New 600 Gallon Reef tank build called The Hulk

FARMBOYREEF · Jan 2, 2020

Hey R2R! Well, I'm finally taking the advice of my followers and starting a build thread here. I figured what better time than now as my 600 Gallon Hulk build is finally off the ground and running. I'm super excited to share the progress with everyone and figured this was the perfect place to document everything.

I had my 600 gallon tank built by Concept Aquariums out of Calgary Canada. Amazing company to work with. The owner Dave Guan was very easy to work with kept me involved with every aspect of the build. I had Dave build my main display tank, stand and sump and everything in between, I've planned and built out every detail. So far, it has been an amazing journey for me. It hasn't been easy but it sure has been rewarding.

As I document this journey, I promise I will share every part of this. The good, the bad, the ugly. I feel like sharing information is the only way we can all truly learn so hopefully you enjoy and follow along with me. I also love to hear from people so post up your thoughts, send me a note, let's have some fun.

So lets all have fun get right down to business.

The Beginning of the story

Episode one Lets dive in see whats going on.

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FARMBOYREEF · Jan 2, 2020

My new steel stand being painted in Calgary Canada by my buddy mike. Just a short clip

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Sonja · Jan 2, 2020

Wow! I cant wait to see this tank come together!

FARMBOYREEF · Jan 2, 2020

Sonja said:
Wow! I cant wait to see this tank come together!

Thanks Sonja

FARMBOYREEF · Jan 2, 2020

The Next Chapter Hulk Gets Delivered!

aquariums, oceans, reef

Hey Farm Hands,

Today is a very exciting day the 600 gallon reef tank called, The Hulk, was delivered to its final destination. Leading up to The Hulk delivery was stressful. This was my first time designing a reef tank from a custom aquarium company to build and make my dream come true. The company Concept Aquariums out of Calgary, Alberta, Canada took on my project. Dave Guan, the owner of Concept personally seen over the project and was very professional and easy to work with. What was great is we had a lot in common and more than just fish tanks. When I got the text from Dave that my tank was finished, he sent me pictures of my finished tank, the stand and the sump. I had Concept build me the whole package. Why not? Then it’s complete and no more headaches. Trying to find a company to build a sump can be a pain. I asked two different companies to get a price for this build. One didn’t even care to messaged me back and the other company said they would then didn’t bother getting back to me either. I won’t name drop any names because I am a little more professional then that.
TIP: Companies if you want peoples business, you should return a customers calls or emails. If you say you’re going to do the project and you don’t then that messes with a persons time frame for there tank setup and build. You should be a little more considerate then that.
So moving along, now that the tank is complete it’s time to ship The Hulk. Dave setup everything from his end. To ship 1550 pounds of aquarium and gear, it was $250 flat shipping rate to the closest depo to me. I thought that was a great price this tank is coming from Calgary to Ottawa! So the closest depo was in Ottawa, Ontario, Canada at 2740 Sheffield Road. From that location it is about 45 mins south to my home. So next was to get the tank from 2740 Sheffield Road to my home. I have never taken on getting that big of a tank or that much glass before, let alone a delivery to my home. I was going to rent a truck and take on the challenge myself. But the more I though about it, it was getting stressful. What if everything goes wrong? I put a lot of money into this tank, I need it home all in one piece. So sitting around with my buddy Rich Bowie I started to tell him about my tank project and how I was trying to get The Hulk home. Rich speaks up and says, his long time friend Tom has a delivery company that handles all kinds of large projects like grand panios and that he would be the guy. So I called up Tom and he said not a problem. That took off so much stress knowing everything was all lined up. So, it’s Sunday morning and Tom and his brother Steven show up to my home the delivery truck sitting at the road, I didn’t even know they where here I had just rolled out of bed. I guess I had missed there phone call. It was finally time to get The Hulk in the house. They opened the back of the truck and this was my first time actually seeing The Hulk in person. I was like holly hell thats a big tank. As I was thinking in my head, “what the heck was I thinking!?” and “How are we going to get this into the house!?” Thankfully, Tom and Steve had everything all planned out. These guys where awesome and they have such great personalities. Very smart guys. So we took the front door off to get the stand, sump and glass into the house. The only problem was the tank was just a few inches too big to get into my fish room through the front door. So we had to move the truck to the back of the house and get the tank onto my deck. The only problem was we couldn’t get the tailgate of the truck close enough. So Tom and Steve seen that my neighbour had wooden pallets and wanted to build a bridge using them as a support for the ramps. I was like, you are kidding right the tank alone is 900 pounds and there is only four of us. Nope he wasn’t kidding they though it through and made a plan. That’s what we did. We ran across the street and grabbed six skids and made a platform. And when you watch the video below you will see why it was so stressful. What I can say is The hulk is sitting in my man cave safe and sound and everything went swimmingly. A big thank you to Tom and Steve for successful delivering me my new dream tank, you guys kicked butt! I am the kind of person that tries to do everything himself and what I have learned in this hobby is sometimes you need some help, and that letting the pros take the wheel means everything will turn out right. So if you ever get a large tank make sure to have everything into place and let the pros take the wheel. You will get your dream tank delivered safe and sound. Enjoy the video Farm Hands if you haven’t already! Please subscribe and hit that like button. Thanks Farm Hands and stay tuned for next weeks article on my next adventure.

One of my most stressful days was taking delivery of The Hulk. Check out this video.

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Devaji · Jan 2, 2020

nice! peninsula are the best! good choice!

FARMBOYREEF · Jan 2, 2020

Devaji said:
nice! peninsula are the best! good choice!

Thanks you are right. There is something about them its nice you can walk around the tank and see through both sides.

FARMBOYREEF · Jan 2, 2020

HULKS LIFE SUPPORT SYSTEMS 600 Gallon Reef

aquariums, oceans, reef
The aquarium life support system is the least seen, yet most important element of your aquarium system.When assessing the performance and overall fitness of a life support system to promote aquatic animal health, it is essential to evaluate the function of every life support component on the system. When I started designing the hulks life support system I wanted to keep it simple as possible and use high end gear that would give me max performance to keeping the Hulk happy. I will go through the Hulks gear I chose plus the fish room and how i planned it out from start finish. So lets jump right in.
What all do we need in our fish room and life support system.
** when it comes to our fish rooms they will be different. We all like different things but we will all have the basics that we will all require to have a successful reef.
Heater – A heater’s role in an aquatic life support system is fairly straightforward: heat the water so that is within the recommended parameters of the system’s inhabitants. There are several types of heaters available to aquarium keepers, which may or may not be appropriate for your system but when choosing one, make sure that the wattage can handle the volume of your system and don’t buy a cheap one.
UV sterilizer – UV sterilizers promote animal health by irradiating bacteria and parasites with ultraviolet radiation. This causes genetic mutations, essentially preventing them from multiplying and causing outbreaks and compromised animals. A side benefit is that this radiation also nukes algae, resulting in less buildup in your display.
Protein Skimmer – Also called foam fractionators, skimmers work by removing dissolved organic compounds from your water, enhancing the performance of other types of filtration on your system and keeping your water clean and healthy.
Pumps – A pump’s performance on your system needs little explanation: they keep water moving through your display and filtration. How they accomplish varies by type and build and not all may be appropriate or recommended for your system.
Sump- slows that issue and increases total water volume. The sump also skims the water's surface, giving you clear water. Sumps also work well to lower the water temperature by up to two degrees Fahrenheit. This can help your reefs thrive and grow.
Reverse Osmosis - One the basic laws of keeping a saltwater tank is to only use water from an RO/DI system for your tank. RO/DI water is very, very clean, so by using it, you won’t be introducing bad things into your system such as silicates, heavy metals and chorine that can cause a major of problems in your tank. **

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crusso1993 · Jan 2, 2020

Following along and looking forward to watching this system build and then grow.

A fellow Canadian, @JoshH might be interested. He is from where your stand came from, Calgary.

FARMBOYREEF said:
My new steel stand being painted in Calgary Canada by my buddy mike. Just a short clip

Speaking of your stand, is it powder coated or simply sprayed? Either way, it's always a good idea to put some bowling alley or butcher wax on it. Gives a little extra protection. Plus, it's easier to maintain.

FARMBOYREEF · Jan 2, 2020

crusso1993 said:
Following along and looking forward to watching this system build and then grow.

A fellow Canadian, @JoshH might be interested. He is from where your stand came from, Calgary.

Speaking of your stand, is it powder coated or simply sprayed? Either way, it's always a good idea to put some bowling alley or butcher wax on it. Gives a little extra protection. Plus, it's easier to maintain.

Yes thats a great Idea. The stand does have a finish going on it as well. I will share that very soon. Thanks for following along crusso

Feet4Fish · Jan 2, 2020

Very interesting and cool build. Will be following along! Getting close to finishing a similar size build myself!

crusso1993 · Jan 2, 2020

FARMBOYREEF said:
Yes thats a great Idea. The stand does have a finish going on it as well. I will share that very soon. Thanks for following along crusso

Oh, I should mention; by "following along" I actually meant harrassing you!

FARMBOYREEF · Jan 2, 2020

crusso1993 said:
Oh, I should mention; by "following along" I actually meant harrassing you!

lol I can take it. I am a big boy

FARMBOYREEF · Jan 2, 2020

Feet4Fish said:
Very interesting and cool build. Will be following along! Getting close to finishing a similar size build myself!

Awesome . What are you working on?

Feet4Fish · Jan 2, 2020

650 FOWLR to start with basement filtration room! Large angels, wrasse, Tangs and butterflies. Maybe find some not so edible corals a year or two down the road.

FARMBOYREEF said:
Awesome . What are you working on?

FARMBOYREEF · Jan 2, 2020

Feet4Fish said:
650 FOWLR to start with basement filtration room! Large angels, wrasse, Tangs and butterflies. Maybe find some not so edible corals a year or two down the road.

Thats great.

FARMBOYREEF · Jan 3, 2020

Today Its all about building the new fish room for the Hulk. If you like me. I like to have everything organized and clean.

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FARMBOYREEF · Jan 3, 2020

Your weekly Reef Blog All about Flow

YOUR WEEKLY REEF REPORT
THE FLOW
HEY FARM HANDS,
Today we are going to talk about flow in our reef tanks, How flow is one of the most import parts to keep a successful reef tank. Water is one of the more important elements of a reef tank. Water movement promotes gas exchange which increases oxygen, decreases carbon dioxide and helps maintain the pH of the tank. Proper water flow also plays an important role in biological function within the coral. There are many pumps on the market today to choose from, when it comes to choosing the right pump what do you look for. Some people go off the specs others product reviews and flow rates. Some reefers are all about the price $$$. The old saying in the hobby, We get what we pay for. I been there and done that. Did my fare share of DIY. I feel that saying is true. We might pay less and get a cheaper pump or maybe a knockoff. They usually last a year then your purchasing a new one because it stop working in the middle of the night. Then you wish you spent the extra cash. My self I am looking for piece of mind. I need to trust my gear that running my reef. We invest so much time and money in the hobby that its worth spending the extra cash to get a good pump that will last for years, So in my eyes I would make the investment meet half way. So when I chose my pumps for The Hulk build I need pumps that can bring water from the farthest end of the tank because peninsula tanks can be tricky with flow. The Hulk is 96 inches - 8 feet long. The return pump has lots of power to move the water to the end of the tank. The challenge is to bring the water back to the over flow. Plus we need lots of flow around all the live rock and corals, So we don t have any dead spots. Below Pics are the pumps I went with. I did a lot of research read reviews plus check the specs and the price was right. The Gyre XF350 Maxspect with controller was picked.

When it comes to shopping for gear for a build. I try to buy local and support the local fish stores like Marine scape in Ottawa. Keith and Mark are very knowledgeable about the hobby been ion business for years. I asked them order me two XF350 they where in a couple days.

Some spec on the Gyre XF350
The pump that revolutionized water flow for aquariums has reached the pinnacle of design, performance and control. The 3rd Generation aptly named the Gyre 300 series incorporates all of the amazing features of the original Gyre pumps and improved them to make the best GYRE flow pump yet.

Unique Flow Virtually Eliminates Dead Spots
Evenly Distributed Linear Flow
Discrete Design
Twin Directional Flow Cages
Clip on Flow Directors
Waterproof Silent Suspension Magnet Mount
Advanced Controller with Mount

Smart Control
All of the Gyre 300 series pumps are compatible with the Maxspect Connect ICV6 control module so you can wirelessly control your pumps using the free Syna-G app from Maxspect. Any combination of pumps can be connected and controlled which means you can now operate a Gyre XF330 and an XF350 using the same control module all with a single power supply. This helps you to tailor the flow inside your aquarium perfectly to suit the needs of your corals without a ton of wires and bulky power supplies under your tank.

Superior Performance
The most noticeable upgrade on the new Gyre 300 pumps is the detachable flow directors which are a welcome addition and allows you to place your pumps even closer to the surface of your aquarium without the worry of pulling a noisy vortex of air and improving surface agitation for maximum gas exchange. You can maneuver each director to point the Gyre flow of water where you need it. Best of all, the maneuverable caps block light from reaching the pump components and will reduce the rate at which algae will accumulate for longer operation in-between maintenance.

Specifications:
Max-Flow - 5280 GPH
Max Glass Thickness - 3/4"
Max Power Consumption - 52 watts @ 24VDC
Controller to Pump Cable - 10ft
Controller to Power Supply - 5ft
Recommended for 80 up to 800+ gallon aquariums.

What's Included?
1x XF350 Pump
1x Gyre 300 Series Controller
1x Power Supply with Cable
1x Spare Bushings
1x Flow Directors & Protective Mesh Covers

THOUGHT OF THE DAY

Farm hands these pumps will be installed very soon. I will be back on my review on how the pumps performed and tested. I want to give my onset opinion on them after I have used them for a month. See if they are worth the money and did they perform like they say they will. Thanks have farm hands stayed tuned for next weeks article on my next adventure.

Ryan Nash
Farm Boy Reef

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crusso1993 · Jan 3, 2020

FARMBOYREEF said:
Today Its all about building the new fish room for the Hulk. If you like me. I like to have everything organized and clean.

I'm not sure if you finished your countertop yet, or not, but here is a great product for countertops. Additionally, you could use it to custom match your Hulk theme. Oh, even if you have finished your countertop you can still use this product.