Bretts 300 wall divider

B

blfuller123

Premium Member
I just moved back to D/FW from Atlanta (it sure is good to be back) and I am almost ready to start on my next tank. I managed to find a used tank at North Dallas Aquarium and I will be moving it in about a week. Because of the height the tank, it is going to be FOWLR and I plan on keeping larger sized fish. The tank is 270 gallons, measures 72x24x36 with the overflow on one of the 24 inch sides and with the sump the total volume will be right around 300 gallons. The stand is 36 inches tall and the canopy is 12 inch tall. The canopy already has a fixture with 3x150 mh lights with pc bulbs in it. There is also a sump that was included with the tank. If I get a chance this week, I am going to pickup the sump and get it cleaned up. I plan on replacing all of the plumbing that was included. I am a really big DIY guy and usually build my own skimmers, but since I have moved, most of my tools are still packed up so I just purchased a reeflo orca skimmer that will fit inside the stand. I still need to get sand, and RODI and some base rock before I have the basics. Hopefully I will get some pictures posted soon.
 
Got the tank and the canopy picked up today and moved over to the storage unit. Should get the stand tomorrow and I got my skimmer in the other day.

Cant wait to get moved so we can get this set up.

Here is the tank and the canopy. The canopy has black glass doors on the opposite side. The stand has black glass doors on both sides.

fk9uts.jpg
alt="">
 
Got the stand moved Saturday. Here it is in the storage unit:

357evkj.jpg
alt="">


Here is the dirty wet/dry that came with it:

33leeqx.jpg
alt="">
 
I picked up sand yesterday. It still needs to be rinsed out.

The tank came with 2 mag drive 18 pumps. I dont really know the condition of these pumps. I dont think I am going to use these. I think I am going to use a reeflo dart or snapper as a return pump.

Today I got the filter pulled out and cleaned it up.

dng7es.jpg
alt="">

x22lxx.jpg
alt="">


I got the skimmer assembled so I can figure out how I am going to do all of the plumbing. It has a dart gold pump and I got a PM auto shutoff.

w02wkn.jpg
alt="">
 
Picked up a reeflo hammerhead and the salt to get the tank filled.

30wqs5f.jpg
alt="">

Still gathering up pieces before we get to move and set up the tank.
 
I went today and set the sump, fuge, skimmer and pump in an area the same size of the inside of the stand to figure out plumbing and I am not going to be able to use the hammerhead pump. I dont have enough room in the stand. The only way I can make it work would be to mount it upside down to the top of the stand above the sump, but then the pump will have to draw water up about 30 inches before it is pumped. I think I will end up using the 2 mag 18s.
 
I ended up getting another sump so I could still use the hammerhead pump. I got this one from Frank's Tanks. It is a little bigger than the last one and is about 45 gallons.

3011yiq.jpg
alt="">

I decided to change it up a little. I added another baffle and two areas to stack egg crate on. I will use a foam block on the top and a bag for carbon on the bottom. The pump will draw water from the center chamber and the refugium is on the left and the drains will flow into the right chamber. I am waiting for my Apex controller to get here so I know how I want to make the probe holders. Here it is with water.

2hcj3bq.jpg
alt="">
 
I still have about two and a half weeks before I move but I want to get as much done in the mean time. I got some masking tape and outlined the inside foot print of the stand so I would know my boundaries were. I made a trip to the store this morning and picked up some of the valves I was planning on using.

jv1zkj.jpg
alt="">

I set the skimmer, the pump and the sump where I wanted them and started the plumbing. I got all of the pipe cut and in place. Tomorrow I will get it glued up.

2ewoeiv.jpg
alt="">

The plumbing looks a little different because of the flow rate of the hammerhead. It is supplying the skimmer, two returns and an additional outlet for future use. The manifold returns back to the inlet on the pump. I have put valves on everything so I can control how much flow goes to what.

1oosqu.jpg
alt="">

I will install the bulkheads for the drains and the refuguium tomorrow.
 
@Hoss wrote:
Wow...impressive plumbing. Why do you have the manifold returning to the inlet of the pump? said:
The pump is rated at 5800 GPH. It is feeding the two tank returns, the skimmer and the refugium. There are only two one inch drains to return the water from the tank so I will need to valve down the water coming out of the pump and instead of putting pressure on the pump, it will return to the pump inlet.
Click to expand...
 
Im still trying to figure out how to get the apex running wireless, if anyone has done this, please pm me.

I decided that I want to try running bio pellets so I made this housing to put it in.

mk9pau.jpg
alt="">

I want the water to dump directly back into my skimmer so I had to change the plumbing around a little. Good thing I hadnt glued it yet. Here it is before it was glued.

1iyc0x.jpg
alt="">

Here is is all glued. The only thing that isnt glued yet it the fittings for the tank returns. I will wait until everything is back inside the stand before I do that. I still have an additional outlet for future use that is valved off. It will probably be used for water changes.

24zhjt0.jpg
alt="">

I picked up an RO unit yesterday. I still need to get some replacement cartridges for it.

oub9u8.jpg
alt="">

I also bought two Tunze 6101s and I will be controlling them with the apex.
 
I got the float valve installed into the sump for the ATO and got the probe holder made and installed.

I filled the sump with water and wanted to check all the plumbing for leaks before everything made its way into the stand. The skimmer worked flawlessly, but the hammerhead pump (that I bought used) kept cycling on and off like it thermal protection was doing it or it had some kind of short in it. I found another pump that I am picking up tomorrow and will try it again.
 
Picked up a hammerhead gold today and plumbed it up. It is working as advertised.

sho4.jpg
alt="">

I dont have any leaks and I got to play around with the flows a little.

1z5j5hk.jpg
alt="">

I still love the skimmers with the big needle wheel pumps. I dumped a little used salt water in the sump and I am happy with the amount of bubbles it is making.

2w2j3aq.jpg
alt="">

It is even trying to make waste already. It should be good and broken in by the time it is time to install it.

30jmzvn.jpg
alt="">
 
Today was move day and I got everything except the actual tank moved to its new permanent location. Here is the stand (the canopy is sitting on top of it) after cleaning out the stand. The center brace was removed to get the sump in.

e00end.jpg
alt="">

Here is the sump inside the stand from one side:

4jq69v.jpg
alt="">

And from the other side.

2yknc0h.jpg
alt="">

Its nice to have access to everything in the stand from two sides for a change. I am trying to round up some help to move the tank on Sunday. If that happens, I will start filling Monday.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Top