Any 48" tall reef tanks out there?

[sonofgaladriel]

I'm giving one more shape a consideration

 

[72olds455]

I pickd one up on a good deal, but am worried about setting it up. With that depth you cannot reach even close to the bottom and it would make it very hard to arrange things. It might be okay for a fish only. Mine is a 72 x 48 x 18 I think, Ill sell it to you cheep!

 

[sonofgaladriel]

Thanks but I'm considering a 72 x 36 x 48 tall. I'll build the rock structure up high along the back tapering down near the middle but with high pillars in the front. I should be able to place most corals with long grippers.

 

[thriceanangel]

Sound very interesting! I can't wait to see it!

Also, sorry to hijack for a second, but sonofgaladriel, where is your stand build thread for your 240 cube? I was looking but couldn't find it. Thanks!

 

[sonofgaladriel]

The stand build thread is in this large tank forum somewhere. I haven't been following it much lately, so it pretty far back in the archives I'll bet. Most of the pictures have been deleted though so there's not much to see, but plenty to read.

 

[roushboy2857]

Is there any good lights that will reach the bottom with out side effects?

 

[sonofgaladriel]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=8488115#post8488115 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by roushboy2857
Is there any good lights that will reach the bottom with out side effects?

I'm pretty sure that two 1000 watt halides in Luminarc III reflectors will be more than adequate for lighting a tank of this size. One of our LFS has a 20 foot long 4 foot high tank and the 1000 watters reach the bottom well.
My idea is another simple softy reef with mostly LPS and shrooms near the bottom with lots of tree corals near the middle and top along with a few nice large sarcophytons mixed in. Maybe a few clams in the upper rock work as well.
I'm still just in the very early planning phases and may scrap this idea and go back to a 6x6x3 cubish tank.

 

[LOTUS50GOD]

my tank is 42" tall... I have 1200 W. (3x400 HQI) over the tank and have no issues keeping SPS.

 

[charlesjordanjr]

This guy's tank is 48" tall:

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=8460708#post8460708 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by JoeyK@OCMD

The base is granite, and I hand built the canopy and doors above

 

[charlesjordanjr]

Here is where I saw that tank:

http://reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?s=&threadid=961831

 

[Kent E]

Wow, I've never seen anything like that! Creativity award 3 times over.

 

[thriceanangel]

Man thats a strong stand!

 

[JoeyK@OCMD]

Thanks guys, That stand is actually a cinderblock piller filled with concrete. I opened a hole in the floor so the stand starts in the crawl space and extends up into the house. I then faced it off with granite. Looking back it was probably overkill but I would rather overbuild things and never lose sleep. I also use 400 watt halides and they work fine. A deep reef tank is not as hard as most people think, and I feel the rewards far exceed the work involved.

 

[sonofgaladriel]

Thanks JoeyK! I agree that the potential of a really tall tank does outweigh some of the hassles. I'm also glad to hear that 400 watt bulbs are strong enough to reach the bottom.
I'm waiting on a quote for a 72"x36"x 48" tall tank with an external overflow.
JoeyK- what is the thickness of your tank? My builder is thinking we'll need 1 1/4" material.

 

[JoeyK@OCMD]

My thickness is 1 1/4. If you need any more advice, let me know.

 

[sonofgaladriel]

JoeyK- Were you able to find a magnetic cleaner capable of handling the 1 1/4" thickness? That's my only real concern, keeping the acrylic clean without having to scuba every week
Would you do anything differently with your design?

 

[stlouisguy]

My acrylic is 1 1/4" think and I use a magnavore mag 10 magnet. Plenty strong enough !

 

[sonofgaladriel]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=8503938#post8503938 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by stlouisguy
My acrylic is 1 1/4" think and I use a magnavore mag 10 magnet. Plenty strong enough !

Thanks!

 

[JoeyK@OCMD]

I have found that allmost every product available to clean acrylic also scratches it. This is my first acrylic tank and I still don't know if I am sold on it. But I use the kent marine scraper w/ the 48" extention pole. They now have a swiifer like mop attachment w/ semi dispossible pads. This works great!

I don't think I would have done anything different on this tank, But my next tank will certainly be different and much bigger. I plan to build an amazing tank, then construct the house around it.

 

[blufyre3]

I use dobie sponges. They don't scratch the acrylic. I cut the outside to fit my magnets and toss the sponge. They work great.