The monster reef build

So I am getting a 2' x 2' x 7' tank with corner overflows, the front is all scratched up so I will just run it backwards.
I'm having a buddy build me a custom stand for it. I'm planning on having a display refuguim on it, looking at the marineland 45g cube for that.
Going for the reef octopus skimmer its expensive but everyone I know that has one loves them!

Ok so the display refugium will be a 44g corner hex 22" x 22" x 24" so close enough to what I was after! and it will fit nicely on the end of the stand and look almost cooler than a cube tank would. It will be beside but a little higher than the main tank and drain directly into the main tank. I will probably have some gardener eels and pipe fish in it, the flow rate will be low enough!
The sump will be made out of a 40g breeder tank, dont need much room in there because the skimmer will be outside of the sump! So only a few odds and ends need to fit into it!

I will have a ceiling mounted 'canopy' to hide the lighting, I will have black out curtains hanging from it to keep it nice and clean looking but it wont be in my way, they move!
Lighting will be 3-5 metal halide lights, some random T5 or PC actinics strewn in there as well! I've already got 1 1/3 hp chiller (arctica) and should be getting another soon in trade, may not need both but nice to have a 2nd as backup if needed.

wow just wow

you didn't see how I was with freshwater had between 2-3 thousand gallons in the house...

Ok so I hooked up with someone who can get me the skimmer cheaper! yay saving $!

Figred out that I dont want 'doors' on the stand, going with panels that will just kinda magnet on, got that idea from a custom stand at bordroom! Will be better because this tank will be right by the front door so doors on the stand will just be in my way!

Sweet...deals are always great and I love the magnet panel idea

Its a 210g! and its an older oceanic





Now just to get the cloudy buildup off the glass........

nice that thing looks huge !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Ya its a big boy that's for sure!!!!!

Hey Fern, that tank looks like its going to be a great chalenge and lots of fun in the prosses, I am looking to upgrade from a 55 gal to a 90 gal or up
looking for a good cheep deal so if you know of anyone thats selling for a good price let me know!!!!!!!!!!good luck with your new project!

It has defiantly been a logistical challenge that's for sure!!!! I'm also upgrading my tang and angel FOWLR tank to a 210g as well!
I got the stands built for both of them by a buddy, I still need to stain and polyurethane them. But this tank should end up being an epic show piece!

Oh ya, the front of the tank is now amazingly clear compared to what it was, Joe fixed it up for me (thank you!)

The stand is mostly stained, gotta finish that today then get a coat of urethane on it to seal it up.

I need to pull some electric over, the breaker will not handle the lighting for this! 5 assorted metal halides, 2 4' actinic LED strips and whatever else I decide to throw at it! I also need to build some kind of ceiling mount to spread out the weight of all the lighting, probably just a wood frame with a curtain draped down from it to hide it all.
I'm thinking of having one end of the tank more lit than the other so I can have higher and lower light corals in the same tank.

I (my husband) also needs to re-seal the tank.....

is it done yet lol

Here is one of the 2 stands (only difference is height and the reef has snap on front panels) But the staining is mostly done unless I decide to do another coat..... and yes it is sitting upside down

The staining part is all done!
Took a while... my back went out and my dog got sick....

( my back went out and my dog got sick....)sounds like a country song lol .good too hear your back too work on it

Ya pretty much! Poopy, my toy shih tzu has been diagnosed with a collapsing trachea...