jonthefishguy
Active Member
This is a 240 gallon glass reef setup. The entire system stands at 8ft 2in L, 25 in width, and 7ft 2in height. The stand is custom made out of 3/4 in burchwood. The canopy is an open top and back with 3 access doors and crown molding. The stand has 6 access doors and the canopy and stand are painted in RED MOHOGANY 225 and then sealed with a satin finish.
The Aquarium as I said is glass and has 3 braces on top. It is drilled with a center overflow box and has black backing. This system also is drilled with a closed loop setup. There are 4 direction adjustable water return outlets on the top of the aquarium. There is a spray bar that extends nearly the entire length of the left and right side of the overflow box which is the water return for the closed loop setup. The closed loop water inlets are on each side of the over flow box with a plastic mesh to protect the pumps from fish and debris that may become sucked into the pump and damage or clog pump/impeller.
The lighting is 4 x 250 watt Blueline Sea Star Prism Pendants with 14k ushio bulbs with two 32 watt power compact actinics and fan in each prism. There are 4 Blueline Moon Lights that have been purchased but have not been installed at this time due to placement issues. By the way the system is on three dedicated 20 Amp breakers with GFI's.
The filter is a 50 gal refugium with a 65 watt aqualight for growth stimulation over the refugium. On the bottom of the refugium is a layer of sea shells (whole not crushed) that will become home for copepods and the such. Ten gallons of mineral mud will be placed on top of of shell when aquarium is ready for water. The refugium will be home to not only mangroves, but to other macroalgae to help reduce nitrates. A kent flow valve is added to the sump for top-off water. There is also an ethanol denitrator connected to the refugium along with a protein skimmer.
The return pumps for the aquarium is two BLue Line HD 70. One is for the closed loop and the other is for the refugium. Tied inline with the HD 70 for the mains tank is an Aqualogic 1/2 hp chiller which is positioned on the outside wall of the home and is controlled with a single stage digital temperature controller. An 800 watt heater will control the the temp during the winter time. A calcium reactor is also tied into the system as well as a dedicated RO/DI filter. A dedicated laptop computer is installed to help control this system which will be connected to a Neptune Aquacontroller III pro. Obviously the tank is running already. 25 fish and counting as well as hermits, snails, starfish and coral. I would say this project is 15% complete.
