265 Gallon build

[ckimble]

Thought I would share this project with you all since it was on this forum I found (http://www.maast.org/forums/showthread.php?t=37856) the new tank.

We brought it home yesterday and my back is killing me from moving this beast. We have a ton of cleanup to do, but I think this will work nicely. More to come but thought I would share pictures of what I got with the deal...

Straight out of the trailer

http://i237.photobucket.com/albums/ff13/txkimbles/start.jpg

Extras
http://i237.photobucket.com/albums/ff13/txkimbles/IMG_0065.jpg

This thing is built like a brick $%#@house
http://i237.photobucket.com/albums/ff13/txkimbles/IMG_0066.jpg

Almost cleaned up
http://i237.photobucket.com/albums/ff13/txkimbles/IMG_0067.jpg

[caferacermike]

I don't think your pics worked. I'd love to see what you get since I was unable to make the trip.

[LoneStar]

Were you linking photos from a gmail account? Doesn't look like that will work.

Try a free Photobucket account:
www.photobucket.com

[ckimble]

original post fixed... pics should be visible now.

As my wife and I clean this thing I am finding some scratches on the glass. Most are on the sides but there are some visible on the front glass. Given the great price, I am thinking of getting the tank resealed and possible replacing the front panel. Is there anyone in the area that could tackle something like that?

Thanks,

Craig

[tg1119]

I was just at Forever Pets in San Antonio and got my tank drilled in the shop. Did not ask but I am almost positive that they could do it. They had a lot of big tanks that looked like they were being worked on and I think they build their own tanks. Their number is 210 733 6243.

[Ross]

Fin-Addict can do it.

[hobogato]

yeah, call felipe at fin addict - 6563474

[ckimble]

Several recommendations on Fin Addict so I will definitely give them a call. I was hoping I could find someone in the Austin area to do this. Anyone have a good recommendation for someone in Austin?

Hmmmm, Starfire could be cool....

[LoneStar]

Hmmmm, Starfire could be cool....

Yes it could. If you got the money, I'd go for it!

[erikharrison]

Call your local glass company and ask them for low iron glass in the size you need. That should give you an idea on price. :)

[apedroza]

If your in Austin Get a hold of teh people at kingfish aquariums!!! They specialize in custom tanks.

[ckimble]

Looking for advise on getting this thing rolling. As you can see in the picture the tank is drilled for a closed loop. From the research I have done I really would like to give the OceansMotion 4-way a go. Question then becomes, with the holes already drilled what is the best way to utilize them? I thought about using the existing holes for the 4 returns and getting a 5th hole drilled near the rear center of the bottom of the tank for the drain. Before I get any glass work done I need to figure this one out since I can have it drilled while it is in the shop.

Looking for any suggestions....

Should I just plug em and get a wavebox?

thanks

http://i237.photobucket.com/albums/ff13/txkimbles/IMG_0070.jpg

[txstateunivreefer]

that is the cross roads im at right now i have a OM 4way and a dart sitting on my floor right now... as i think about it over and over i keep cooming back to the dart and OM instead of the wavebox because of the clean look it will give your tank. Now when it comes to price diffrence they actually come out about the same (that is if you buy off of reef central maast or something similar). now as far as where to put your holes that depends on alot of things, how you are going to aquascape your rocks, barebottom? DSB? pump size? etc if you give paul a call at OM he can help you out but i found the best resoursce for ideas was their forum http://www.oceansmotions.com/forum/viewforum.php?f=10&sid=d4a665e54affbde0b21ba8108f937e13
here you can view alot of customers websites and gather some ideas on what you want and like. now IMO i think pwr heads are unsightly and if im gonna pour money into this beautiful tank in my livingroom i want to make sure i do whatever i can to make it look fantastic. i could have spent 4 times less and put in 2 hydor #4s and gotten the same flow but it wouldnt have given me the same clean look

id keep the two holes in the back wall and possibly bring the other two up and over to the front of the tank. are those more holes in the bottom as well?

[ckimble]

Just to answer your questions... If I go with the OM I planned on using a dart for the return pump. I really don't like the look of a BB so I would be doing a sand bottom. The sand could serve an additional purpose allowing me to bury the PVC pipe i would need to run from the holes in the bottom of the tank. This is going to be a full reef setup with mostly SPS coral. Essentially I have outgrown my 90g and will be upgrading my current tank to this one.

I came up with a couple of options here, let me hear your thoughts on these ideas I had, good or bad...

Option 1: OM 4-way with Dart return pump
http://i237.photobucket.com/albums/ff13/txkimbles/OM4-way.jpg
I would have a hole drilled in the section labeled drain as the main feed to the CL. Returns 2 & 4 would have a PVC 90 elbow and be run to the front corners about 6-8" from both the front and side with flex line to direct the flow.

Option 2: Tunze WaveBox with Snapper or Dart return pump
http://i237.photobucket.com/albums/ff13/txkimbles/wavebox-combo.jpg
It so happens the space behind the overflow box could accommodate a wavebox. This way I could get the benefit of one without having to look at the big black box. I don't think there would be any issues with putting it back there except maybe for maintenance access. Just for extra flow I thought I could plumb a couple of drains from the bottom holes to be returned through the holes on the back wall. Imagine the arrows as PVC and the circles are strainers. This may be overkill I don't know.

Thanks

[LoneStar]

I would put the outlets of the 4 way as:

Top: 1 4
Bottom: 3 2

This way the pattern will be making a crossing action, and it may help randomize the flow. As for the drain, looks like a good location to me. Get a large strainer and a nipple to raise it above your sandbed. Be prepared to take it out to clean in the future; so aquascape carefully. Also, don't forget to use single union or true union ball valves EVERYWERE. You will want to take 1 or all 4 lines off line at any time. Also, you will want to be able to remove the drum every 6-12 months to clean too.

Some helpfull links for plumbing parts:
www.flexpvc.com (http://www.flexpvc.com)
www.savko.com (http://www.savko.com)
www.aquaticeco.com (http://www.aquaticeco.com)

[txstateunivreefer]

ok you are not going to want to put the drain anywhere near the sandbed because people doing just that is what causes alot of folks to have to buy a replacemnt drum and housing. your sand will get into the OM and sand it to a hault. that is why mine is going to be about 8-12 in from my sand bed. also the holes presently in the bottom of the tank look a bit small you need to remember that you will have about 2250-2500gph pushing thru those holes... i have experemented you will just about shoot water out of the back of your tank. i do like the idea tho of 2 on the bottom and 2 up top lots of random flow. maybe plug those two or a neat idea would be to plumb your returns from your sump up thru those within your rock structure. i would put the last 2 OM outputs in the bottom 2 front corners. as far as your drain goes maybe put it next to the overflow or in the middle of the rear of your tank. on my dart intake i have a 2" tee that has a 1.5" strainer on 2 outlets and the thrid connected to the 2" bulkhead that way i dont suck the scales off of any fish.

http://i178.photobucket.com/albums/w244/cr1161/IMG_0070.jpg

this is what i might do with it
blue= intake.. you can shift this around just make sure you dont restrict the intake and keep it away from the sand bed
with the front 2 outputs you could drill those holes larger and bring the outputs to the front and hide your nozzle with a rock (grey)or you could purchase a couple of the tunze stream rocks to hide em. again your possibillities are endless

[LoneStar]

ok you are not going to want to put the drain anywhere near the sandbed because people doing just that is what causes alot of folks to have to buy a replacemnt drum and housing. your sand will get into the OM and sand it to a hault. that is why mine is going to be about 8-12 in from my sand bed.

Using a nipple that is 6-8" in length, in combination with a threaded ID bulkhead and strainer. That will put you above the sand line without any problems if you put your drain on the bottom pane.

[brewercm]

Another thing you could do with the way the holes are drilled in the back is take out the overflow and use that hole for the pump feed. Then use the back two holes and make a calfo style overflow.

Just a thought since you're still in that process.

[txstateunivreefer]

not a bad idea it would allow you to max your real estate take your time the one thing ill tell you about the OM is that it is a *&^%^$ to plumb you will have your tank a good bit away from the wall unless you plumb it under the tank

[BuckeyeHydro]

What are you going to do for an RO/DI for that beast?

Russ

[Bill S]

Be careful about drilling the bottom - many/most are tempered. Oceanic tempers their bottoms after drilling the holes.

I like Cliff's idea on the Calfo. As for your bottom drains, what I did on mine is put 3 strainers on each of mine - about 5" apart, about 5" above the bottom sandbed. It's been running that way for a year an a half, with no problems. With the drainage spread of 3 strainers on each return, I have had NO problems with anything getting stuck to them.

[ckimble]

The Calfo overflow has got me thinking as well. I need to do some research on that one. Anyone have some good photos of one in action?

Also, no takers on the wavebox idea?


What are you going to do for an RO/DI for that beast?

RussI will be upgrading most likely... Got any deals for me?

[txstateunivreefer]

i asked on RC to see what ppl thought of the wavebox and alot said that from experience they would not use it on a glass tank in the future, only on acrylic.


for the calfo pm jl1199 i know he has a calfo on his 150

[Bill S]

I have an end calfo on my 215 that Ace made for me. It is SO cool - the entire top layer/sheet of the tank is skimmed every few seconds.

[ckimble]

How do you keep fish out of it?

[Bill S]

I have eggcrate around the edges of it.

[ckimble]

It's been a while since I updated this project, but got some cool stuff this last week I just wanted to show off.

First off, I have been working with Felipe at Fin-Addict on getting the tank resealed and replacing a scratched panel of glass. Basically I am going to replace what is currently the back with a new piece of glass. This will then become the front of the tank so I can flip the return and have it on the left. I will have 3 holes drilled in the old front for 2 returns and a drain for the OM 4-way. Still figuring out pricing at this point. If the repair is too expensive I am just going to buy a new 180g (72x24x24) tank and have it euro-braced and drilled at the factory.

Most of the delay up to this point has been due to the fact I have tore out all the carpet in this and several other rooms to replace with hardwood flooring. Here you can see a shot of where the tank is going. Still a lot of work ahead of me, as there will be cabinetry built around the tank.

http://i237.photobucket.com/albums/ff13/txkimbles/IMG_0108.jpg


But on to the goodies...

I just unpacked my skimmer I scored on RC for the new setup. It is a 9 month old Deltec AP851. Everybody raves about these and I can see why, very nice construction. I can't wait to see what kind of crap it pulls out of the water. Also in the shot is the OM 4-way I bought from local ARC member. Now if I can get the tank situation figured out, I should be on my way.

http://i237.photobucket.com/albums/ff13/txkimbles/IMG_0106.jpg