550 gallons deep display from Lebanon

lebreef

New member
I have been waiting for a long time to start this thread, and finally I have something to post about!

Around 4 years ago, I had to move to Geneva and shut my reef tank (well almost reef tank), and ever since I have been dreaming and mentally setting up a large deep tank. 1 year ago, I moved back, and since got married and moved to new apartment. When I was looking for apartments I always identified the place where a tank would go!

I finally settled on the dimensions of the tank being 192.5 x 145 x 75 cms, i.e. 75 x 57 x 29.5 inches. I can access the tank from both the front and the back to make life a little bit easier in such a deep tank. I also have a ramp at the back on the stand so as not to have to use ladders and/or chairs every time I need to access or place something (I've had my fair share of chairs being broken while working with the tank it isn't funny!).

Glass is 15 mm thick and the tank is Euro and Coss-braced on top. Front and side panels are starfire glass, whereas the back and bottom panels are the normal (no idea what it's called) green glass.

Believe me when I say, we almost have zero access for high quality equipment, and when we do it is very very overpriced, and you will see that most of it is bought online, or on trips. But one thing we do have (thankfully, otherwise life would have been much harder for any reefer here) is an experienced and knowledgable tank builder. The tank has been built on site by Maher, who is a very old friend of mine.

Also something important to note here, I am attempting an LED SPS Angels & Butterfly Reef! Yes, a tough challenge, maybe one that I will not be able to reach, but I will give it a shot and see how things evolve. I am what you can call a fish nerd, Angels and Butterflies are my biggest satisfaction in this hobby, and I have brought them (and made friend bring them - thx Maroun :) ) from all over the world. I have brought fish back with me from Canada, England, Belgium, Portugal, France, China, Vietnam, and Tokyo (during my honeymoon!).

Ok enough with the talking, I will have further explanations with the photos.
 
Ok some photos of the stand and build

<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/54478441@N03/5654583354/" title="P1000813 by Aqua-Boutique, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5102/5654583354_4b109bf44b.jpg" width="480" height="360" alt="P1000813"></a>

<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/54478441@N03/5654008927/" title="P1000821 by Aqua-Boutique, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5068/5654008927_58a35f05ee.jpg" width="480" height="360" alt="P1000821"></a>

<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/54478441@N03/5654584822/" title="P1000826 by Aqua-Boutique, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5188/5654584822_5cb9c205f7.jpg" width="480" height="360" alt="P1000826"></a>

<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/54478441@N03/5654584016/" title="P1000823 by Aqua-Boutique, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5308/5654584016_a0331a5f3f.jpg" width="480" height="360" alt="P1000823"></a>

<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/54478441@N03/5654584630/" title="P1000829 by Aqua-Boutique, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5108/5654584630_6810df75a1.jpg" width="480" height="360" alt="P1000829"></a>

<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/54478441@N03/5654010507/" title="P1000830 by Aqua-Boutique, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5261/5654010507_5e7ffb285c.jpg" width="480" height="360" alt="P1000830"></a>

<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/54478441@N03/5654585622/" title="P1000833 by Aqua-Boutique, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5264/5654585622_7826b5d890.jpg" width="480" height="360" alt="P1000833"></a>

And a photo of the team who did it, thank you guys!

<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/54478441@N03/5654586056/" title="P1000836 by Aqua-Boutique, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5030/5654586056_59c28c7428.jpg" width="480" height="360" alt="P1000836"></a>
 
I'm the proud owner of a very deep (had no idea how big and deep it would be!!!) tank in the making.

<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/54478441@N03/5654011771/" title="P1000839 by Aqua-Boutique, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5225/5654011771_3f503c6de6.jpg" width="480" height="360" alt="P1000839"></a>

<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/54478441@N03/5654011991/" title="P1000845 by Aqua-Boutique, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5183/5654011991_fa23f7d15c.jpg" width="480" height="360" alt="P1000845"></a>

and the Euro/Cross-bracing

<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/54478441@N03/5654586858/" title="P1000888 by Aqua-Boutique, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5149/5654586858_8df8566503.jpg" width="480" height="360" alt="P1000888"></a>

<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/54478441@N03/5654588288/" title="P1000889 by Aqua-Boutique, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5223/5654588288_d6e0168852.jpg" width="480" height="360" alt="P1000889"></a>

We left the back brace until we start filling the tank, Maher wants to do an external brace (I know crap about tank construction, and he tried to explain the concept to me, but to no avail! Talk to me about Prognathodes falcifer, I can understand you, but external brace is out of my league). He will be judging it when we do the leak test.

<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/54478441@N03/5654013985/" title="P1000891 by Aqua-Boutique, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5308/5654013985_56b0804d49.jpg" width="480" height="360" alt="P1000891"></a>
 
Overflow, will be almost coast to coast, and hence the back panel being lower.

In the below photo you ca notice the difference between the starfire glass and the normal one in term of clarity, by looking at the back wall through both. I recommend anyone to go with starfire glass and I do not regret it at all (Maroun, maroun.c here on RC, is an expert photographer, and says it makes a world of difference while taking photos too, I'll take his word for it and anyone who has seen his photos would).

<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/54478441@N03/5654014217/" title="P1000893 by Aqua-Boutique, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5108/5654014217_f124bd26ba.jpg" width="480" height="360" alt="P1000893"></a>

The tank is also designed to be placed within a wall unit as attached, and is pushed around 10 inches from the wall. This way most of it can be viewed from all the living area.

Left side

<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/54478441@N03/5654896760/" title="P1000902 by Aqua-Boutique, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5070/5654896760_0f36c6839c.jpg" width="480" height="360" alt="P1000902"></a>

and far right side

<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/54478441@N03/5654015785/" title="P1000904 by Aqua-Boutique, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5269/5654015785_3531c011b7.jpg" width="480" height="360" alt="P1000904"></a>

and some more photos

<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/54478441@N03/5654590604/" title="P1000906 by Aqua-Boutique, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5305/5654590604_faedfb8cd0.jpg" width="480" height="360" alt="P1000906"></a>

<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/54478441@N03/5654016301/" title="P1000907 by Aqua-Boutique, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5267/5654016301_907df07366.jpg" width="480" height="360" alt="P1000907"></a>
 

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Hey man great pics , looks more like a swimming pool :lmao: I love it and I think it,s going to be one of the nicest tanks i'v ever seen , great job and keep us posted :thumbsup: .P.S. Can't wait to come check it out:dance:.
 
Thx Pierre, for those who do not know as he does not post frequently on RC, Pierre has the best looking Reeftank in Lebanon, as far as I know and seen...

Thx djze.
 
Ok now onto equipment starting with the skimmer.

Skimmer is a KZ Revolution L rated for almost 4 times my tank size and powered by aquabee 7000. It was a price I could not refuse (almost 1 year ago). I have read mixed results about the smaller sizes of Revolutions, but at 4 times my water volume, I think I'm pretty safe. One of the issues with this skimmer is water lever changes, and since it would not fit anywhere under my stand, it will have its own sump at optimum water level, which I believe was 12 inches.

<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/54478441@N03/5654014531/" title="P1000897 by Aqua-Boutique, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5182/5654014531_aee28b2084.jpg" width="360" height="480" alt="P1000897"></a>

<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/54478441@N03/5654589490/" title="P1000896 by Aqua-Boutique, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5110/5654589490_fe70c48be0.jpg" width="480" height="360" alt="P1000896"></a>

and obligate can photo

<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/54478441@N03/5654589832/" title="P1000901 by Aqua-Boutique, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5303/5654589832_2b70b70046.jpg" width="360" height="480" alt="P1000901"></a>
 
Flow

Flow

Flow is covered as follows:

3 x tunze 6205 controlled by 7095 rated at up to 22,000 ltrs/hr (5,800 gals/hr) each

2 x RR wavemaker with controller rated at up to 30,000 ltrs/hr (7,900 gals/hr) each. These can be used as a wavemaker or stream pumps. I haven't decided which way to go yet.

1 x Tunze Masterelectronic return pump at around 7,500 ltrs/hr (1,980 gals/hr) after head loss according to their chart. I will try it out and if it is of Tunze standard, I will get a second one later on. These will eventually be plumbed with penductors (hope I got the wording right here) on Seaswirls.

This gives a total of more than 60 times my display tank volume.

All we be placed on the back pushing forward.

The tank will be bare-bottom, or large grain size shallow sand bed, so not to worry about sand storms.
 
great dimensions, looking into a deep tank is really something else than a standard view, but puts up a challenge of keeping the water super clear.
looking super nice so far!
 
Hey man thanxxxxxx for the compliment:spin1: I have one question , are you gonna keep your tank sitting on the table like that, I mean no plywood underneath , do you think it's safe enough?
 
gmigmi, flounderfish thx for your comments.

Pierre, there will be more legs for the stand coming in after the sumps are placed, no Plywood underneath!
 
Congrats on the start of a long planned and waited tank.
Thanks for your kind words
Knowing your plans for this tank i can only say its going to be one of greatest.
Cant wait to check it in person.
 
Pierre, Sean, Maroun, Thx.

I am currently working on my scape, I might very well go down the ceramics route.

I will be posting some potential scape photos once the supplier has them done.
 
Thx Chingchai, you are an inspiration to us all.... your work is magical, and I read you are more into corals than fish... what would have happened if it were the opposite!!! You have got one of the best fish collections I have ever seen in one same tank! I heard you were looking for a personatus, my holy grail would be kingii, but that is just too far fetched!
 
Really love this one. Smart man having the tank built in it's resting place. I always get nervous seeing enormous tanks being hauled around. What's the lighting plan?
 
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