Going All Out - 330+ Project!

[TJcop]

That's right....moving up to the big leauge! This thread will document the entire process of building my "dream" tank. My true dream tank would be the size of a pool, but since I can't do that, i'll have to settle with 336 gallons.

Tank dimensions will be 72"L x 30"H x 36"D. I'm going with acrylic, but I haven't picked out a builder yet. The tank will be going into the basement, and will be in-wall. I might go with 2 sides visible (front and 1 side), but I have to do some measuring.

In the preliminary stages at this point. Actual tank installation probably won't happen until after the winter, but framing, some plumbing and electrical will go on during the winter.

Plenty of questions to come...thanks for following! Any advice is welcome!

 

[Vegas RN]

exact size of the tank im putting in when i move in jan into my new house. Still debating on glass or acrylic. Miracles of glass gave me a quote of $4000 shipped with low iron glass for front panel and euro bracing. That would be my preffered tank but a local acrylic builder here i could get for under 2k. Good luck on the build and ill be droooling I mean watching

 

[JonLikesBeer]

On a side note, I've been looking at similar dimensions and glass cages can do something with low iron for a lot less than 4k...

 

[TJcop]

I'm going with acrylic, with cost being the major factor. I don't consider weight a factor, since once it's in place you don't have to worry about it. Plus, I can drill acrylic easily, and it just looks cleaner to me.
I'm looking for a builder within a reasonable distance from me (Milwaukee area), so I can save on shipping costs and pick it up myself.
I'm going to have outside overflows built on the tank, maybe a full length overflow....still planning!

 

[NexDog]

T.J. my new tank is 72"L x 30"H x 36"D - seems to be a popular size at the moment! Mine is the JapanReef thread you'll see in this Large Reef Tanks forum and it was made by James at Envision Acrylics. He's in Oregon - don't know how far that is from you though.

Mine was sent out yesterday I believe and only has to come as far as Japan.

 

[nbd13]

T.J. i highly recomend James, he built my new tank, you can see it on the z-board.

its a master piece! i love it!

hes a great guy to deal with.

i would go 3/4" acrylic if i were you, think about it, this is your dream tank, so make SURE it doesnt bow, go with 3/4" espically with 30" height. James might even suggest 1".

call him up! he knows his stuff and is real easy to work with!

Nick

 

[TJcop]

Thanks NexDog and nbd13! I've heard nothing but compliments for Envision, so I'm definately going to give them a call. Not looking forward to the drive, but if it saves me $1000, then it's worth it!

With the 30" height, I'm thinking about 400w MH with T5's and possibly some CF's too. Things are starting to click...now, where's that damn credit card....

 

[NexDog]

It won't cost that much to ship to you. I'm having two crates shipped to Japan and if it cost that much to ship to you I'd be bankrupt.

 

[nbd13]

one more thing i would use those LA IIIs to get that coverage you need with the width. get 3 of those and 400w bulbs and you are good to go with the lighting, maybe some VHOs or t5s for dawn and dusk effect if you want.

shipping was not that bad on a tank like that you are looking at about 250 if you pick up at your local truck place (the docks) or if you have it delivered to your home about 400 because of the whole surcharge thing.

really 250 is not that bad to me and it would cost you WAY more than that to drive there and back.....

i say pay the 250 and go pick it up at your local truck place, hard to explain, but where the big semis go and drop off there load. just rent a u-haul or borrow a truck (that what i did).

Nick

 

[drjrose]

My new tank, under construction with http://precisionclarity.com/ , is also 72"Lx36"Wx30"T. It will be $2,300 with the 48x24x20 refugeum-sump included.

My tube steel stand ($700) is being powder baked as I type.

 

[gooch]

I had Reefmania build my 6'x4'x26" inch tank. They are in Minnesota. They do a lot of custom work. Tanks are not there main focus but they have done a bunch of them. They built seven custom tanks for me and a buch of tanks for guys in the Wisconsin area. I havn't set mine up yet but soon I hope. MIne is 3/4 inch acrylic.

 

[True Percula]

wow that is big

 

[mikeo1210]

I second (or third) Envision arcylics. James builds tanks that will never bow, crack or split on you. There are a few manufacturers building tanks that after a certain point are almost gauranteed to give in some capacity. Here's one he recently made for me:

Only wish I had a picture of the glued joints. There's not a single flaw.
Oh yea.. the acrylic is all Spartech Polycast.

 

[TJcop]

Those are great looking tanks! I'm still collecting data, doing research on what I plan on doing, so I'll list everything at once for everyone to critique.

BTW: Here's a topic I'm pondering; closed loops or Tunze streams and wavebox? I'm starting to see more large tanks without CL's...opinions?

 

[mikeo1210]

Here in CA I see a lot more reefers setting up tanks w/ streams. They use minimal energy vs. a comperable CL pump. I did a CL for my 340 but it's an oceansmotions 4-way fed by a (bubbleless) surge. The surge tank can be filled w/ a small pump or even by way of a tee off your return. The velocity you can get from one of these is insane and its very energy efficient. In the tank I did a wavebox and I'm very pleased with it also.

 

[TJcop]

I'm liking the idea of streams more and more. Plus, I've seen where people are placing the streams behind "false walls" built into the tank, so just the output sticks into the tank.
Energy consumption is a factor, but not the underlying decision. Bigger tank = bigger energy, I'm ok with that, but if I can save some power and get the same flow, why not go that route?
BTW, I do plan on a OM 4-way on the return pump. Might as well make that pump usefull!

 

[TJcop]

Another thing I'm considering: Bare bottom or SSB? I'm currently running BB in my 125, and it works fine, but there's something bout having a nice sand bottom that's more pleasing to the eye. I'm leaning towards a SSB in the display with a DSB/Refugium connected to it.
Comments?

 

[nbd13]

why not try a fuax sandbed? either glue snad right on the acrylic bottom or use starboard.....

Nick

 

[TJcop]

Ok, this should spur some comments to this thread, here's my plan:

Tank:
72"L x 30"H x 36"D ~336 gals
Acrylic construction with a exterior attached (ie: outside the tank) overflow box. Thinking about going with the full run overflow on the rear.

Flow:
1 main return pump with an OM-4 to split the returns. No closed loops to decrease cost/heat/plumbing/problems. Tunze streams to be used and setup behind two false walls on left and right side of tank, along with some setup in the overflow box. Only the "nozzles" of the streams will protrude into the tank. Might as well use the space in the overflows!

Lighting:
This being an SPS dominated tank, I will be using 400w MH's. Probably 3, maybe 4 depending on the reflectors I choose. There will be T5 actinic supplements, along with the standard moon lighting effects. Bulbs will most likely be 10K

Skimmer/CR/Kalk:
Still working on those. The skimmers will be recirc's (ERs?), I know that much.

Additional Equip:
Going with the shallow SB in the display, with a DSB in the fuge. I enjoy the BB in my 125, but I like the look of some sand on the bottom. I don't want to glue anything down, because that limits my ability to make changes, and on a $2000 tank, I don't want to be stuck with a certain layout.
I'm also going to have as much equipment as possible automated. I started to look at Aquatronics controllers, since I have a spare PC lying around that I can dedicate to my new tank.
Fuge/sump specs aren't in place. That may be determined by the size/layout of my equip room.

Equip room:
Since this tank is going in the basement, the equip room will be where the basement bathroom was roughed in. I'll have a sink and running water, plus a floor drain. Room air will be vented to the outside to keep temp/humidity to a minimum.

That's it for now...let the comments roll!!!!! :thumbsup:

 

[mikeo1210]

OAcrylic construction with a exterior attached (ie: outside the tank) overflow box. Thinking about going with the full run overflow on the rear.

Tunze streams to be used and setup behind two false walls on left and right side of tank, along with some setup in the overflow box. Only the "nozzles" of the streams will protrude into the tank. Might as well use the space in the overflows!

Think you'll be happy w/ the external overflow. Doubt you'll need the full run but your fabricator should know.

If you haven't checked out Art's tank w/ the Tunze compartments you might want to sounds similar : 370G Tank Preview .

Otherwise sounds good esp. the remote sump/equip. room. Just ditch the sand and I'd personally give the plan an A+