Mike's 270-gallon custom build

[MikeG]

Couldn't find a sump on the forums that would fit my skimmer (Reef Octopus 250) and wanted to continue to use it as it has been a great skimmer so bought this. Skimmer will fit in either first section (comfortably) or second secton with about an inch of room to spare.

Very happy with build quality and packaging was great.

It is 36" x 18". All chambers have adjustable height baffles so can be set up with any configuration desired.

The return section will be drilled for a couple bulkheads and just drain into the Rubbermaid stock tank. This way no equipment will be interrupted during water changes when pumping water out of stock tank and refilling it.

 

[BiGGiePauls33]

Couldn't find a sump on the forums that would fit my skimmer (Reef Octopus 250) and wanted to continue to use it as it has been a great skimmer so bought this. Skimmer will fit in either first section (comfortably) or second secton with about an inch of room to spare.

Very happy with build quality and packaging was great.

It is 36" x 18". All chambers have adjustable height baffles so can be set up with any configuration desired.

View attachment 170920
View attachment 170921

The return section will be drilled for a couple bulkheads and just drain into the Rubbermaid stock tank. This way no equipment will be interrupted during water changes when pumping water out of stock tank and refilling it.

Bashsea does make nice products. Can't wait to see corals in that tank.

 

[MikeG]

Bashsea does make nice products. Can't wait to see corals in that tank.

Me too, Have a bunch of the remaining plumbing parts coming tomorrow so will do some work on that as far as the basement portion goes.

I am really just procrastinating getting the rockwork all glued together. Have a bit of foundation rock sitting in my cart at BRS at the moment. I have had the potential rock scape set up for weeks in the basement and just cant comit to cementing it all together. I want to get that cycling though and have all the saltwater made at this point to do so.

 

[Zirky]

Take you time and enjoy the work. Nice sump

 

[MikeG]

Take you time and enjoy the work. Nice sump

This will definitely be the slowest tank set up I have ever done. Hopefully plan to have the tank set up and fish in it around the May or June timeframe.the sooner I can get the rock cycling the better thoigh!

 

[ifarmer]

its going to be an amazing setup.

 

[Edward]

Looking great so far

 

[dz6t]

Nice! we did one of those a couple years ago too!!View attachment 170138

Beautiful pool, I wish I had such a beautiful pool in my backyard. We can’t even have a koi pond due to we are next to the town forest and the National park, we have so many wild animals that will eat the koi or swim in the pond.

 

[MikeG]

Beautiful pool, I wish I had such a beautiful pool in my backyard. We can’t even have a koi pond due to we are next to the town forest and the National park, we have so many wild animals that will eat the koi or swim in the pond.

We deal with that a bit too. Edge of the pool is about 100' away from lots of wetlands. We had to put a frog saver float in otherwise would end up with a couple frogs in the pool everyday. Get the occasional turle and snake in there. Lots of wildlife. Fence keeps all the bigger stuff out.

 

[dz6t]

Snakes? Oh no.

 

[MikeG]

Snakes? Oh no.

They are the most difficult of anything that ends up in there to catch. You get near them and they just dive and can stay under water forever.

 

[MikeG]

This is going to be the equipment panel under the stand. The odd shaped openning is to fish through my four vortech controllers. The hole will be covered by a power strip only leaving a small hole where the wires will pass through.

This will house my APEX energy bar, my 6 power supplys for the reef breeders, my four vortech controllers and their four power supplys, a power strip and a PM2 expansion box for temp and pH in the display.

Just a board with lots of holes in it right now

 

[MikeG]

Little nervous cutting into a new tank, even when acrylic!

bottom of the tape line is where the water level needs to be for the skimmer. The bottom 1 1/4" drain should handle the full flow coming from the display and drop it back into the stock tank. Going to put a gate valve on this and run at full siphon to match the bean animal drain from the display. That is a 1" drain. The 2" hole above it is for emergency drain.

 

[Cpage101]

I would open the wall and bring supplies and returns down inside the wall in lieu of drilling your hardwood floor. putting a patch on the wall would be way easier. You could also cut something in the wall like this for a clean look/installation https://www.amazon.com/DBX1000P-4-D...6135112077&psc=1#immersive-view_1641780380830
This is a great build @MikeG!

 

[MikeG]

I would open the wall and bring supplies and returns down inside the wall in lieu of drilling your hardwood floor. putting a patch on the wall would be way easier. You could also cut something in the wall like this for a clean look/installation https://www.amazon.com/DBX1000P-4-D...6135112077&psc=1#immersive-view_1641780380830
This is a great build @MikeG!

The floor already has two holes from the last tank so adding two more isnt a big deal

 

[MikeG]

Progression on control panel to go under display, still a little more to do with wiring and put the powerstip under the vortech controllers

 

[MikeG]

Ran into my first issue. The power cord from the power supply to my LED's are not long enough particularly the two lights that are furthest from the wall. Looking into if they make any extension cords otherwise will try to lengthen the cords.

Here is the control panel under the tank in its spot.

All the wires will be hiden behind the panel and only seen if the last door on each side is removed. This is where plumbing goes through the floor as well

 

[BiGGiePauls33]

This is what I used for various extensions/

https://www.bestbuy.com/site/best-buy-essentials-6-ac-extension-power-cord-black/6458682.p?skuId=6458682

 

[MikeG]

This is what I used for various extensions/

https://www.bestbuy.com/site/best-buy-essentials-6-ac-extension-power-cord-black/6458682.p?skuId=6458682

Thanks. Did you just splice into the line?

 

[BiGGiePauls33]

Thanks. Did you just splice into the line?

Nope, just plugged in and wrapped some electrical tape around the connection for water or moisture needs.