300G INWALL DISPLAY

[monza]

I'm back. Took five years off and here we go on a build.

300G 81 X 30 X 32 It will have a side wall weir overflow
200G (ish) sump
Deltec AP1003 skimmer
Deltec Calcium reactor
Deltec Phosphate reactor
Apex controller
OM 4 Way closed loop
Dedicated fish room with it's own HRV unit
QT Tanks 2X 20G
Ozone w/ air dryer
Thinking I'll join the GHL club

Tank is ordered from Concept Aquatics they have been great to deal with and from what I've seen build super nice tanks!

Fish room needed some drains and water lines. (looking in from display wall)

http://i232.photobucket.com/albums/ee155/FUEL69DB/Newly%20tanked/6b0b49c5-76c4-44f2-b40a-57d051ee0a05_zps59fc3ef4.jpg (http://s232.photobucket.com/user/FUEL69DB/media/Newly%20tanked/6b0b49c5-76c4-44f2-b40a-57d051ee0a05_zps59fc3ef4.jpg.html)

Looking out from fish room.

http://i232.photobucket.com/albums/ee155/FUEL69DB/Newly%20tanked/IMG_1093_2_zps1d722121.jpg (http://s232.photobucket.com/user/FUEL69DB/media/Newly%20tanked/IMG_1093_2_zps1d722121.jpg.html)

Tiled the floor, tiling the display wall inside fish room.

http://i232.photobucket.com/albums/ee155/FUEL69DB/Newly%20tanked/photo-6_zpsbf1de57b.jpg (http://s232.photobucket.com/user/FUEL69DB/media/Newly%20tanked/photo-6_zpsbf1de57b.jpg.html)

Looking in.

http://i232.photobucket.com/albums/ee155/FUEL69DB/Newly%20tanked/photo-6_zpsb0b060e4.jpg (http://s232.photobucket.com/user/FUEL69DB/media/Newly%20tanked/photo-6_zpsb0b060e4.jpg.html)

All tiled up (still needs grout in pic but it's done)

http://i232.photobucket.com/albums/ee155/FUEL69DB/photo-6_zps66887860.jpg (http://s232.photobucket.com/user/FUEL69DB/media/photo-6_zps66887860.jpg.html)

Finished vapour barriering (is that a word) the room, added a plywood ceiling, painted it all fish lab white.
Bought some rock 170lbs, super nice basketball sized pieces. Cleaned all the dead junk out.

http://i232.photobucket.com/albums/ee155/FUEL69DB/photo-6_zpsc3b73afe.jpg (http://s232.photobucket.com/user/FUEL69DB/media/photo-6_zpsc3b73afe.jpg.html)



http://i232.photobucket.com/albums/ee155/FUEL69DB/photo-1-1_zpsb4bda6de.jpg (http://s232.photobucket.com/user/FUEL69DB/media/photo-1-1_zpsb4bda6de.jpg.html)

http://i232.photobucket.com/albums/ee155/FUEL69DB/photo-2-1_zpsca68ce24.jpg (http://s232.photobucket.com/user/FUEL69DB/media/photo-2-1_zpsca68ce24.jpg.html)

Rock curing, it was good to turn on my monster skimmer after it had five years off!

http://i232.photobucket.com/albums/ee155/FUEL69DB/photo-3-1_zpsf9f0b106.jpg (http://s232.photobucket.com/user/FUEL69DB/media/photo-3-1_zpsf9f0b106.jpg.html)


Now I wait for the tank, should be next week. I've had a 200G 'temporary' tank set up for five years, with one purple tang, and some damsel... ridiculous! With that cycled water though and pre curing my live rock I expect to be up and running soonish.
Also waiting for the new Waveline DC controllable pumps. They'll control my flow through the sump and also my closed loop.

[monza]

I'll also be having a yard sale of equipment soon T-5's, 400MH, 250MH, Tunze Wave maker, maybe a skimmer or two, etc etc

[monza]

and I thought I'd make this post to make it a even 500! Someone buy me a frag or something...

[BlueTang<3]

Looks Good you will be happy with your tank from concept they just built my tank and did a awesome job.

[denny_CC]

haha i was wondering when id see this hehehe:P

looking stellar buddy def a prodessional job done and lots of thought.

ill be subscribing to this build for sure:)


so what type of tank are you shooting for , sps?


cheers

denny

[monza]

Mostly SPS and then less LPS and a few other thing with a lighter fish load then most would put in a 300G. I'm going for simple, yet approaching every thing with a 'best practises' style meaning, strict QT's and trying to think out the best way to accomplish things with out to much work. If that makes any sense? I say light fish load now, ha, only time will tell.

[mseepman]

well I'm subscribed...always love a build with a fish room.

[Delphinus]

Light fish load huh? Hmmm from what I recall of your previous tank, good luck with that. :p

Nice to have you back at it :)

[Bblinks]

Always good to see another large tank build. Count me in.

[monza]

Looks awesome. But how did you hang your skimmer upside down off the ceiling like that?

I used fish sperm.
But seriously the pics didn't look like that after I posted them. What's up with that?

[monza]

I used fish sperm.
But seriously the pics didn't look like that after I posted them. What's up with that?

Now the pics are no longer upside down, better get a towel out for the skimmer?



Light fish load huh? Hmmm from what I recall of your previous tank, good luck with that. :p

Nice to have you back at it :)

Thanks! I better stop looking at fish. I'd swear in five reef less years off I've noticed that there seems to be better coral and fish available? Anyone agree with that or is it because I just wasn't looking for five years?



haha i was wondering when id see this hehehe:P

cheers

denny

It was all a master plan to put some pressure on you get get the tank done!! ha ha

[Delphinus]

Yeah, things really started to take off in the last 5 years for availability and selection and stuff. It's definitely better nowadays that way.

[denny_CC]

Yeah, things really started to take off in the last 5 years for availability and selection and stuff. It's definitely better nowadays that way.


i agree with tony theres def a better selection with good prices now adays plus alot of the corals and fish are easier to keep now then it was 5 yrs ago, theres also some stuff harder to get now then it was 5 yrs ago because of quotas and regulations but the hobby has came along way:)

glad to see you in it i cant wait to see some coral in this thing:P

[lastlight]

looks awesome so far. that's one spiffy fishroom with the tiled wall i like! not too often you see the big old deltecs... that's oldschool bling.

[monza]

looks awesome so far. that's one spiffy fishroom with the tiled wall i like! not too often you see the big old deltecs... that's oldschool bling.

LOL your 100% right, funny stuff right there!

[monza]

Some progress:

The stand, it was looking so good I let it play in my backyard for a bit-

http://i232.photobucket.com/albums/ee155/FUEL69DB/photo-6_zpsf99f3046.jpg (http://s232.photobucket.com/user/FUEL69DB/media/photo-6_zpsf99f3046.jpg.html)

Concept came out and built the tank on site, these guys are pros and do really nice work!
They also did the stand and it is bomb proof and was super inexpensive. From left to right we have Mr. Small, Mr. Medium Jr. and Mr. ExtraLG (Gary Stephen? and Dave)

http://i232.photobucket.com/albums/ee155/FUEL69DB/photo-6_zps4ef273f3.jpg (http://s232.photobucket.com/user/FUEL69DB/media/photo-6_zps4ef273f3.jpg.html)

Silicone dry's for a few days and then they'll be back for overflow box and euro bracing.
I have boxes of toys and parts showing up at my house pretty regular right now, it's game on!

http://i232.photobucket.com/albums/ee155/FUEL69DB/photo-6_zps4daad8d2.jpg (http://s232.photobucket.com/user/FUEL69DB/media/photo-6_zps4daad8d2.jpg.html)

[mseepman]

I'm subscribed! Looking awesome so far!

[zhasan]

Looks like another masterpiece in progress! Waiting to see how it unfolds!! :smile:

[monza]

zhasan mseepman
Thanks guys, it's getting pretty fun right now.

[monkE]

oh ya i'm hooked! would love to have an in wall tank at some point. Keep those detailed updates coming, great work on the fish room!

[monza]

oh ya i'm hooked! would love to have an in wall tank at some point. Keep those detailed updates coming, great work on the fish room!
Thanks.


Tank is build, build in a few stages 1 tank, 2 euro brace and 3 exterior overflow box.
It looks great! I'll try and get some proper pics up but it's hard to photograph as it's a relatively big object in a small room.

[lpsreefer]

http://i232.photobucket.com/albums/ee155/FUEL69DB/photo-6_zps4ef273f3.jpg (http://s232.photobucket.com/user/FUEL69DB/media/photo-6_zps4ef273f3.jpg.html)
i thought only painters wore white when working?

nice build cant wait to see more

[asylumdown]

This build makes me wish it was 6 months from now so I could read more of it in one sitting!

[monza]

This build makes me wish it was 6 months from now so I could read more of it in one sitting!

I'll try and speed things up for you! Actually I hope to get a ton done really quick, so stay tuned.

[monza]

Oh wow I'm slow…

Relaxed hard off the tank build in the summer, then that stretched into recently. Still no fish or anything but I've made progress and water tested tank and sump. I'll post updates soon.

[monza]

Everyone needs this shot:
http://i232.photobucket.com/albums/ee155/FUEL69DB/Newly%20tanked/image_zps202f93ae.jpeg (http://s232.photobucket.com/user/FUEL69DB/media/Newly%20tanked/image_zps202f93ae.jpeg.html)

Getting on some plumping

http://i232.photobucket.com/albums/ee155/FUEL69DB/Newly%20tanked/imagecopy12_zps752337fd.jpeg (http://s232.photobucket.com/user/FUEL69DB/media/Newly%20tanked/imagecopy12_zps752337fd.jpeg.html)

Waveline 12000 hooked up to OceanMotion

http://i232.photobucket.com/albums/ee155/FUEL69DB/Newly%20tanked/imagecopy3_zpse3e4adbc.jpeg (http://s232.photobucket.com/user/FUEL69DB/media/Newly%20tanked/imagecopy3_zpse3e4adbc.jpeg.html)

http://i232.photobucket.com/albums/ee155/FUEL69DB/Newly%20tanked/imagecopy13_zpsd8012269.jpeg (http://s232.photobucket.com/user/FUEL69DB/media/Newly%20tanked/imagecopy13_zpsd8012269.jpeg.html)

http://i232.photobucket.com/albums/ee155/FUEL69DB/Newly%20tanked/imagecopy3_zpse3e4adbc.jpeg (http://s232.photobucket.com/user/FUEL69DB/media/Newly%20tanked/imagecopy3_zpse3e4adbc.jpeg.html)

Painted the back

http://i232.photobucket.com/albums/ee155/FUEL69DB/Newly%20tanked/imagecopy14_zpsc1e41a00.jpeg (http://s232.photobucket.com/user/FUEL69DB/media/Newly%20tanked/imagecopy14_zpsc1e41a00.jpeg.html)

Water testing

http://i232.photobucket.com/albums/ee155/FUEL69DB/Newly%20tanked/imagecopy9_zpsea85ba56.jpeg (http://s232.photobucket.com/user/FUEL69DB/media/Newly%20tanked/imagecopy9_zpsea85ba56.jpeg.html)

It's holding water!

http://i232.photobucket.com/albums/ee155/FUEL69DB/Newly%20tanked/imagecopy11_zps3c4159ee.jpeg (http://s232.photobucket.com/user/FUEL69DB/media/Newly%20tanked/imagecopy11_zps3c4159ee.jpeg.html)

[asylumdown]

looking great! If I could do it all again I'd definitely do a closed loop.

[monza]

From the front
http://i232.photobucket.com/albums/ee155/FUEL69DB/imagecopy15_zpsabbd7359.jpeg (http://s232.photobucket.com/user/FUEL69DB/media/imagecopy15_zpsabbd7359.jpeg.html)

I've had the fresh water in there I guess two weeks with every thing running while I work on other stuff. No leaks!!

Hooking up salt water mixing station so I can get some water made. 60G salt water and 120G fresh water containers:

http://i232.photobucket.com/albums/ee155/FUEL69DB/Newly%20tanked/imagecopy6_zpsa82bfa7d.jpeg (http://s232.photobucket.com/user/FUEL69DB/media/Newly%20tanked/imagecopy6_zpsa82bfa7d.jpeg.html)


http://i232.photobucket.com/albums/ee155/FUEL69DB/Newly%20tanked/imagecopy2_zps058334c6.jpeg (http://s232.photobucket.com/user/FUEL69DB/media/Newly%20tanked/imagecopy2_zps058334c6.jpeg.html)

http://i232.photobucket.com/albums/ee155/FUEL69DB/Newly%20tanked/imagecopy6_zpsa82bfa7d.jpeg (http://s232.photobucket.com/user/FUEL69DB/media/Newly%20tanked/imagecopy6_zpsa82bfa7d.jpeg.html)

The bench above the 200G sump (build by Concepts, thanks!) is for skimmer, reactors etc. and all the electrical will go along the wall above and behind. Excuse the mess- work in progress.
Sorry for the lack of explanations on photos. If anyone has any questions or concerns with what they see please let me know.

Lights and other equipment next and dialling in the Apex to control it all. I'm impressed with the DC pumps so far.

Thanks for looking.

[Delphinus]

Looking great Dave! Nice work so far...

[monza]

looking great! If I could do it all again I'd definitely do a closed loop.

Thanks. Closed loops have always worked for me. I'm also a bit of a freak about not drilling the lower portions of the tank as you can see. Just my personal preference.

[monza]

Looking great Dave! Nice work so far...

Thanks Tony!

[straightrazorguy]

This is great; I'm getting the popcorn.

Sorry for the dumb question: I understand the closed circuit system with the Ocean Motions, but I don't see where the tank is connected to the sump and skimmer...

[monza]

Nope not a dumb question, it's hard to tell and kinda not so normal.

Flow out to the sump is from the 15" weir, on the left of tank (facing tank viewing)

http://i232.photobucket.com/albums/ee155/FUEL69DB/Newly%20tanked/image_zpsb4e91e07.jpeg (http://s232.photobucket.com/user/FUEL69DB/media/Newly%20tanked/image_zpsb4e91e07.jpeg.html)

and you can sort of see whats going on here from a earlier picture.

http://i232.photobucket.com/albums/ee155/FUEL69DB/Newly%20tanked/imagecopy6_zps9d70d721.jpeg (http://s232.photobucket.com/user/FUEL69DB/media/Newly%20tanked/imagecopy6_zps9d70d721.jpeg.html)

[monza]

You might need a lot of popcorn and or starve like the last guy who waited in picture above if your expecting me to keep a steady stream of updates… I kinda wander off from things.

[straightrazorguy]

I can live on popcorn for a while...

And the return line (Sump to DT)?

[monza]

http://i232.photobucket.com/albums/ee155/FUEL69DB/imagecopy15_zpsabbd7359.jpeg (http://s232.photobucket.com/user/FUEL69DB/media/imagecopy15_zpsabbd7359.jpeg.html)

On the back wall are the closed loop feed/outtakes with the big strainers, they T into one.
The OM feeds the two rear inlets on the same cycle and the front two on the other cycle creating a spin action in the water, in theory. The sump return is up high on the right wall shooting across to the weir. It's plumped under bench, under tank and then up.

[monza]

I can live on popcorn for a while...

And the return line (Sump to DT)?

Hot air I hope?

[straightrazorguy]

Hot air I hope?

Yes, people say I'm full of it...

Cool, so the sump return pump is different from the pump under the DT feeding directly into the OM.

[straightrazorguy]

looking great! If I could do it all again I'd definitely do a closed loop.

Another dumb question: why is "closed loop" better than the traditional return pump from the sump system?

[monza]

Correct two pumps, look back a few to mixing station pictures, you'll see the sump with a PVC line going straight up to the bench, thats a Waveline 12000.

Your closed loop would not be used for sump return, it wouldn't be a closed loop then. A closed loop is generally for flow and circulation in your tank with out having to add power heads or vortex style pumps to your DT. A CLS has no chance of back siphoning, and allows use of a low pressure-High Flow pump to provide increased flow and less power usage.

[asylumdown]

Are you going to arrange your rock work in a specific way to encourage a reversible gyre to form?

[asylumdown]

Another dumb question: why is "closed loop" better than the traditional return pump from the sump system?

The other benefit that I *think* (I've never set one up before) they have is that powerheads like vortech's, tunze's, jaebo's etc. draw water in from all around the sides, then push it forward. On my tank, where my vortech's are sandwiched between an overflow and the glass this causes a wicked undercurrent where the water on the sand bed moves very rapidly in the opposite direction that the vortech's push. If you're trying to create a horizontal gyre where all the water moves either clockwise or counter-clockwise, you'll always be fighting the fact that water a few inches below and above the direction your powerhead pushes is going to be pulled in the opposite direction that you want the water in your tank to be moving.

With a closed loop, you'll still get some of back current as the water leaves the nozzle, but since the water being ejected from the nozzle is being siphoned from somewhere else, I think it would be way less severe of an effect.

Plus, you can hide the closed loop piping in rock work and it doesn't require you to have ugly powerhead glass acne that spends most of it's life in desperate need of cleaning.

[straightrazorguy]

Your closed loop would not be used for sump return, it wouldn't be a closed loop then. A closed loop is generally for flow and circulation in your tank with out having to add power heads or vortex style pumps to your DT. A CLS has no chance of back siphoning, and allows use of a low pressure-High Flow pump to provide increased flow and less power usage.

Got it; thanks. Learn something new every day...

[monza]

Are you going to arrange your rock work in a specific way to encourage a reversible gyre to form?

Interesting, now scratching my head on the reversible gyre idea. Currently both the front and back inlets create the same circular motion at opposite times and not reversed. My theory with the positioning of them is that they would lift the detritus 'up' into the water column and then the sump return would blast along the top to help push over the weir. As much as we can direct the flow in our glass boxes when we add rock work it messes with the mojo. I have a plan to position my rock work to aid in flow and get detritus out as much as possible. I can see reversible gyre would create a more chaotic flow (good thing) and hit more dead spots where waste could build up.

[monza]

I've never really gone out of my way to ever hide much of my plumping. Maybe I'm just lazy but at the same time it's a aquarium and it's going to have plumping. I'm all for some of the inventive ways people hide it but in my world it seems like a lot of work and a maintenance issue. I'm a simple guy.

[asylumdown]

Interesting, now scratching my head on the reversible gyre idea. Currently both the front and back inlets create the same circular motion at opposite times and not reversed. My theory with the positioning of them is that they would lift the detritus 'up' into the water column and then the sump return would blast along the top to help push over the weir. As much as we can direct the flow in our glass boxes when we add rock work it messes with the mojo. I have a plan to position my rock work to aid in flow and get detritus out as much as possible. I can see reversible gyre would create a more chaotic flow (good thing) and hit more dead spots where waste could build up.

Do you mean the 'gyre' will always flow in the same direction? I've got that problem sort of by accident in my tank because of poor overflow/rockwork placement and it's causing some weird growth patterns on my corals, a bunch of them look like they've been windswept. If you were to have the the front left and back right outlet going, then switch it up to the front right and back left, you should theoretically get a circular gyre that runs counter clockwise for a while, then reverses and flows clockwise for a while. Would come close to approximating a reversing tide. On my next tank I'm going to try for that.

But you're right, rock work makes everything weird. For it to work "perfectly" you'd need like a really tall tower right in the middle for the water to rotate around or something, which might not be to your taste aesthetically. You might be able to fudge it and get something close.

This article has some really cool thoughts on the idea. I only mentioned it because you're plumbing set up and tank shape (no internal overflows to mess things up) would be perfect for it:
http://www.advancedaquarist.com/2007/1/aafeature

[monza]

There will always be some chaotic flow in mine with the turning off and on and the sump return in the mix. My gyre does not flow clockwise or counter clock wise, it flows like a front loading washing machine.

[The Grizz]

Wow nice another 300 gal build, glad to see I'm not the only one that takes a long time to build a big system like this. Nice work on everything thus far. :thumb:

[MitchM]

Looks great, Dave.
What are you doing for heating?
I got rid of my electric heaters and replaced it with a closed loop from my domestic hot water tank.
I'm really happy with it, wish I did it a long time ago.

[monza]

asylumdown

Thanks for the link it was a good read. I think I've accomplished some of that effect but better ha. Better being to spin the gyre from top to bottom, bottom to top.


Grizz Thanks.

[monza]

Mitch I saw your heater tech from your thread and read about a few more. Did you see the guy who drilled a PVC pipe multiple times to feed the PEX pipe through to form a coil? It was pretty slick. I bought some titanium heaters before I heard of this method, I may go the water heater closed loop before using my heaters I don't know yet. It's a solid idea for sure, Thanks

[MitchM]

No I didn't see the PVC setup.
I had 3 titanium heaters and each one of them split open in the sump.
We're limited for electricity supply out here, so that was a consideration for me as well. We don't have the big 200 amp service available without major expense. We only have 75 amps.

[monza]

I'll try and find the loop set up for you.
What kind of heaters did you have? I bought these:
800W - FINNEX DELUXE TITANIUM HEATING TUBE

[michika]

Ehehehehe the photo with the skeleton cracked me right up.

[MitchM]

I'll try and find the loop set up for you.
What kind of heaters did you have? I bought these:
800W - FINNEX DELUXE TITANIUM HEATING TUBE

I don't remember the name. I got them from Red Coral in Calgary before they went out of business, but they looked exactly the same as those Finnex and also came in a red box.
The black rubber end caps came off and exposed the wires inside. I'm surprised there was no electrical short fallout from that - including when I reached in the water to pull them out not realizing what had happened.

[monza]

Added my rock to the DT. Sorry for the crappy pics. Lots of caves, swimming room and areas to place corals at different levels.

http://i232.photobucket.com/albums/ee155/FUEL69DB/photo4_zps82e70091.jpg (http://s232.photobucket.com/user/FUEL69DB/media/photo4_zps82e70091.jpg.html)


http://i232.photobucket.com/albums/ee155/FUEL69DB/photo3_zps41aaeef1.jpg (http://s232.photobucket.com/user/FUEL69DB/media/photo3_zps41aaeef1.jpg.html)


http://i232.photobucket.com/albums/ee155/FUEL69DB/photo2_zps4ae4eedf.jpg (http://s232.photobucket.com/user/FUEL69DB/media/photo2_zps4ae4eedf.jpg.html)


http://i232.photobucket.com/albums/ee155/FUEL69DB/photo1_zpsbfa0330a.jpg (http://s232.photobucket.com/user/FUEL69DB/media/photo1_zpsbfa0330a.jpg.html)

The big rock structure on the right has huge cave under it but you can't really see it.

[DCDN]

I really like the way you set up your rock

[Madreefer]

I really like the way you set up your rock

Me too!! That's gonna look sweet once you get some color in there.

[monza]

I really like the way you set up your rock

Me too!! That's gonna look sweet once you get some color in there.

Thanks guys! Hopefully my cycle does not take to long as I've had the rock cycling forever and I can add some colour soon.

[Nuttyreefer]

Looks good :biggrin:

[monza]

Very due for a update, sorry. Up and running for a while, full stock of fish. Had lots of SPS frags going for a while, had some pest issues and most died. I was chasing water quality issues, lighting, new tank but all that was really good and some flatworms kinda took foothold before I figured it out that was the problem. Lets just say a couple softies are doing well but a full loss of SPS frags. Fish are doing great.
Tons of work done in fish room, I'll update soon.

Take Care all.