300 gallon build
Printed From: Utah Reefs
Category: Main
Forum Name: Tank Threads
Forum Description: A place to show off your tank build.
URL: http://www.utahreefs.com/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=72375
Printed Date: July 26 2026 at 7:03am
Software Version: Web Wiz Forums 12.03 - http://www.webwizforums.com
Topic: 300 gallon build
Posted By: keithro
Subject: 300 gallon build
Date Posted: August 01 2014 at 7:41pm
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Here is the start of my build: Lemar 300 gallon tank- 96x24x30 twin rear overflows. Steel stand by me, 6 leveling feet Elite Aquatics sump 
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Replies:
Posted By: Mike Savage
Date Posted: August 01 2014 at 7:45pm
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Very nice! -------------  |
Posted By: LaRue
Date Posted: August 01 2014 at 8:16pm
| Looks nice. |
Posted By: mikebrennan
Date Posted: August 01 2014 at 11:57pm
| sweet |
Posted By: love2skiutah
Date Posted: August 02 2014 at 3:11am
| Those Leemars are so beautiful, even when they are empty. Following.... |
Posted By: Mark Peterson
Date Posted: August 02 2014 at 9:31am
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That is going to be a beautiful reef. Come on over and get your stuff to start it up and to fill it up. I'll give you awesome deals from http://utahreefs.com/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=71912" rel="nofollow - MarksReef Coral Farm Aloha  ------------- Reefkeeping Tips, & quick, easy setup tricks: www.utahreefs.com/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=9244 Pay it forward - become a paid WMAS member 
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Posted By: Reefer4Ever
Date Posted: August 02 2014 at 9:34am
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Following excited to see it come together. ------------- 90 gal reef w/refugium 24 gal softie tank 11 gal nano anemone tank 5 gal fresh water |
Posted By: keithro
Date Posted: August 05 2014 at 9:34am
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I'm working on my plumbing plan and would like to run an idea past everyone for feedback as I'm fairly new when it comes to this. I was considering doing a closed loop system of sorts using the overflow boxes. Picture 2 or 3 ports on each inside edge of the overflow running down to a DC pump in the sump (only to keep it cool) returning to the other overflow and out some line loc (for adjustability). I would put a diverter in the return line for doing water changes. The line would run through the wall and into my utility room where I have a floor drain. Directly behind the tank is my utility room which I will be using as a "support room". My current plan is also to run an external skimmer in the support room. I would use my third drilled hole in the overflow box to accomplish this. The original intent was to use these as emergency drains, but with the advent of Apex, I figure I can place a water sensor up high enough in the overflow box to shut down the return pumps if the water levels get too high in the case of the overflow drains being blocked. the tank as it is fairly long.  |
Posted By: keithro
Date Posted: August 05 2014 at 10:00am
It also occurs to me that I can run a second diverter valve on the intake side and run it into my 30 gallon water change tank to pump new water back into the system. |
Posted By: keithro
Date Posted: August 05 2014 at 10:09am
 For the auto top off (yellow) I plan on having a 250 gallon water tank in the support room. It doubles as our emergency water storage. I plan on feeding in a 5 stage RO/DI system into the 250 gallon tank. From there, I am planning on a gravity fed system down into the sump on a float valve. The plan is to tap the gravity feed line into the 250 gallon water high up on the water level so if the float valve were to become stuck open it would only drain a small amount into the system. The beauty of this system is that it will rotate my emergency water system for me. |
Posted By: keithro
Date Posted: August 05 2014 at 10:11am
I'm planning on running twin Jebao DC-12000 return pumps up to single line locks outputs, one out of each overflow box on the outer edges. |
Posted By: keithro
Date Posted: August 05 2014 at 10:13am
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Give me your thoughts on the best kind of drain system to run in the overflow boxes...they will run down into the far side of the sump through bulkheads. The tank is drilled with 1.75" holes so the returns and drains will be 1" pipe.  |
Posted By: keithro
Date Posted: September 05 2014 at 1:14pm
It's been a while since an update. I'll be running two Jebao DC12000's as return pumps. Here you can see the first one in. I was originally going to do a durso and an emergency drain in each overflow box, but I ended up putting dual durso pipes in each overflow box so I can push more water. It still gives me the redundancy in case one drain gets clogged, but let's me flow more water. Here are two of the four ready to go.  Here is one of the durso pipes in the overflow box with the start of my return plumbing.  Started unboxing the apex-  |
Posted By: keithro
Date Posted: September 05 2014 at 1:19pm
Received my rock in from BRS. Here is a shot of some of it.  I also ordered a couple pieces of tonga shelf, one of them didn't come through so well which is fine, because I don't think it will fit in the tank very well with all of the other rock. One shelf piece should be fine.  I started aquascaping and came up with this for my left side structure. Now, if I can only get it from the driveway into the tank...  I think we got the puzzle pieced together for the most part after moving it:  I mixed together three different sizes of sand to get a variety and try for a more natural look.
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Posted By: keithro
Date Posted: September 05 2014 at 1:24pm
Here is how the tank stands now. I'm still working on cleaning up some of the plumbing and electrical lines. The rock on the right hand of the tank is live rock I picked up locally (yet to be aquascaped). I still have to finish with the rest of the aquascaping. The live rock will be integrated in with the rest of the rock I purchased. I'm planning on building a tower structure and a cove structure. Maybe I will get to them this weekend. Kids play rugs are great for protecting the carpet while I'm dunking and arranging rock! I'm placing most of my equipment in the utility room behind the tank. It has a floor drain and a sloped concrete floor. The black line on the lower left of the sump is an emergency overflow drain for the sump. If for any reason the sump water gets too high, the water will go down a standpipe and over to a floor drain in the utility room.
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Posted By: Mike Savage
Date Posted: September 05 2014 at 1:41pm
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That is looking great and I really like that reef structure on the left side. ------------- |
Posted By: love2skiutah
Date Posted: September 05 2014 at 1:47pm
| Looking good Keith |
Posted By: LaRue
Date Posted: September 05 2014 at 1:52pm
| Looking good |
Posted By: keithro
Date Posted: September 05 2014 at 1:52pm
I didn't notice this until I got the rock into the tank, but check out skull rock: I can't wait to tell my kids that the tank is haunted....
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Posted By: LaRue
Date Posted: September 05 2014 at 1:55pm
| Looking good what is the pipe you have running over the bubble trap by the pumps |
Posted By: BobC63
Date Posted: September 05 2014 at 2:09pm
Wow - this is going to be an awesome system!  ------------- - My Current Tank: 50g Starfire Cube Reef * Marine & Reef tanks since 1977 * |
Posted By: Bryce
Date Posted: September 05 2014 at 2:17pm
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Wish I would have seen this thread earlier, I would have suggested a Herbie drain set up or Bean Animal, but durso's work, in fact most run that, but I can't stand the noise or occasional flushing. The water in that sump looks pretty high, have you left enough room for power outages/ shutting the pumps down? ------------- 65g Reef |
Posted By: keithro
Date Posted: September 05 2014 at 2:30pm
| That pipe is for my water change system. I have a jebao dc3000 hooked to it. It pumps water out of that center chamber for water changes. |
Posted By: keithro
Date Posted: September 05 2014 at 2:33pm
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Water is too high right now, it's not at normal height. I havn't drained off water since I started adding rock. Even at the current height there is enough room in the sump when the pumps turn off. I don't get any flushing unless the sump water level is too high. The key is to not have the pipes coming off the bulkheads too deep into the water. |
Posted By: keithro
Date Posted: September 17 2014 at 8:33am
I've been doing a lot of the "behind the scenes" work lately. Auto top off, mixing tank, controller, etc. I'll post pictures later after I get the wiring cleaned up. I did get wiring ran to the lights (AI Vega) and did some more rock work. The lights will eventually be suspended inside the canopy. I'm currently not running them just to keep algea down. |
Posted By: 80cent
Date Posted: September 24 2014 at 3:19pm
| Are you adding a canopy? This tank is gorgeous as a topless, rimless beauty. I think it looks great now! |
Posted By: catchoftheday
Date Posted: October 19 2014 at 9:18pm
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I am wondering who made your stand ? Also how much did you pay ? ------------- I currently have a 24 gallon JBJ all in one tank has two powerheads a phosphate reactor with the small bubble skimmer it is also powered by 2 X165 W LEDs and as a mixed reef |
Posted By: keithro
Date Posted: October 30 2014 at 9:08am
| I made the stand myself. |
Posted By: catchoftheday
Date Posted: October 30 2014 at 1:07pm
------------- I currently have a 24 gallon JBJ all in one tank has two powerheads a phosphate reactor with the small bubble skimmer it is also powered by 2 X165 W LEDs and as a mixed reef |
keithro wrote:Posted By: builderofdreams
Date Posted: October 30 2014 at 1:11pm
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Beautiful System. Bill Gates would be proud. ------------- It's Not a Hobby It's an Obsession 150&210 Gallons of Madness and. Sanity! 801-850-4915 http://www.utahreefs.com/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=65135&title=builderofdreams-feedback-post |
Posted By: keithro
Date Posted: October 30 2014 at 1:13pm
| Thanks for all your help Builderofdreams! |
Posted By: keithro
Date Posted: December 12 2014 at 4:03pm
It's been a while since any updates...Here are some pictures of the equipment directly behind the tank. It's still a bit messy in here, but everything is up and running. We ended up pulling a dedicated 20 amp circuit for the equipment. I may have the largest top off tank in the state, 250 gallons.  Saltwater mixing station. Valves in this position is for mixing. If I throw both valves the other way it shoots the water into my sump for water changes.  |
Posted By: keithro
Date Posted: December 22 2014 at 9:05am
 Starting to see some good signs of life. I'm working on getting the woodwork started now so I can get the sump enclosed.
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Posted By: jdinchak
Date Posted: December 22 2014 at 9:25am
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Looks great! ------------- 180G Mixed Reef Tank 170G Dart Frog Tank |
Posted By: Mike Savage
Date Posted: December 22 2014 at 10:42am
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Lookin' good! ------------- |
Posted By: Krazie4Acans
Date Posted: December 22 2014 at 10:57am
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Very nice. Any shots of your sump and how your reactors in the equipment room are plumbed in? ------------- My ocean. 90g (yup, won it!), 40g, 28g, & 10g Systems PADI Advanced Open Water http://utahreefs.com/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=63568&title=krazies-nano-paradise" rel="nofollow - Tank Thread: |
Posted By: ksmart
Date Posted: December 22 2014 at 6:27pm
fishgasm over here don't mind me!
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Posted By: LaRue
Date Posted: December 23 2014 at 5:53am
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[QUOTE=ksmart] fishgasm over here don't mind me! Omg that is hilarious I love it lol... |