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Nathan's 210g Reef Tank Build


n8n

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I started my first reef tank just under a year ago, and am already upgrading my system.  My current system is a 93g cube tank. http://wamas.org/forums/topic/69822-nathans-93g-tank-build/

 

We now have kittens, and "cat tv" so the new system will be designed to be kitten-proofed.

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(the tank is not normally "that" close to the couch I was taking measurements but they do paw at it from the ground) which is quite easy being a "shorty" stand.

 

The new system is a re-build of another WAMAS members tanks..  Artfully Acrylic 60x30x27  

 

Previous Members build of this very tank: http://wamas.org/forums/topic/50068-the-outlaw-bar-tank/, very sad he had to sell it, it was cleaned up and now I'm buying it and setting it up.

 

More Posts with pics of former glory: http://wamas.org/forums/topic/64371-fs-210g-full-setup-and-misc-items/?hl=artfully

 

Pics of it cleaned up: http://wamas.org/forums/topic/73870-fs-aa-210gal-w-stand-sump-and-return-pump/?hl=artfully

 

I plan to largely "transplant" my current system into the new tank.  There are alot of things I like about the outlaw's original setup, there are of course things I'd change for personal preference.  

 

I am a huge fan of Bean Animal and external overflow hidden behind the tank rather than a huge "cornerflow" inside the tank.  The dimensions fit perfectly where i'm putting it also.

 

The spot for the new system.

 

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The red blanket is roughly where the tank will sit.  The blue tape are measurements we were tanking.  The lower blue tape on the wall is the height of the current tank, the upper blue tape is the new height.  The tank will be well outside of reach of the kittens, but we do plan on adding a canopy to be 2000% sure.

 

Here is what I'm getting from Jeremy:  (he has a box full of plumbing and the crown molding to finish off the stand), as well as a return pump and sump.

 

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Here is his awesome hand-written measurement of the stand.  (I haven't picked the tank up yet)

 

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Some of the stuff that will be moving into the new tank: 19915681792_87c74bd6c7_b.jpg

 

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(size perspective, full size ipad)

 

Fortunately No one has called the "Tang Police" on me yet.  I have a yellow tang and a cole tank enjoying my 93g that would love to roam around the 210g.

 

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Yes thats a pair of Maroon Clowns sharing the tank with a pair of Midnight Clowns... So far they get along as long since both pairs of their own anemones to protect.

 

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Rose Bubble Tip  -- Also under protection of the Maroons

 

I also have a saltwater mixing system that will support the 210g tank, with automatic RODI top-off, and automatic S/W top-off, and automatic water changes scheduled with APEX.

 

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The tank is on the other side of the wall.

 

 

 

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Equipment:

 

  • Artfully Acrylic 210g 60x30x27
  • Custom Stand 61x32x37
  • Return Pump: Waveline DC-DC6000 .. or Eheim 1262
  • Controller: Apex
  • Skimmer: Aquamaxx ConeS CO-2
  • Bio-Reactor: AVAST Marine MR-10 Recirculating Reactor
  • GFO Reactor: Next Reef MR-1 (Recirculating)
  • ATO: Tunzi (Dual Pump for both S/W and RODI)
  • RODI: SpectraPure
  • Circulation Pump(s): Ecotech MP-40 & 1500gph cheapo.  (probably have to enhance this)
  • Liverock: have about 60lbs in current tank + 2 bricks in sump that are moving to new sump.
  • Sump:  Ok... the one that came with this tank is less than impressive.  Going to be buying something cool..  suggestions?  -- i have a ton of space.  49x26x23 or 56x23x23 ..  (seriously i'm thinking of only using half the space provided for the sump).
  • Light: AI Hydra 52.  (currently only have one cover a 30x30 tank, I plan to add a second to cover 30x60).
  • Automatic/Water Changes/Dosing: Neptune DOS

 

 

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(edited)

Original Construction of Tank by Artfully Acrylic in 2012:

 

  • Overflow is on back (external) - 1" Bulkheads
  • Dual Returns on sides - 3/4" Bulkheads
  • Bean Animal Design
  • Euro-Bracing

 

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Edited by n8n
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I built my own from a 40B but in hindsight, I would have gotten a Trigger Systems Emerald. 

http://www.marinedepot.com/Trigger_Systems_Emerald_Sump_Complete_Aquarium_Sump_Units-Trigger_Systems_LLC-6E81644-FIFRBSCU-vi.html

 

 

Equipment:

 

  • Sump:  Ok... the one that came with this tank is less than impressive.  Going to be buying something cool..  suggestions?  -- i have a ton of space.  49x26x23 or 56x23x23 ..  (seriously i'm thinking of only using half the space provided for the sump).

 

 

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  • 2 weeks later...

where it moving to?

It's moving from former owners house in reston to mine in sterling. Next Saturday was basically earliest I could schedule it.

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You nem is HUGH!!!!!!!!!!!

do you feed it?

Mine has split about 5 times already.

 

Cant wait to see the finish product

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The black fittings arrived today. The tank won't be here till Saturday but I know Wamas loves their plumbing photos. The tanks drain was white PVC with threaded bulkheads. I'm replacing the bulkheads with slip to give another inch of adjustment on the bean animal. I'm also rebuilding the bean animal overflow in stealth black. The threaded fittings in the picture will thread into the bottom of the overflows. The pile of 3/4 is to stealth the return pipes too.

 

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(edited)

You nem is HUGH!!!!!!!!!!!

do you feed it?

Mine has split about 5 times already.

 

Cant wait to see the finish product

I feed him silversides normally ...... I was in mexico last week on vacation and he must have gotten hungry and ate my copper banded butterfly ...... Edited by n8n
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two of the bean animal drains in stealth black:

 

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I plan to extend my dedicated tank circuit to the new tank tomorrow while I still have the luxury of space.

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So you have a couple options.

 

#1 white obviously (schedule 40) from basically anywhere

 

#2 grey (schedule 80) from lowes / bulk reef supply /lots of places and most places slightly more expensive

 

#3 black fittings - www.savko.com  and probably some other places. 

 

#4 any color pipe bulk reef supply.

 

I'm doing things on back of tank that is even slightly visible with black pipe from bulk reef supply, and black fittings (elbows and such) from savko.  If I need any valves (true union ball valves for example) the will have to be in dark grey (schedule 80) I don't think you can get complex valves in black.

 

I also ordered different colored pipe for the inside of the stand so the returns will be in one color, and drains in another, and for the bean animal each drain will be different colors.  Green = main regular drain, yellow = backup drain, red = air valve / emergency drain.   black = returns.     In the stand the fittings will probably be white with the colored pipe.  outside the stand everything will be stealth black hopefully.

 

The john guest fitting for the air hose is in grey but I'm thinking of hitting it with some krylon to make it black also.

 

Thank You

 

-Nathan

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So I got the new outlet setup for the new tank on the dedicated 20 amp circuit I run my tank on. Also did a water change on old tank and wife snapped this picture to remind me I need to make sure new tank is tiger proof.

 

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The tank was moved to my house today, thank your Jeremy!

 

Before:

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After:

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Shimmig it:

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I'm 6 foot tall, and to give an idea of the sheer height of this tank, i need a stepstool to reach the bottom or overflow.

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After spending about 30 minutes working with shims we decided it was almost perfect without any shims :)

 

There is still crown molding to reinstall on the stand and we plan to do some painting and everything.  hopefully will have this tank online by new years plan to take time and do it right nice and slow.

 

More to come.

 

Thanks!

 

-Nathan

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Nice, your little helper looks very busy!!

Yeh I need to tiger proof the tank. That's why I have blue tape to extra keep them out of sump. I've got my house child proofed. The tigers are just over 6 months old.

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The tigers have proven the hole in the back of the tank is not tiger proof... (yet)   Note i removed the front to figure out the noise in the nearly vacant sump.

 

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Tonight I stripped off most of the trim. Some of it was not lined up 1/4" off plus wife wants to pick out our own patterns after a single trip to Home Depot. The initial hope was to match it up with trim of fireplace.

 

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I noticed the doors are not made out of wood, rather a plastic paper material and allow ambient light in and out. I'm thinking I'm going to redo th doors too. The light on the inside is one of the cheap I Home Depot clamp on lights with a natural bulb that people commonly use on refugiums.

 

 

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Wife originally said I couldn't build my own stand but it looks like I got the ok to re-trim the existing stand.

 

Tuesday I will be painting the back of the return black to stealth the return system. I can't replace the drains yet because I'm waiting on a parts order.

 

I also now have parts to start building diy screens for eurobrace top.

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I've got the frame for the screen top cut will hopefully spline it tomorrow. It looks like I have enough mesh left over from other tank but won't know for sure till tomorrow.

 

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The Fishies can't jump out of the tank now that i have mesh and spline on my new screen for the top.

 

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