View Full Version : Finally my 300 gallon


stacy22
10-13-2011, 9:43 AM
This past May I bought a used 300g tank from a club member here who was doing the "divorce downsize". His unfortunate loss was my fortunate gain.

The tank dimensions are 96"x30"x24". It is made of 3/4' glass and is heavier than me after a dozen doughnuts and a couple of Diet Dr. Peppers. http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/images/smilies/smile.gif

It is reported to be a tank that Ken Stockman had built for himself. Now it sits in my basement where it will stay until I ever move out of this house. It joins a 40b turtle tank, a 55g freshwater tank, and a 29g saltwater tank and a "few" empty tanks. :) The basement is currently unfinished but will slowly become finished (I hope).

There will be a 75g sump and 40g refugium plumbed in with the 300g.



This summer I had Randy (rjrgroup) build a basic stand that will be skinned later.


Here are Randy and Kris (PFC Deitz) with the stand outside my basement door.
http://i650.photobucket.com/albums/uu223/reeferstace/IMG_0011-1.jpg

Inside the basement- Kris checks to see if everything is level. You can see my chiller right above Kris' head. :D
http://i650.photobucket.com/albums/uu223/reeferstace/IMG_0013-1.jpg
http://i650.photobucket.com/albums/uu223/reeferstace/IMG_0014.jpg

Edit: Stocking plans for the tank-

It will officially be a mixed reef. I am much more interested in fish than corals so they are my top priority. I have a pair of onyx clowns that will move from the 29g to the big tank.

I also plan to add:
Tangs-
a small Naso lituratus- lipstick Naso
an Acanthurus nigrofuscus- Lavendar tang
a Zebrasoma flavescens - yellow tang
a Ctenochaetus tominiensis- Tomini tang

Angels
a Pomacanthus xanthometopon - blue-face angel
a Pomacanthus navarchus-majestic OR other large angel

Butterflies
a Chaetodon xanthurus-pearlscale butterfly (although I would rather have it's Red Sea cousin Chaetodon paucifasciatus
maybe a couple of Hemitaurichthys polylepis- pyramid butterflies

Others
Grouping of Apogon leptacanthus-threadfin cardinals
Grouping of anthias- perhaps Pseudanthias ignitus since they seem like a good choice for anthias novices like me. Opinions??????
Cryptocentrus cinctus-Yellow watchman
Valenciennea puellaris- diamond goby
Opistognathus aurifrons- pearly-headed jawfish
Salarias fasciatus- lawnmower blenny

Wrasses
Halichoeres chrysus- yellow coris
a couple more fairy/flashers to be determined later.

CUC
I just ordered a large CUC from John at reefcleaners.org.
Included are:
Dwarf Ceriths, Fuzzy Chitons, Emerald/Ruby Mithrax Crabs, Nassarius Vibex, Sea Cucumbers, ZigZag Periwinkles, and Blue Leg Hermit Crab.

I love echinoderms and will also be adding some pencil urchins and brittle stars.

The refugium will house a variety of macro algae including (also from reefcleaners):
Flame Algae, Botryocladia (Red Grape), Halimeda (Monile/Incrassata), Pencil Cap (Small), and Ulva.

Mr Difficult
10-13-2011, 9:48 AM
WOW very cool can't wait to see more pics and follow along this will be a site to see when complete.

stacy22
10-13-2011, 9:54 AM
The tank arrived at my house. It needed to enter the double-basement doors around the back of the house. No problem, the guys just took a section of my fence down and drove the truck and tank right up to to my back door. http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/images/smilies/mdrbig.gif


http://i650.photobucket.com/albums/uu223/reeferstace/IMG_0015.jpg

Stand was moved over to the door...

http://i650.photobucket.com/albums/uu223/reeferstace/IMG_0016.jpg


Chris (Fishscales) was UNDER the tank- out of sight in this photo.
http://i650.photobucket.com/albums/uu223/reeferstace/IMG_0017.jpg
http://i650.photobucket.com/albums/uu223/reeferstace/IMG_0018.jpg

Stand and tank just inside the doorway about 20 feet from where it needed to be.


http://i650.photobucket.com/albums/uu223/reeferstace/IMG_0019.jpg

20 feet was no match for these guys.

http://i650.photobucket.com/albums/uu223/reeferstace/IMG_0020.jpg

http://i650.photobucket.com/albums/uu223/reeferstace/IMG_0021.jpg

http://i650.photobucket.com/albums/uu223/reeferstace/IMG_0022.jpg

http://i650.photobucket.com/albums/uu223/reeferstace/IMG_0023.jpg

http://i650.photobucket.com/albums/uu223/reeferstace/IMG_0024.jpg

Edit: Evidence of the "Day of Plumbing"
http://i650.photobucket.com/albums/uu223/reeferstace/IMG_0085.jpg

First order of business was to get rid og the hitchhiker. :yes:
http://i650.photobucket.com/albums/uu223/reeferstace/IMG_0083.jpg
http://i650.photobucket.com/albums/uu223/reeferstace/IMG_0082.jpg

Todd is keeping the drill bit wet as Chris drills my return holes.
http://i650.photobucket.com/albums/uu223/reeferstace/IMG_0084.jpg

Right side return hole
http://i650.photobucket.com/albums/uu223/reeferstace/IMG_0086.jpg
http://i650.photobucket.com/albums/uu223/reeferstace/IMG_0090.jpg

MikeW
10-13-2011, 10:02 AM
Looking good, Brad hated moving that tank. I am shocked 3 of them moved it. That thing was beyond heavy.
What direction are you going with the tank?
fish?
Corals?
Rock style?

Or are you unsure yet

stacy22
10-13-2011, 10:05 AM
Mike it was actually 4 of them. You are right though. That thing is a beast.

The tank will be a mixed reef with emphasis on fish. I put my preliminary stocking/wishlist in the first post. It will be a LOOOOONNNNGGGGG process.

Butch
10-13-2011, 10:11 AM
Looking good. I love to see the thread builds on the big tanks. It gives me plenty of ideas for when I settle down into my final resting spot.

stacy22
10-13-2011, 10:14 AM
The tank was drilled for a closed loop. I decided aganist going this route and covered the CL bottom holes with appropriately sized glass.

There are two bottom drains that lead to the sump. Here is one drain hole as seen from under the stand.
http://i650.photobucket.com/albums/uu223/reeferstace/IMG_0089.jpg

This is what it looked like from above.

http://i650.photobucket.com/albums/uu223/reeferstace/IMG_0092.jpg

I cleaned the glass inside and out using vinegar, water, a scraper, and some elbow grease...

Next up was siliconing. I chose to have Chris remove all the old silicone and replace it with fresh.http://i650.photobucket.com/albums/uu223/reeferstace/IMG_0098.jpg

They had this stuff on THICK.
http://i650.photobucket.com/albums/uu223/reeferstace/IMG_0099.jpg

Loaded up and ready to go...
http://i650.photobucket.com/albums/uu223/reeferstace/IMG_0094.jpg
http://i650.photobucket.com/albums/uu223/reeferstace/IMG_0096.jpg

Chris made my new black acrylic covers for my internal overflows.
http://i650.photobucket.com/albums/uu223/reeferstace/IMG_0095.jpg

Cutting them down to size
http://i650.photobucket.com/albums/uu223/reeferstace/IMG_0097.jpg

elFloyd
10-13-2011, 10:36 AM
Good build thread... keep it coming!

tgriffin
10-13-2011, 11:48 AM
Looks great Stacy

aquaculture
10-13-2011, 11:51 AM
Congratulations Stacy on finally getting that beast into place, now the fun really begins with plumbing, electrical, aquascaping etc...then stocking the tank with all our favorite ocean friends. :yay: Can't wait until I start my big tank. Have fun and happy reefing!!!

JeF4y
10-13-2011, 12:08 PM
Wow. that thing is MASSIVE. Looking forward to watching this one build out.

PFCDeitz
10-13-2011, 12:12 PM
Yay awesome job Stacy! Let me know if you guys need anything else!

Tbrennan
10-13-2011, 3:54 PM
Looks good so far. Keep the pic coming.

rdnelson99
10-13-2011, 4:01 PM
Watching and learning.

LegalReefer
10-13-2011, 9:38 PM
Tagging along for this one. This is the exact size tank I would like to have one day! Good luck to you! I cant wait to see some fish in it!

CarlitosReef
10-13-2011, 9:44 PM
Nice!! Only 300g? Lol

TChristman
10-14-2011, 12:55 PM
Best of luck on the new tank. Mine is also in the basement and if you have any questions feel free to ask. You are more than welcome to visit it as well to see it in action.

1mbrews8
10-14-2011, 2:48 PM
NICE! I love reading these build threads!

Didn't even recognize chris in the first few pics due to no hat :o)

stacy22
10-14-2011, 6:18 PM
I am excited about the build so far. I will be posting up some more pictures this weekend hopefully.

For now here's a couple of some random tanks in the basement.
Some of my freshwater fish in the 55g.
http://i650.photobucket.com/albums/uu223/reeferstace/IMG_0108.jpg

Cool picture of two of my red eared sliders.
http://i650.photobucket.com/albums/uu223/reeferstace/IMG_0111.jpg

mysterybox
10-14-2011, 6:51 PM
Wow, Stacy that is sweet!

what is your Stocking plan? Basic theme?

stacy22
10-14-2011, 7:05 PM
Ralph check out the bottom of Post #1. :)

mysterybox
10-14-2011, 7:07 PM
Ralph check out the bottom of Post #1. :)


sorry! little phone....

Skriz
10-14-2011, 8:02 PM
'bout time! :D

BigJohn
10-14-2011, 8:10 PM
Dang, that is going to be a sweet tank! We are already thinking about getting rid of our 150 and 125 and going bigger.

blakejohn
10-14-2011, 8:20 PM
OK, it been about five months since you acquired this tank. It should be done and partly stocked, right? LOL New pics!, pics, pics please.

It will be nice to see how you set it up being that you have the same dimensions as I do.

vista
10-15-2011, 8:09 AM
Tank is huge. I bet it'd look amazing when it's up and running.

Tagging along... watching & learning

thank you for sharing