d2mini's Epic Fantabulous New Reef Build

[d2mini]

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d2mini's Epic Fantabulous New Reef Build
200g Display tank with fish room, display refugium and frag tank.
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We built a new house and I built this completely custom setup specifically for the space I chose in the new house (the dining room) which shares a wall with our garage, making it a perfect place to finally have a fish room. I've always wanted to have a fish room so I was very excited! No more bending over and squeezing stuff into the tight spaces under a stand, and no more worries about water spills! The tank was ordered through my local fish store and built by Deep Sea Aquatics to my specifications of 7' x 2' x 2' with a coast-to-coast overflow and drilled for a BeanAnimal drain setup. I also ordered their support stand which I knew would eventually be covered by custom floor-to-ceiling cabinetry. A did all the plumbing and fish room construction myself. My discussion thread has tons of pics of the process, even showing the garage floor being epoxy coated.

Other notable equipment is Ecotech Radion Pros for lighting, two Ecotech Vortech MP60's and two MP40's for flow. I am currently using a LifeReef skimmer. The return pump is a Reeflo Barracuda Gold and it provides flow for the entire system including my reactors which are fed through a manifold plumbed into the return. And the whole tank, including daily Auto Water Changes, is controlled by a GHL Profilux controller.​

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VIDEOS
for your viewing pleasure
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THE EQUIPMENT LIST
Here you will find the major items that run this particular saltwater reef aquarium,
complete with links to purchase or obtain more info.
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7' x 2' x 2' custom Deep Sea Aquatics tank

(4) Radion Pro LED Lights

(2) Ecotech Vortech MP60wES Pumps

(2) Ecotech Vortech MP40 Pumps

(2) Ecotech Battery Backups

GHL Profilux Controller

GHL Probes (pH, Conductivity, Temp, Redox)

(2) GHL Level Sensors

GHL Touch Remote Display

(3) GHL PowerBar PAB

GHL Vortech Pump Controller

GHL 3-Pump Doser

LifeReef Skimmer

(2) NextReef MR1 Reactors - GFO & Carbon

150g Rubber Maid Sump

Custom made acrylic "skimmer box" with filter sock holder.

Ozotech Poseidon 200 ozone generator
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Follow this link to see tons more specs including every single piece of equipment and all livestock, as well as dosing, feeding, maintenance and other items.
http://www.aquaticlog.com/aquariums/d2mini/1

Here's my original plan from before the house was actually built showing the floor plan and some pics of the model home.

And here's some random pics of the equipment listed above…

And here is my current lighting graph for the Ecotech Radino Pros.

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FISH
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Flame Hawkfish,Neocirrhitus armatus
Powder Brown Tang
Yellow Tang,Zebrasoma flavescens
Yellow Belly Regal Blue Tang,Paracanthurus hepatus var.
Blue Throat Triggerfish,Xanthichthys auromarginatus
Pink Spotted Watchman Goby,Cryptocentrus leptocephalus
Snowflake Clownfish
Sailfin Tang, Desjardini,Zebrasoma desjardini
Multicolor Lubbock's Fairy Wrasse,Cirrhilabrus lubbock
Spotbreast Angelfish,Genicanthus melanospilos
Bristletooth Tomini Tang,Ctenochaetus tominiensis
Tiger Goby,Elacatinus Macrodon
(3) Blue Eyed Cardinals
Mystery Wrasse,Pseudocheilinus ocellatus
Blue/Green Reef Chromis,Pomacentrus coelestis

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CORAL
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Ultra Open Brain Indonesia
Blastomussa Coral Indonesia
Teal Acropora
Acropora Valida
Purple Staghorn
ORA Purple Nana
Aussie Gold Acro
ORA Scribb's Green-Tip Staghorn
Australian Bi-Color Hammer,Euphyllia ancora
Australian Gold Torch Coral,Euphyllia glabrescens
Acropora Tenuis,Acropora Tenuis
Acropora Chesterfieldnesis,Acropora chesterfieldensis
Duncan Coral,Duncanopsammia axifuga
ORA Ponape Birdsnest
Ultimate Blue Staghorn
Strawberry Shortcake,Acropora microclados
Bali Green Slimer,Acropora yongei
Jason Fox Hells Eye,Mycedium sp.
Birdsnest Coral,Seriatopora hystrix
Ora Sprung's Stunner
ORA Green Planet,Acropora sp.
Brain Coral, Trachyphyllia,Trachyphyllia geoffroyi
Acropora Gemmifera
Acropora Spathulata
Acropora Loripes
Silver Gorgonian, With Basket Stars!
Zoanthid,Zoanthus
Green Montipora Plate,Montipora Plate
Purple Montipora Plate,Montipora Plate
Gold Plume Eco-Gorg
Black Mamba Acropora,Acropora sp
Red Planet Acropora,Acropora sp
Humilis Acropora Coral,Acropora humilis
Granulosa Acropora,Granulosa Acropora
ORA Purple Bonsai Acropora,Acropora sp
ORA Purple Montipora Undata,Montipora underrate
Efflo Acropora Table
Ricordea Mushroom,Ricordea yuma
Kelly Green Psammacora, ORA,Psammacora
ORA Red Planet,Acropora sp
Flower Pot Coral - Red, ORA,Goniopora sp.
Hammer / Anchor Coral,Euphyllia ancora
Branched Montipora Coral,Montipora digitata
Frogspawn Coral - Branched,Euphyllia paradivisa
Orange Fan Sponge
Orange Finger Sponge
Yellow Ball Sponge
Corky Finger Gorgonian
Brain Coral, Trachyphyllia,Trachyphyllia geoffroyi
Plate Coral, Short Tentacle,Fungia repanda
Purple Sea Fan,Gorgonia
Superman Montipora,Montipora Tuberculosa
Cup Coral, Turbinaria,Turbinaria sp.
Zoanthid - Eagle Eye and Dragon Eye,Zoanthus
Stylophora Coral
Red Mangroves

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INVERTS
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Fighting Conch
Blue Leg Hermit Crabs
Mini Maxi Carpet Anemone
Spiny Sea Cucumber, Pentacta anceps
Black Short Spine Urchin, Diadema setosum
Derasa Clam
Nerite Snails, Nerita sp.
Sea Cucumbers,Colochirus robustus
Turbo Snails ,Turbo fluctuosa
Electric Blue Hermit Crab,Calcinus elegans
Red Mithrax Crab,Mithrax ruer
Red Brittle Sea Star,Ophipcoma sp.
Basket Starfish
Serpent Starfish
Conical Spined Sea Star,Echinaster sentus​

 

[x19]

Awesome dennis, very exciting. I'd think you definitely want the 4 radians for good coverage. Did you consider doing a cost to coast overflow at one end of the tank instead of a center overflow? Would work well since its all concealed anyway.

Are those architectural renders for your new place? Did you custom design the house?

 

[little_fish]

is going to be bitchen.

 

[d2mini]

Awesome dennis, very exciting. I'd think you definitely want the 4 radians for good coverage. Did you consider doing a cost to coast overflow at one end of the tank instead of a center overflow? Would work well since its all concealed anyway.

Are those architectural renders for your new place? Did you custom design the house?

I have thought about that.
Problem is the side will only be 22" wide. Then take away about 6" of revealed side. That leaves me with around 16" hidden. That's not much bigger than the center overflow which will house at least 2 drains and 2 returns.
And then on top of that, I figured that's a pretty long tank. Would an overflow on one end really be sufficient? Probably not. Not compared to the center overflow anyway.
Am I wrong?

And ya, that's a portion of the floor plan of our new house.
It's a cookie-cutter house in a new master planned neighborhood we're moving to. We just got to pick interior materials and stuff.
The garage is a 3-car tandem which I'm excited about... gives me the extra room I need for the tank and other toys.

 

[wontonflip]

One suggestion....when I first set up my sump room in the utility closet, I did use rubbermaid tubs....I went through TWO...each one sprung micro-leaks. I would suggest, given your amount of space, get a nice large pond-liner tub instead. They're made to hold water nicely. I have been using mine for a while now, and I love it! Plenty of room for everything. there's even a built in hole at the top that I could put tubes in if I wanted to, so if the water gets too high, it can drain into a drain hole.

Check out my build thread from May 9 -- you can see my previous setup, then my new one :)

I can't wait to see your tank started!!!

 

[hoopsdaddy]

This is going to be great! Can't wait to see the progress. Your previous build has been one of my favorites to follow. Keep up the great work! Just to chime in, having at least a "mini" tank room to plumb everything to will give you so many options. I hope to do the same some day. Will be watching your thread and I know I will learn a lot by it.

 

[d2mini]

One suggestion....when I first set up my sump room in the utility closet, I did use rubbermaid tubs....I went through TWO...each one sprung micro-leaks. I would suggest, given your amount of space, get a nice large pond-liner tub instead. They're made to hold water nicely. I have been using mine for a while now, and I love it! Plenty of room for everything. there's even a built in hole at the top that I could put tubes in if I wanted to, so if the water gets too high, it can drain into a drain hole.

Check out my build thread from May 9 -- you can see my previous setup, then my new one :)

I can't wait to see your tank started!!!

Awesome, thanks!
That's actually what I was thinking.... not sure why I said "rubbermaid".
The big black pond tubs is what I was thinking of. :Cheers:
I'll definitely check out your thread... need ideas on plumbing it and stuff.

 

[Smitty]

Damn, Dennis, that's gonna be an "Amazing" tank build. I'm giddy already. :)

 

[ErinCahir]

I'm so excited for this...

 

[NanoReefer]

i bet we'll be seeing this on ecotechs up and coming bulletins :)

 

[Samhain]

I am breathless with anticipation! This is gonna be excellent..........

 

[bjohanson1234]

I say tear out that powder room, make the closet smaller, and you can get a deeper tank. :mrgreen:

Looks like it is going to be awesome!!!

 

[fastrd400]

Not again!!!
Haha, the rendering looks great. My buddy has a 180 with a 180 pond in the garage. Through wall plumbing, angle it houses all his equipment, plus is a frag tank. I can get more specifics on it, and pics if you want.

 

[buddy08]

Come to think of it, You should upgrade tanks more often. We enjoy watching you spend money on your tanks, helps sooth us folks who dream and wish of bigger tanks. One day.... Some day... ;) YAY NEW TANK!

 

[motorcyclereefer]

Very nice! Can't wait for it to start.

 

[Northstar24]

This build thread will be epic, just like the last one

 

[Cathic]

Seems like you have a way of building tanks and then getting on mag front pages etc. Are you playing a game with yourself =D to reach the most coverage? Whatever it is, your drive produces some really exciting reefs. I am eagerly awaiting something to blow my mind.

 

[d2mini]

haha, thanks guys!

Not again!!!
Haha, the rendering looks great. My buddy has a 180 with a 180 pond in the garage. Through wall plumbing, angle it houses all his equipment, plus is a frag tank. I can get more specifics on it, and pics if you want.

That would be awesome. :D

 

[d2mini]

Pics of the construction... mainly the garage and dining room. :D

 

[wontonflip]

That looks awesome!! Did you find a buyer for your old house already?

If you can, try to use that heavy-duty non-pinching tubing. Less head-loss. Problem is you can't have any sharp bends, obviously. It's tricky, that's why I didn't use it. Actually, I'm not sure if you can do it either...I think it works best if the sump is under, thereby required no bends. But maybe you can figure out how to do it.