Custom Reef Tank - Design Phase

[BirdieCBC]

When I moved from Oregon -> North Carolina, one of my many 'to-do' items was building a home office.
Immediately I knew a custom fish tank would be required, visible from both sides of the wall (because why the heck not).
I'm finally getting close to actually making this a reality, yet the more I read/research/explore - the more I realize how little I know about reef tanks.
So welcome to my journey... I'm open (and need) some good feedback/ideas/suggestions. Here goes...

• First pic is taken from inside my home office (daughters bedroom behind, wood shelving/cabinet doors still in process)
  • Framing for the DT stand prevented a single sump underneath - fail
• Second pic is my design sketch
  • Haven't drilled the DT or Sump tanks... waiting to confirm design feasibility
• 
  

Specs:
- 55 Gal DT (part of Top Fin Essentials Aquarium Starter Kit)
- (2) 10 Gal tanks for sump (Aqueon)
- Herbie Overflow (Eclipse S Box)
- Reef Octo Classic 110INT protein skimmer
- Sicce Syncra 3.0 Return Pump
- Heater is from the starter kit (Top Fin 200 Watt Heater) - will this work?

I have a crap ton of questions... would like to keep posting/asking/learning - as much as the thread stays active.
I'll eventually put my reef tank journey into some type of blog, so I can pass down all my learned knowledge to the next guy scrolling the internal for "best way to build a dual split sump with refugium".

- Birdie

 

[ndrwater]

Welcome to R2R!!! This is going to be good!!! Keep the updates coming!!!

 

[BeejReef]

Kudos on some very thoughtful planning and design. Will be a nice system.

How old is your daughter? You're installing a window into her bedroom. Be very suspicious of any 14yo boys that take a sudden interest in your fish.. lol.

Are you sure you'll be able to drill that 55g? They're often tempered glass. Other times, peeps complain about lack of front to back depth

It looks like a real solid design. I only worry about the 12" front to back design on your stand and canopy, specifically for a 55g. If you ever want to upgrade to a more traditional size for a 4' tank, you'll have to rip up and re-paint half the room. Ya know, with a quick re-build to 18 or 24" front to back, you could run anything from a 55 to a 120 and easily be able to fit your current 55g in the stand for a heck of a sump and have two spare tanks for quarantine or hospital.

 

[BirdieCBC]

Hello Reefers!

Time to show some progress, and ask some question.
I'm learning that patience is a must for this hobby, as well as deep pockets!

1. Live Rock or Dry Rock: my wallet tells me dry rock is coming... any tips on picking the rock, installing the formations, conditioning dry rock?

2. DT Sand: looking at an approximate 1" dry sand bad... any tips of sand selection, cycling tips/ bacterial supplements?

3. Lighting: why is everything in this hobby so dang expensive... any suggestions for DT lighting, fuge light (refugium will start with miracle mud and chaeto)

4. Overall feedback (gulp)... waiting to get my DT rock sculpting and sand in place before I fill er up and start testing!!!

PS - if you'd like to donate me a Vortech MP40WD (or two) that would be a huge blessing

Cheers
Birdie

 

[BirdieCBC]

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[Mr_Knightley]

Wow, cool project! Following!

 

[BirdieCBC]

Dry Rock Landscape: foundation rock is awesome, breaking up MacroRock is brutal, lots of superglue, E-Marco 400, turned out amazing!

Sand Bed: two bags of CaribSea Special Grade was perfect, egg crate under rock to distribute weight/protect glass, MircleMud for my refugium

Just dumped in a bottle of Instant Ocean BIO-Spira... wish me luck!