500 gallon project photos

[Norm R]

Here are a few more pictures of the tank and stand in progress.

Down the overflow-

Holes in bottom-

Now the stand. Aside from a couple more coats of varnish, I plan to stop here until it's moved in place. At that point, I'll make the doors and shelves on the end.

The front-

The back-

 

[derrikd]

neat keep them commig

 

[gumbybc]

awesome tank, can't wait to see more pics!

 

[knpjdad]

Still just a pipe dream for me, but I'll tag along, just so I can dream!!

 

[TacoKing]

Ughhh! You really are going to have your tank done before me! I'm so close, yet still so far away!

My stand is about 80% finished. I need to build the cabinet doors still, stain the two long sides and put a ton of poly on it. Tomorrow I buy the tile for the floor and this weekend hopefully I start tileing the room. Once that's done hopefully I can get the tank in place, start running plumbing and everything else. Maybe by New Years I'll be done? So much work for such a stupid fish tank

Btw, I can't wait to see this in action.
-Rob

 

[Mantis]

Rob, I'm going to have my tank done before you and I haven't even ordered mine yet.

 

[steve68]

why did u have it taperd on one end? is it to match something in ur house?
it looks sweet

 

[Norm R]

steve68,

Two reasons really. First, since it is a peninsula seperating two rooms we were concerned about it being to wide on the "point" you walk around. That "point" sticks out in the middle of the room so keeping it a bit narrower and pushing some of the water volume towards the wall at the left seemed to make sense.

Second, the angle will slightly swivel the primary viewing surface towards the seating in the room. We have two chairs right in front of it but this will make it easier to view from the other seating situated primarily to the right of the tank as you're facing it.

 

[steve68]

Nice !
cant wait to see it all in place

 

[SHOmuchFUN]

Second, the angle will slightly swivel the primary viewing surface towards the seating in the room. We have two chairs right in front of it but this will make it easier to view from the other seating situated primarily to the right of the tank as you're facing it.

I'm setting up my own chair to check this tank out :bum:

 

[Julio]

nice tank!!!

 

[Norm R]

The tank is headed East....

 

[Fliger]

That is so unique. Hey just wait until you try to take that crate apart. James tends to overbuild EVERYTHING. ;-) I stripped lots of bits and screws before I just took a jigsaw to it.

 

[vapovick]

WOW !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Nice work !!!

 

[billzie]

Personal question:
Cost of tank, cost of shipping, did it cost more for the odd shape?
Did you ever consider both sides tapered, trapezoidal?
I'm still a few years away from needing my BIG tank but helps to know folks in central Ohio who are doing so. I thinking 96 to 120" in length x 36" w x 24 to 36" h,as a room divider, with drains on one end like yours.
Anyone else want to share you big tank build cost?
Thanks, Bill.

 

[Norm R]

Bill,

There are many factors that drive the price of a tank. When I went through this, I found it hard to "ballpark" it based on what others had paid. There are too many decisions that aren't necessarily evident in a picture that drive price. The best thing to do IMO is to get a quote.

The "odd shape" added about an additional 15% to the cost. Very reasonable IMO. Just based on the location, we didn't consider a trapezoidal shape.

Norm

 

[lovetoreef]

wow - great job - keep up the great work and thanks for sharing!

 

[mc-cro]

Heavy, very heavy tank. any updated pictures of it in place Norm?

 

[Norm R]

Thanks to significant help from the CORA group here in Columbus, the tank is in place. Here are some photos from the move. Believe it or not, I don't actually have one of the tank in place. I'll get one up soon.

I started the OM 4-way up today (wow), 500 lbs. of live rock in last night (wow), Dursos plumbed today, return line tomorrow and hopefully fish back in tomorrow or Friday. Then comes the canopy...

 

[gumbybc]

looking good. can't wait to see the pics of that beast in place. how much does the tank weigh? I bet you are glad you had the help!