Planet Aquarium Custom Build

Discussion in 'New Tank Builds' started by graciesdad, Jul 16, 2020.

  1. graciesdad

    graciesdad Treasurer Staff Member

    Sorry in advance for the long post...

    Well I've ordered the tank and went the custom route from Planet Aquariums. Tank dimensions are 84.5"l x 24.5"w x 20"h. Tank will be 179 gallons. Huge thank you to Wayne at Live Rock Aquatics! I went with a center internal overflow. Debated the external overflow but decided against it since the tank will sit against the wall. It would be too difficult to reach with the length of the tank. I wanted a longer tank but wanted to keep weight down since I'm on a crawl.

    I plan to reinforce the joists with 2 jack posts supporting two 8ft long 2x10s sandwiched together. Feel free to chime in if you don't think this is enough. I want this to be overkill.

    I plan on building a custom stand out of 2x8s spanning the top and 2x4s supporting it and skinned with 3/4 inch oak plywood. I'm using rocketengineer's design off reef central. I actually had him review it. Thankful to find an expert for this!

    Under the tank, I will have a bashsea smart series 30x15 acrylic sump. I really liked the layout of this sump. The top has even been routed to manage cords from equipment and has places to hold probes if i ever add a controller. It will house my Skimz algae reactor in the first chamber and a Red Sea RSK 600 protein skimmer in the 2nd chamber. The tank will be heated by a BRS titanium heater with an inkbird controller for safety. My return pump is a Maxspect Jump DC 12k. I'm still thinking about ATO options but leaning towards the Tunze 3155. I also have a dosing pump if I ever start growing sps like Aaron.

    In the tank, flow will be provided by two Icecap gyres. I liked the idea of two pumps on one controller. Tank will also have returns on the back wall on each end.

    Tank will be lit by AI Hydra HDs.

    I will make certain to add lots of pics of each part of the build process. Also I might need some help getting this thing in the house. I don't think I should do what Aaron did. I'm really looking forward to getting some tangs and other fish not suited for life in my 75.
     
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  2. graciesdad

    graciesdad Treasurer Staff Member

    I'd love feedback on my plan. Feel free to point out anything I'm missing or what you would do differently. I really planned on getting a skimmer with a DC pump. But I really liked the thoughtful design of the Red Sea RSK. The video by BRS really sold me.
     
  3. huntindoc

    huntindoc RRMAS BOD Membership Director Staff Member

    I love it! Really looking forward to this build thread!

    I think your support plan is good.

    Only thing I can think of that I would do differently would be to have two smaller heater equaling the planned wattage for safety.....even controllers fail. I'm using two 150 watt heaters instead of one 300 watt. I do have my Apex programmed to turn them off if the water temp is 80. So, the only way for them to nuke my tank would be for both to fail in the on position and my controller also fail, or for both of them to fail in the off position and my heat go out during winter.

    I like the Red Sea skimmer also but have been very pleased with my Skimz also. I did have a pump go out but it was surprisingly inexpensive and easy to replace.
     
  4. graciesdad

    graciesdad Treasurer Staff Member

    Thanks Doc! 2 heaters is a great idea to help prevent disaster.
     
  5. huntindoc

    huntindoc RRMAS BOD Membership Director Staff Member

  6. Adam Mulling

    Adam Mulling Wrasse Staff Member

    Just don’t forget an apex with a trident and dos it takes a ton of work out of it
     
  7. graciesdad

    graciesdad Treasurer Staff Member

    Maybe someday. But for now the budget is pretty low.
     
  8. graciesdad

    graciesdad Treasurer Staff Member

    I almost finished constructing the stand today. The frame was mostly 2x4 with the exception of the 2x8s spanning the top of the tank. I'm skinning it with 3/4" maple plywood. As much as it pains me, the stand will be painted white to match built ins in our house. 20200801_140024.jpg 20200801_140037.jpg 20200801_140501.jpg
     
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  9. graciesdad

    graciesdad Treasurer Staff Member

    More pics of progress tomorrow
     
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  10. graciesdad

    graciesdad Treasurer Staff Member

    20200802_122017.jpg
    It's been skinned.
     
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  11. graciesdad

    graciesdad Treasurer Staff Member

    20200802_175858.jpg 20200802_175816.jpg
    Painted
     
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  12. huntindoc

    huntindoc RRMAS BOD Membership Director Staff Member

    Looking great! Well done on the stand!
     
  13. Adam Mulling

    Adam Mulling Wrasse Staff Member

    Come on Saturday
     
  14. graciesdad

    graciesdad Treasurer Staff Member

    Planet didn't complete the tank as expected. They are about a week behind. So it won't be here on Saturday.
     

    Attached Files:

  15. graciesdad

    graciesdad Treasurer Staff Member

    Here is my initial plan for fish.

    Vlamingi tang
    Lavender tang
    Orange shoulder tang
    Potters Angel
    Flameback Angel
    3 Purple Queen Anthias
    Mystery Wrasse
    Moyers Leopard Wrasse
    Coral Gumdrop
    Pair of Gold x Lightning Clowns

    The flameback might have to go back to the fish store if he is too aggressive with the Potters. I got one of the final Potters collected from Hawaii.

    I'll probably be adding some neon gobies since the mystery wrasse seems to think the cleaner shrimps are tasty.
     
  16. huntindoc

    huntindoc RRMAS BOD Membership Director Staff Member

    Keep an eye on the Mystery wrasse with the leopard wrasse. More often than not it won't tolerate other wrasses at all.....if it can work though it would in your case because of the size of your tank!
     
  17. graciesdad

    graciesdad Treasurer Staff Member

    I've had them both in the 75 for about a year.
     
  18. graciesdad

    graciesdad Treasurer Staff Member

    I've kept two different mystery wrasses over the years and have never seen them be aggressive. He is pretty fat and happy.
     
  19. huntindoc

    huntindoc RRMAS BOD Membership Director Staff Member

    Sounds like he will do fine. Every fish is an individual.....my Gold Rim eats bubble algae?!:) Pseudochilinus species just have a really bad reputation for not tolerating other wrasses. If I knew I could get one like yours I'd have it in a minute!
     
  20. graciesdad

    graciesdad Treasurer Staff Member

    The tank is built and is being shipped. The joists under the tank have been reinforced. Stand and canopy have been built and painted. I also decided to add a calcium reactor. I've been making ro water all day. New tank day will be here soon.
     
    roco likes this.

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