My 260 gallon build.

[Wetdiver]

So after 8 month of waiting, reading, asking questions, getting help from friends my dream tank is finally up and running.

Below is a journey of my build I hope you enjoy it as well a do.

Tank:
84" X 22" X 31"

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[Wetdiver]

265 gallon monterey marinland
1" Overflow on each corner supply and return with max flow tips (circular motion)
Close loop 2 - 21/4" supply and 4 - 1" return
Reeflo dart for main pump 2700 GPH
Reeflo gold for close loop 3600 GPH
One MP 40 for turbulence flow

Sump
75 gallon drilled (50 gallon total volume)
10 gallon RO/DI hold
ATO
T5 lights (42" / 4 bulbs / 2 white / 2 actinic)
Skimmer Skimz SM 201


Controller
1 reef keeper (mainly for sump lights
1 Apex
PH probe
2 Temp
Dosing pump (ALK and calcium)

Lights
3 / IT2060 (reefbreeder) photon24

Others
50 gallon per day RO/DI unit
40 gallon mixing station
Blue line 70 HD (for auto fill in and mixing)

 

[Wetdiver]

The old tank 55 gallons



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Pick up the used tank from a friend I have to clean it so I build some sawhorses so I can slide the tank from the stand and my wife was not going to help me so I had to make it that I can do all the work.




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[Wetdiver]

After that the cleaning started and once the tank was of the stand I installed 6 sets of 325 pounds per tire set of wheels so it will be easier to move the tank once is empty. One is full the total weight of the tank will hold and also there us a 1/4' gap between the wood and the floor.



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[Wetdiver]

Tank is now clean and ready for design.



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Design took me about 2 weeks and with some changes made by friends below is the final product of design.



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[Wetdiver]

I new that the original color of the stand was going to change so I started the sanding of the stand inside and out.

For outside I used light cherry and for the inside I use 2 part apoxy white for corrosion and endurance.



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[Wetdiver]

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[Wetdiver]

Once I was happy with the stand I started with the sump.

I drilled 3 - 21/4" holes
One for the external skimmer supply
One for the external skimmer return
One for the main pump

Also I new from the old tank that I need a RO/DI container so I made enough room for a 10 Gallon resabor and enough room for a internal skimmer just in case the external skimmer did not work.

I also wanted the possibility of socks and also a frag rack for about 50 frags or so.

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[Wetdiver]

Now that I had the sump in I was able to work on the piping from the tank down.

This was the hardest part due to now room was left for error. I used regular ball valves (I know guys they suck) but the gate valves were to big. It actually worked better sure to that I only have to adjust one side of the supply the other side is set for life.

Also at this time Installed the T5 Lights above the sump.

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Once that was done the close loop was installed.

I spoke with a ton of people and it was a 50/50 split on the close loop.

I know that installing 2 MP 60 was out of the question and it may have not been enough flow so a 3rd may be needed. With the coast of the MP 60 ($600.00) a piece my wife will have kill me so I decided to drill a 3/4" glass tank.

It took me 3 weeks to make my decision and 15 minutes per month hole.



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[Wetdiver]

Now that my heart was back to normal the piping was the next step.

I wanted full control and also full control of the tank once was ready to be moved so I made sure that all the pipe was easy to removed and put back together.

I admitted bulkheads suck and if you buy the good ones you will safe a lot of trips to the store and please done over due the fittings they will leak. Always make sure that you clean the glass and the gaskets prior to installing the bulkheads.

There are 4 returns with 1" pipe and 3/4" reducer. The bottom returns have dual discharge for the debri to be pick up from the floor.





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[Wetdiver]

I knew that sand was out of the question so files were put in. I did put sand in the sump for the debri to accumulate.


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[Wetdiver]

150 pounds of rock was picked up and 30 pounds of tonga rock was purchased and the cycle started and this time the tank was tested for leaks.

4 leaks were found and fix.

I carved the rocks to resemble a ledge for zoa to be happy.





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[Wetdiver]

I installed a power strip for only some devices due to the main pump and the MP 40 will be on a 30 minute battery back up.

I also installed a chiller only because the garage was heating the water to 84 degrees not only that the original skimmer pump was making the water go another 2 degrees higher.

The pipe for the chiller will be use for water Changes.

Do I decided to remove the down draft skimmer and get me a sump skimmer that will handle 500 gallons with a small foot print and a good price so I looked and the Skims (Italian build) and it was perfect.



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So after 2 month in the garage with no lights, no leaks, heat was stable it was finally time to go inside the house.

With help of some friends we build a ramp and we rolled the tank (water was taken out) thru the front door.



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[Wetdiver]

After 3 hours this include taking the water out, rolling the tank in, putting the water back in and installing the lights the tank was cycle for another 3 weeks before I started transferring coral from the old tank.



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[Wetdiver]

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