In Over my HEAD?? - Need suggestions!

[justaqtcub]

I am setting up 3 tanks in my home. Combined, all tanks will total 1500 gallons, not including filtraton system behind the scenes. I have been doing as much research as I possibly can and by doing so, I have started to second guess what I am doing here. This project is HUGE and spending money on unnecessary parts needs to be avoided.
So far, the items I am ordering are:
1 - ETSS Quad 3000 Protein Skimmer
1 - TradeWind INLINE Chiller - 3 HP
1 - 600 Watt Aqua Ultraviolet Sterilizer
3 - LiterMeter III Precision Dosing Pumps
4 - 60 in 3-250watt 10,000K HQI (double ended) Metal Halide with dual 140watt VHO fluoresent fixtures with dual fans.
5 - Sequence Power 2HP 9000 GPH Pump
1 - HUGE Custom Wet/Dry
1 - HUGE Custom Refugium
Tanks are being custom built and installed by Oceanic Systems.
The filtration and plumbing will be completed by myself. Suggestion on the configuration of how the Wet/Dry, Refugium, Protein Skimmer and Chiller to be set up also would be appreciated.
Thanks to all that reply :happyfish
JustAQTCub

 

[bang guy]

Do a search on Steve Weast's tank. His isn't 1500 gallons but it's a great setup IMO.
With that much water volume you might not need the chiller.
I'm very opposed to UV sterilizers for reef tanks but that is simply a philosophical difference.
I don't see any need for a wet/dry filter either.
Can you give up some insight on what your end-result looks like in your mind?

 

[tony detroit]

You may defintely be able to save money by having a underground water vat installed. You'll save the money for the chiller, and save the cost of running the chiller. If you have a tank that is underground it acts as a heat exchanger. You hook it up to a solenoid and pump cold water to the tank whenever the water gets too hot in the display tank.
An issue you may want to think about is humidity.
What kind of reef are you going to keep?

 

[justaqtcub]

This is a Perspective view of the tanks only inside the room where they will be. The face of the tanks will display throught the walls into the living areas of my new home. Planning in Progress. The plumbing and filtration will need to be installed and arranged after the tanks are installed. The next few post are pictures of how things look in my head. This is a project that is going to take 8 months or more. When things start to fall into place and I take pictures, I will be posting them on here asking for suggestions.

 

[justaqtcub]

Top view of the 3 tanks.

 

[justaqtcub]

Painted version of the 3D view with how the return pipes will be carried back to the tanks. Keep in mind, the size of the pipes has not been determined yet, but they will be broken down and split into t's and y's so that power head will not be needed.

 

[justaqtcub]

These are the designs of the Wet/Dry and Refugium that plan to have custom built by "Ace Acrylics" - Dallas, TX. My question is does the Refugium come first or the Wet/Dry?

 

[robchuck]

This sounds like an amazing project you are planning and I hope that you'll keep us updated on its progress!
Some very good suggestions have been given so far, and I'd like to add to the theme of using Mother Nature as part of the setup ala Tony's underground vat idea. Depending on the room these tanks will be housed in, installing a glass roof or Solar Tubes to allow natural sunlight in will at the very least, complement the artificial lighting, but more likely, benefit the photosynthetic inhabitants of your tanks and save some $$$ on your electrical bill.
Equipment-wise, your list looks solid, but I have another recommendation for a skimmer if you're not dead set on the ETSS. RK2 Systems makes some nice commerical scale skimmers that run in the same price range as the ETSS model you listed. The RK2 skimmers allow for long contact time and even have automatic washdown systems!

 

[robchuck]

Originally posted by JustAQTCub
These are the designs of the Wet/Dry and Refugium that plan to have custom built by "Ace Acrylics" - Dallas, TX. My question is does the Refugium come first or the Wet/Dry?
The way you have the equipment setup in this diagram, the refugium's flow is dependent on the sump's flow AND the refugium will catch all of the falling water and reverse-siphon water during a power outage. Looking at how the refugium flows, it's likely that there wouldn't be enough room in the refugium to catch all of that water, and you would then have a flood on your hands.
Personally, I would use the same two vessels pictured in your diagram, BUT have the sump placed at the "end of the line" so to speak, so that the return pump draws its water from the sump, and then T off a feed to the refugium so that it overflows back into the sump.
This way, you will be able to control the flow through the refugium independent of the sump and allow for the sump to catch all of the "power-outage water".

 

[gold strip]

Just my opinion but I would lose the wet/dry. With a system this large it wont do you much good. Go with a good live sandbed, lots of rock and use the extra room for a larger refugium for both macro and a safe zone for critters. Let nature do its thing.
I saw the dosing pumps but i didnt see anything about a Ca reactor or Nielsen Reactor or top-off setup. With that kind of water volume you are going to need some help keeping your levels stable.
Good luck and let us see some pics!!!

 

[tony detroit]

Ask yourself this question:
What is my goal for each/all of these tanks? What type of livestock are you looking to keep?
Then design the system around the livestock.

 

[justaqtcub]

I saw the dosing pumps but i didnt see anything about a Ca reactor or Nielsen Reactor or top-off setup. With that kind of water volume you are going to need some help keeping your levels stable. QUOTE]
The 3 - LiterMeter III Precision Dosing Pumps will be for various things. They say that are used for topping off. That is what one of for, the other two are going to be used for adding necessary additives when needed. As far as reactors, I guess I need to do more research on this.
For those of you that are going to keep track of this progress, don't be in a hurry. The project is being put down on paper, so that all "I"s are dotted and "T"s are crossed. Total cost of this project is estimated so far to be almost $50,000 +/- some (including Live Rock and Live Sand), and may take a year plus to complete before I actually add life to the tanks. I know... $50,000 is a lot of money, and I decided against doing this, but a friend told me, and I agreed, that some spend more on cars that they get rid of in a few years, and then spend the same on another. This will be enjoyment the rest of my life, with maintenance of pumps and additives and scenery changes, as would the cars. It's worth it to me.

 

[chilidog]

Wow that is gonna be a real nice set-up when its al done.I cant wait to see it in a year or 2 from now.When i get older i hope i can do the same as you are.