New Project is off the ground!

[NaCl_H2O]

Well, I placed my order for my new Oceanic tanks today, so it is all up hill from here :-D :-D :-D

<edit>The pic below is a "Deleted" concept drawing of what my final project will look like viewed from the living room, but it will give you an idea what I am biting off. I am converting what was our Dinning room into an aquarium room. These are some specifics - feel free to tell me what I'm doing wrong.

BTW - This project has exceeded my original budget by a considerable amount, and some of the selections below are due to scaling back a little :cry:

<edit>Tanks: 215g & 140g Oceanic brick style Reef Ready w/in-wall support stands
<edit>Corner tank: Geting a quote on a corner pentagon from Texas Tropical
Inhabitants: 215g = SPSs, 140g = Softies, 40g = FOWLR
Sumps: From Dan, still being designed - total cap = 130g
<edit> Fuge: Scrapped the in sump idea, going with a 72" x 18" x 18" gravity feed
Main pump: Panworld 200PX-X
215g closed loops: 4 x Mag 700gph (controled w/Natural Wave timer)
140g closed loops: 4 x Mag 500gph (controled w/Natural Wave timer)
50g closed loops - none
<edit>Skimmer - Turbofloater 5000 Single (7' tall :o )
<edit>Ca Reactor - Korallin C-3002
215g lights: My existing CSL Moon lite 4x96 PC (10K & 7100), and 3 MH PFO 65K 400w pendants
140g lights: PFO hood w/2x96 PC Actinics + 2 250w MH 10K + 3 moons
50g lights - something simple & cheap!

Tons of other "Support" stuff, and some automation (lights & pumps) via X10

I'm having a ball with this :-D :grin: :-D :grin: !

Anybody know a good/cheap cabinet maker?

Later - Steve

[NaCl_H2O]

Oh yea, I forgot to mention that my existing 120g will be my grow out tank. Total capacity of the system is estimated at 710g :o , with operational water volume between 500g-600g ... how many buckets of salt is that?

[alexwolf]

Why not scrap the closed loop Mags and get a pair of Tunze's? I have a great cabinet maker in the family. Very reasonable

[alexwolf]

3 buckets, 200 gal each

[NaCl_H2O]

Why not scrap the closed loop Mags and get a pair of Tunze's?
These tanks will be viewable from either side. The overflows & closed loops plumbing will be via the sides of the tanks & hidden in the cabinetwork. Returns from closed loops will be routed up through the canopy area above the tanks. I dont want any powerheads, etc. cluttering up the view of the tanks!!!


I have a great cabinet maker in the family. Very reasonable
Please PM me with the name & contact info for the cabinet maker!

[alexwolf]

I was saying Tunze because they push 2200-2300 GPH each and will use less power.

[scuba_steveo]

Why not scrap the closed loop Mags and get a pair of Tunze's?
These tanks will be viewable from either side. The overflows & closed loops plumbing will be via the sides of the tanks & hidden in the cabinetwork. Returns from closed loops will be routed up through the canopy area above the tanks. I dont want any powerheads, etc. cluttering up the view of the tanks!!!!

I agree with Alex here. The Tunze are much better for flow and wave making and the closed loop really junks things up inside your aquarium room. You can also get rocks made by tunze that will hide them. If not tunze then use the oceansmotion, just try not to use closed loop. You also should gravity feed you refugium into the main tanks if you can. Dan built my 110 gallon refugium to fit just perfect. Just my .02

[dan]

man THAT IS A NICE TANK!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! i want to see that when it comes in. WOW!!!!!! it seems like the more people i see the better the tanks get. that's going to be a set up and a half!!!!!!!looking to see and hear more. of course build the fuge.

[scuba_steveo]

dang dan you didnt say that about mine :) ... j/k ... that set up will be sweet!

[NaCl_H2O]

dang dan you didnt say that about mine :)

Yea, but yours is more than just a drawing!

Dan, I tried to send more pics of the sumps & fuge - hope you got them? Maybe we can sync up soon?

I will probably add a gravity feed fuge, just need to see how the physical space works out.

I hear y'all about the Tunze's, but one of my goals on this setup was to eliminate ALL electrical cords, or anything requiring maintenance from inside the tanks!

FYI - Refined my order a little - I am going with Oceanic Bricks :grin:

[alexwolf]

Then use the Oceansmostions wavemaker, its a million times better.

[NaCl_H2O]

Then use the Oceansmostions wavemaker, its a million times better.

And about a million times more expensive $$$

That is actually one of the ideas I cut off my list. Also trying to keep the plumbing a little more "basic", as recommended by someone I consider to be a "Pro Hobbyist" - 4 seperate closed loop pumps per tank, each with two outlets. The MAGs weren't my first choice on pumps for the closed loops, but my budget forced me to build a Chevy instead of my original Cadillac design!

I'm still looking at WAY TOO much money before I add a single drop of water, sand, rock, salt ... not to mention the live stuff!

Now, if only I could do this for a living and quit my day job :-D

[NaCl_H2O]

Oceanic gave Texas Tropical an 8/3 ship date for my 215g and 140g brick aquariums ... seems like forever!

Most of my "stuff" from Premium Aquatics, Marine Depot, and Smarthome has been delivered and is waiting for saltwater :-D

I edited the original post above with revised configurations and will post some pics when the tanks show up and I start putting this project together. Maybe I'll be ordering Live Rock in September?

I deleted the "concept" picture - Pete Rafferty has been a HUGE help with suggestions and helping me work through some new concepts. No drawings yet, it will be a big surprise ... and it will BLOW YOU AWAY!

Working with Dan on sump/refugium designs, but he has gone silent ... probably still laughing at my original drawings :oops:

Later - Steve