane and the sump is all together and running.

#2 - while attaching the fittings too my super dart I cracked my volute :(. The. 1.5 inch fitting felt loose yet, so I gave it a final turn...another costly mistake. But hope my new volute arrives shortly after Christmas.

Here is the overflow attached and plumbed

http://i1153.photobucket.com/albums/p504/dyspneaa/EC5B69DD-A531-4E1C-B29C-6FC5D0517227_zpssa9mifvi.jpg

But with those issues I at least have my sump running for 3 days now.

http://i1153.photobucket.com/albums/p504/dyspneaa/A641F4D8-D140-4F8A-87BD-BB0FD600B5A2_zpsxkypwz6f.jpg

My skimmer is an oldie (euro reef) but it is better than nothing. I gone through 3 pumps but it treats me well. At its low setting (wide open) the skimmer cup is filling every 12 hours.

The filter socks I'm changing every 12 hours, I'm sure thing will improve once the water quality improves. Event with the short period the sump and skimmer have been running the improvement in water clarity is very obvious.

The return pump will need an upgrade, just isn't providing the flow I would like too have.


My goals for the near future

#1- Improve water flow/circulation, see how thing play out once my dart and a higher flow return are in place. I'm considering two more mp40s right now.

#2- Skimmer upgrade, I would really like CSC skimmer, but the current model is not in production. A new model is coming but I can't wait for too long. Looking for one that is quiet and rated around 300-400 gallons.

#3 bring my reactors and kalk miker online. Not sure if I will try bio pellets again it just run carbon and gfo.

#4 stocking, I've been really tempted too add some new fish. However I've had to restrain myself.


My phone is dieing so I'll update my post later...

To be continued

[Dyspnea]

Now too pick up where I left off.

#4 Stocking, I'm holding off until I can get a better skimmer and my water quality continues to improve. It has being very tempting seeing some of my dream fish in stores lately, but part of my motivation is to establish a qt tank as well.


But here is a photo as the tank sits tonight.

http://i1153.photobucket.com/albums/p504/dyspneaa/D4097BD4-F3FC-43A2-ABF6-D19649D934E7_zps7dmvjiij.jpg

Thanks for looking :)