jrpdriver's Three-o-Three build

[jrpdriver]

Well my 125 has only been up for a year and I already got bit by the go bigger bug. I decided to build a new system that would be nice for viewing but also be better equipped for fragging. I will be breaking down the 125, the Red Sea Max and frag tank and putting all their contents in the new system. The tank will be delivered in about 2 weeks and the stand is off at the powder coater right now so I don't have any pictures yet, but I would love to get the conversation going and get some feedback from everybody

Tank Built by My Reef Creations, ¾” acrylic with external overflow
303 gallons 85.5” x 31.5” x 26”. 2 -1 ½” drains, 1- 1” return


Sump Built by My Reef Creations, 3/8” acrylics
138.5 gallons 80” x 20” x 20” split into 3 chambers - protein skimmer (20 x 20), refugium (20x20) and frag tank (40x20) I'm having the baffles made from black acrylic so I can light the frag and refuge without getting light in the skimmer chamber.

Stand I welded the stand myself using 1 ½”, 3/16^th wall, square stock.
Powder coated gloss black

Lighting 2- 72” Aquactincs Constellation fixtures for a total of
28 x 39w T5 bulbs

Skimmer- Undecided, but definitely a low wattage internal type

Flow 6 Vortech Gen2 pumps (3 from my previous tank and 3 new) plus aprox. 1500gph from the return

Return Red Dragon 10m3 split to 2 X-Wave devices (I will also use about 200gph from the the return to feed my reactors and such)

Reactors Custom dual chamber calcium reactor with gate valves for easy removal of pump built by My Reef Creations, MRC Kalk reactor 6 x 18 which will be plumbed into the ATO system

Controller Neptune Aquacontroller PRO (I will be using the DC 8's, expansion box, and breakout box from my current system)

I will be running the frag tank and refugium on an opposite light schedule to help stabalize PH. I will aslo be running a 57w UV at night only to keep the heat down during the day. I went with the Red Dragon return pump and Vortech circulation pumps to help keep wattage and heat down as I am going to attempt to run this sytem without a chiller.

[Fly Guy]

SWEET.

now I understand your question the other day. You werent messing around.

Not much input but let the games begin. Sounds like you got it under control. I would of course say lose the fuge altogether, but you already knew I woudl say that.


skimmer- might as well put the icing on the cake, and go with a ATB or BK. Then you can help me decide which of the two I will be picking up for my 500 next summer

good luck with the build

[Fat Tony]

Congrats! Looks like Lucas is paying you well All that MRC stuff makes me envious

[jrpdriver]

Yeah I just needed some help to get the final details and pull the trigger, thanks again for all the input! I was up in the air about the refuium, but it's not going to be a typical refugium, just an empty chamber with some Chaeto tumbling.

Those are the two front runners in the skimmer department. Although if Warner releases their cone line soon I would definetely go in that direction, great build quality and half the cost.

[jrpdriver]

Originally Posted by Fat Tony

Congrats! Looks like Lucas is paying you well All that MRC stuff makes me envious

Thanks! Lucas does pay me well, but not that well, unfortunately I am sick in the head and I took out a loan to build this system. Making payments is so much better than saving

[Fat Tony]

LOL.. it certainly is I try to not use any form of credit when it comes to my hobbies, but every once in a while there is that one thing you absolutely have got to have or that once in a while deal that you can't pass up...

[Jared J]

Aw man, pics on this should be great.

[aquawolf]

I am definitely along for the ride on this one! Congrats!

[jrpdriver]

Thanks guys! I am really excited to get this thing going, you should have seen the grin on my face when I got the go ahead from the wife

[jrpdriver]

I got some of the goodies in today and I went by my buddies plumbing shop to get what I think will be all the fittings and pipe..but we all know how that goes, I'm sure I'll be making a few more trips

The X Wave devices showed up

My Red Dragon pump This thing moves over 2600gph at 98w!

Here's the box of fittings,valves, probe holders and such

Some black pvc flex pipe that I didn't even know existed, very cool stuff

and a picture of the little reefer enjoying our current tank with mommy

[skey44]

I know its a little old school, but I have really enjoyed my hs. In your sit iwould probably go supermarine 300, atb L, or octo pro similar (talk to mcliffy about his atb once its running). Think it will be a bit before Jon has a skimmer for a 300.

[jrpdriver]

Thanks for the info, thats a good idea to talk to mccliffy since he has the Orca 250 to compare it to

[jenglish]

looks like a sweet build... but I have to say I think the baby is going to outgrow that tank
That is a @$$ ton of T5s,

[jrpdriver]

Originally Posted by jenglish

looks like a sweet build... but I have to say I think the baby is going to outgrow that tank
That is a @$$ ton of T5s,

Thanks! yeah its a ton of T5's for sure, but I wanted to make sure I had total coverage from front to back. I won't run them all at first, the Constellation fixtures have the bulbs on 3 switches so I can keep a couple rows of them off. Then once the corals grow in I can run them all.

[jrpdriver]

Not too much to report, just waiting for the delivery day to get here, I feel like I am 6 years old waiting for Christmas morning!
I went ahead and made the drain pipes and the probe holder section of the plumbing