Marz
Active Member
- Joined
- Feb 9, 2014
- Location
- Orangeville, Ontario
I like the cutouts...weir correct? Wonder if this can be done with a smaller tank. Can't wait to see this all come together.
Basement Reno And In-wall 205g Reef
- Thread starter curiousphil
- Start date
curiousphil
Super Active Member
- Joined
- Apr 15, 2013
- Location
- London, Ontario
Correct, that's the weir and yes it can be done on smaller tanks 
. Any tank that utilizes an overflow and sump system can be set up with a coast to coast weir.
. Any tank that utilizes an overflow and sump system can be set up with a coast to coast weir.
teebone110
Distinguished Member
Excited for you and its nice that they can send you some sketches so quickly!
Glad to see they could eliminate that center brace.
Just a few questions for you…
How thick are you going for glass, based on the eurobracing, I would assume its 1/2"?
Are you going with starphire?
Who is the builder?
Glad to see they could eliminate that center brace.
Just a few questions for you…
How thick are you going for glass, based on the eurobracing, I would assume its 1/2"?
Are you going with starphire?
Who is the builder?
curiousphil
Super Active Member
- Joined
- Apr 15, 2013
- Location
- London, Ontario
Half inch glass, no starphire. I don't know who the builder is exactly, I'm going through Big Al's. All I know is that they are in Alberta.
I could have had the front done in starphire, since only the front be visible to the entertainment room. But to be honest I have seen a couple starphire tanks and can't really see the difference between it and normal glass.
I could have had the front done in starphire, since only the front be visible to the entertainment room. But to be honest I have seen a couple starphire tanks and can't really see the difference between it and normal glass.
teebone110
Distinguished Member
Cool... if they are in Calgary, I think Aaron uses Concept Aquariums. If this is the builder, you will be happy with the final product. Check them out on Canreef, a lot of good feedback about them.
http://www.conceptaquariums.ca/index.php/custom-aquariums/custom-aquariums.html
http://www.conceptaquariums.ca/index.php/custom-aquariums/custom-aquariums.html
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curiousphil
Super Active Member
- Joined
- Apr 15, 2013
- Location
- London, Ontario
That looks like a great company I'll have to ask Aaron or Paul next time I see one of them.
The demolition has begun! Dumpster arrived this afternoon and Beth started ripping stuff apart while I was still at work.
The demolition has begun! Dumpster arrived this afternoon and Beth started ripping stuff apart while I was still at work.
yveterinarian
Super Active Member
- Joined
- Jun 7, 2012
- Location
- Innerkip, Ontario
Demolition time is always so fun! I don't blame her for starting early. I can never wait to start either!
yveterinarian
Super Active Member
- Joined
- Jun 7, 2012
- Location
- Innerkip, Ontario
No it doesn't seem to be adjustable but then I haven't read all of the instructions except briefly on the day I installed it. There is an ON/OFF button and another button underneath and the sensor with a small light on the top. The little light tells me when the fan is on because it is so quiet I wouldn't know. I can exhale strongly into the sensor and the light and fan comes on. When I push the on button the fan then runs for half an hour. It may be possible that the fan comes on when I'm not in the room or home since I'm not there 24/7 to check it but it is never on when I go into the room in the morning. The room doesn't feel as if there is a lot of moisture in there now that the summer heat has gone so maybe there just isn't enough of the moisture there for the sensor to come on. Either way, I'm just glad that I now have a fan in there so that I can prevent moisture buildup.
curiousphil
Super Active Member
- Joined
- Apr 15, 2013
- Location
- London, Ontario
I just realized earlier today that when I came up with the 225 gallon estimate I used the tanks external dimensions.
Recalculated the tank volume based on internal dims and it's actually more like 205 gallons.
Recalculated the tank volume based on internal dims and it's actually more like 205 gallons.
curiousphil
Super Active Member
- Joined
- Apr 15, 2013
- Location
- London, Ontario
I need some skimmer advice....
Am planning to start the tank up using my JNS ConeS CO-2 which is supposedly rated for 300g tanks (no way this is accurate!!). I think that will be sufficient until spring since I don't plan on adding any livestock that isn't already in my 90 gallon, so that should make for a very lightly stocked 200 gallon tank. But in the spring I want to get a big bad boy that will (hopefully) serve this tank for the rest of its life.
I'm not sure which class of skimmers I should be looking at though. How big will be too big? I have my eye on Skimz skimmers right now and am totally torn between the Leopord D203/253 & Monzter SM203/253.
Here's links for those who are unfamiliar with these skimmers...
http://skimz.sg/index.php?route=product/product&path=64_69&product_id=92
http://skimz.sg/index.php?route=product/product&path=64_68&product_id=93
http://skimz.sg/index.php?route=product/product&path=64_72&product_id=102
http://skimz.sg/index.php?route=product/product&path=64_72&product_id=105
I'm leaning more towards the Leopord D253, just concerned that it may be TOO oversized. This is where I could use advice.
Am planning to start the tank up using my JNS ConeS CO-2 which is supposedly rated for 300g tanks (no way this is accurate!!). I think that will be sufficient until spring since I don't plan on adding any livestock that isn't already in my 90 gallon, so that should make for a very lightly stocked 200 gallon tank. But in the spring I want to get a big bad boy that will (hopefully) serve this tank for the rest of its life.
I'm not sure which class of skimmers I should be looking at though. How big will be too big? I have my eye on Skimz skimmers right now and am totally torn between the Leopord D203/253 & Monzter SM203/253.
Here's links for those who are unfamiliar with these skimmers...
http://skimz.sg/index.php?route=product/product&path=64_69&product_id=92
http://skimz.sg/index.php?route=product/product&path=64_68&product_id=93
http://skimz.sg/index.php?route=product/product&path=64_72&product_id=102
http://skimz.sg/index.php?route=product/product&path=64_72&product_id=105
I'm leaning more towards the Leopord D253, just concerned that it may be TOO oversized. This is where I could use advice.
Poseidon
Distinguished Member
- Joined
- May 15, 2012
- Location
- SW Ontario
Most people I've met calculate the outside dimensions
curiousphil
Super Active Member
- Joined
- Apr 15, 2013
- Location
- London, Ontario
Yeah I just like to be as accurate as possible lol... want to know exactly how much water I'll be dealing with!
reeferkeeper420
Distinguished Member
- Joined
- May 15, 2013
- Location
- Ingersoll, Ontario
I dont think a skimmer can really be to big can it? I thought you couldnt over skim a tank? But personally if it was me and i was doing a 205-225g reef plus whatever your sump is, id probably go with a skimmer rated for 300-350g depending on what kind of bioload your going to have. Hopefully someone with more experience will chime in cause im still kind of new lol.
teebone110
Distinguished Member
Skimz skimmers are awesome, but the real drawback has been that it was very difficult to get any customer support for parts as they are manufactured in Singapore. I would think that this has recently changed as BRS is now an authorized seller in the USA so parts and service should be top notch. I am skeptical with their ratings as they all seem to be rated at the highest extreme limits. I currently have an E series Monster 201 for my 210G and am expecting that it should do the job, as it is "rated" for tanks up to 500G. The quality of the build is at the top of any skimmer I have seen and its performance seems exceptional. It makes tons of foam and is very quiet, meaning I can't even tell that it's running without looking at it. http://skimz.sg/index.php?route=product/product&path=64_71&product_id=100
I would consider any of the models you identified including the JNS Cone/Aquamaxx. I know Jroovers has one and it has been good to him.
My recommendation would be to get the best one that you can comfortably afford and go for one with at least double your tank capacity.
I would consider any of the models you identified including the JNS Cone/Aquamaxx. I know Jroovers has one and it has been good to him.
My recommendation would be to get the best one that you can comfortably afford and go for one with at least double your tank capacity.
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yveterinarian
Super Active Member
- Joined
- Jun 7, 2012
- Location
- Innerkip, Ontario
+ one
curiousphil
Super Active Member
- Joined
- Apr 15, 2013
- Location
- London, Ontario
Thanks for the sound advice
I already have the JNS for my 90g and it is a quite decent skimmer, seems perfect for this tank. So we shall see how it performs on the bigger tank. Good to know what size you are using for your build Tyler.
I already have the JNS for my 90g and it is a quite decent skimmer, seems perfect for this tank. So we shall see how it performs on the bigger tank. Good to know what size you are using for your build Tyler.
pulpfiction1
Reef Scavenger
- Joined
- Nov 16, 2010
- Location
- 42.418807, -82.174073
I personally do not believe you can over skim any tank I would also recommend if noise is not an issue I would go with downdraft Beckett style skimmer
Sent from my SGH-I747M using Tapatalk HD
Sent from my SGH-I747M using Tapatalk HD
curiousphil
Super Active Member
- Joined
- Apr 15, 2013
- Location
- London, Ontario
Random thoughts:
1. I've read about people making their own DIY Beckett skimmers before, and I do enjoy me some DIY... maybe I'll look into doing this! Can't hurt! At the very most, I'm down the cost of a pump or two and the miniscule cost of some PVC, and the tank will have been underskimmed for a week or two while I try it.
2. I need to find a good source for cheap dry rock. I want to do something along the lines of this, with the pillar on the right being tailored to house a ritteri anenome atop of it:
I've always been inspired by this tank over on Reef Central:
1. I've read about people making their own DIY Beckett skimmers before, and I do enjoy me some DIY... maybe I'll look into doing this! Can't hurt! At the very most, I'm down the cost of a pump or two and the miniscule cost of some PVC, and the tank will have been underskimmed for a week or two while I try it.
2. I need to find a good source for cheap dry rock. I want to do something along the lines of this, with the pillar on the right being tailored to house a ritteri anenome atop of it:
I've always been inspired by this tank over on Reef Central:
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EricTMah
Aquariums by Design
If you have the time. Why don't you try DIY rock. That way you can make the pillar any size or shape to fit your needs.
It's super simple. Just takes time for the rocks to soak. Usually about 8-12 weeks of soaking before they're safe for the tank.
Sent from my Z30 using Tapatalk 2
It's super simple. Just takes time for the rocks to soak. Usually about 8-12 weeks of soaking before they're safe for the tank.
Sent from my Z30 using Tapatalk 2
curiousphil
Super Active Member
- Joined
- Apr 15, 2013
- Location
- London, Ontario
What do you mean by DIY rock? Like totally from scratch?
What I was thinking about doing is assembling the dry rock with putty or aragacrete and acrylic rods outside of the tank, then giving them time to cure and release any existing phosphates.
The rock from my current tank I plan to stack as the large seamount, using a bunch of epoxy - and would like to use some dry rock and acrylic rods for the bottom of the structure if I can. The island structure I am planning to build 100% from new rock that is assembled and cured outside of the tank.
What I was thinking about doing is assembling the dry rock with putty or aragacrete and acrylic rods outside of the tank, then giving them time to cure and release any existing phosphates.
The rock from my current tank I plan to stack as the large seamount, using a bunch of epoxy - and would like to use some dry rock and acrylic rods for the bottom of the structure if I can. The island structure I am planning to build 100% from new rock that is assembled and cured outside of the tank.