Reef Central Online Community Archives - My 400g room divider system (photo essay)

Ok, it's not 100% finished yet, but I've determined that it never will be. ;)

I started thinking about this tank in August of 2003. Real designs starting meeting paper in October and it got wet in February. Saturday I hosted the local reef club meeting and showed it off to people for the first time.

This tank sets almost in the middle of my (25' x 25') great room. One end of the tank is sunk into the wet room that was built after putting the tank in place. The stand and hood were finished and integrated after the wet room was built.

[img]http://www.saltyzoo.com/new/idea3.png[/img]

The wet room ended up being much bigger than the original diagram and the tank is further in the middle of the room.

Anyway, this thread will by my tale describing the journey from this diagram to the final product.... I hope you enjoy the thread a fraction of how much I enjoyed assembling the system. :D

TABLE OF CONTENTS:
<ul><li>General Information</li><ul><li><a href=http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?s=&postid=2743009#post2743009 target=_blank>General description</a></li><li><a href=http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?s=&postid=2743036#post2743036 target=_blank>Movie and wide angle pictures of tank</a></li><li><a href=http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?s=&postid=2750021#post2750021 target=_blank>Canopy and stand access. Doors everywhere</a></li><li><a href=http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?s=&postid=2759717#post2759717 target=_blank>Old room layout and why I placed the tank where I did</a></li><li><a href=http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?s=&postid=2759988#post2759988 target=_blank>Access into the tank from the wet room</a></li><li><a href=http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?s=&postid=2765953#post2765953 target=_blank>Living room with furnitue and wet room walls painted / Water finally in tank!</a></li><li><a href=http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?s=&postid=2770402#post2770402 target=_blank>Do you have a generator?</a></li><li><a href=http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?s=&postid=2770770#post2770770 target=_blank>Why only 20" high?</a></li><li><a href=http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?s=&postid=2772685#post2772685 target=_blank>Rock in the tank!</a></li><li><a href=http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?s=&postid=2784019#post2784019 target=_blank>Why no sand?</a></li><li><a href=http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?s=&postid=2807019#post2807019 target=_blank>Animated view of all sides of tank</a></li><li><a href=http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?s=&postid=2850927#post2850927 target=_blank>How much water do you evaporate? Do you have humidity problems?</a></li><li><a href=http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?s=&postid=2920292#post2920292 target=_blank>Do you have a calcium reactor?</a></li></ul><li>Aquascaping</li><ul><li><a href=http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?s=&postid=2778661#post2778661 target=_blank>Original Aquascaping</a></li><li><a href=http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?s=&postid=2780677#post2780677 target=_blank>Final aquascaping</a></li></ul><li>Construction</li><ul><li>General</li><ul><li><a href=http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?s=&postid=2751556#post2751556 target=_blank>Room layout. (Deciding where to place the tank)</a></li><li><a href=http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?s=&postid=2755650#post2755650 target=_blank>Transporting a 300 gallon glass tank in excess of 600 lbs</a></li><li><a href=http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?s=&postid=2757388#post2757388 target=_blank>Framing of walls and canopy</a></li><li><a href=http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?s=&postid=2759575#post2759575 target=_blank>Cabinet doors hung</a></li><li><a href=http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?s=&postid=2760731#post2760731 target=_blank>Wet room (empty)</a></li><li><a href=http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?s=&postid=2761122#post2761122 target=_blank>One coat of paint (tank still empty)</a></li></ul><li>Canopy / Stand</li><ul><li><a href=http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?s=&postid=2753560#post2753560 target=_blank>Stand construction</a></li><li><a href=http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?s=&postid=2756053#post2756053 target=_blank>Tank on bare stand</a></li><li><a href=http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?s=&postid=2761573#post2761573 target=_blank>Construction pics (roof and ceiling of canopy)</a></li><li><a href=http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?s=&postid=2765356#post2765356 target=_blank>Canopy roof with vent (replaced with fan) & wet room with shelves and table</a></li><li><a href=http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?s=&postid=2773593#post2773593 target=_blank>Inside of canopy with box fan (eventually replaced by chiller)</a></li><li><a href=http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?s=&postid=2797250#post2797250 target=_blank>What about the weight of the canopy resting on the sides of the tank?</a></li></ul></ul><li>Cooling</li><ul><li><a href=http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?s=&postid=2766476#post2766476 target=_blank>Box fan used for cooling before chiller was installed</a></li><li><a href=http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?s=&postid=2843198#post2843198 target=_blank>Chiller plumbing (chiller is remote)</a></li><li><a href=http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?s=&postid=2926295#post2926295 target=_blank>DIY chiller info</a></li><li><a href=http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?s=&postid=2938290#post2938290 target=_blank>More chiller</a></li></ul><li>Electrical</li><ul><li><a href=http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?s=&postid=2770512#post2770512 target=_blank>Electrical</a></li></ul><li>Eye Candy</li><ul><li><a href=http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?s=&postid=2775534#post2775534 target=_blank>Rock Anemone macro</a></li><li><a href=http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?s=&postid=2776235#post2776235 target=_blank>Clam and coral macro</a></li><li><a href=http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?s=&postid=2781093#post2781093 target=_blank>What camera do you use for your tank pics?</a></li><li><a href=http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?s=&postid=2785322#post2785322 target=_blank>New corals</a></li><li><a href=http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?s=&postid=2788867#post2788867 target=_blank>More new frags</a></li><li><a href=http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?s=&postid=2807019#post2807019 target=_blank>Animated view of all sides of tank</a></li><li><a href=http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?s=&postid=2868132#post2868132 target=_blank>Critter pics</a></li><li><a href=http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?s=&postid=2869115#post2869115 target=_blank>Coral macro</a></li><li><a href=http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?s=&postid=2916864#post2916864 target=_blank>More coral pics</a></li><li><a href=http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?s=&postid=2918407#post2918407 target=_blank>Corals</a></li><li><a href=http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?s=&postid=2922017#post2922017 target=_blank>Corals</a></li></ul><li>Lighting</li><ul><li><a href=http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?s=&postid=2749913#post2749913 target=_blank>Lighting</a></li><li><a href=http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?s=&postid=2774395#post2774395 target=_blank>Lighting - MH installed only no VHO yet</a></li><li><a href=http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?s=&postid=2777972#post2777972 target=_blank>Lighting Q & A</a></li><li><a href=http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?s=&postid=2784630#post2784630 target=_blank>Final lighting - some corals</a></li><li><a href=http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?s=&postid=2874620#post2874620 target=_blank>Lighting discussion</a></li></ul>
<li>Plumbing</li><ul><li><a href=http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?s=&postid=2953442#post2953442 target=_blank>Auto top-off system</a></li><li><a href=http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?s=&postid=2819804#post2819804 target=_blank>Duct tape plumbing</a></li><li><a href=http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?s=&postid=2843198#post2843198 target=_blank>Chiller plumbing (chiller is remote)</a></li><li>Eductors</li><ul><li><a href=http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?s=&postid=2813286#post2813286 target=_blank>Eductors installed</a></li><li><a href=http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?s=&postid=2815378#post2815378 target=_blank>Do eductors make a difference?</a></li><li><a href=http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?s=&postid=2819295#post2819295 target=_blank>eductors...</a></li><li><a href=http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?s=&postid=2902930#post2902930 target=_blank>Eductor performance testing and demonstration</a></li><li><a href=http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?s=&postid=2926183#post2926183 target=_blank>More eductor discussion</a></li></ul><li>Hook plumbing for pumps</li><ul><li><a href=http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?s=&postid=2798156#post2798156 target=_blank>Hook plumbing discussions</a></li><li><a href=http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?s=&postid=2798595#post2798595 target=_blank>Hook plumbing discussions 2</a></li><li><a href=http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?s=&postid=2798615#post2798615 target=_blank>Hook plumbing discussions 3</a></li><li><a href=http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?s=&postid=2800663#post2800663 target=_blank>Hook plumbing discussions 4</a></li><li><a href=http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?s=&postid=2801194#post2801194 target=_blank>Hook plumbing discussions 5</a></li><li><a href=http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?s=&postid=2814214#post2814214 target=_blank>Hook plumbing discussions 6</a></li><li><a href=http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?s=&postid=2815378#post2815378 target=_blank>Return plumbing (More hook pictures)</a></li><li><a href=http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?s=&postid=2834482#post2834482 target=_blank>How do you prime a hook?</a></li><li><a href=http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?s=&postid=2849634#post2849634 target=_blank>More hook priming discussion</a></li><li><a href=http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?s=&postid=2852310#post2852310 target=_blank>More hook discussion</a></li></ul><li>Overflow</li><ul><li><a href=http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?s=&postid=2744838#post2744838 target=_blank>Overflow design</a></li><li><a href=http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?s=&postid=2765192#post2765192 target=_blank>Overflow height discussion</a></li><li><a href=http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?s=&postid=2771259#post2771259 target=_blank>Overflow</a></li><li><a href=http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?s=&postid=2790605#post2790605 target=_blank>Overflow (details on fish barrier)</a></li><li><a href=http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?s=&postid=2807782#post2807782 target=_blank>Silencing the overflow</a></li><li><a href=http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?s=&postid=2808990#post2808990 target=_blank>Why didn't you need a durso or stockman to quiet the drains?</a></li><li><a href=http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?s=&postid=2809053#post2809053 target=_blank>More overflow pics</a></li></ul><li>Return / Drain</li><ul><li><a href=http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?s=&postid=2770208#post2770208 target=_blank>Test version of return plumbing & final drain plumbing</a></li><li><a href=http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?s=&postid=2771020#post2771020 target=_blank>Sump and tank with test plumbing running</a></li><li><a href=http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?s=&postid=2781391#post2781391 target=_blank>Saltwater tap using spare drain <b>You GOTTA see this one!</b></a></li><li><a href=http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?s=&postid=2784374#post2784374 target=_blank>Why 2 2" drains?</a></li><li><a href=http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?s=&postid=2813286#post2813286 target=_blank>Eductors installed</a></li><li><a href=http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?s=&postid=2815378#post2815378 target=_blank>Return plumbing (More hook pictures)</a></li><li><a href=http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?s=&postid=2857108#post2857108 target=_blank>Drain plumbing</a></li></ul><li>Skimmer</li><ul><li><a href=http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?s=&postid=2767024#post2767024 target=_blank>Skimmer installation layout</a></li><li><a href=http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?s=&postid=2783541#post2783541 target=_blank>Temporary installation of MR-3 skimmer until MR-6 arrives</a></li><li><a href=http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?s=&postid=2792341#post2792341 target=_blank>New MR-6 skimmer next to the MR-3</a></li><li><a href=http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?s=&postid=2792689#post2792689 target=_blank>One or two injectors on skimmer?</a></li><li><a href=http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?s=&postid=2795012#post2795012 target=_blank>"GregT's ultimate skum bucket" skimmer collection cup</a></li><li><a href=http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?s=&postid=2819727#post2819727 target=_blank>MR-6 Skimmer plumbing</a></li><li><a href=http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?s=&postid=2824100#post2824100 target=_blank>Skimmer tuned for wet skimmate</a></li><li><a href=http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?s=&postid=2832305#post2832305 target=_blank>quieting a large beckett skimmer</a></li><li><a href=http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?s=&postid=2836302#post2836302 target=_blank>Another reason to use a muffler on a beckett skimmer</a></li></ul><li>Sump</li><ul><li><a href=http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?s=&postid=2766746#post2766746 target=_blank>Sump design and construction</a></li></ul></ul><li>Starboard</li><ul><li><a href=http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?s=&postid=3012660#post3012660 target=_blank>What is starboard?</a></li><li><a href=http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?s=&postid=2783376#post2783376 target=_blank>Why the white plastic (starboard) on the bottom?</a></li><li><a href=http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?s=&postid=2784019#post2784019 target=_blank>Why no sand?</a></li><li><a href=http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?s=&postid=2781391#post2781391 target=_blank>Starboard corner lifting</a></li><li><a href=http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?s=&postid=2888572#post2888572 target=_blank>Coralline on starboard</a></li><li><a href=http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?s=&postid=3002656#post3002656 target=_blank>Where can I get starboard locally?</a></li><li><a href=http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?s=&postid=3004449#post3004449 target=_blank>Where can I get starboard mail order?</a></li></ul><li>Stocking Plan</li><ul><li><a href=http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?s=&postid=2788711#post2788711 target=_blank>Stocking plan for fish</a></li><li><a href=http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?s=&postid=2792600#post2792600 target=_blank>It's an 8' tank. Are you going to put tangs in it?</a></li><li><a href=http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?s=&postid=2888392#post2888392 target=_blank>Stocking ehtics</a></li></ul><li>Web Cam</li><ul><li><a href=http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?s=&postid=2827454#post2827454 target=_blank>Web cam</a></li><li><a href=http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?s=&postid=2895128#post2895128 target=_blank>Webcam shelf</a></li></ul></ul>