240 Gallon Mixed Reef Build

[H@rry]

According to this weight of glass calculator : Glass Weight Calculator it should weigh 375 lb.

 

[Chameleon]

good thing those holes made it a bit lighter

 

[ChrisKey]

Next came the building and the painting of the overflow box. I originally planned for an overflow on one side of the tank that was 14" long by 5.5" wide by 6" deep, but I want to make sure I catch enough surface skimming. I wanted the overflow on one side so I could adjust the overflow ball valve for the Bean Animal, but I decided I could put it in the center and just extend the valve to be below the tank and access under the stand.

So I had some glass cut at Huntsville Glass to give me a 36" long by 5" wide by 5" deep overflow box. Siliconed the box together first, then painted the front and sides only with krylon fusion on the inside. I left the bottom clear so light could penetrate and reduce my shadow in the tank from the box.

 

[ChrisKey]

While painting the box, I am also painting the back glass and the trim of the tank. Lots of newspaper and painters tape.

It took just a little bit over 2 cans of Krylon Fusion, so got the whole thing painted for about $12. It turned out great.

 

[ChrisKey]

While in the process of the overflow box silicon curing, I decided to drill two more holes in the glass bracing in the top of the tank for my returns. I have the 36" overflow box in the middle of the tank and these returns will be about 4" from the side of the box pointing to the opposite walls. I used some 1" pipe and 90 degree elbows to reduce it to a 3/4" FNPT connector. I wanted to reduce it down to a 3/4" connection for a Penductor on each side to also help improve flow.

I am not sure if the suction from the penductor will cause and issues with the overflow since it is that close, but I will just take the penductors out if it does cause a problem.

 

[ChrisKey]

And here is a pic of the return section put together. I don't want to deal with a check valve or anything so I will drill a hole directly below the water line to break siphon when the pump it turned off.

 

[ChrisKey]

And here is the money shot with the tank sitting on the new stand with the old stand on top as a canopy. I still have some work to do on building a skin for the stand and canopy, but for now it is going to remain open so I can set up and work on the tank until it is complete with all equipment hooked up.

 

[Electrobes]

Nice start, I like the old stand being a canopy for the tank, that's awesome!

 

[ChrisKey]

One other DIY project you can see in the first picture is the screen covers for the top of the tank. I have 3 open sections that are 24" x 24" so I wanted to prevent catastrophies from occurring with jumpers. So I went to Home Depot and got the Bird Mesh from the garden sections as well as the window screen frame and corners so I could put together 3 sections to provide screen tops. they turned out great. You can see them sitting in front of the stand in their positions. They will get installed when I get cycled and get the fish in.

 

[aslmx]

Are you going to do any more support like under your floor or do you have a basement. Are you going to do your panels where you can remove them or just have doors? Im about to build a 210 and im looking for all the info I can.

 

[gcrawford]

Great thread and great pics! One question, are there spray painted items that will be in the salt water? Will that last without flaking? I'm just thinking about scraping and also the way my lawnmower blenny bites at the rock, glass and pipes.

 

[ChrisKey]

The only painted part that will be in the tank is the return elbow. The krylon fusion should have the bonding time to withstand the saltwater since it can cure for a few weeks before touching water. But I don't expect that to last forever.

 

[ChrisKey]

Are you going to do any more support like under your floor or do you have a basement. Are you going to do your panels where you can remove them or just have doors? Im about to build a 210 and im looking for all the info I can.

I am on slab so I don't have to worry about support under it. For the stand I think I am going with doors although I like the look of the panels you can pull out without hinges or knobs showing.

 

[eric.battani]

that look great. seems like it will be a real show tank when you get finished.

 

[NanoNathan]

looks great chris. great work!! i need to come see this thing once you get it looking right

 

[Greenpj22]

Awesome! I tend to get in a hurry to set them up. The next tank I do set up, I'm going to take my time and think it through like you are doing. Awesome set up!

 

[ChrisKey]

I am not really doing it by choice. . But it has been a great test of self control so I don't rush things.

I hope to get water, rocks, and sand in it this weekend. Then I will let it cycle with 4-5 pieces of live rock from my current tank over the next few weeks. I am starting to get excited since I am only a few weeks from the move. Hopefully everything will travel great and suffer minor casualties (if any).

 

[ChrisKey]

Ok. I will be rock scaping this weekend and putting in the sand so I want an idea on which aquascaping looks best and flows best. So vote on one of the following and let me know if there is a change you would make. Or if there is a combination you would do. I hate this part.

 

[ChrisKey]

Option 1 is more of a minimalistic approach for some more SPS.
Option 2 gives some open swimming room in the middle.
Option 3 gives me more places to put coral and provide a good center for large leathers and soft corals / LPS.
Option 4 is another minimalistic setup with three columns for groups of coral.

Since the tank is 8' long I think I can get away with two or three sections and still provide plenty of swimming room.

 

[aslmx]

I like the minimalistic. I did like the tall stacked approach until snorkling in mexico and seeing reef rock in person. I cant scape worth a crap but my son is a master at it so he will be doing mine...again.