DakotaTheHutt
Community Member
- Joined
- Apr 26, 2020
- Messages
- 62
- Reaction score
- 53
Hello, fellow reefers!
It's been a while since I did a build, and I've never done a build this large. So, I'd like some feedback and some help planning for this build from some fellow enthusiasts to make sure my T's are crossed and my I's are dotted. Once my plan is set, the build will begin!
I want to do an acro tank and was thinking bare bottom. But I also want to do some soft corals (torches, hammers, and donut coral) and sand, but I don't want the sand to be blowing everywhere. I am unsure at this stage. Any input on what to do? Any other mixed reefers want to chime in?
So here's my build and what I've gotten so far.
I'm going for a completely new build as I've never really used only new equipment, and although it's usually cheaper, the used equipment I've been getting fails quickly. whatr luck!
Tank/stand/etc,.
- 180 Gal Reef Ready Marineland Tank
- Custom stand built by my local iron workers (I'm in construction as a P.E and they built this for lil-ole desk jockey me for free, so I'm very lucky) - questions on this stand later.
Bashsea Signature Series 48
Equipment,
-Bashsea 8-30 Bio Mass Reactor Any experience with this? Should I try to trade this for something else?
Signature Series "large" skimmer—my LFS gave me this for free, so I won't turn that down. It's the only used equipment in this build.
-(2) Mp40QD's
-(3) Kessil A360x
-(1) Kessil controller
-(2) Neptune Sky's
-Apex controller
-Ehime 264 Gal heater
-Reef octo Varios 8
-Tunze 3155 osmolator
Other stuff,
-about 200 pounds of dry rock; I made sure I had plenty extra when i break them up and scape the tank.
-(6) 1" unions
-(2) 1" gate valves
I still need to get PVC and figure out how to plumb the return and drainage.
So, I have some questions..
The awesome stand I got is not perfectly level. Its about 1/16" to 1/8" off in some locations. I was thinking of putting down 1/2" pink hardy board and then 1/2" or 3/4" plywood under the tank. Would this work? I've read a lot of conflicting information about foam under a rimmed tank. I really do not want to get another stand...
I plan on having both sides as drains. Each side has its own "Herbie drain" method. Each main pipe will have a gate valve, and each emergency standpipe will be connected together under the tank into one outlet (I only have 3 filter sock holes in my sump, one for each main drain and then one for the combined emergency overflows). Any issues with this logic?
With all this, is there anything I am missing? any oversight or just bad ideal on my part?
Thanks for the read and help; I look forward to building this tank!
It's been a while since I did a build, and I've never done a build this large. So, I'd like some feedback and some help planning for this build from some fellow enthusiasts to make sure my T's are crossed and my I's are dotted. Once my plan is set, the build will begin!
I want to do an acro tank and was thinking bare bottom. But I also want to do some soft corals (torches, hammers, and donut coral) and sand, but I don't want the sand to be blowing everywhere. I am unsure at this stage. Any input on what to do? Any other mixed reefers want to chime in?
So here's my build and what I've gotten so far.
I'm going for a completely new build as I've never really used only new equipment, and although it's usually cheaper, the used equipment I've been getting fails quickly. whatr luck!
Tank/stand/etc,.
- 180 Gal Reef Ready Marineland Tank
- Custom stand built by my local iron workers (I'm in construction as a P.E and they built this for lil-ole desk jockey me for free, so I'm very lucky) - questions on this stand later.
Bashsea Signature Series 48
Equipment,
-Bashsea 8-30 Bio Mass Reactor Any experience with this? Should I try to trade this for something else?
Signature Series "large" skimmer—my LFS gave me this for free, so I won't turn that down. It's the only used equipment in this build.
-(2) Mp40QD's
-(3) Kessil A360x
-(1) Kessil controller
-(2) Neptune Sky's
-Apex controller
-Ehime 264 Gal heater
-Reef octo Varios 8
-Tunze 3155 osmolator
Other stuff,
-about 200 pounds of dry rock; I made sure I had plenty extra when i break them up and scape the tank.
-(6) 1" unions
-(2) 1" gate valves
I still need to get PVC and figure out how to plumb the return and drainage.
So, I have some questions..
The awesome stand I got is not perfectly level. Its about 1/16" to 1/8" off in some locations. I was thinking of putting down 1/2" pink hardy board and then 1/2" or 3/4" plywood under the tank. Would this work? I've read a lot of conflicting information about foam under a rimmed tank. I really do not want to get another stand...
I plan on having both sides as drains. Each side has its own "Herbie drain" method. Each main pipe will have a gate valve, and each emergency standpipe will be connected together under the tank into one outlet (I only have 3 filter sock holes in my sump, one for each main drain and then one for the combined emergency overflows). Any issues with this logic?
With all this, is there anything I am missing? any oversight or just bad ideal on my part?
Thanks for the read and help; I look forward to building this tank!
