Rockworm's 288g "system"

[rockworm]

A little background first. I started a 90g reef back in Sept 04. In 2006 my job changed and I ended up being away from home more than I had hoped for. At that time, there was a lot of manual work to maintain the aquarium and very little was automated. My wife would get worried that something would go wrong while I was away and she would not know what to do. So in spring last year (2007), I dismantled the aquarium and sold off all the live goods and most of the equipment.

Well, as luck would have it, my job changed in the fall and I rarely travel now. I really started to miss the reef. I never sold the 90g, the stand and a mag 9.5. So my wife and I talked about it and I set the tank back up in October. At that time, we also talked about a "bigger tank". My wife is on board and really likes the reef. So we decided we would go for it.

I am planning a multi tank system. The focus tank is a 180 gallon and this will be flanked by two 54 gallon corner bow fronts for ~11 linear feet of tank. My goal is to stock the 180 with stonies, primarily SPS and some LPS. One of the 54's will be for zoas, ric's and mushrooms and other softies. I am not sure what I want in the other 54, though I am giving thought to an anemone and/or maybe a couple small predators, such as a fuzzy lion and small puffer. I will be doing more research before I decide what I want there.

The sump, refuge and equipment will be housed in the basement. The display tanks will be on the main floor. In fact, the tanks will be in the garage, which is actually a family room. Our house is a former model home and at that time (30 years ago) they did not have to revert back to a garage. I will be able to plumb almost straight down to the fish room.

When we started this, we decided we would try to find used or discounted equipment wherever possible. So far, I have gotten the following: 180g reef-ready tank, hammerhead pump, 90% of the plumbing, OM 4-way , Deltec pf601s , 75g sump, 65g fuge (love Big-Als boxing day sale) .

Unfortunately I could not find two 54g bow front corners on the after-market so bought them new.

This week, I will begin the build. I work Monday, but am taking the rest of the week off to start. I will build the stands myself, and then plumb them.

The nice thing about having the 90g already set up is there is no rush on the big system. The new system will be approximately 400g, ~300 DT and 135sump/refuge when done, 500 if I keep the 90g. (I am building in the option in my plumbing scheme).

I am taking my time (so don't expect daily updates ) and will be looking for used things. I will be looking for a protein skimmer (kind of liking the Orca Reeflo 250, but hard to find used one, too new), kalk stirrer, reactors for phosphate and carbon, aquarium controller and lighting.

Ward