New Aquarium

I would purchase plumbing, the sump, pumps, etc first. And get that setup first. I'm thinking 2 Vortech MP60s for the flow. As for lighting, I really think DIY LED is the only affordable option. If you go T5s, the bulb replacement cost is gonna eat you alive. You shouldn't need the biopellet reactor right away. Maybe just throw a carbon reactor and a skimmer on it along with your fuge and I would think you would be okay for awhile. Looking forward to this build, AND PICS PLEASE.

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Thanks insanespain, I will be taking photos of my current setup today when I get home from work. The first set of pics should be up by 1600 PST. (confused: WHAT!!, for those who don't understand a 24hr clock 1600 = 4pm))

 

Current System

Here is a look at my current 55 gallon set-up.


It is a 53.5 gallon Bowfront, with a 1.5 - 2 gallon trickle filter above it. Main filtration is done by a Skilter 400.



The canopy is a DIY conversion of a standard Flourencent to a Dual 55w Power Compact Flourecent, using a Coralife ballast. It also has 2 3" fans installed for cooling.

 

The fuge in the bowfront sounds good, but you will want some room to work with things under the tank, and so you need to think about the size/dimensions of the sump you will be adding. And the next big question will be choice of return pump and whether it will be mounted inside the sump or externally. That will be a high dollar purchase given the amount of water you are going to be dealing with.

Lights will be your most expensive cost with this setup. I would keep searching CL for maybe 2 48" T5 fixtures with 4 bulbs, if you have a canopy, it won't matter if they arent matching fixtures. But this might bother some folks.

And I would suggest looking into at least 3 MP40's from Ecotech, which are not cheap, but totally worth it. or Maybe 2 MP60's?

 

Update #1...

I am going to using my 55 gallon bowfront as a refugium, and I will be using a second rectangular 55 gallon tank as the sump. For my skimmer I will be using a Reef Octopus 250. A Danner Supreme Mag Drive 1800 will be the return pump. I am in the process of drawing my design for the plumbing and sump/refuge on Google Sketch-up 8. I should have that completed by tomorrow and posting those pics soon too.

 

Update #2

Here is the current idea for the new system.


((this is a picture done on paint while I was at work, the Google Sketch-Up 8 image will replace this when it is complete.))

As you see here, the tank has two overflows; one overflow is on each side of the tank in the back corners. One of the overflows will flow directly into the refugium but, I will install a flow adjuster limiting the amount of water that actually enters to the refugium, in order to slow the flow-rate entering and exiting the fuge. There will be two bulk heads placed near the top of the bowfront for water to exit into the sump on the sides of the filter sock mentioned below. From the second overflow, water will be pumped directly into the sump through a micron filter sock. Water will then flow from the refugium and the filter sock into the skimmer chamber, with a Reef Octopus 250, then through a bubble trap into the return chamber. A Danner Supreme Mag Drive 1800 will pump water back into the main tank via a 3/4" lockline return.

 

Hi, this is looking to be a great plan. I will try this on my level.

 

A 55 gallon sump may be a little small. Your tank will probably shed at least 3-4" when the power goes out which means 1/8-1/6 of your tank volume or 30-40 gallons. That would be close to overflowing.

 

Hey Rocketmanb,

Your tank build is looking great, I can't wait to see more.

And yes, 55 gallons is a little small but, I don't have the space as you do. Everything for my tank must fit under it's stand. My plan is to have the tank only have about 1-1.5 inches over the teeth of the overflows, plus as you can see in my design I will also have a seperate Fuge.

With the math I have done if power is to go out, I should only shed about 26 or so gallons. The sump itself can hold an additional 29.8 gallons, as it will only be filled 7-8 inches. The Fuge should hold an additional 5 gallons. Thus giving me a 35 gallon leeway.

But thank you, I appreciate the comment. I wish I continue to get more, that way I can work out the majority of the kinks before the tank is running.

BioFreak

 

Update #3:

Hey All,

So I found a 55 gallon rectangle on Craigslist for $50. It is 48.25" x 12.75" x 20.75". I am having 6 baffles added to it for my sump. 4 of these baffles will be in between the Skimmer and the Return.

The first baffle in this group of 4 (the one closest to the Skimmer) will be 12" tall and 1" off of the bottom of the tank. The 2nd baffle will be 8" tall & flush with the bottom, 1" away from the 1st. The 3rd baffle will be 1.5" away from the 2nd and 10" tall, suspended 3" off the bottom. In between these two will be a foam filter pad, to help trap the bubbles in the Skimmer Zone. The 4th will be 1" away from the 3rd and 8" tall.

The other 2 will be in between the Return and the area in which the Refugium drains into. The 1st (closest to the Return) of these two will be 8" tall and 3" from the bottom of the tank. The 2nd of these will be flush with the bottom and 1" away from the 1st & 3" from the side wall of the tank, also being 8" tall.

Here's what it will look like: