baker_jeff's 230gal In-office Tank Build!

[baker_jeff]

Howdy folks!

I have another thread open which won't see much use now. The backstory:

Had a 40ish gallon cube tank years ago. We bought a townhouse, and unfortunately there wasn't a convenient spot for it to go so it sat in the basement for 3 years. I finally dragged the thing to my store and set it up in my office.

Shortly after it was running, I couldn't help but notice the empty 6 foot wall on one side. We all know what happens next!

Bought a 230gal starfire tank, stand, sump, and pump used from Red Coral here in Edmonton.

It sat for quite a while, until I finally just forked over and had Steve from Red Coral do the plumbing for me. Personally I found that the most fun part, but I just get too busy here in the store to get things done (though I have spend pretty much the last week working on the tank LOL).

I have an RO/DI filter setup in the washroom here, so have spent the last week filling the new tank. Started adding salt this morning.

FTS from my chair:



Sump:



Apologies for the piles of crap. It's like a maze getting in to my office right now. Skimmers here, salt there.

I'm already planning on what to do to redo the plumbing and pump. The pump is a Reeflo Barracuda and its freaking loud and big (and external). I would love to move the sump all the way left under the tank, find a smaller quiet external pump to fit under the stand, and then fit a freshwater top up tank overtop of that.

Picked up a used Reef Octopus Diablo XS 160 skimmer yesterday, which may be a bit underpowered for this setup, but I won't have a heavy bio load for a long time, and upon research I see quite a few people using in on 200+ setups with good success. It was a smoking deal so I couldn't pass it up.

Equipment list:

- 72x24x30 tank
- Sunbrite F-Series LED Lighting
- Reef Octopus Diablo XS160 Skimmer
- 2 x Vortech MP40w ES
- Apex Lite Controller
- Tunze ATO

I will be seeking advice in setting up the ATO and controller, I have never done this before.

More to come!

[baker_jeff]

Here is the current small tank running, all will be transferred after the big tank has cycled.

Should have rock in the big tank by the end of the week. Getting about 180lbs to start from another member (Thanks Hooper!).

[baker_jeff]

Rock is in the new tank. Going to hit it with Prodibio and see how that works.

My new skimmer doesn't quite fit in the next section over from the return in the sump. I'll have to remove that divider so that it doesn't have live in the return pump section.

[Prariecanuck]

Looking really good I wish I didn't work out of a truck so I could look at a tank on those bad days.

[baker_jeff]

Hung the lights from the ceiling on Friday, and added rockwork. Just dropped in the big pieces for now, going to try and rearrange today if I get a spare moment.

[baker_jeff]

So I desperately need a quieter pump. Any thoughts on wether this guy will be strong enough for my tank?

http://www.reefsupplies.ca/online-st...p-2640GPH.html

[baker_jeff]

Well, some updates. Have one Maxspect Razor running overtop right now. The Sunbrite fixture, well, almost lit on fire. I was very fortunately looking closely at the tank when I noticed the wafting smoke and orange glow coming from the fixture. Could have been seriously bad.

Doing some rescaping in there, the right side has some dry rock added (duh). After I sell some of the base rock you see on the left pile I will be adding more good stuff.

[baker_jeff]

Added more rock from Eli @ Fijireefrock.com. Obviously the nice showpiece shelf, and a few more pieces of filler. Will take more pics today with the lights on full. The layout looks pretty patchy right now with my mix of established and dry rock, hopefully it'll fill out nicely once the coraline starts to spread.

[baker_jeff]

The shelf piece looks incredible at evening/night!

[baker_jeff]