450 Gallon Display Tank and Fish Room

[MarkDarnell]

Update. Tank is humming along. Few new corals, just smaller frags to grow out.

I did get an elegance coral, which started out awesome. I started dosing two weeks ago to get my calcium, alk, and mag up to where they need to be. For past week or so, the elegance has been somewhat closed. Unsure if the two are related or not.

Added a small cleanup crew (120gal) from @reefcleaners as well. Snail only as I already have a few hermits and don't want them to compete for food and kill each other off. I probably have 6 or 7 Mexican Turbo snails and they eat just about everything.

One small update to fishroom/sump and wanted to share. For my skimmer I made a stand to have it set up further in height in the sump. I connected tubing to the drain port, used a Two Little Fishies valve and connected it to the utility sink in the fish room. I connected it after the PTrap under the sink so that that smell wouldn't come thru the sink drain.

Next up will be automating my dosing with Versa Pumps from @SaltwaterAq

 

[Ashish Patel]

Impressive build thread! Fish room project seems like it was intense!

 

[ScottW]

I may have overlooked or missed it, what do you plan on doing for the wall? I am going to be building a 130x36x28 and I am playing with the idea of bringing some of the tank into the room, leaving 24" in the fish room, but I would much rather leave it all in there. I just have no idea what to do with the boxed opening, thinking maybe a little shelf for drinks or something while sitting there... Do you have any photos of the front of your tank, the incased area?

 

[McPuff]

For your skimmer drain line... I assume that you will keep the valve closed (default) and manually open to drain when necessary? Otherwise, seems like a potential for the sink drain backing up into your system.

 

[MarkDarnell]

I may have overlooked or missed it, what do you plan on doing for the wall? I am going to be building a 130x36x28 and I am playing with the idea of bringing some of the tank into the room, leaving 24" in the fish room, but I would much rather leave it all in there. I just have no idea what to do with the boxed opening, thinking maybe a little shelf for drinks or something while sitting there... Do you have any photos of the front of your tank, the incased area?

Hey Scott,

This is our plan for the wall. It's a 2x6 wall currently with drywall and just a rough cut in framed out. We will take down the drywall and put up concrete board or tile backer board and put this stone on to match another wall in the same room.

On the mantle/ledge area, we plan to put same concrete board or backer board and then put 2in thick slate to dress it out.

Mark

 

[MarkDarnell]

For your skimmer drain line... I assume that you will keep the valve closed (default) and manually open to drain when necessary? Otherwise, seems like a potential for the sink drain backing up into your system.

You are correct, I have a ball valve drain on it and I empty it when the skimmer cup gets too full for my liking.

 

[HK180]

Wow, that's stunning! My fiance and I would love to have a reefing room and huge system one day--following your thread for inspiration.

 

[MarkDarnell]

Wow, that's stunning! My fiance and I would love to have a reefing room and huge system one day--following your thread for inspiration.

You're on the right track when you say "my fiance and I". It's important to have your other half support the addiction

 

[palmer]

OMG what a tank room- excellent job!!!!!
I wish I were your neighbor, I would just come over and take a permanent seat!!!

 

[ScottW]

Hey Scott,

This is our plan for the wall. It's a 2x6 wall currently with drywall and just a rough cut in framed out. We will take down the drywall and put up concrete board or tile backer board and put this stone on to match another wall in the same room.

On the mantle/ledge area, we plan to put same concrete board or backer board and then put 2in thick slate to dress it out.

Mark

Mark,

That is going to be amazing, I can't wait to see that completed, so jealous!

 

[Mechanic907]

very nice work

 

[New&no clue]

Just read through your thread. I have an in-wall tank with my fish room in the basement, but it's not nearly as large or well designed as yours. Can't wait to see how it all progresses.

 

[fftfk]

Started filling over the weekend. 150gal so far.

Started finishing some loose ends. Use strut and clamps to secure my plumbing behind the tank. Still have a few clamps to attach to the tank frame, but it definitely holds well.

Waiting on a few parts to finish the plumbing, but otherwise it's almost done.

Probably early next week, we will start to plan the transfer of existing live rock and water to the new tank. Will add bacteria to the new tank also to be safe, but I think we will be ok.

Very nice build thread. Is there a brand name for the struts and braces you are using for your piping?

 

[MarkDarnell]

Very nice build thread. Is there a brand name for the struts and braces you are using for your piping?

Kindorf is the brand of strut. The fittings were theirs also I believe but any conduit or pipe strut straps will work. I used the Kindorf because of the "yellow gold" look. It's much better than the pre-galv look of other brands. Then I just used UBolts to clamp to the tank stand.

 

[ethridge78]

Any new updates?

 

[MarkDarnell]

Any new updates?

Yes, many updates. I just have been super busy with work.

The wall is finished.

I have some new fish and coral that have been added. Honestly not sure what all has been added since last update. Here are some of my newer favorites.
Powder Blue
Blue Hippo

Some newer corals.

I have also added a frag Tank to the system it has some algae issues that I need to get under control before I post a picture of it haha.

I also added some IP cameras for vacation purposes.

Everything is just humming along at the moment.

 

[Ashish Patel]

Some serious Passion behind those DIY Projects..Job well done!

 

[ethridge78]

Very nice thanks for the update.

 

[italquam]

Agreed!

the fact that you can hit it with a baseball bat doesn’t hurt either.

Scratches are easy to avoid w good supplies. The hardest part to clean is the last 1-2” before the sand. If its not too late Id raise the trim up to have a “hidden” sandbed. If its too late, always clean sand last

-Plain magic erasers work wonders on acrylic inside to get film algae
-Flipper platinum scraper that you can load w credits cards is great
-Magnetic scraper -get an algae-free; just beware the size for acrylic is different than glass. takes a stronger magnet. BRS lists it as equivalent to glass but the packaging states different.

I recommend Mighty Magnets