Building My 375gal Glass Reef

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<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=13643434#post13643434 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by GlassReef
And how! I pick it up tomorrow. I've been running around for days trying to make sure I've thought of everything:

- Rent 10 suction cups to carry the tank
- Build 2 furniture dollies to roll the tank from the driveway to the house
- Build a ramp to get the dollies over the threshold
- Rent a hydraulic lift to raise the tank to the height of the stand
- make sure that everything is done in the fish room that can't be done once the tank is on the stand
- make sure there are enough strong men on hand (again - no offense, ladies)
- ensure there is enough food and beer available

What worries me the most is getting the tank off my trailer. It's a 5'X10' with 14" sides and a steel mesh gate/loading ramp. Well, I guess we'll see ....

My wife says I worry too much. :D
Click to expand...


WOW! it sounds like you have everything under control,
except for one thing...

DON'T OFFER THE BEER UNTIL THE TANK IS IN PLACE:lol:

with those suction cups, you should be able to lift the tank and place it on the furniture dollies you built with no problems or use the lift you rented.
 
Self leveling compound will stick to vinyl. I used some to even out the embossing in the vinyl of my utility room before I laid self adhesive tiles. I just checked a box of Henry 547 Unipro that I used and it said it's okay from feather edge to 1" thick and its Portland cement base so it should have good compressive strength but I would check with the manufacturers web site. http://www.wwhenry.com/prod-547.htm

I just checked and it says 5,000PSI compressive strength at 28 days (which is harder than your existing concrete floor - if you can wait 28 days :D )
 
Tom , Your sump , like everything you do looks Awesome . I am looking forward to Saturday , when I can see everything in person .


Ted
 
This system is well planned with so much eye for detail... Can't wait to see what you will do with the tank itself. Good luck moving and placing it! :)

Leonardo
 
I just read your fantastic thread, very nice setup, but I have no idea how you will get that monster into your house. At the least I would have had the freight people deliver it to the garage. Two pallet jacks would get it no problem. I have moved pallets weighing 3000 lbs alone so the weight isnt the issue. No way to carry it through any standard 36" exterior door either. Any way I'm hoping you had this planned as well, good luck.
 
Leonardo_ - thank you for the kind words. I have followed your threads in the past and have always been much impressed. :)

wwace - thank you for the compliments. As to the move, luckily I have a double front door, so that won't be a problem. It's getting the tank through the hole in the wall that has me worried.:(
 
Nice tank and good planning/execution.

I wanted to ask a few questions if I may:

1. What will the tank sit on? once on the stand. Plywood?
2. If so, are you going to have some blue/pink foam under it?
3. Does the tank have a plastic trim on the bottom that will rest directly on the metal stand?

The reason I ask is that leveling this bad boy might be harder then you might have imagined.

Once the tank is on the stand w/ H20 it will be very difficult to level.

I've had a nightmare of a time leveling a 210g glass - That ended up cracking on the bottom panel after a mo. most likely do to the leveling.

Tip is:
Just try your best on getting the top of the stand leveled near 100% before putting the tank in it's place.

Good luck and I'll be following your build.
 
looks sweet love those ball valves are sweet...i use one on my dart....i don;t think its a sch 80 but its grey lol....good luck with everything!!
 
<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=13652154#post13652154 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by jrcastro
1. What will the tank sit on? once on the stand. Plywood?
A: 3/4" ply + 1" compression foam

2. If so, are you going to have some blue/pink foam under it?
A: see answer to question #1

3. Does the tank have a plastic trim on the bottom that will rest directly on the metal stand?
A: No

Tip is:
Just try your best on getting the top of the stand leveled near 100% before putting the tank in it's place.

Good luck and I'll be following your build.
Click to expand...

Thanks for the input.
 
<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=13654094#post13654094 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by PaulieWalnuts
looks sweet love those ball valves are sweet...i use one on my dart....i don;t think its a sch 80 but its grey lol....good luck with everything!!
Click to expand...
Thanks, Paulie. Your right, those valve are nice - they're smooth as butter - just so darn big.:eek1:
 
I spent the afternoon getting the sump in place and the two Gold Darts installed.

Sump-1.jpg


I made a stand for the darts out of acrylic sheet, expanded PVC, PVC baseboard, and rubber matting:

Sump-Darts-2.jpg


Sump-Darts.jpg


I put together a removable platform for the input section of the sump. It holds two 100 micron filter bags:

Sump-Bags.jpg


Sump-Bags-3.jpg


Sump-Bags-2.jpg
 
Picked up my tank, this morning, from the main FedEx freight terminal in Tampa. I have a 5' X 10' trailer and I figured my 8' X 3' tank would fit - it did but just - that is one full trailer:

Crate-3.jpg


My friend isn't going to hit the crate with the crow bar ;) - he's about to open it to check for damage. Everything was perfect! :D I couldn't be happier. That tank was unbelievably well packed. They (conceptaquarium.com) put a real effort into making sure my tank arrived intact. Great job, Randy!!:)

A couple more pics:

Crate-2.jpg


Crate-1.jpg


The tank will be moved into the house tomorrow morning. Got a bunch of volunteers coming to do some heavy lifting. We have some great RC (and Tampa Bay Reef Club) members here in the area. I'll be taking lotsa pics (actually RC member reefrubble will be doing the photographic honors) so there will be lots to post after the tank is settled. Wish us all luck - that is one big 835lb tank.
 
I'm so happy for you!
Looking forward to seeing some fantastic pictures!
YES, Ed's aquascaping is the best I've seen in a while!
 
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