785 Gallon Glass Reef Build in CT

[cleanmyaquarium]

Before you go much further I really strongly recommend you insert an access panel over the top front of the tank. You will curse not having this later on.

Dave.M

I considered it, but I like the clean look without an access panel. The tank just looks like a picture hanging on the wall. I have a pretty good reach at 6'8" tall so I am not too worried. Also, the tank is going to have a retractable blue insulated curtain around it, so when open you can see what you are doing through the back glass.

 

[adamPL]

Beautiful tank!! Never to big!! Good luck.

 

[SPS_77493]

Before you go much further I really strongly recommend you insert an access panel over the top front of the tank. You will curse not having this later on.

Dave.M

The tank is so large he can dive in to place corals and do regular maintenance

You do have a good point though...

 

[rygar]

The tank is so large he can dive in to place corals and do regular maintenance

You do have a good point though...

My tank is exactly the same size. And the back is in the garage...with a platform. Almost the same setup...kind of crazy actually.
Right now, my front access is bolted shut. Reason is that Its tweaked for some reason and my furnace was pulling humidity into the house. Need to figure out a way to get it sealed, but still be able to open it.

And let me tell you , I HATE IT!!! I don't even have fish in it and its a pain in the butt. Yesterday, it took me FOREVER to clean the front of the tank from the back. Up down, up down, around the front to see what I missed over and over.
Now to think of placing corals, moving corals/rocks, feeding, etc...can't imagine wanting to leave it this way. Yes it may look good, but you can do some unique thing with the front too.
Without access from the front, I wouldn't even do it. It would put me in an early grave.
But its your tank. And Im sure it will be awesome and am looking forward to seeing it come together. Your going to love all that room behind the tank. Just be prepared that whenever anyone comes over, they will want to go back there to check it out.
Seems like people are more excited to see whats behind the tank than whats in it.

 

[McPuff]

Before you go much further I really strongly recommend you insert an access panel over the top front of the tank. You will curse not having this later on.

Dave.M

I second this. I have a 120 (4x2x2) in the wall and I don't have an access panel. It's difficult to reach certain areas even with the standing ledge I built into the stand. Your tank is MUCH bigger. I'm sure there's a unique way you could incorporate an access panel. You won't regret it.

 

[cleanmyaquarium]

Yesterday, it took me FOREVER to clean the front of the tank from the back. Up down, up down, around the front to see what I missed over and over.
Now to think of placing corals, moving corals/rocks, feeding, etc...can't imagine wanting to leave it this way.

I appreciate the advice, but I will not be adding an access panel. Here are a few reasons:

The tank is accessible from three sides from the garage, I can reach every part of the tank with either tongs or a snorkel. The majority of the reef I will be able to reach with just my hands.

The tank is glass so I can use magnets with a metal blade to clean the front panel. The frame around the tank is a few inches smaller than the tank so I don't need to worry about the corners and damaging silicone or picking up sand in the magnets.

I will never need to access the tank from the front, so there will never be salt water spilling on the floor. Everything is contained in the garage.

I have given the system quite a bit of thought. I run an aquarium maintenance business in Fairfield County, CT and I pride myself in designing systems that are both energy efficient and easy to maintain. This hobby is a never ending learning experience and I look forward to all of the discussion as I document this build! I have been in this hobby since my first job at The House Of Fins in Greenwich, CT in 1989 and I am still learning new things every day. It is great to have a forum such as this to find answers to most of your questions. Back in the day, the only way was trial and error which often proved to be very expensive.

 

[cleanmyaquarium]

The tank inhabitants will come from a 500 gallon system that I broke down in my old house. It consisted of a 220 gallon display, 90 gallon display, 92 corner frag tank, 30 gallon refugium & 55 gallon sump.

Yellow Tang
Muliceps Tang
Candy Cane Hog
Lyretail Anthias
Blue Damsels x 4
Picasso Clownfish x 2
Blue Eye Tang
Firefish x 8
Melanurus Wrasse
Hippo Tang x 2
Algae Blenny
Pajama Cardinals x 3
Aiptasia Eating Filefish
Sailfin Tang

 

[cleanmyaquarium]

Filtration will consist of:

100 Gallon Sump
150 Gallon Rubbermaid Stock Tang as a refugium
Ecotech MP 10 x 2
GFO reactor
Ecotech Vectra L1 pump
3 x Magdrive 12
Maxspect Gyre
1/3 HP chiller
2 x 500 watt titanium heater
Calcium reactor
ETSS downdraft skimmer
MTC 4' skimmer to be converted into a sulfur denitrator

Lighting:
AI Sol Blue x 4
AI sol White x 2
14k 400 watt MH

 

[CafeReef]

enough chit chat more pics! looks awesome, I like the setup, I plan to do something similar in my basement if I can con my wife into it.

 

[rygar]

What is your reasoning for a chiller?

 

[cleanmyaquarium]

What is your reasoning for a chiller?

I have it already and I am not sure how hot the garage will get in the summer. It is insulated, but there is a temp differential to the house. I plan to install an industrial retractable curtain behind the tank and insulate the floor. I might as well plumb the chiller in. Better to have it and not need it then need it and not have it.

 

[McPuff]

What are your plans for the garage door? Looks like it will be in the way of any lights and would obstruct any access to the tank itself. Will you seal off that door altogether?

 

[cleanmyaquarium]

What are your plans for the garage door? Looks like it will be in the way of any lights and would obstruct any access to the tank itself. Will you seal off that door altogether?

The door will still be operational. It opens in between the lights and the tank so when open it will block the lights and I can't access the tank but I should not need to use it very often. My biggest concern is regarding heat in the summer and cold in the winter. When I better understand the temperature differential of the house and garage during extreme hot or cold climates I may need to revisit my insulation strategy to maximize efficiency.

 

[cleanmyaquarium]

Some goodies that arrived yesterday

 

[cleanmyaquarium]

Pictures of the holding tanks with my livestock

 

[cleanmyaquarium]

A few more...

 

[cleanmyaquarium]

My rockstar wife painted the room yesterday!

 

[frankabagnale]

Wow! Awesome tank!

 

[Fish lover]

nice setup ... waiting for more post

 

[csantanavaz]

Looking good. Reallllyyyyy good. What lights you going to run?


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