Apcoleman February 22, 2015 Share February 22, 2015 (edited) I figured I would go ahead and start a build thread for this tank to have one place to see the progress over time. The tank is a Mainland 250DD with the Monterey stand and canopy. I debated about whether to go with a custom stand but I wanted the warranty and I don't mind the height of the stand. The biggest challenge is finding the right equipment that will fit with the limited height underneath. I will be consolidating livestock from two existing tanks into this one. Part of impetus with setting up the 250 is so I no longer have to manage two tanks (4ft 90 running a full zeovit system and a 93gal cube). Equipment: -250 marineland deep dimension w/starfire on 3 sides. -Monterey Stand and canopy -40 gal breeder sump -20 gal long ATO reservoir -DC12000 return -BRS dual reactor(GFO and carbon) -Reef Octopus Regal DC 250SSS skimmer -3 MP40wes -4 Ecotech Radions (G3 pros) w/3 4ft T5 strips -apex and reeflink to manage everything -Geo 618 calcium reactor w/aquarium plants regulator I am using all dry sand and rock to start this build as I am trying to mitigate the chances of introducing any unwanted pests on the rocks (mushrooms and star polyps included) My two other systems are currently still running so my plan is to let this cycle and then move over the livestock and apex. More to come Tony Edited October 6, 2016 by Apcoleman Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DuffyGeos February 22, 2015 Share February 22, 2015 Cool looking tank. Question- do you have enough height to remove the skimmer cup? Looks tight. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fishie February 22, 2015 Share February 22, 2015 looking good always liked the DD Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
khh27 February 22, 2015 Share February 22, 2015 Looking good but dang is that enough room to remove collection cup? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Apcoleman February 22, 2015 Author Share February 22, 2015 Ken, I do but I have zero room to spare. I knew it was going to be a tight fit and it's exactly that. I was trying to maximize all of my space haha Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Apcoleman February 22, 2015 Author Share February 22, 2015 (edited) Here is a pic to show the lack of clearance removing the cup. Edited February 22, 2015 by Apcoleman Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DuffyGeos February 22, 2015 Share February 22, 2015 Here is a pic to show the lack of clearance removing the cup. I still can't tell if you can remove it! LOL, as long as you can make it work, just thought I would bring it up. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bruleyii February 22, 2015 Share February 22, 2015 I've seen it first hand. It's a rubber seal that sits inside another. If you look at the bottom of the up he has it removed. It def rubs the top though. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DuffyGeos February 22, 2015 Share February 22, 2015 I've seen it first hand. It's a rubber seal that sits inside another. If you look at the bottom of the up he has it removed. It def rubs the top though. So I hope the top of the stand does not "settle" when the tank and water weight are put on it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bruleyii February 23, 2015 Share February 23, 2015 (edited) So I hope the top of the stand does not "settle" when the tank and water weight are put on it. True. Edited February 23, 2015 by Bruleyii Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Apcoleman February 23, 2015 Author Share February 23, 2015 The way the stand is engineered I don't see this being an issue but time will only tell. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DuffyGeos February 23, 2015 Share February 23, 2015 The way the stand is engineered I don't see this being an issue but time will only tell. Tony- I hope it all works, I just thought I would bring it up based on the pictures. Going to be a sweet tank! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Apcoleman February 23, 2015 Author Share February 23, 2015 Thanks Ken. Always good having an extra set of eyes and I'm looking forward to getting this thing going Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dmatt56 February 23, 2015 Share February 23, 2015 Did you make the sump? Looks interesting! Any additional pics of it? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
08can-am February 23, 2015 Share February 23, 2015 I have a 300 dd on the m9nterey stand also. What i did with my SRO6000SSS was had some of the skimmer cup routed off (trimmed where the lid rests on the cup) its still close but better than not coming off Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Apcoleman February 23, 2015 Author Share February 23, 2015 Did you make the sump? Looks interesting! Any additional pics of it? I did. 40 gallon breeder from the $1 petco sale and I purchased an acrylic baffle kit for it. Ill will take some pictures and post them up. I really wanted to purchase an aquabox sump (I have one on my cube) and one may still be in the future for this build. I have a 300 dd on the m9nterey stand also. What i did with my SRO6000SSS was had some of the skimmer cup routed off (trimmed where the lid rests on the cup) its still close but better than not coming off That is a great idea to give myself some extra clearance. Went through your thread quite a few times and almost went with the SRO5000SSS because of it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dmatt56 February 23, 2015 Share February 23, 2015 Who made the acrylic baffle kit? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Apcoleman February 23, 2015 Author Share February 23, 2015 Who made the acrylic baffle kit? modularmarine on ebay Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
khh27 February 23, 2015 Share February 23, 2015 Aquabox makes sweet 20 and 40 sump retrofits. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
08can-am February 23, 2015 Share February 23, 2015 Artfully acrylic did for me. Nice clean cut Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Apcoleman February 23, 2015 Author Share February 23, 2015 Aquabox makes sweet 20 and 40 sump retrofits. Artfully acrylic did for me. Nice clean cut I wish I would have thought to call either of those guys for the kit. I was traveling, saw the kit online and pulled the trigger. I am really happy with the quality and their cuts. I decided to play it safe and had 1/2" taken off of the top skimmer cup for added clearance. Such an easy fix that I hadn't even though about. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DuffyGeos February 23, 2015 Share February 23, 2015 I wish I would have thought to call either of those guys for the kit. I was traveling, saw the kit online and pulled the trigger. I am really happy with the quality and their cuts. I decided to play it safe and had 1/2" taken off of the top skimmer cup for added clearance. Such an easy fix that I hadn't even though about. Might make life easier Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
08can-am February 23, 2015 Share February 23, 2015 And fwiw i havent seen any negative effects on skimmer performance Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
YHSublime February 23, 2015 Share February 23, 2015 Nice, love that you went to the 250! Following along, but DANG that's a tiny stand! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Apcoleman March 5, 2015 Author Share March 5, 2015 Big thanks to club QR for getting this Avast Vibe in so I can continue with Zeovit. I have enjoyed using the method on my 90 and like the witchcraft the blue bottles give me. My biggest pet peeve with the system was pumping the stones daily so this coupled with the Apex will take care of that chore. The tank has been cycling for a week and I have been ghost feeding it as it cycles. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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