New 240 Gallon 8X2X2 build

[k2-]

Hey Folks, I have been trolling around asking many questions about my new 240-gallon build, and slowly and steadily, it's becoming a reality now. I will transfer most of my corals /fish from a 150 system, so I am not in a rush and I would like the system to stabilize and take it slow.

Here is my first post and some details about the new build; I know it will take a few months for this build to complete, and I am excited to update everyone on the progress and look forward to all the good and bad to come. The build is 240 Gallon 1/2 inch glass, Pine custom build stand,

Light - 2 AI 64 HD, 2 AI 32 HD - I might add a few more as the tank progresses for more lighting (Until I upgrade i will use black box as needed )

Flow: 2 MP40s, 2 Jabao SLW, 2 Gyres 250's - I am still trying to figure out some way to do a close loop system with a constraint that I can not drill my glass)

Sump - 36-inch reuse from the 150-tank
Refugium - transfer my makeshift 40-gallon breeder refugium to a 20-gallon refugium

Dosing: This is further down the road, but KZ trace along with my calcium reactor
Controller - Apex (along with all existing equipment)

Ozone for water clarity.

After much discussion and great feedback, I am planning to have a thin layer of sand, a 1 inch or so, to provide a natural scape for rock; however, I may add some higher depth of sand at places since I do plan to keep some wrasses and never know what might come by.


Livestock:

As a result of the consolidation of my few tanks:
Two yellow tang
1 Blue face scopa
1 Naso Tang
1 Hippo Tang
1 Lieatus wrasse
1 Borbonius
2 lyretail anthias
2 Black and white Oscillaris
1 Naoko wrasse
1 filefish
1 watchman gobi
3 pyramid angel
1 Chromis
1 damsel
1 Yellow corris wrasse
1 Fox face
2 mandarins


Wish list:

One large Achilles tang
1 Purple tang
More boronias females
more pairs of Anthias of different species
1 or 3 - Moorish idols
Margin butterflyfish

Here is the first draft of my NSA aquascape, I am doing it in pieces as the tank is large and I don't have an 8 ft work area, so this one is for the left half of my reef tank.

The top 2 blue lines on the wall represent 18 inches (target aquascape height) and 24 inches (total height of tank), respectively

Suggestions are welcome.

 

[k2-]

Also adding my discovery threads :

Glass thickness for 280 Gallon

Hey Folks, I am searching for a 280 Gallon (8ft x 30" x 22") tank - one of the option that is tempting has 1/2" glass thickness. This is not my living room build but more of a garage build. Wondering if any one has long term success with this size and thickness ?

www.reef2reef.com

 

[Reefahholic]

Looks great. Maybe tweak the RT island more, has a odd look. The bottom rock you can do some smaller pieces at the base to make it blend in more unless it will sit in the sand. Maybe put a nice little overhanging ledge off that.

 

[IKD]

Really cool! You need to make this a build thread and get the badge

QUESTION OF THE DAY - Build threads, Build Thread Badges, Build Thread Updates, Build, Build, Build!

Build threads, Build Thread Badges, Build Thread Updates, Build, Build, Build! They can also be called Journals! :p Build threads are very important to R2R and to people who are looking for help on R2R. Build threads provide motivation, inspiration, learning tools and more for others. Soooooo...

www.reef2reef.com

 

[blaxsun]

You may want a thicker sand bed (1.5") for the wrasses.

 

[Bruttall]

Over the Top closed loop water circulation DIY setup. Pretty simple to set up, only hard part was getting the siphon started to feed the pump. The pipe in the middle is the sump return line.

If I was going to do with on a perma set-up, I think I would buy Clear PVC or maybe Blue or Black. They make 90's, 45's everything in those colors if you shop around, but it is pricy compared to white pvc.

 

[k2-]

Really cool! You need to make this a build thread and get the badge

QUESTION OF THE DAY - Build threads, Build Thread Badges, Build Thread Updates, Build, Build, Build!

Build threads, Build Thread Badges, Build Thread Updates, Build, Build, Build! They can also be called Journals! :p Build threads are very important to R2R and to people who are looking for help on R2R. Build threads provide motivation, inspiration, learning tools and more for others. Soooooo...

www.reef2reef.com

How do I make it a build thread ? just adding to my profile ?

 

[k2-]

Adding my latest updates after mornings work also I plan to put a hybrid approach at work and created a fish habitat for fish to sleep and refuge

 

[Pickle_soup]

I love dimension for a tank. That's like a dream tank for me, but I can't have it unless I buy a bigger house. There is no way I would be able to get that down to my cave.

 

[k2-]

I love dimension for a tank. That's like a dream tank for me, but I can't have it unless I buy a bigger house. There is no way I would be able to get that down to my cave.

Haha where there is a will there is a way !

 

[Bruttall]

Also adding my discovery threads :

Glass thickness for 280 Gallon

Hey Folks, I am searching for a 280 Gallon (8ft x 30" x 22") tank - one of the option that is tempting has 1/2" glass thickness. This is not my living room build but more of a garage build. Wondering if any one has long term success with this size and thickness ?

www.reef2reef.com

Oceanic Aquarium 96"x24"x31" tank. 300g. 5/8" thick sides, 3/4" thick bottom, 1/2" 22inch wide cross brace center top, with 1/2 thick corner gussets on top. They do not build them like this anymore. This tank is at least 30 years old. I'm the second owner that I know of.

 

[k2-]

Updates :

Plumbing parts have arrived and we had a dry run on the floor about how everything will connect.

I tried to differentiate the drain and return by colors - Orange is for drain and Blue is for return piping.

Tank -
My tank guy shared his pictures of the new tank build.

Controller box -
A New Controller cabinet also arrived.

Stand -
Wooden stand comes next weekend - its coming to reality now.


Another discovery and decision on the tank background - Need groups thoughts.

Plan to use Marble ledger panels to tile the back wall with the help of Epoxy raisin - I have seen few of the tank builds done this way and am looking forward to exploring - I will put chem clean blue for the first few months in the sump to make sure it can suck the toxins out as well as after the first significant water change (I plan to do 90% + ) any residual things should be addressed as well.


Flow - After exploring and debating, I am planning to use 1PR - ECM 63 along with 2 MP40s for flow.

Return Pump - Finally I could secure a Varios 8 controller so existing Varios 8 pump will be used.

After many months of work - it's coming together.

 

[k2-]

Background painted today with paint specific for SPA and high water environment

 

[k2-]

Floor is ready and cured for the epoxy like quoting

 

[boacvh]

Following. Going through same 8x2x2 upgrade adventure right now

 

[k2-]

Floor paint done - may be a second quote today or tomorrow

Best thing with this epoxy mix from rust-o-leum is that you can mix colors like paint so possibilities are infinite

 

[k2-]

Tank stand is ready and installed

 

[k2-]

Beautiful and this thing is sturdy

 

[k2-]

Reef cabinet is coming along well.

Light hanging is installed
Surface is prepped for tank as well as the BRS supply and pad has arrived
Sump area is also ready

A little bit of cleanup and ready for next step.

 

[k2-]

Update on light setup

This is going to be a SPS heavy tank - So the final setup is

2 Reef brites - hybrid fixtures - 48 inch
Each reef brite will have

2x KZ Coral Light II New Generation T5 Lamp and 2 X ATI True Actinic 03
2X AI Hydra 64
1 Hydra 32


Lighting thread is here :

Lighting question for 240 Gallon - 8x2x2

Hey Guys, I am building my 240 Gallon 8X2X2 reef tank. I am planning to use 2 Reef brites - hybrid fixtures - 48 inch to light up this tank. This tank is going to host most of my SPS and more . For T5's : I am planning to use 2x KZ Coral Light II New Generation T5 Lamp and 2 X ATI True Actinic...

www.reef2reef.com