245 Gallon Custom new build with basement "fish room"

[Dreadnaught]

Directly under the DT I reinforced each beam with another 2x12 (both glued and lags). Under those on each end of the DT, I stacked two 4X4 (making a 4x8) which I lagged together). Under those I have floor jacks each capable of holing 20,000 lbs. (2 total). One of these walls is also under the tank giving additional support. (I believe in over engineering ;o) I'll add a couple pictures later.

 

[cane]

Thanks, I wanted to install a large tank on my main floor similar to yours so this helps a lot. Pics would help.

 

[cane]

How do you like great lakes aquariums and did you use starfire glass?

 

[Dreadnaught]

I like working with Steve at GLA. Yes Starfire. Build it with no regrets.... "I wish I would have". My main camera on phone died so these pictures maybe tough to see.

I wanted the jack outside the fish room to avoid long term corrosion.

 

[Dreadnaught]

Future additions. A pair of "Blackhawk" Picasso Clowns and a stressed Magnificent Foxface. Also a couple Monti's (Hope for the best since DT not ready.)

 

[cane]

Yes this helps a lot. I have a steel bean that is running the length of the tank. Look forward to seeing the rest of your build.

 

[Dreadnaught]

 

[hatfielj]

You could have an elephant dance party on that floor! Nice
Those dimensions are great. Hope to do a tank that size someday

 

[Dreadnaught]

Monti's colored back up well. Pulled a few survivors from last winters crash. Amazed these guys survived in a makeshift rescue system for 12 months. Saved 2 snail as well.

 

[Dreadnaught]

Under the tank plumbing complete.

 

[Dreadnaught]

Bummer. HOB QT filter intake ate my pink bubble tip last night. [emoji79]

 

[Dreadnaught]

Built my own light rack from Aluminum angle iron. Primary lighting with 3 x Radion G3 Pro and supplementing with 2 x T5. I can easily add additional LED's or T5' if needed. The rack is attached using drawer hardware so it can move a few inches as well.

 

[Dreadnaught]

Water Change station.

 

[Dreadnaught]

Looking for some advice.... Running the Herbie Drain. Drain 1 will be the full draw. Drain 2 is the skim/emergency. Now my refugium (150 G) is going to be on the top of this rack. The sump (120 G) on the middle rack, external skimmer and dosing container on bottom. Do I feed the refugium with 100% of the skim drain or do I divert some of the flow from the full draw into the refugium? The refugium will gravity feed into sump (into the return chamber to allow the "bugs" to get into the return).

 

[olaggie01]

I have a similar set up for my lights. 2 Radion G3 Pros and 4x54w T5s. Can't wait to fire it up.

I would run the full drain to the fuge and the emergency to the sump. That way you'll know immediately if something is wrong if the emergency is draining into the sump.

 

[Dreadnaught]

Water change station almost complete.

 

[revhtree]

Very nice progress!

 

[tcdiver80]

What size tanks are those for the water change station? The larger opening looks nice compared to the normal smaller that is sometimes on that style of tank

 

[Dreadnaught]

210G each. I have a 75G for ATO as well. My goal was to be able to mix a whole box/bucket of salt at once.

 

[Dreadnaught]

I started putting some rock together. I hollowed out the inside of this pukani with a drill. Creates a cave and a little better viewing the inhabitants. I then mounted it to base with epoxy. I think I'm going to modify it a little more but ran out of epoxy. I also predrilled frag holes on top. It is still solid but much lighter. ~20" tall and 15" wide. (Primary filtration rock will be in basement).