30X30X16 Acrylic Journal...

MADtanks

MADtanks

Stix Anyone?
So originally I built a 28X22X16 with an external overflow but i got a sweet deal on some larger pieces of acrylic so i went with what i have now 30X30X16 it is almost what i could say my dream tank, i love shallow and deep tanks it gives everything such a natural look bc of the amount you can see into the tank.

I am currently still collecting my equipment and this is a slow build so i hope you guys can all bare with me.

Here is what i currently have:
-1/2" PolyCast 30X30X16 Cube with an external overflow box 14LX3.5WX8H
-Vortech MP40W
-T5 EndCaps, Standoffs, still needreflectors, bulbs, and ballast: im going to run 6 T5s
-and.... i think thats it lol...

What I'm still gathering:
-Eheim 1260 return pump
-AP600 or DAS EX-1 or Building a skimmer similar to the MC500 not sure yet...
-T5 Single Reflectors(Icecap or Aquatinics not sure yet does it matter with my shallow tank? proly not), Workhorse 5 ballast to run 4X 24W Bulbs, Workhorse 3 to fire 2X 24W bulbs.
-Going to build a sump 24X24X16 with built in Fuge, large skimmer area, and large return area.
-Going to build a Frag Tank 24X10X10 with removeable frag rack
-Still deciding on 2X4 Stand and wrapped with sheets of oak(very thin sheets) or making it out of 3/4" oak..... and the canopy is def going to be 3/4" ply not sure if oak or just poplar.

Not sure what im stocking but there will definitely be SPS in there :dance:

ok enough boring letters some pics
IMG_4270.jpg

IMG_4268.jpg

IMG_4267.jpg

IMG_4240.jpg

My daughter wondering what the heck this box thing is for?
IMG_4278.jpg

and the brace is on... and so is the overflow box
IMG_4292.jpg

IMG_4282.jpg

IMG_4283.jpg

IMG_4288.jpg


I will post another picture tomorrow with the tank sitting on my router table..... ready to be filled with water, the initial test i did was about half way up the tank and i had no leaks or any bowing, but bc of the dims on the tank i know that even with 1/2" there will be bowing without the brace, so i installed a 3" perimeter brace.

Now its time to polish the edges and show you guys more pics with everything all bling blinged up.

Thanks for looking and any comments, input will be greatly appreciated
 
very cool. is this going to be barebottom? sand? how much rock you planning on? what kind of coral/fish? i guess the word is "theme".
 
well im def doing sand, I would love to stay bare bottom and just blast my vortech! but i would also like to keep some pipefish in there :) bluestripes, a tailspot blenny, of curse the clowns for the kids, and possibly 1 larger fish, not sure what yet though....

SPS, Acans, Dendro, and Rics are my thing so im going to shoot for those :)

Thanks :)
 
very nice. ok, this may sound strange, but i have a high flow tank, yes its larger and the blueline finds a lower flow spot, but i have pipefish in there, with triggerfish, clownfish, angelfish, tangs, ect. soon they will get out of the 72g and up to the 200g and the 72g frag tank will house seahorses and pipefish. but for now it makes an interesting combo of fish.
 
Thanks Robot :)


yea, see i use to keep tangs, with my pipes... but i would like to also keep some more aggressive fish and dont want the pipes to become a midnight snack lol....

But more than likely i will just keep a pair of clowns for the kids, tomini tang(tang police back off), and a blue throat trigger, then a bunch of little eviota, and trimma gobies, possibly some chromis. I want my bioload to be up there bc im going to use a highly over rated skimmer for the tank..... so basically 2 big fish, 2 mid size fish, and then like 5 tiny fish :).... all in good fiath that the SPS will never be hungry! FISH POO FTW ;)

Thanks :)
 
very nice choice on the tomini tang. one of my favorite tangs of all time. they are beautiful and have the best personality of any fish in the reef hobby. i think you will have a good selection there.
 
Thanks guys :) im supper excited, and wish i had the dough to just start up the tank tonight.... :( but still need lights, and skimmer and a return pump.

Soon very soon.... well not so soon but i keep telling myself that lol
 
where do you get your acrylic? if you dont mind ...

and perhaps you give give me a price on how much yours cost to make...

thank you
 
i buy locally, for the polycast(only thing you should be making display tanks with) and for sumps and small builds i will order from estreetplastics.com they have the best prices and will most of the time send good acrylic like cyro, spartech, or plexiglass.

my total cost so far has been somewhere around 200.... but it always depends on how much is purchased at a time :) a whole sheet will be a ton cheaper, than buying by the square foot :)

Good luck.
 
please explain to me the difference between polycast and the regular plexiglass acrylic... and is polycast the same as polycarbonate?

thank you again
 
It appears like your water level is going to be REALLY high with the depth the teeth are cut. Maybe its just how the picture appears, but I bet your water will be very close to the rim.

Nice clean work tho and great dimentions!
 
Yea i was thinking about the same thing.... I am going to do a water test, and if things are too high, then i will pull out the handheld router and make the teeth a tad deeper ;)

Thanks for the compliment :)
 
lol i just thought about the brace... but it should not be a problem there is about 16" of overflow teeth so it should be able to handle the water flow... and the brace should keep the splash inside the tank :)...
 
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