240 gallon build TOTW 5-27-09

[DevonM]

Your setup is looking good! I ended up building a very similar sized tank (30" tall though). Thinking back I wish I would have gone shorter, my lights would be better utilized and I could actually reach the bottom.

Thanks for sharing!

[chssain]

Sorry i havent uploaded any pics here lately i have been extremely buisy with work,
I have recently built my skimmer, and i built the canopy for the tank. The canopy is rigged up on a pulley system with a boat winch where it can be raised up and down with ease, one finger will turn the crank to raise it. and here are some pictures of the skimmer that i built, it has an 8 inch wide main tube, and goes down to 4 inches at the cup. and is being supplyed by a sedra 15000 needle wheel pump.










and here are some pictures of the system, i just got everything moved from my 120 gallon tank over to this one, and set up all the rock, i think i like how i have it now, It took a WHile to get it looking right!!!

[chssain]

i also put a window fan on top of the canopy blowing down at the water, 30$ fan from walmart, i was getting up to 81 deg. during the day with the 2 400 watt MH, now it stays at a consistant 76 Deg,

[DevonM]

Looks great!

[chssain]

today i added, 2 72" VHO actinic bulbs, and a 250 Double ended MH in the center of the tank, its GLOWING now!!!

[charlie]

I can just bet it looks nice!!!!

Great progress!!!

[scubadude]

Sweet setup, im dubbing this thread TOTW! nice work

[chssain]

Thanks!!! Its still a work in progress, but coming along.. I have a 120 gallon tank that i am kind of thinking about plumbing into the system as well, because my bedroom is on the other side of the wall as the 240, and i would like the 120 in my bedroom. A couple holes and another pump and it could be done,, But what would i do with it?? Chuck wants me to do a HUGE refugium! which would be extremely beneficial to the system.. But another reason i would like to incorperate it, is i have a zebra moray eel that is 2 1/2 foot long,, I know, I know!! BIG NO NO!!! LOL but it was a biginers mistake, I love the eel to death and love watching him, but i just dont really want to put him in the display because of the fact that one swoop of a tail could frag like half my corals for me!!! SOOOO, how do eels do with plants? like if i maybe set up the 120 as kindof a planted saltwater tank, and make it look good, deep sand bed, maybe some PVC ran under the sand for the eel to kick it in, and some live rock here and there? Just a thought? my girlfriend and room mate say i have a problem, lol they were all fine with the 240 gallon, and love it! But they kind of thought i would stop there!! If i add the 120, i will be at 500 gallon total gallons sumps and all!!!

But back to the point, Do yall think i should add the 120? and if so what would yall do with it?

[DevonM]

I have a similar length Zebra in my tank and he just goes in and out of the cave system I built behind my rock. He rarely comes fully out into the open any more. He just sticks his head out every couple of days to be fed. If you did setup a refuge, as I just did, you would probably go with a DSB of sugar sized sand. I'm not sure but I think the slime coat on your eel would be covered in this powdery sand most of the time. Also, you would have to put in a lot of rock for him to hide. I would stick to smaller fish in the fuge. Good luck, the fuge is a must!

[chssain]

yeah, i already have a 30 gallon fuge on the system, i was just thinking about adding the 120 in, and a 120 gallon fuge would be crazy! but if i dont do it as a fuge i might just set it up with rock and pvc for the eel, and maybe do some other type of aggressive fish? maybe another eel? i dont know i havent decided, its just i dont know if i want to put the eel in my display, but i dont want to get rid of him?

[chssain]

well i have decided that i am going to do the 120 as a fuge, with DSB and the pvc idea like i said, not much rock, prolly 50 lbs or so. But this is going to be in my bedroom and im going to look at it every day so im wanting it to look good, not just a jumbled up mess. Any ideas on what algae i should use? is there any colorful algea?

[charlie]

There are some red macros out there that are pretty neat. I have some type of red kelp in my 80 that is growing like a weed!!!!

[DevonM]

I vote chaeto, not much color but it's not very aggressive.

[Samper]

I just want to say that this system is so nice already. One thing I've learned about Chase is that once he decides to do something he is going to do it. He did in this case. The stand is a beast and they put alot of work into it. I love the dimensions of this aquarium and his aquascape is really eye pleasing. He has alot of decisions to make concerning stocking this system. We are taking it pretty slow especially with fish. He has quite a few frags already from me and the reef doctor but has an immense amount of space to fill. We are already blowing through Oceans Blend additives and I'm hoping that reactors will be in the near future. Chase is a really handy DIY guy and I'm sure he'll come up with something. His skimmer was DIY as you know but seriously it is performing like a champ. I am going to build one of these. I hope that Chase decides to stay in this hobby as he's genuinely interested in it and this system is impressive. I can't wait to see it in a year.

[ryan154]

Sounds like quite a project. Stand is looking pretty good so far, and make sure to keep us updated with pictures and news. Good luck.

[brandon2432]

Nice set-up I want to see pics of the fuge, eel habitat. I think it could look nice pvc from behind one little stack of rocks to another stack of rocks at opposing ends with some vegitation in it. You could actually grow food for all of the tangs I would have in the big display. I too cant wait to see some pics of this set-up.

[MyNameIsJoe]

It is stuff like this that got me interested in this hobby. pics of the 120gal would be awesome.

[Samper]

Sadly Chase sold his sytem and has left the hobby. Wants to come back when he builds a house but gave it up for the time being. Was beautiful.

[DevonM]

Can't wait to see how the new built in will look . Once you are in it, there's no getting out of it. ;)

[mr_brix]

hi i have a question about your skimmer what kind of pump do you use??? is it a needle wheel??? thanks..