My Reef to Rainforest Build

[summitwynds]

This is the start of my 217 gallon build. Any recommendations you can give me would be welcome.

Im upgrading from a 75 gallon that is in my guest bedroom. The new tank will go in my closet of my office which is located next to the guest bedroom. We will then open up a hole in the guest room to see the side of the tank, which explains why the 2 large sides being starphire. Sump and equipment will be under the tank or beside the tank in the closet. Looking to have everything easy to get to and neat! Tired of everything being stashed under the 75.

Tank: 58" x 36" x 24" - Starphire on the front and back with an external coast to coast on one end. The tank is coming from Miracles

Sump: Im leaning towards a Trigger System 36E with refugium

Pump: Reeflo Snapper/Dart Hybrid - will be installing a manifold to run returns/SeaSwirl and 2 reactors, an outlet for a UV, and a spare

Protein Skimmer: Im leaning towards a SWC Xtreme Cone 230

Powerheads: Two Vortech 40s (have one now, and 2 10s in the 75) - two on the side opposite the overflow. Im leaning towards using a SeaSwirl on the overflow side.

Controller: Apex Lite will move over from other tank. Used to Dose, as well as monitor/control Temp, monitor pH, Control feed times, run the AI SOls, etc.

Reactors: Will continue to use 2 NextReef MR1s on my 75 setup - 1 for biopellets, 1 for carbon

Lighting: 4 AI Sols - currently have 3 on my 75, will add another and they will be on 2 bars, going front to back l l l l, where now they are on my 75 going side to side - - -

Will use mostly new sand. Maybe move some over from the new tank to seed the new sand. Old sand has too many shells in it, so will run it through a strainer first.

All live rock, corals, BRTA and fish will move over. I don't think I will add any more live rock. Looking for a simplistic look with open space for corals. It should be interesting to design the layout with it being viewed from the front in one room and the back in the other room.

My husband is being a sweetheart about this project and will be doing most of the "build out", plumbing and electrical work himself. I'll be posting photos of the build as we go, but the progress will be slow since we can take our time. Once everything is moved over, then I will sell the 75 set up.

And this is why I named this project "My Reef to Rainforest" Build


This is the "REEF" side - a Panorama shot of 3 1/3 walls.
This is the guest room where the 75 gallon is, and the future site of the 200 gallon. We'll be making a hole and framing it where the Ikea shelving presently is. The shelving will go where the 75 is now, once its taken down after the move. I like to keep the equipment hidden.... the trunk to the left of the tank is my mixing container, the hamper to the right of the tank is my top off reservoir.


This is the "RAINFOREST" side - a Panaorama shot of 3 1/3 walls.
Its my office where I have a few poison dart frogs residing. A friend and I painted the walls. The closet doors will be removed and the tank will go in the closet and will come out of the closet a couple inches. All my equipment will be underneath the stand and the stand will be finished on the bottom. I have some neat ideas for the stand as well as a "canopy". I will probably never get any work done.

The tank has been ordered, so Im anticipating its arrival in mid January.
Stay tuned....

[drummereef]

Subbed.

[CRJ]

im in on this one. Miracles is only 45 minutes from me, i should sneak over there and get spy pictures of it before it leaves! lol

awesome idea, excited to see it done!

[nightOwl]

Tagging along...

[leicobra]

This is gona be a interesting build!

[summitwynds]

Originally Posted by CRJ

im in on this one. Miracles is only 45 minutes from me, i should sneak over there and get spy pictures of it before it leaves! lol

awesome idea, excited to see it done!

Yes!!!! Please do!! Im not good at waiting.... pictures would help.

[summitwynds]

Originally Posted by drummereef

Subbed.

Welcome! You have been an inspiration for my build.

[summitwynds]

Originally Posted by leicobra

This is gona be a interesting build!

Sure is. Just got done reading Drummereef's build thread, over 200 pages. My husband has no idea what I have in store for him. Poor man!

[summitwynds]

The REEF side


Next step in this room is to take down the IKEA shelving. I can probably set this up out of the way in my office.

[summitwynds]

The RAINFOREST side

The next step is to clean out the closet and take down the coated wire shelving system. There isn't too much to clean out, stuff for a spring yard sale went in the barn. And the good stuff went on eBay - enough to put the deposit down on the new tank! The book shelf needs to go somewhere else. I think I will try to relocate the printer too.

[salali]

Your room looks great. What type of camera are you using ?

[psusocr]

looks like a pretty awesome house!

[octoreef]

Your house rules!! Follow!

[summitwynds]

Originally Posted by salali

Your room looks great. What type of camera are you using ?

Thank you. It was an iPod touch for the Panorama shots and a Nikon J1 for the regular shots. The Nikon is a nice little camera, and you can change lenses on it.

[summitwynds]

Spoke with Derek from Miracles today. They are SO helpful. I can't wait!

[summitwynds]

Originally Posted by psusocr

looks like a pretty awesome house!

Thanks!

[summitwynds]

Originally Posted by octoreef

Your house rules!! Follow!

Thanks! I'll have to post a shot of the great room, with my freshwater tank

[psusocr]

Originally Posted by summitwynds

Thanks! I'll have to post a shot of the great room, with my freshwater tank

Hmm a great room with a freshwater fish tank... IMO that's like saying a Ferrari with a 50 hp engine ..

Regardless I bet it's pretty awesome( just not into freshwater anything)

[summitwynds]

Originally Posted by psusocr

Hmm a great room with a freshwater fish tank... IMO that's like saying a Ferrari with a 50 hp engine ..

Regardless I bet it's pretty awesome( just not into freshwater anything)

Lol- that's funny. A salt water tank just wouldn't fit in this room.ImageUploadedByTapatalk1353588358.793250.jpg

[prop-frags]

Very promising! We'll be keeping an eye on this build. Love your interior design, and the big marine tank as a centerpiece of both rooms will be gorgeous. Have you given much thought yet as to how you'll control humidity in that closet? It will be a major concern that you'll need to design for.

[geaux xman]

tagging along for a great one.

is this 1/2" glass eurobraced? will there be a centerbrace?

[summitwynds]

Originally Posted by prop-frags

Very promising! We'll be keeping an eye on this build. Love your interior design, and the big marine tank as a centerpiece of both rooms will be gorgeous. Have you given much thought yet as to how you'll control humidity in that closet? It will be a major concern that you'll need to design for.

Thanks!

On the office side it's going to be partially open above the tank, as well as the doors on the bottom - not going to spill the beans on what I'm going to do - - so if it gets humid I will install a fan that blows the air out of the closet. Being logs, it's a very dry house to begin with. I actually hope it increases the humidity some in the house.

[summitwynds]

Originally Posted by geaux xman

tagging along for a great one.

is this 1/2" glass eurobraced? will there be a centerbrace?

Yes, 1/2" glass eurobraced, but no center brace.

[jt48]

very cool

[summitwynds]

We're making progress. The closet is cleaned out and my office is organized and rearranged - so I can get some work done Next up... the Stand.