Inigomontoya
Community Member
Well, here we go! I am the current proud papa of a 260 gallon 8 foot mixed reef that contains corals that are several years old from my prior 2 upgrades beforehand. Like most of us reefers I have eyed many of the kick-a fish that we can't put in with our precious corals and wished I could get that angel, trigger, butterflyfish, tusk, etcetera into my tank. Well, after nearly two years of saying, "when we move- I will...", I have decided to go for a custom 328 tank to house the beautiful and interesting fish that we all secretly desire. Interesting part is that this is going to be in the same "dining" room that currently houses my 8 foot mixed reef. Even with a nice, custom setup that is designed to specifically fit into a pass through ledge already in the room, it means not everything will fit. After much deliberation, discussion (and, let's face it, cajoling and pleading) the once a year used dining room table is out and couches, new tank and hopefully, awesome fish room is in.
I will update this initial thread with pictures, hopefully some diagrams (just downloaded Sketchup for first time) and frequent calls for advice. I am in the very beginning stages and was going to sign the paper today when I ran into some questions that prompted this thread. So I intend to set the stage a little better later on as far as room layout and pictures but let me get some quick basics in so I can hit everyone up for advice.
The dims are 67" wide by 31" deep by 36" tall. When you walk into my front door you have an open dining room on your left which has a large opening and a ledge cut through to our family room. This area is where the tank will be integrated. Walking into the house you will still see through the tank into the family room with the tank having a peninsula setup and back left corner overflow that will almost reach the front glass. The tank will then be viewable from the front hall/former dining room and then from the family room/backof the house as well. Each side will have a totally different look and there will also be a large cut out in the dry wall so you can see the side from the hallway.
It will truly be 3-sided viewing. Dims are dictated by the current design of this corner which is best shown in pics (to be added). I checked into taller, but it became prohibitive on pricing (more than doubled the cost to add a few inches).
I have two questions which are plaguing me, one of which I need to decide on before placing my order. That is: 1) whether to use a closed loop or whether my return and one powerhead can generate adequate flow; 2) whether to link the two tanks to save on extra skimmer, sump and get benefit of total water volume. I know the cons, primary of which is the difference in water quality and potential disease transmission. The questions interrelate only in that if I link the two tanks a closed loop becomes mandatory as the return wouldn't have enough force for my purposes. Initial, pressing question I want to hit is whether to go closed loop.
I will update this initial thread with pictures, hopefully some diagrams (just downloaded Sketchup for first time) and frequent calls for advice. I am in the very beginning stages and was going to sign the paper today when I ran into some questions that prompted this thread. So I intend to set the stage a little better later on as far as room layout and pictures but let me get some quick basics in so I can hit everyone up for advice.
The dims are 67" wide by 31" deep by 36" tall. When you walk into my front door you have an open dining room on your left which has a large opening and a ledge cut through to our family room. This area is where the tank will be integrated. Walking into the house you will still see through the tank into the family room with the tank having a peninsula setup and back left corner overflow that will almost reach the front glass. The tank will then be viewable from the front hall/former dining room and then from the family room/backof the house as well. Each side will have a totally different look and there will also be a large cut out in the dry wall so you can see the side from the hallway.
It will truly be 3-sided viewing. Dims are dictated by the current design of this corner which is best shown in pics (to be added). I checked into taller, but it became prohibitive on pricing (more than doubled the cost to add a few inches).
I have two questions which are plaguing me, one of which I need to decide on before placing my order. That is: 1) whether to use a closed loop or whether my return and one powerhead can generate adequate flow; 2) whether to link the two tanks to save on extra skimmer, sump and get benefit of total water volume. I know the cons, primary of which is the difference in water quality and potential disease transmission. The questions interrelate only in that if I link the two tanks a closed loop becomes mandatory as the return wouldn't have enough force for my purposes. Initial, pressing question I want to hit is whether to go closed loop.
