Going from 135g to 300g

[DaveMorris]

Time for me to document my move from a 135g tank to a new 300g tank. I have had the 135g for just over a year now and I felt that it was time to get bigger. Actually the wife pushed me to it because I can not finish the living room remodel until the tank is the way I want it. Here are some details:

300g Leemar glass tank
Front pane is Starphire
96"L x 24"W x 30"T
Black back
dual 5"x12" overflows in back corners
Drilled for closed loop, 1.5" drain and (4) 1" returns
(2) 1.5" drains in each overflow
(2) 3/4" returns in each overflow

I have a 60g refugium and I just picked up a 90g acrylic tank that I am going to make into a sump. I have two GenX40's for my returns and a Sequence 5000gph pump for my CL.

Hopefully I will be able to get the tank next week sometime. Was supposed to be delivered this Friday, but Leemar ran into a small delay. No worries, though. That gives me more time to get the stand built.

Here is the 135g a few days ago:


Here it is yesterday:


And here is my temporary 75g for holding my corals:



Dave

 

[EyeReef]

thats a sweet setup...keep us posted on the transfer

 

[Nick_kun]

oh man dave, I can't wait to see the finished product. You should get to know kenny here(pookstreet), he has a 300 gallon as well.

- Nick

 

[DaveMorris]

Well today I started building the stand while watching the Chargers beat the Colts. Reality has struck with my wife now that she has seen how much space a 300g tank actually takes up. She's OK with it though. I can't wait to get this thing set up. I have ordered a bunch of Savko fittings as well as a couple of rolls of flexible PVC. That stuff should be arriving this week. Once I get the stand done, I will start working on baffles for my sump tank. I am planning on making this system extremely clean, so I am trying to plan out all of the details as best as I can. More details and pics soon....

 

[pookstreet]

Congrats. Anxiously waiting on more updates such as lighting, skimmer, etc.

 

[DaveMorris]

Well, the stand is finished and my first box of parts showed up today from Savko. A few valves and some street 90's that I haven't been able to find anywhere else. I have decided to utilize the Herbie method for my drains. Each overflow will have two 1.5" drain holes and two 3/4" return holes. I'll do a Herbie in each along with a backup in each. Now I just have to drop the $$$ on a couple of nice gate valves to adjust the Herbie. Tank arrives this Friday. (My fingers are crossed)

 

[Bebo77]

you sure you want 30T and not 30 Deep?

 

[DaveMorris]

Absolutely. I can not afford to extend into the living room another 6" for one thing, and my wife is already questioning her wisdom in letting me get the tank the way it is. Besides that, it is already being assembled, so it is a little late to change sizes now. I like the tall tanks and 24" is 6" wider than my 135g was. I was happy with the front to back room in the 135g, so this new tank will be even better.

 

[DaveMorris]

Here is the stand awaiting a coat of poly urethane. I will have bookshelves underneath the tank. I think it will look interesting without the usual cabinet doors on the front.


This is a big tank.:top:

 

[DaveMorris]

I pick up the tank tomorrow. Here is a sneak peek:



8'x2'x30" Front is Starphire:rock:

 

[wallaceedward]

looks like a great tank Dave. Congrats!! Cant wait to see it completed. Than again, are they ever REALLY completed??:adore:

 

[User Name]

you sure you want 30T and not 30 Deep?

I had a 30" tall before and it was a pain to clean and frustrating when frags fell to the bottom. Advantage of the extra height is more room for fish to swim.
My next tank was a 30" deep. Great for scaping and viewing.

 

[DaveMorris]

My first reef tank was a 90 that was 30" tall. I knew about the drawbacks of the height, but I love the way they look.

 

[DaveMorris]

Well Harold and I picked up my tank today. It is going to be fun stocking htis thing up.



300 gallons of hard work ahead of me.roud:

 

[DaveMorris]

19 bulkheads! Plumbing this tank is taking forever. It is such tedius work. I also hate waiting for the UPS guy. He is bringing me some flex PVC and I am stuck until he gets here. Oh well...time to take a break.

 

[coral diver]

:rock: More up Picture please :adore:
:dito:

 

[DaveMorris]

I am done plumbing the drains and returns and have begun working on the closed loop plumbing. It is amazing how long this process takes. I hope to get my OM 4 way plumbed tomorrow so that I can do a water test on Saturday. If that goes well, then it is on to PVC rock shelves like I had in my 135g. Here are some initail shots of the under side of the tank before the OM 4 way plumbing got started.

 

[DaveMorris]

All of the plumbing is now DONE. I discovered a small leak in my calcium reactor, but it will be a simple fix. I kept my 60g refugium up and running and now have it circulating through my sump with my CS8 skimmer skimming away. I am now working on the PVC rock shelves. I will hopefully foam them tomorrow. They will then be coated with epoxy and sand/rubble. No more white, ugly PVC like in my last tank. Here are some shots:



Let me know what you think....

 

[FragCity]

Very nice Dave, I'm glad your happy w/ your new aquarium. Let me know when the next upgrade is....:top:

Anyone else looking to save a substantial amount of $$$ on a custom made tank, feel free to give FragCity Corals a call anytime.

Harold
(619) 948-4704
www.FragCityCorals.com

 

[DaveMorris]

I ran out of time to foam my PVC shelves, so maybe tomorrow. I did get the support structure on them all finished. Here's some photos of what I came up with...




Let me know what you think.