Big tank planning...need advice

[renko]

I'm planning to put a large tank in my basement this fall/winter next to my current 75g reef. I'd like as big of a tank as will fit and the current limitations are; 1 dimension can be no larger than 29" and the maximum length is 90". I'm leaning strongly toward a starfire glass tank since I'm a little clumsy sometimes and would definately end up scratching an acrylic tank.

I'd love to get some advice/opinions from other large tank owners on such things as:

Overflows: internal or external, # of overflows, location.
# and size of drains.
Closed loop design
Type of stand
Lighting

etc.

This will be primarily an SPS tank.

Any and all advise is welcome. Just getting started on the plan for this so just about everything is fair game.

Thanks

 

[renko]

Oh I should also mention that I have a large fishroom directly behind the tank location and the tank will have to be taken down the basement stairs so I am a little worried about the weight of the tank and how to get it down the stairs safely.

 

[Chihuahua6]

You have too many general questions here. You really need to do a ton of research and ask more specific questions. You are asking about lighting, closed loops and even what type of stand. Everyone has their own preference for the above with many possibilities to choose from. My advice is to read all of the tank building logs in this forum. You will see pictures and descriptions of tanks being built from start to finish. This is just the beginning of your research. Read articles on other sites such as Wetweb Media and look up Anthony Calfo's articles, many of which are still here. I'm not sure if I can post the url of his forum here but you can pm me if you want it.
Just to give you an idea, I have been researching my current tank under construction for over a year and I'm still undecided on some things and I still have a whole lot to learn.
If you learn more about what you want and the needs of sps corals you will be able to ask the right questions and get a much better response. On that note if I just told you to go with such and such lighting and this type of closed loop with this pump would be best etc. I would not be helping you at all.
I hope this was helpful.

 

[MIKEMARTIN]

I just brought my 210 gal. down to the basement and it took 4 of us. Good luck with that!!

 

[renko]

Mike, was it a glass tank? How much did it weigh? I'd really like to not kill someone trying to get a tank down the steps, they are a lot harder to flush down the toilet than fish.

 

[MIKEMARTIN]

lol!! yep, glass tank. I would estimate it weighed between 200-250 pounds. 3-4 guys should be plenty. (unless they are wimpy like my friends!!)

 

[mrcrab]

I just ordered a 96" X 30" X 30" glass tank and the builder tells me it will weigh around 1000lbs.

 

[Fiziksgeek]

An All-Glass 210 (72x24x29) weighs ~450lbs.

I brought mine down the basement staris too. Just me and another guy!

How about 72x36x24? Pick a tank size, then get recommendations for the rest of the set up.

 

[MIKEMARTIN]

so I guess my tank weughs 450lbs. Maybe my friends aren't that wimpy afterall!!!