Large Aquarium Build Advice Needed

[14 foot reef]

I am no electrician, but does anybody else have a problem with a single 20 AMP circuit?

My setup is a little bigger but I have my equipment split across two 20s and I still tripped a breaker on power restart.

Running another 20-40 amp circuit seems to be the cheepest part of this build. No way will 20 amps work long term. I run a double 60 amp service to my area. This tank will grow and grow and change and change many times. Get the electric in there now !!!!

 

[SPR1968]

I would go custom build no hesitation

i have a Red Sea Max S650 I also have a very big custom build. There’s no comparison

 

[Caseyz]

For big tanks... I always try to use 2 or 3 circuits and separate critical components to that if one circuit gets tripped, the tank can survive.
At a minimum, separate the system pump from the power heads. As an alternative... you can have a battery backup on the power heads.

I am running the math on power and it looks like I should be shy of 16 AMPS if everything is at 100% at the same time which it never would be. Cycling pumps, lights etc. I am happy to be corrected though.

I can get access to another circuit if need be, will just require an electrician to extend it.

 

[AlgaeBarn]

Greetings, first time posting here so if I get something wrong please forgive me. I used to be in the hobby about a decade ago and had a healthy 40G SPS tank that I loved. I lost that tank in an ice storm where we lost power for over a week. I am now in a new larger home with a backup generator and would like to get back into the hobby in a bigger way. I have space for a what I consider a large tank and need some advice from those that have experience with larger tanks. The wall I will put the tank on is 110" long so I have plenty of space. I am on a slab foundation with a tile floor so weight isn't an issue. My last tank was a total DIY build so I am not afraid to get my hands dirty. In looking at my options in the 200G+ space it looks like either the Waterbox or the Red Sea are the two main stream options. I am also considering a custom tank as well, but only if there is a compelling reason to go that route. I am a little put off by the Metric plumbing in the Red Sea as I intend to customize the plumbing for reactors, dosing, etc. That doesn't have to be a show stopper, but it is a concern. I am located in the US so getting access to Imperial plumbing fixtures is much easier for me. I do not plan on using the lighting in either off the shelf system as I would like something higher end and there are several good options there. I would like to have an all in budget minus livestock of between 15-20K.

That's the back story, my question is if you were in my position, what tank/system would you choose and why? Remember that I am mainly focused on SPS with a few compatible fish. The only limiting factors are budget and a 20AMP circuit. Any advice or wisdom is much appreciated.

Have you checked out the CADE Reef 1800 S2? Amazing tanks and this one has a 221 gallon total capacity. The stand is anodized aluminum and pre-assembled and made to last. You should definitely give it a look and if you have any other questions shoot me a dm! https://www.algaebarn.com/shop/aquariums/cade-pr-1800-series-2/ ~Shaun K.

 

[Potatohead]

I am running the math on power and it looks like I should be shy of 16 AMPS if everything is at 100% at the same time which it never would be. Cycling pumps, lights etc. I am happy to be corrected though.

I can get access to another circuit if need be, will just require an electrician to extend it.

A 20 amp circuit is designed for 16 amps continuous use. You would be really borderline and that is assuming everything only pulls the power it says it pulls. If it were me I would run another 20a circuit and put the return on one and the powerheads on the other, as someone mentioned before.

 

[TrentonG]

Have you checked out the CADE Reef 1800 S2? Amazing tanks and this one has a 221 gallon total capacity. The stand is anodized aluminum and pre-assembled and made to last. You should definitely give it a look and if you have any other questions shoot me a dm! https://www.algaebarn.com/shop/aquariums/cade-pr-1800-series-2/ ~Shaun K.

I would really consider the CADE Aquariums if you're looking at prebuilt.

I've had my PR2-1200 for about a month and I'm very happy with it. I really like the glass doors on 3 sides and design of the power strips. Setting the it up was a breeze, all you really have to do is take the stand out of the box, level it and set the tank on top. I wouldn't have had the patience to put together a Red Sea or Waterbox stand after hauling it inside.

It replaced a used Red Sea Max S500 which was really showing its age. It had rusty hinges that ripped out of the wood stand and silicone that was starting to separate. I also hated design of the drawer power center as every time I opened it, it pulled on multiple cords.

 

[vetteguy53081]

Assure stand is sturdy and prepare for adequate and quality lighting, weight support of flooring and ample electrical source. If doing corals. . . dosers and ca reactor recommended along with back up pump/heater/ controller

 

[AlgaeBarn]

I would really consider the CADE Aquariums if you're looking at prebuilt.

I've had my PR2-1200 for about a month and I'm very happy with it. I really like the glass doors on 3 sides and design of the power strips. Setting the it up was a breeze, all you really have to do is take the stand out of the box, level it and set the tank on top. I wouldn't have had the patience to put together a Red Sea or Waterbox stand after hauling it inside.

It replaced a used Red Sea Max S500 which was really showing its age. It had rusty hinges that ripped out of the wood stand and silicone that was starting to separate. I also hated design of the drawer power center as every time I opened it, it pulled on multiple cords.

We love to hear it! ~Shaun K.

 

[mcshams]

When we get to own our house and build a tank, I would devote some of your budget into a fish maintenance room. So even if the 15k budget was 10k tank, and 5k sump/maintenance room, it would be the way I would want to go. Over the brief time I've been in this hobby, working on the floor under the tank is just hard long-term. The flexibility of having a devoted space for filtration, utility sink, devoted wiring/circuitry, and even room for quarantine, water mixing, frag tank would be great.

 

[Caseyz]

First, thanks for all that have commented, it has been very helpful. Just an update I confirmed I have another unused 20AMP circuit that I can get pulled to the tank location so I should be good on power. With all the equipment at full bore I would be at 18AMPS so splitting that across two circuits will be more than enough head room (I hope!). After some more research and a few phone calls I think I am going with the 84x24x24 CD tank and their steel stand. It just looks to be high quality and it will perfectly fit the space I have. My gut tells me I want to go with the Triton method for a number of reasons so I am now considering the Bashsea Bio Fuge 48x18x16 as well as their 8-24 Skimmer. The only thing I have an issue with is there isn't enough room in the Bashsea return chamber to fit two return pumps which I want for redundancy. I have contacted them and may end up having them make something custom to accommodate that.

I spent some time in CAD today and mocked up a couple of renderings of what I am looking at.

 

[Caseyz]

Finished mocking up the sump area. It is tight but everything fits. Now on to the plumbing...

 

[Caseyz]

A few more renders with the plumbing completed. Tips or feed back welcome. Still need a gate on the main overflow and check valves on the returns, but haven't had the time to draw those yet.

 

[Gablami]

Most people would drill return bulkheads instead of going over the top. Given the amount of flow you want to run, ask for 1.5” return bulkheads. I did 1”. Don’t get 1.25” - it’s impossible to find 1.25” bulkheads.

 

[Caseyz]

Most people would drill return bulkheads instead of going over the top. Given the amount of flow you want to run, ask for 1.5” return bulkheads. I did 1”. Don’t get 1.25” - it’s impossible to find 1.25” bulkheads.

Something more like this?

 

[JoshH]

Most people would drill return bulkheads instead of going over the top. Given the amount of flow you want to run, ask for 1.5” return bulkheads. I did 1”. Don’t get 1.25” - it’s impossible to find 1.25” bulkheads.

Dual 1.5" bulkheads on return line for a 200ish gallon tank? Dual 1" should be more than enough and can certainly handle more than what the COR-15 puts out flow wise.

 

[Gablami]

Dual 1.5" bulkheads on return line for a 200ish gallon tank? Dual 1" should be more than enough and can certainly handle more than what the COR-15 puts out flow wise.

I agree! Sorry, missing information. On prior thread the OP said he wants to push 10X turnover.

 

[K7BMG]

Triton is what I am running.
I agree if you can have a seperate room for the sump and equipment. It gets real old real fast stuping down and working on the equipment.
Pulling apart the skimmer changing filter socks for maintenance and the like. No matter how careful there is always water getting in and under, thus creating mold and smells.

I say call and talk to Joe with glass cages.

 

[JumboShrimp]

(1) You might want to check out the Fiji overflow boxes at BRS that 'pop apart' for cleaning; there is a photo on my build thread-- they just arrived. (2) Who is delivering an 84" tank to you-- your LFS? (I'm just saying, think ahead on that part). Sounds like a great tank you are planning!

 

[Caseyz]

(1) You might want to check out the Fiji overflow boxes at BRS that 'pop apart' for cleaning; there is a photo on my build thread-- they just arrived. (2) Who is delivering an 84" tank to you-- your LFS? (I'm just saying, think ahead on that part). Sounds like a great tank you are planning!

I will get it freighted in. It's not a problem, I live on a farm and have a tractor with a fork lift and unload trucks for equipment all the time. Getting it in the house and on the stand is a whole other matter. I am thinking about hiring a moving company with insurance just in case the tank gets dropped or cracked (please don't let that happen!).

 

[Caseyz]

Triton is what I am running.
I agree if you can have a seperate room for the sump and equipment. It gets real old real fast stuping down and working on the equipment.
Pulling apart the skimmer changing filter socks for maintenance and the like. No matter how careful there is always water getting in and under, thus creating mold and smells.

I say call and talk to Joe with glass cages.

I wish this were the case, but we don't have basements where I live or at least it is not common. I do have an adjacent closet I could use, but then I would lose the tank in the divorce...