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Paul’s 240 Gallon upgrade!

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dubs83

Hey there! Running about a week behind so I’ll paste what I’ve already documented on R2R until I catch up.

Here goes.

08/26/2018

First, here’s a link to the original build.

Trials and tribulations of my 125 Gallon build

Last week, I picked up the tank and stand and managed to get it into the garage while I make my plan of action. The plan is to get the tank cleaned and drilled for an overflow and start getting some things to help the upgrade move a long. I already have a basement fish room where my sump is located so I plan on cleaning up some things I should have done differently.

Current equipment list that will make its way into this build:

Tank- 180 gallon (72”x24”x24”)
Return pump- ??? As I don’t think my Iwaki will cut it.
Skimmer- Reef Octopus Regal 250INT
Sump- current 125 gallon tank will be a new sump/fuge
Flow- two MP40s
Heaters- one 800 watt titanium and one 500 watt titanium (not sure if these will cut it)
UV sterilizer
BRS carbon reactor
Controller - APEX
Doser- Jebao 4 channel dosing pump

First question is- I’m going to need to upgrade my Iwaki 70RLT as I’m getting 850GPH at the display at just under 300 watts. I was thinking of installing two Reeflo Yellowtails which would give me about 1800-2000GPH at my head height while operating at 300 watts total. It would also provide me with some redundancy should one fail or need to be taken down for maintenance. However, this would basically max the pumps out. I wouldn’t be able to run any reactors with them. This isn’t biggest problem as I’m currently using a separate DC pump to run add one but it would be nice to clean up the clutter. Any advice on this? The head height from the basement is around 14 feet

Anyway, thanks for tagging a long!


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dubs83

Update 8/28/18

Okay, tank is cleaned. I figured we're a few posts in and I better attach a picture before we lose interest! I spent the morning scrubbing the tank clean and examining the existing return holes made by the previous owner. He had 1/2" sch80 bulk heads and I think I'll be sticking with the sch80 but be enlarging the holes up to 3/4". I know I can get away with sch40 but he didn't do a clean job drilling it and I'm afraid the bulkhead won't seal.

Anyhow, here are two photos of post cleaning with my daughter who seems more excited about it then I am :).

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In addition to the clean up job, I've also began working on a sketch of my current fish room without any equipment in it to give you an idea of the space I'm working with. I'll be filling it in as we go a long here and I'd appreciate any input you guys may have. By all means fill it in with some crude ideas of what you would do!

-Paul


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dubs83

Question, how are you guys heating your larger volume tanks? I’m currently using one 800w and one 500w titanium Finnex heaters on the 125 gallon with about 180 gallons of total volume. With the colder temps coming, I’m not sure I’ll be able to heat my planned 240 gallons of reef with these two or even 2 800watt heaters.

The basement sumproom is insulated and doesn’t drop below 60 degrees in the winter but it still poses a problem.

-Paul


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dubs83

Update 8/29/18

Not much in terms of progress but I did place an order for some upgraded parts. I'll be cleaning out and setting up the tank I've been using as a QT tank to hold the fish for a few days while this upgrade unfolds. It's a 40 breeder with a HOB filter and a small power head. Hoping it isn't too cramped in there for a few days.

I haven't gotten much done in terms of a new/better fish room lay out but I will be paying closer attention to detail with my wiring and mounting. Anyhow, here's the equipment sheet so far and some of this will be repeat of the first post.

Tank and Sump:
Needless to say, the tank is a standard 180g (72,24,24). The sump will be the 125g a long with a 40 breeder settling tank / refugium. I'm expecting to have somewhere around 125 gallons of total sump volume bringing me to around 300 gallons total volume.

Ventilation and Humidity control:
A portable dehumidifier and a wave whole home ventilation tower with built in humidistat is what I'm currently using and it keeps, not only the fish room, but the entire basement at a consistent 45% relative humidity.

Flow and Return:
Some changes here. For in display flow, I'll be keeping my current MP40s but will be adding two MP10s (ordered this morning) along the back glass pane for additional water movement. In terms of a return pump, I decided to go with one Reeflo Yellowtail Gold (order as of this morning). My current Iwaki RLT70 will sit standby and serve as back up. Although, I've bounced the idea of going with a Jebao DCP series pump, and this isn't an attempt at stirring the pot, but I've used a few of their power heads with mixed out comes. Considering the amount of time I spend away from home, I wanted the piece of mind.

Adding random flow generators to the LocLines.

Overflow:
This has been a pain in my *** since I started with the 125. I've been using the ReefSynergy Shadow over flow and for the life of me, I could not get it to quiet down. My drains have been dead silent but the water making its way into the in tank box makes a crazy amount of noise. Considering how much success people have had with it, I take responsibility and admit that it may very well be user error but I've tried everything I could think of, shy of flying the guys down to NJ, without success.

I'll be replacing my current Shadow Overflow with Exotic Marine Systems 35" Overflow with 1" drains.

Heating:
This I'm still debating. I know the current set up of 800W and 500W will not cut it. Any suggestions on how you guys are heating your large tanks would be appreciated. I'm tempted to run a titanium heat exchanger to heat the tank that way.

Skimmer:
Unchanged here. Reef Octopus Regal 250INT. This thing rocks!

Media Reactors:
AquaMaxx XXL reactors for GFO and Carbon

Water Quality:
I'm sticking with my BRS RO/DI unit but I will be adding a drinking water tank upstairs in the kitchen .

I'll also continue running my 40w UV sterilizer.


I also placed an order for some Aqua Forest goodies... thinking I may abandon Triton with this one considering how difficult it is to get my hands on their supplement. Anyway, right now it's just planning / prepping and cleaning while I wait for everything to arrive.

-Paul


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dubs83

Update 8/31/18

I’ve hit a snag in the upgrade. I picked the 180 up used and after bringing it home and putting some effort and elbow grease into cleaning it up... you know what, I’ll just get to it. It’s scratches to s**t. Excuse the language but it’s the best way I can describe it.

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I contacted the seller and explained what I had found. He seems pretty reasonable about the entire thing and we are working on a solution.

On to some good news, though. I woke up this morning and spoke to my fiancé about it and expressed my concern about buffing the scratches out and my uncertainty about how structurally sound the glass would be after removing some of it with the buffer. After two solid days and about 15 minutes this morning, she stopped me from saying anything more. I don’t know if she just wanted me to shut up or if she felt sorry for me, but what happened next left me speechless. “Why don’t you just ask me if you can order a new one?” And THAT is why I’m marrying this one!!

So, with the thumbs up I’ll be replacing it with a new one. “Cheap form of insurance” is what I told her. [emoji3][emoji3]

Anyhow, out of sheer joy I went and snuggled with one of our puppies.
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And then, the door bell rang! What could it be?
As always the dogs beat everyone to it thinking it was a mega sized Bark Box... not today pups!

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Our daughter, Alexia, has been especially interested in this upgrade (much more so then the 125) so of course I enlisted her help...
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Penny making sure it’s definitely not a Bark Box.
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It’s an AquaMaxx XXL media reactor!
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dubs83

Update 9/1/18

Okay! We have come to a decision. We’ll be upgrading the upgrade to a 96x24x24! Brings us to 240 gallons display and 320 gallons total volume.

As far as the 180, the seller has agreed to refund me what he and I came up with to be a fair amount. That’s stellar news.

Update 9/3/18

Tank ordered.



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dubs83

Update: 09/04/18

Coming home to a bunch of boxes is usually pretty nice. There’s some new dry sand in there a long with 50 kilos of aqua forest probiotic salt. I was thinking of giving aqua forest a shot with how difficult it still is to find a steady supply of the triton supplements.
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The other two boxes had some sweet, sweet goodies.

I received some of my loc line stuff and sch80 bulk heads but also... these sweet gems-

Random flow generators...4 of them
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MP10s to join the two MP40s for additional flow and loclines
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And this here Reeflo Yellowtail
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Looking at the picture, I just noticed the damage on the back side of the Reeflo pump. Isn’t that bitter sweet. As always, however, BRS came through and got a new pump out to me the same day.

Paul


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dubs83

Can I ask and get some advice on how you moved your live stock during an upgrade? I’m currently planning to do this in phases but I just want to me sure I don’t miss anything.

Phase 1- move the current display and the inhabitants to the fish room and continue running it for a weekend with a hang on back filter while I set up and fill the new display.

Phase 2- when done filling, move over livestock and rock to the new tank and continue running it using the current sump.

Phase 3- once the new display is running, clean up and turn the 125 into a sump.

Phase 4- once the sump is done, remove the new display from the current filtration system and make the necessary changes to the fish room and plumbing to accommodate the new 125 sump.

I maybe over thinking it but I can’t help but stress about losses. Amazing, the attachment we make with our fish!

I still have yet to solve the heating issue. But I’m leaning closer and closer to using my hot water heater via a titanium heat exchanger. Anyone know where to source one?


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dubs83

Update: 9/6/18

some new toys
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I also went ahead and moved on a steel stand. The builder will be using 2x2x1/8” square tubing and after it’s built, I’ll have it powder coated to prevent rust issues. Stand height will be at 36” and the best part about it, the guy is local here in Vernon NJ.

The material!
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Paul


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