Joeb1983
Member
Slow day at work, so figured I'd share for anyone wanting a read.
After a 5 day power outage, generator issues and the loss of A LOT of livestock; I have come to the realization that I need to consolidate down to a larger, single tank.
5 up and running tanks and one in the works is getting to be just too much.
All my tanks are small:
45 standard
36 bow
60 cube
15 standard
~25 cube (18x18)
26 shallow (30x20x10) in work...
I love this hobby, but I'm not a fish store (like my wife says) and she views me as a hoarder. lol! :rolleye1:
We do not have a large house by any means, (1,800) so you can imagine.
So, I am authorized one more tank as long as get rid of 4.
I will keep the 18" cube and 30x20x10 shallow.
My buddy just got a 72x18x12 shallow and it is AWESOME looking.
The 6 foot gives me the length I need to open up a lot more options as far as live stock.
The 18" depth is a little to shallow for me. So I am wanting 24" and my AI lighting wont have spillover.
The 12" height, although looked awesome, would be a little too short with a sand bed and the water line drop from the lip.
So, 72x24x14" is what I decided on. 16" tall just lost "that look" if that makes any sense...
Then the question came acrylic or glass...
I have requested estimates from numerous custom tank manufactures.
Believe it or not, acrylic is coming in around the same price as glass which is surprising to me...
Seeing how I want rimless it will be 1" walls and 1/2" bottom for an acrylic tank.
Glass is 1/2" walls and either 5/8" or 3/4" bottom.
I've ran these two options around in my head for the past week. Read every Acrylic vs Glass thread I could find and it really boiled down to what is best for me and what meets my needs.
Glass is the answer to that:
Reason 1 - Scratches. Yes, I know glass can scratch as well and acrylic can be buffed out, but I have never scratched a glass tank before. (Knock on wood)
My 30x20x10 acrylic has light scratches all over it just from simply handing it.
Reason 2 - 1/2" wall thickness vs 1". Granted 1" would look awesome, I'd have issues with my mp40's and whatever else.
So I am in the process of waiting for all the estimates come in.
Miracles (Florida)
Glass Cages (I know...)
Planet
Reef Savvy
Deep Blue (not taking custom orders at this time)
Advanced Acrylics (John was very helpful)
Acrylic Creations (Dave as always helpful)
Barrier Reef
Some places seem to nickel and dime you for things I feel should be standard.
Much of my equipment is overkill and will work on this new tank just fine.
* Vertex Omega 130 skimmer (I know I've had issues, but I'm hoping a different sump and larger tank will fix that)
* Vertex media reactors
* AI Vega colors (Need 2 more tank mounts and 12" EXT rails)
* Aqua Ultraviolet UV sterilizer (Not convinced they are even needed, but I have it so I'm using it) lol!
and I have every plumbing pipe and fitting you an think of to plumb this thing...
and that's where I'm at now.
After a 5 day power outage, generator issues and the loss of A LOT of livestock; I have come to the realization that I need to consolidate down to a larger, single tank.
5 up and running tanks and one in the works is getting to be just too much.
All my tanks are small:
45 standard
36 bow
60 cube
15 standard
~25 cube (18x18)
26 shallow (30x20x10) in work...
I love this hobby, but I'm not a fish store (like my wife says) and she views me as a hoarder. lol! :rolleye1:
We do not have a large house by any means, (1,800) so you can imagine.
So, I am authorized one more tank as long as get rid of 4.
I will keep the 18" cube and 30x20x10 shallow.
My buddy just got a 72x18x12 shallow and it is AWESOME looking.
The 6 foot gives me the length I need to open up a lot more options as far as live stock.
The 18" depth is a little to shallow for me. So I am wanting 24" and my AI lighting wont have spillover.
The 12" height, although looked awesome, would be a little too short with a sand bed and the water line drop from the lip.
So, 72x24x14" is what I decided on. 16" tall just lost "that look" if that makes any sense...
Then the question came acrylic or glass...
I have requested estimates from numerous custom tank manufactures.
Believe it or not, acrylic is coming in around the same price as glass which is surprising to me...
Seeing how I want rimless it will be 1" walls and 1/2" bottom for an acrylic tank.
Glass is 1/2" walls and either 5/8" or 3/4" bottom.
I've ran these two options around in my head for the past week. Read every Acrylic vs Glass thread I could find and it really boiled down to what is best for me and what meets my needs.
Glass is the answer to that:
Reason 1 - Scratches. Yes, I know glass can scratch as well and acrylic can be buffed out, but I have never scratched a glass tank before. (Knock on wood)
My 30x20x10 acrylic has light scratches all over it just from simply handing it.
Reason 2 - 1/2" wall thickness vs 1". Granted 1" would look awesome, I'd have issues with my mp40's and whatever else.
So I am in the process of waiting for all the estimates come in.
Miracles (Florida)
Glass Cages (I know...)
Planet
Reef Savvy
Deep Blue (not taking custom orders at this time)
Advanced Acrylics (John was very helpful)
Acrylic Creations (Dave as always helpful)
Barrier Reef
Some places seem to nickel and dime you for things I feel should be standard.
Much of my equipment is overkill and will work on this new tank just fine.
* Vertex Omega 130 skimmer (I know I've had issues, but I'm hoping a different sump and larger tank will fix that)
* Vertex media reactors
* AI Vega colors (Need 2 more tank mounts and 12" EXT rails)
* Aqua Ultraviolet UV sterilizer (Not convinced they are even needed, but I have it so I'm using it) lol!
and I have every plumbing pipe and fitting you an think of to plumb this thing...
and that's where I'm at now.
