My 250 Gallon CDA Mixed Reef Build

[antrageous]

Welcome everyone to my first build thread on R2R. Please be patient with me as I take a very long time for everything in this hobby including this build thread. However, I will try my best to provide in detail to help other reefers out there. I have read so many build threads that have tons of insightful information and I hope my build thread can help others as well. -Anthony

Quick intro: I started in 1999 with a 30G saltwater tank. Moved to 100G Mixed Reef in 2000. Took a year off somewhere. Upgraded to a 120G Mixed Reef in 2012. Bred clownfish for a while... and now finally upgrading from the 120G to a 250G tank in 2019.

Build Specs:
Display Tank: 250 Gallon (72"x30"x27") Crystal Dynamic Eurobraced Starphire Tank
Stand: Steel Stand with Malibu Wood wrap Expresso
Sump: Bashsea Smart Series (48"x18"x16")
Return: Reef Octopus Varios 8
Lighting: (4) Ecotech Radion XR30 G4 Pro
Flow: (2) Tunze Stream 6105 & (1) Octo Pulse 4
Heating: (2) Eheim Jager 250W w/ Finnex Temperature Controller and Zen Reef heater holder
Dosing: (3) BRS Dosers (CAL, ALK & Vodka)
Misc: BM Filter Roller med & (2) Mesh Filter socks
Skimmer: Reef Octopus Regal 250 INT
Refugium: DIY Small remote fuge (removed)
Controller: Neptune system ctrl
Reactors: Vertex RX-U 2.0 (GFO, when needed)
ATO: Tunze osmolator 3155

 

[antrageous]

Here are some pictures. Again I am very slow with my build.

Crystal Dynamics Tank and Stand
Ordered Tank/Stand: 11/2018
Tank Delivered: 3/2019

 

[SPR1968]

Great pictures and keep them coming

And welcome to R2R as well by the way!

 

[MrWheelock]

Awesome following along

 

[antrageous]

Great pictures and keep them coming

And welcome to R2R as well by the way!

Thanks! I'll have more soon, as I am actually further in the build.

 

[antrageous]

Took a total of six people to move the tank to the stand. I hope I never have to move this tank ever again.
Moving straps and suction cups are the trick here.
Some of the best craftsmanship in the stand and tank I have ever seen. Crystal Dynamics ++++. Worth the wait.

 

[Jeto2004]

Nice looking tank and stand! Good start in my books. Looking forward how this will develop!

Welcome to R2R!

 

[antrageous]

I thought a long time to how I was going to mount the Radions. I don't know this person, however I copied their Radion mounting idea of drilling 2x4's to the wall from their build thread. Thanks roberthu526 !

During this time, my onyx picasso pair started breeding.

Also added a white Polywall Utility sheet to the bottom of the stand.

 

[antrageous]

Nice looking tank and stand! Good start in my books. Looking forward how this will develop!

Welcome to R2R!

Thanks!!!

 

[thewackyreefer]

Beautiful tank, I'll be moving my CDA of the same size on Friday to it's new home in my basement. I look forward to following along.

 

[antrageous]

Beautiful tank, I'll be moving my CDA of the same size on Friday to it's new home in my basement. I look forward to following along.

Thanks! Following your thread as well. Good luck on your move and build!

 

[antrageous]

Finished up plumbing a couple weeks ago. For me, this is up with aquascaping of the top two hardest things in this hobby. I have never used a bean animal style overflow but yes it is extremely quiet.

Manifold return:
2 return lines, fuge line, frag line, 2 reactor/filter roller lines.

Started RODI water a couple weeks ago as well.

 

[vetteguy53081]

beautiful build !!

 

[antrageous]

beautiful build !!

Thanks! I'll have more pics soon.

 

[SuperSaiyanTang]

Looks like a great build! Following along.

I have a tank and stand coming from CDA as well. Did you just purchase suction cups online to move the tank?

 

[Lorenzo Angotti]

Wow!, beautiful, good choice, this is looking great so far, good luck with the rest of the build.

 

[Laird]

Looks great, I to struggle with plumbing and think its harder than everyone else does.

I like the lights in the stand.

 

[antrageous]

Looks like a great build! Following along.

I have a tank and stand coming from CDA as well. Did you just purchase suction cups online to move the tank?

Most local reef clubs have them to borrow, but i bought a couple online and plan to resell them. I had six friends help me move the tank but the moving straps did all the work. The suction cups only helped me align the tank on stand. Hope this helps!

 

[antrageous]

Wow!, beautiful, good choice, this is looking great so far, good luck with the rest of the build.

Thank you! I'm gonna need it, already running into multiple issues.

 

[antrageous]

Looks great, I to struggle with plumbing and think its harder than everyone else does.

I like the lights in the stand.

Thanks Laird!! Unfortunately today during my last water run test, one of my bulkheads started to leak. Gonna need to rip it out and replace. Oh wells, part of the hobby and I can't expect no issues from a new build.