Dismalorb's (not so dismal) 450 gallon (96x36x30) reef build (with pics!)

[dismalorb]

I've been recently planning, working and scraping to get my 450 gallon Envision Acrylics tank up in the works the last 3 months or so. Massive amounts of ebaying has brought me to the point of paying the last installment on my huge tank, along with the custom-made steel stand and light rack (with powder coating) that it will sit on.

Tank dimensions are as follows:

96Lx36Wx30H

1" acrylic everywhere but the ends, which are 3/4" to accomodate magnet holders for Tunze stuff

4 x 19"x28" holes in the top for the lights

The tank will be a mixed reef, focusing mostly on LPS and polyps.

Two days ago I got some great and unexpected news... The tank will be done by the end of this month! This will give me ample amounts of time to handi-foam and rubble/araganite the back wall (possibly the sides too, I don't know quite yet) and purchase the rest of the equipment I need.

The equipment I already have:

Reeflo Orca 250 (pic at bottom)

LFS made Calcium Reactor/pump and regulator

Tank (almost paid up!)

stand and light rack (1/5th paid up! )


The things I need/want:[/B[

4 x Lumenarc III

4 x 400w 20k Radium bulbs

Sequence Dart (return pump)

Tunze Wavebox and extension

2 x Tunze Streams (unsure about their number yet)

Tunze Multicontroller 7095

Profilux II (probably the $1600 one)

100lbs of Tampa Bay Saltwater decorator rock -OR- 100lbs of Bali Alor rock (larger show pieces a place said they could get me)

150 gallon or more tank to be used for the sump/refugium (I have a lead today for a 180 acrylic that's local)


Here's the skimmer:

Here's the pics James sent me of my tank so far:

I'll update this more after I get things to update.. Until then... Cheers!

 

[garrettm85]

Paul,

The tank is coming along nicely! I live just to the south of you and have seen your posts on pnwmas.org .
It looks like you have done some nice planning. If you every want to come by and check out any of my tanks for frags, inverts and such, toss me a pm.

Keep us posted on your progress. James does some amazing work, so I imagine this will be one heck of a tank!

Garrett

 

[dougie]

sweet looking tank!

 

[Robb in Austin]

Looks nice!

If you are focusing on LPS/polyps, why not T5? Overdriven could reach the bottom I think.

 

[dismalorb]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=13730736#post13730736 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by Robb in Austin
Looks nice!

If you are focusing on LPS/polyps, why not T5? Overdriven could reach the bottom I think.

"Overdriven could reach the bottom"??? huh?

The 20k's aren't nearly as intense as the other kelvin ratings, and I believe in exploiting as much of the shadowed areas in the tank as possible.

Plus, just because I'm focusing on my main interest, doesn't mean I can't exploit the bright areas with SPS.

 

[TandN]

Nice choice of equiptment cant wait to see it all together

 

[dismalorb]

Thank you! I'm pretty stoked about it myself.

Now it's just a matter of milking ebay for all it's worth.

 

[dismalorb]

Update:

The last $1000 has finally been paid on the tank!

Patrick from Saltwater Fanta-seas here in PDX was kind enough to deliver it for me last night. Unfortunately, all the man-power was concentrated on unloading the tank from the truck... so sorry, no pictures for that endeavor.

The behemoth is currently residing in my garage until the steel stand is completed and the wood flooring is laid in my living room (along with painting the walls). It will also be pond-foamed on the back, along with deadrock chunks and araganite sprinkled for the more 'natural' look on the back.

After that's all taken care of, the next big thing to accomplish is reinforcing the floor so it can handle 2+ tons of tank.

The next purchases for the tank are:

4 x Lumenarc III reflectors (along with appropriate ballasts and bulbs)

Tunze Wavebox and an extension

Tunze Multicontroller

4 x Tunze Stream II

150-200g scratched acrylic for sump/refugium

Digital controlling unit (undecided on brand)

Sequence Dart or lesser model for return pump

Co2 tank for calcium reactor


More pics to come