New house, new tank. 290 Gallon Build

[dusty16]

My family decided we were going to build our new house and of course this would mean we needed a bigger tank. Ive had fish since I was a kid but the most complicated I have ever gone is cichlids in a 30 gallon. So I am going from a freshwater 30 gallon to a 290 gallon saltwater. :biggrin:

When we designed our house we kept in mind that we would be placing a tank somewhere. After deciding to put it in our family room we went from thinking around a 100 gallon to maxing out our wall with the 290. It is on the second floor which created some structural issues that we discussed with our engineer. The solution was to make sure that the concrete foundation was directly under the walls that would be holding the tank. Other than the tank there isn't any other load between those two walls. Extra floor joists were added to handle the weight and when my builder asked how much the tank would weigh, we decided to throw in a left over beam we had just in case.

Anyways, after months of research I decided I would be buying my tank and equipment from concept. I ordered in July or August of 2014 and almost when I needed it in September. Only problem was that the eurobrace was cracked and the broken pieces scratched part of the starphire panels. Concept sent me a new tank with a replacement eurobrace that could be used to repair the old tank which was then sold to Dave (reefwithareefer).
https://i.imgur.com/mIxuTc0.jpg

[dusty16]

So the new tank arrived about a month later but due to continuing construction, there were no proper set of stairs for us to actually use to get to the second floor. This required a flatbed with a crane which then lifted the crate onto the second floor balcony.

https://i.imgur.com/yj65AFf.jpg

https://i.imgur.com/Fl9egNr.jpg

[dusty16]

Forgot to mention tank dimensions.

https://i.imgur.com/jy87vtu.jpg

Place where tank is going. On one side is the family room/kitchen and the other side is the stairs/opening for entry. (Tank is the first thing you see walking up the stairs)

https://i.imgur.com/Z90AdNf.jpg

Hole on one side for a drain.

https://i.imgur.com/qUFE0lA.jpg

[dusty16]

Tank in place

https://i.imgur.com/ygFXGnh.jpg

Some of the framing is done and water test.

https://i.imgur.com/tIcsCbO.jpg

https://i.imgur.com/X0EMnQ0.jpg

[daplatapus]

Very cool. A build from complete scratch like this is my dream. Build the house around the tank not vice versa :D
So it's going be open on two sides or three?

[reefwithareefer]

Hey...That looks like the same tank I have...:)

[dusty16]

Very cool. A build from complete scratch like this is my dream. Build the house around the tank not vice versa :D
So it's going be open on two sides or three?

It will be the 2 long sides only. Got starphire for that purpose. :biggrin:

Hey...That looks like the same tank I have...:)

I wonder why....

[miuYH]

Keep us updated! I'm dying for the next set of photos...:redface:

[dusty16]

Keep us updated! I'm dying for the next set of photos...:redface:

Ill post more tonight when I have some time. :lol:

[eli@fijireefrock.com]

that's gonna look sweet when finished,..love photos:biggrin:

[reefwithareefer]

Is all the gear have its own room too?

[dusty16]

Is all the gear have its own room too?


Unfortunately not. All equipment goes under the tank. I thought about using some space in the laundry room but I don't think the rest of the family would be pleased.

[dusty16]

Eli over at fijireefrock hooked up the rock that came with the tank.
Heres all the big pieces I got. Also have another box full of rubble.
Gave this rock a bleach bath and soaked in regular water for a couple weeks. Probably shouldnt have done that when it was below freezing outside as the water in the garbage bins froze.
https://i.imgur.com/4VXxge7.jpg

[dusty16]

I guess I should have done a full equipment list to begin with but oh well. Here's everything that I have as of right now.

Tank: 90 x 24 x 31 tall (Starphire front and back, Eurobrace)
Stand: 90 x 24 x 35 tall
Sump: 60 x 18 x 18
Powerheads: 2 x Jebao WP-60
Return Pump: Aquaeon 6000
Heaters: 2 x Jager 300 Watt
Controller: Neptune Apex Standard
Skimmer: Vertex Alpha 250
Lights: 4 x Ecotech Radio XR30W Gen 3 Pro
ATO: Tunze Osmolator Auto Top-Off
RODI: Vertex Puratex Deluxe RODI - 100GPD (might test my patience)

Have 80lbs of sand and enough rock to do some cool aquascapes.
I think this covers everything.

[dusty16]

Once drywall was installed.

https://i.imgur.com/Fev0IQL.jpg

https://i.imgur.com/Kwpr80c.jpg

On the left there is a line for freshwater as well as a pipe that runs into the laundry room. The plan for that is to mix water downstairs and then pump it up into the tank. Other than that all equipment will be underneath the tank.

Also, there are 8 wall outlets on top of the tank as well as 6 underneath which should be sufficient (2 separate breakers).

You can see a hole in the ceiling for the ceiling fan (same as the washroom fans) which is to be controlled by a humidity sensor.

https://i.imgur.com/E0jjdS3.jpg

[dusty16]

Once first coat of paint was done the custom cabinets came in.

http://i.imgur.com/ftG0jdL.jpg

[dusty16]

Didn't like the fact that the cabinets had pieces of wood coming down which would hinder my access to the tank so I had them cut those out. RODI is set up temporarily beside the tank for the first fill up. After that it goes to the laundry room.

http://i.imgur.com/uKG1ag8.jpg

Giving the tank a nice scrub down. Over months of sitting around spiders and other insects decided to die inside the tank as well as the occasional nail dropped by the one of the many workers.

http://i.imgur.com/0owb8zV.jpg

What it now looks like from the other side.

http://i.imgur.com/a08Lidv.jpg

What it looks like from the bottom (entry/front door)

https://i.imgur.com/PonhE7r.jpg


How it sits right now. Tile installers decided the best place for them to mix their cement would be right beside the tank. Grabbed some plastic and wrapped it up before they could get it dirty again.

http://i.imgur.com/HLqk9WI.jpg

[dusty16]

Currently having an issue with the amount of sound/vibration the return pump and one of my WP-60s are making. You can hear the tank throughout the entire house when its running. I was told to run the WP-60 for a little while to break in. Hopefully that solves that issue.

[Wretch]

Currently having an issue with the amount of sound/vibration the return pump and one of my WP-60s are making. You can hear the tank throughout the entire house when its running. I was told to run the WP-60 for a little while to break in. Hopefully that solves that issue.

Looks great so far. As for how loud the pump is the whole house is empty and everything will seem loud until furniture, carpet and what not are in. Give them a little break in time and see if that helps.

[mseepman]

It's looking awesome! This reminds me so much of my own build (I even did a 290 as well) and built the house around it. I like the design. You will love Starfire as long as you take care of it.

[dusty16]

Looks great so far. As for how loud the pump is the whole house is empty and everything will seem loud until furniture, carpet and what not are in. Give them a little break in time and see if that helps.

Guess Ill worry about the noise closer to when we move in.

It's looking awesome! This reminds me so much of my own build (I even did a 290 as well) and built the house around it. I like the design. You will love Starfire as long as you take care of it.

Hopefully I can get mine looking as good as yours. As for the starphire I just hope I dont end up scratching it when I put the rocks in.

[dusty16]

Got bored today so I decided to play around with my rock.

Here is what Eli had done for me when they sent me the rock
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hs4301O8p_0

Heres my attempt at something a little different. Just stacked them in whatever way they would stay in place.

http://i.imgur.com/MYhiB5H.jpg

[dusty16]

Question. Is it ok to have a lot of places for fish to hide or does that just create dead zones where debris will collect.

[jason604]

Question. Is it ok to have a lot of places for fish to hide or does that just create dead zones where debris will collect.

both! places for fishes to hide is good, but yes it does cause some dead spots. You should keep that rockscape tho its rly nice

[dusty16]

both! places for fishes to hide is good, but yes it does cause some dead spots. You should keep that rockscape tho its rly nice

Thanks. Hopefully I have the rock in the tank within the next few days. Currently cleaning a bunch of rubble that was extremely dirty.

[reefwithareefer]

Thanks. Hopefully I have the rock in the tank within the next few days. Currently cleaning a bunch of rubble that was extremely dirty.

Must be really dirty if you have not had time to post anything..:D

[dusty16]

Must be really dirty if you have not had time to post anything..:D

:lol: The rubble is clean. Been busy with final exams the past few weeks. I have spent a couple hours using Fijicrete to do up my aquascape. Still have some work left to do which will probably have to wait until after all exams. So probably another week and a half before any updates. :sad:

[Dearth]

Question. Is it ok to have a lot of places for fish to hide or does that just create dead zones where debris will collect.

I've found the more hiding spots you have the more your fish will tend to stay in the open as they aren't so busy defending limited hiding spots. Also there will be more detritus buildup in those areas but I found my CuC does a fairly good job of cleaning up those areas as well

[The Guy]

Wow very impressive set up. More pictures. :pop2:

[dusty16]

Finally got some work done. Figured I would wait a little while for all the workers to finish making their mess and the dust to settle.

https://i.imgur.com/Tl2l5zZ.jpg

Just have a few pieces of rubble that I want to use to fill in some gaps and then ill probably fill it up. May also be putting up the lighting sometime this week. Want to use a pulley system to raise and lower them. Hopefully its not to hard to figure out.

Meanwhile I have been without any fish for a while now. I was thinking about starting up my 30 gallon with some saltwater and throwing 2 clowns in there. I will probably be using that tank as a quarantine tank once I have the other up and running. I was wondering if I need to do anything special or will a heater and HOB filter be enough?

[Snappy]

Great build - tank & house. :biggrin:

[dusty16]

Ok. Back to this thread. Its been a while with no updates so here we go.

Lights are all set up. 4 x Radion Gen 3 Pros. Took a little while to figure them out but we got it. We bought a pulley system from Princess Auto and used 3 aluminium rods to create a frame to hang the lights off of. As a safety back-up we used 2 steel cables that are screwed straight into wood on top. The lowest the lights would be able to come is about 9 inches from the surface of the water.
http://i.imgur.com/kGsHMBK.jpg

This is what the finished cabinetry looks like. All the panels can be opened and taken off if needed. This would be the most viewed side as it is in the family room.
http://i.imgur.com/sze1djL.jpg

View from the other side. This is the side that is visible from the moment you walk inside the house. Still working on the water currents. Cant figure out a spot that doesnt make the sand blow away.
http://i.imgur.com/FM1K6B7.jpg

Still working on my cable management. Auto top off still needs to be set up. I didnt realize that the Tunze auto top off pump was missing from the box. I opened the box one year after purchasing it :neutral: $20 for a new pump from Tunze.
http://i.imgur.com/YL7ncxh.jpg
http://i.imgur.com/DbAKlyx.jpg

Current tank photos
http://i.imgur.com/JwBInDD.jpg
http://i.imgur.com/UU9I8BU.jpg

Current fish:
10 - Blue/Green Chromis
3 - Azure Damsel
2 - True Perc Clowns
1 - Foxface
And I had a copperband but it decided to stop eating and died a few days ago:cry:

[Slyguy00]

That looks awesome!

[dusty16]

I have this white spongy looking stuff growing in my sump. Anyone know what it is?
http://i.imgur.com/SAYxWHO.jpg
http://i.imgur.com/5cnuV4L.jpg

[GoFish]

I have this white spongy looking stuff growing in my sump. Anyone know what it is?
Usually the white spongy things I've found in the sump are white sponges :wink: ... Hard to tell from the pic but could be a pineapple sponge?!
Nice build and rock work!
Sponges + happy tank = Now go pick up some corals for that thing :pop2:

[dusty16]

Usually the white spongy things I've found in the sump are white sponges :wink: ... Hard to tell from the pic but could be a pineapple sponge?!
Nice build and rock work!
Sponges + happy tank = Now go pick up some corals for that thing :pop2:

Huh. After googling pineapple sponge that seems to be what it is. As for corals I just got a few. Mutant hammer, cali tort, green hulk acro, green birds nest, sunny d, and a couple others. Not really photo worthy just yet.:lol: