It's offical with this thread! 260 gallon build begins!

[iplumbsome]

So it begins! A little bit of back story. I had a 120 gallon FOWLR about 10 years ago. Pretty much did most things wrong, but I was just getting to the point of starting to think about adding corals. As happens a lot life got in the way, got divorced, and the 120 came down. Ten years later I am remarried and we started building a new house over a year ago. I always wanted to get another tank eventually. While I was drawing the new house it just so happened I had a wall that backed up to a mechanical room and it lit the fire for another tank. I am cheap so I buy a lot of stuff off craigslist and forum boards. I started searching craigslist religiously. I had to drive 6 hours but scored a good deal on a 260 gallon acrylic tank 84x30x24. I also got a 60 gallon sump, 45 gallon refugium, and return pumps. Super nice guy. He throw in a lot of other goodies too.

All this equipment has been sitting in storage waiting for this house build from hell to get done. House finally got done this fall and my goal is to get this thing up and running before spring and I have to get outside to do my landscaping. I made so many mistakes the first time around because I did it all my own and listening to 16 year olds at the LFS. I am hoping to lean on you guys and gals so I don't have to do this all over 3 times. Since I am a plumber and I have a nice mechanical room the back of my tank has to look as good as the front. That is part of what draws me to this hobby.

This is a pic of the wall it is going in. I am going to do a little "bar" out front and it will be poured concrete to match our bar in the basement.

View attachment 2018-01-11 19.47.54.jpg

 

[iplumbsome]

Here is a pic of the stand that I built. Excuse the mess on top.

 

[iplumbsome]

Here is the tank. I need to sand/buff the front. The guy before me had a big clam that got up against the front glass and it is pretty bad in a few spots. I started when I first got it but it still needs some work.

 

[iplumbsome]

Here is the sump and refugium. After reading some things it seems a lot of guys don't believe in using a refugium anymore. I would like to hear everyone's opinion on this. Regardless I was thinking about plumbing it in anyways for more water volume and I thought if nothing else I could put equipment in there.

 

[iplumbsome]

This is the area I dedicated to my mixing station and all of my equipment. I put a drain in the floor close to where the display will be because I was thinking about just putting a bulkhead in the side of the tank to drain down to a predetermined level to do water changes. I also have a sink and RO water available. I have a whole house RO system for drinking water, but I would have to add a DI cartridge. I think it is only 30 gallons per day so I am debating on just adding another one. I guess after initial fill and water changes it won't be working all the much just keeping up with make up water. Again excuse the mess! We are still unloading a storage unit.

 

[thaitopher]

Here is the sump and refugium. After reading some things it seems a lot of guys don't believe in using a refugium anymore. I would like to hear everyone's opinion on this. Regardless I was thinking about plumbing it in anyways for more water volume and I thought if nothing else I could put equipment in there.

Love this thread already. What a great location. I have never heard the no sump argument. Why would people suggest no sump is better? Seems obvious to me that a sump is what you would need.

 

[iplumbsome]

My whole goal is to make this tank as easy to maintain as possible. I am starting from scratch so I can do pretty much anything at this point. What are some things you guys would do to make things easier?

 

[iplumbsome]

Love this thread already. What a great location. I have never heard the no sump argument. Why would people suggest no sump is better? Seems obvious to me that a sump is what you would need.

Not no sump. No refugium. Some of the thread I was reading yesterday were claiming the benefits of a refugium don't out weigh the maintenance of the refugium. They were saying invest in a great skimmer.

 

[Fudsey]

Looks like you got a great plan in motion. Good luck and like everyone says "Take your time and if you feel like your going to slow, slow down even more"

 

[iplumbsome]

Looks like you got a great plan in motion. Good luck and like everyone says "Take your time and if you feel like your going to slow, slow down even more"

Yeah I am in no huge hurry. Like most I am sure I will run out of money before time!

 

[Fudsey]

I know I have.... Now I have to hit the wife up for stuff.... lol

 

[thaitopher]

My whole goal is to make this tank as easy to maintain as possible. I am starting from scratch so I can do pretty much anything at this point. What are some things you guys would do to make things easier?

BRS TV is doing a series how low maintenance tanks. You should check out their videos!

 

[iplumbsome]

I know I have.... Now I have to hit the wife up for stuff.... lol

Mine gave me the green light but I don't think she has any idea what that mean$! I use to do a lot of side jobs and would have a nice stash put away, but with building this house that has all dried up. Plus I am getting old and don't want to work more than I have to now.

 

[iplumbsome]

BRS TV is doing a series how low maintenance tanks. You should check out their videos!

Thanks! I will check that out.

 

[TheNano]

Wow looks great! That will look great once it's done.

 

[Susan Edwards]

Be nice to see it as it takes shape!

 

[don_chuwish]

The 'refugium' thing goes round and round. I think basically if you want one there's no harm and it's fun to have that extra life in the system. Certainly not a required item though.
As a plumber I don't need to tell you but, ACCESS. Make it easy to get at everything for future maintenance, revisions, etc.
LOVE the idea of putting in a bulkhead for easy drain off at water change time. Very jealous of the floor drain!
Plan for a frag tank, even if it never happens at least you can stub out the plumbing and have the space ready.

 

[Buddah001]

I would go fuge.... Take a look at the Triton method. I’m switching over to that here soon

 

[butters417]

looks like a good start already. I like the server rack in there too, be careful running all saltwater in that same room, may cause some of your computer equipment to get rusty. id get/make a lid for the sump/refug + a dehumidifier

 

[hubble]

Looks like fun, jealous of the hole filter room..............;Wideyed