500 gallon round build

[kenneth wolfe]

Hello all, I am new to the forum and I am starting a new build and thought this would be a great place to document my trials and tribulations so to speak.. Also with the great advice from my fellow reefers it should ease the pain a little.. Lets start with me I have been involved with fish my hole life as my father was a enthusiast as well. The last few years I have been into the hobby heavy again... In my home I have a newish 75g build mostly transplant from a 16 bow that over grew..my current system is running very nice its a Mixed reef . As all things bigger and better I found a large 500 gallon acrylic tank built by aquariums of America in la. it has some scratches but in good shape. I am handy with a buffer so a little elbow grease it should look fine...Pictures to come later. I have a 200 non drilled ,75 rr, 40 breeder ,175 white acrylic, all these can be used for sump/fuge , reactor ,skimmer tanks ect, Im scratching my head on how and whitch systems I want to run ,I have a connecting room that's going to be used for the support room . just some thought on skimmers one large skimmer or multi smaller ones??

 

[muttley000]

Welcome to the forum! Check out the large tank section for lots of input to the question you ask and a ton of great ideas for your big system. My opinion is 2 skimmers. Looking forward to seeing it come together!

 

[Lavoisier]

Yes, two skimmers--one wet, one dry--using the wet skimmate for continuous water change. Post pics!

 

[kenneth wolfe]

I like the idea of two skimmers . Room is not going to be problem this time .Lets say total water volume of 750g. use 2, 400 gallon rated skimmers?? that's what I think anyways.. a couple of other thoughts was a closed loop with about 2500 gph and also 2500 gph into sump room and a couple of mp 40s into the top corners. Being this is round 47 "dia by 67"L with fiberglass ends ..I was planning to leave it bare bottom for 360 degree viewing ..using the cl for support for the rock work.I need to learn how to post pics on this forum..

 

[viggen]

I was considering two skimmers for my tank. Presently have a 15 or so year old euro reef 12-2 that's been modified and I wanted something larger to handle the bio load. It's to small for my tank and it was either buy a second similar size skimmer or get something larger.

The research I did showed that one properly sized skimmer is better vs two smaller ones. It's not that two smaller skimmers will not work.... It can.... It's just one larger skimmer can do a better job of skimming.

Consider the mp 60's, they move a lot more water

Since room isn't a issue I would do a single large external needle/pinwheel skimmer or a large downdraft/maize skimmer.

 

[kenneth wolfe]

 

[kenneth wolfe]

picture test

 

[kenneth wolfe]

 

[kenneth wolfe]

 

[kenneth wolfe]

hey hey I figured how to post picks now watch out...many more to come...you can see on the trailer it was real dirty and scratched .. the second was after I bleached it and acid washed it then cleaned it again then we climb in and cleaned some more ...lol three adults can fit ...lol. now I start the polishing ..yepie.. I hate buffing ..But I have been doing it a long time.. ..The stand is bent and incorrect its going to have to be blasted cut welded over..then new paint ...to me that's all the easy stuff..I like doing that..

 

[kenneth wolfe]

 

[kenneth wolfe]

snap shot of my 75g its about 6 months old this picture about 2 weeks ..glass a bit dirty from the kalk\vineigar ato ..Im still playing with the best amount

 

[kenneth wolfe]

 

[kenneth wolfe]

portable ac blowing into tank ...hot in texas...

 

[kenneth wolfe]

 

[kenneth wolfe]

quick sand and buff to see what Im up against ..buffs like 24 hour old clear coat...no problem..it has lots of heavy dints that Im going have to live with..It looks like it was drug across the stand its 1 inch thick so I don't think Im going to sand threw it..hers some of my supplies

 

[Yodeling]

That's a pretty neat tank! I've honestly never seen anything like it. Looking forward to your updates.

 

[guserto4]

Following along- this is going to be a very cool build! Where will it be located in your house? Very unique opportunity with this one!

 

[kenneth wolfe]

its going in my front office at my shop..

 

[mtlreeffreak]

super cool!