fdcityronco
New Member
- Joined
- Jul 28, 2017
- Messages
- 12
- Reaction score
- 5
Hey guys! I was pretty stoked to get this build up and running. My name is Rick and have been in the hobby for approx 5 years. This will be the second tank I’ve built from scratch and I’m sure will have it’s own set of challenges. Below is the equipment I purchased for this build.
Glass:
Custom star fire glass 3/4” with bottom euro bracing.
Controller:
Neptune Apex
(1) Energy bar 832
(2) FMM Modules
Neptune Leak Detection
Neptune Flow Meter
ATO w/ Solenoid
Testing/Dosing:
(2) Neptune DOS
Hanna Checkers
Return:
Abyzz a400 pump
Neptune Control Module Connection
Skimmer:
Reef Octopus 220s
UV:
Pentair 50watt HO
Sump/Overflow:
Synergy 60
Synergy Ghost Overflow 20”
RODI:
(1) 6 Stage RO w/booster pump (Mixing Station)
(1) 6 Stage RO w/booster pump (ATO)
Mixing Station:
Neptune Return Pump
(2) 90gal Vertical Holding Tanks
How it started:
So I was discussing with my wife at dinner approx 5 years ago that I wanted to build a reef aquarium between our columns within the front entry of our home. As supportive as she is, she said cool draw me a picture. So, using my finger and lack of technological skills on my iPhone I drew her a picture. Haha.
That image turned into a month long build and resulted in…
I must say I was impressed by my great drawing skills and how that drawing turned into a reality…sort of. After that tank was close to the 1 year mark we decided to sell out home and move closer in town. We purchased a temporary home and wanted to find land to build our forever home. It took approx 3 years and finally found land in order to build our new forever home. My wife made me promise to incorporate a new reef tank into the build. The new plans allows me to incorporate a tank between our living room and office. In addition, it allowed for a small area to be dedicated to a maintenance room. The blue rectangle is the actual tank.
The build is 95% complete at this point but I will try to post in stages based on the time line. I’m a general contractor by trade and just didn’t have the time to build the house and tank as well as post at the same time. There were a few goals I wanted to accomplish with this build. 1. To make sure it was a sustainable build for as long as feasible since we plan to stay at this house for a very long time. 2. Reduce water change labor and increase overall maintenance ease. 3. Build it so that it looks like it should be part of the space.
Due to the space needed for maintenance, I needed to build the water change station within the garage. Since I was building new construction this allowed me to incorporate the plumbing lines and electrical needed within the walls and through the attic space. The hidden plumbing helped with aesthetics and weren’t visible once the drywall was installed.
To the right of the steps is where the water mixing station will be installed. During the permitting process I wanted to get as much of the preliminary items out of the way as possible so that I wouldn’t lose progress once it was time to start the actually tank build. The two main items I wanted to start were figuring the tank dimensions and building the actually tank stand. I decided to build a 36.5x66.5x24 glass tank using 3/4” star fire glass. Due to the space and the fact that I wanted it to seem as if it were always there, I wanted to hide as much of the mechanics as possible. That said, I decided to go with a Synergy ghost overflow system. This would allow for a low profile return and limit the space needed for the overflow to allow for items such as power heads and return lines. Once the glass was ordered it was time to weld and build the tanks frame.
Frame:
The frame had a few items that had to be addressed. 1. Build it with the obvious strength needed to support the load but leave 2 sides unobstructed for access. 2. I knew I was going to weld the frame out of Steel. So, it had to be powder coated to reduce corrosion. I’m addition, knowing my wall finish was going to be Shiplap, I needed a way to nail the shiplap to the steel frame.
The frame was then designed, measured and cut. After it was all ready for construction I welded the frame together and took it to a local powder coating contractor and had it powder coated white. I used wood framing and sheathing to create the deck for the glass to eventually rest on. Here is a sneak peak once it was assembled and installed in its final location within the home.
Once the frame was installed in place I was able to get additional measurements. Originally I wanted to enclose the top of the tank but have sides that would lift out of the way for maintenance. However, after welding the frames together it ended up being to many moving parts so I decided to forgo that idea. Here is the stand after further progress with the house had been completed and the shiplap was started.
Once the house was enclosed, HVAC on and the majority of the construction dust was gone I was able to start the tank build. Here are a few images of the build process.
Next up…the sump.
Glass:
Custom star fire glass 3/4” with bottom euro bracing.
Controller:
Neptune Apex
(1) Energy bar 832
(2) FMM Modules
Neptune Leak Detection
Neptune Flow Meter
ATO w/ Solenoid
Testing/Dosing:
(2) Neptune DOS
Hanna Checkers
Return:
Abyzz a400 pump
Neptune Control Module Connection
Skimmer:
Reef Octopus 220s
UV:
Pentair 50watt HO
Sump/Overflow:
Synergy 60
Synergy Ghost Overflow 20”
RODI:
(1) 6 Stage RO w/booster pump (Mixing Station)
(1) 6 Stage RO w/booster pump (ATO)
Mixing Station:
Neptune Return Pump
(2) 90gal Vertical Holding Tanks
How it started:
So I was discussing with my wife at dinner approx 5 years ago that I wanted to build a reef aquarium between our columns within the front entry of our home. As supportive as she is, she said cool draw me a picture. So, using my finger and lack of technological skills on my iPhone I drew her a picture. Haha.
That image turned into a month long build and resulted in…
I must say I was impressed by my great drawing skills and how that drawing turned into a reality…sort of. After that tank was close to the 1 year mark we decided to sell out home and move closer in town. We purchased a temporary home and wanted to find land to build our forever home. It took approx 3 years and finally found land in order to build our new forever home. My wife made me promise to incorporate a new reef tank into the build. The new plans allows me to incorporate a tank between our living room and office. In addition, it allowed for a small area to be dedicated to a maintenance room. The blue rectangle is the actual tank.
The build is 95% complete at this point but I will try to post in stages based on the time line. I’m a general contractor by trade and just didn’t have the time to build the house and tank as well as post at the same time. There were a few goals I wanted to accomplish with this build. 1. To make sure it was a sustainable build for as long as feasible since we plan to stay at this house for a very long time. 2. Reduce water change labor and increase overall maintenance ease. 3. Build it so that it looks like it should be part of the space.
Due to the space needed for maintenance, I needed to build the water change station within the garage. Since I was building new construction this allowed me to incorporate the plumbing lines and electrical needed within the walls and through the attic space. The hidden plumbing helped with aesthetics and weren’t visible once the drywall was installed.
To the right of the steps is where the water mixing station will be installed. During the permitting process I wanted to get as much of the preliminary items out of the way as possible so that I wouldn’t lose progress once it was time to start the actually tank build. The two main items I wanted to start were figuring the tank dimensions and building the actually tank stand. I decided to build a 36.5x66.5x24 glass tank using 3/4” star fire glass. Due to the space and the fact that I wanted it to seem as if it were always there, I wanted to hide as much of the mechanics as possible. That said, I decided to go with a Synergy ghost overflow system. This would allow for a low profile return and limit the space needed for the overflow to allow for items such as power heads and return lines. Once the glass was ordered it was time to weld and build the tanks frame.
Frame:
The frame had a few items that had to be addressed. 1. Build it with the obvious strength needed to support the load but leave 2 sides unobstructed for access. 2. I knew I was going to weld the frame out of Steel. So, it had to be powder coated to reduce corrosion. I’m addition, knowing my wall finish was going to be Shiplap, I needed a way to nail the shiplap to the steel frame.
The frame was then designed, measured and cut. After it was all ready for construction I welded the frame together and took it to a local powder coating contractor and had it powder coated white. I used wood framing and sheathing to create the deck for the glass to eventually rest on. Here is a sneak peak once it was assembled and installed in its final location within the home.
Once the frame was installed in place I was able to get additional measurements. Originally I wanted to enclose the top of the tank but have sides that would lift out of the way for maintenance. However, after welding the frames together it ended up being to many moving parts so I decided to forgo that idea. Here is the stand after further progress with the house had been completed and the shiplap was started.
Once the house was enclosed, HVAC on and the majority of the construction dust was gone I was able to start the tank build. Here are a few images of the build process.
Next up…the sump.
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