Scott’s 255g CTC build

Swoody · Feb 19, 2018

OK, so the anticipation is killing me as I am awaiting delivery of my new tank being built by CTC custom aquariums. The dimensions are
84”x30”x24”tall. They are also building a custom steel box tube stand for me as well. Things look as of now for a delivery date of March 10, give or take a few days. Unfortunately I will be away at work in the Bering Sea Alaska where I work as a Chief Engineer on a commercial fishing vessel. But it will be waiting for me when I get home to go to work on immediately.... get the plumbing etc... and have this thing running before I have to leave again. I currently have 135 gallon system and I am going to transfer all the rock and livestock from that system over to the new and I will put together a new sump and return pump set up from a 75g tank I currently have running as a fresh water tank. My better half does not want to deal with 2 tanks which sort of bums me out as I love my little fresh water friends.... but as they say happy wife happy life.
I opted to have CTC install their own external overflow box on the tank and I will be setting up a bean animal ovflo drain system. So in the meantime here’s what I have, a couple of pictures of the build in progress as it nears completion....the next pictures I get from home will be as it is set on the stand close to its permanent location by a company that I have hired in Phoenix to take care of the delivery. The tank is all 3/4” euro braced top & bottom, black silicone and black rear panel, with the front panel being StarFire. I also have a GHL profilux 4 mega pack, a 2.1 Doser, GHL Mitras 7206 lights all waiting to go to work on this new tank, and I am going to use the ATI essentials system right from the start. Basically because of my job this is going to probably be a little bit longer of a build than I would’ve preferred, but it is what it is. I actually am making this post from my hotel room in Dutch Harbor Alaska as I board the vessel tomorrow morning to head out to sea. So that’s all for now, here are a couple of pics and I can’t wait for the next ones. I will keep this post updated as things progress. Thank you for looking in.

1WildBill · Feb 19, 2018

Looks like it’s gonna be a sweet build, looking foreword to seeing this one.

boxofrocks · Feb 19, 2018

Great dimensions! That’s going to be sweet

Swoody · Mar 10, 2018

Ok.... update time (from Dutch Harbor AK).... Received the final pics from CTC today and tank ships next week and I cannot wait! I fly out of here (weather permitting) next Saturday and as soon as it arrives will get straight to work on it as I have to get back up here May 5 and I am set on having it on line before I take off.... here are a a couple pics of it completed. ( one of beautiful Dutch today..... horrible weather!!! )

Swoody · Mar 29, 2018

Wow it’s been tough!! The waiting has been killing me But finally my new tank and stand are on the truck and headed west. Seems like Monday or Tuesday is the day it drops then we’ll get it from the depot to home and set up on the stand. Then I intend to get busy on this because I want it in operation in 2 weeks max. I will get as many pics as feasible and keep this updated as best I can. Thanks for looking in.

1WildBill · Mar 29, 2018

RIGHT ON!! Looking forward to seeing that box full of water.

Jerry Ebner · Mar 30, 2018

Very nice

Reefer Deez · Mar 30, 2018

Looks amazing! I can't wait to see how it turns out!

Swoody · Apr 5, 2018

Finally got this beauty to the house and on the stand.... plumbing is underway.

1WildBill · Apr 5, 2018

Gorgeous how it sits. I’m jealous.

ca1ore · Apr 6, 2018

Very nice. CtC make really nice glass tanks. How heavy do you figure the empty glass tank was?

Swoody · Apr 6, 2018

ca1ore said:
Very nice. CtC make really nice glass tanks. How heavy do you figure the empty glass tank was?

It was 507 lbs!!!

Swoody · Apr 16, 2018

Few pics as I get this updated.... went right to work on the plumbing.... I was all set to build my own some but in the end I caved in bought a ESSHOPS Royal Premier sump.... it’s good for up to 400gals. ( their website info).... I like the thing and pricing for size was good, but me unknowing the noise caused by the filter sock area was suprised by how loud.... I have some fixes that I’m screwing around with and things have definitely gotten better I am not using the filter socks in the holes I actually have a skimmer in the back section and a couple of foam Filters at least for now well the tank is relatively new in those spots.

Swoody · Apr 16, 2018

I set up the overflow box in the bean animal configuration and it was so easy to get dialed in. I was actually nervous because of some of the threads I’ve read about people having quite a tough time with it but luckily for me I did not experience anything like that....it took me about 10 minutes. Here’s the first night fresh water hose test I let it run all night long no drips nothing untowards, so the next morning I drained it and I set about filling it with RODI & salt..... using Fritz rpm this time since the guy that will do the maintenance on it when I’m at work in Alaska uses fritz.....I don’t imagine I’ll see any major difference between using instant ocean and this other than the price LOL.

Swoody · Apr 16, 2018

I am running a Vectra M1 pump and I also have a Sicce 9.0 TDC plumbed in as well as an emergency back up..... I will alternate between them so growth does not become an issue for the idle pump.

Swoody · Apr 16, 2018

So here is how it is sitting today.... there is a lot remaining to do since every power supply, controller etc... is spread across the floor! I also have to get the GHL profilux, the GHL doser 2.1 on line.... I think the 3 LX 7206 lights will work for now.....