huge tank planning

[thelizardkin]

good point, well made Mo. When I think back to the early days of your thread and the abuse you got when you were asking questions. Now look at your tank...it is, will be, one of the nicest tanks in Europe.

Looking at the sketchup pic and how the tank is divided could you put a partition down the centre and have half FOWLR and half reef?..having 50% fish only would help with lighting costs at least.

The lighting won't be that bad like $1500 all together

 

[albano]

Yes!. Here's a quote!
"Right now I have a 420 gallon reef 7x3x2.5 a 210 freshwater 6x2x2.5 and a 240 vivarium 4x2x4 "

That counts as a large system in my book!

Yes, I read that...
He SAYS that he has a 420g reef, but he THINKS he can build a monster tank, for very little $ !
...at this point I don't believe him!

You might get away with lower light or no corals on the floor of the tank and have large bombies with SPS and use only 400w halides, or use just one or two 1000w halides,

Yeah, I think he (Randy) agreed?

Really, he agreed that 1000w is needed...
I guess I missed that part...

People always think you need more light than you actually do. Steinhart Aquarium in San Francisco uses 1000w Halides and grow SPS down to about 15' depth in their ~20' deep tanks. I am not sure if you are talking 8' depth or 5' depth, but either way, 400 watters are more than sufficient...
As I said above, 1000w is way way overkill

If it is a deep tank, there will be some magnification front to back.

Sorry, you missed the sarcasm about the magnification!...BUT if he needs to start a monster tank with 1" frags, he needs a smaller tank!

The lighting won't be that bad like $1500 all together

Wow, a 50% increase over your first estimate! I have a feeling you'll be doing that a lot!

 

[bullitr]

You spent $65000 putting together a 250g tank?

It can be easily done.
If you take all the high end equipment half of the 65k is gone
And most of the high end corals and fishes can cost more than 35 even on a 250 gallon tank

For equipment
Tank Elos
profilux controller doser
Lots of TUNZE
BK skimmer
Ca reactor
Custom stand and canopy more than 5 k
Solar system
Lighting can be 5k
Kalkwasser reactor

 

[Moser]

Albano,


Again, he was just asking for advice. Constructive advice, without the put downs..... Offer some?!


Mo

 

[JoshuaG]

It can be easily done.
If you take all the high end equipment half of the 65k is gone
And most of the high end corals and fishes can cost more than 35 even on a 250 gallon tank

For equipment
Tank Elos
profilux controller doser
Lots of TUNZE
BK skimmer
Ca reactor
Custom stand and canopy more than 5 k
Solar system
Lighting can be 5k
Kalkwasser reactor

You would have to use $100 bills to cycle your tank to spend 65K on a 250G build. A lot of them.

 

[dave.m]

Death by hyperbole.

Dave.M

 

[Moser]

I forgot to add. There are several examples of European marine tanks using 1000W Halides on that deep a tank without problems.... so either 400W ( more) or 1000W (less) would still work in this setting if that is what you want.

Mo

 

[thelizardkin]

i'm going to go with 6 1000w mh and 6 8' t12s

 

[Moser]

Don't forget it may prove difficult keeping any coral higher up. They would probably have to grow up to the top to be able to withstand the PAR and any changes eg carbon, ozone dose, bulb changes may have a harsh effect on poorly acclimated corals.

On the other hand, you won't be short of light!!!.

 

[Moser]

:spin1:

 

[discus510]

how about show us some pics of the 475 gallon reef tank u already got and let us know at u spent on it

 

[thelizardkin]

how about show us some pics of the 475 gallon reef tank u already got and let us know at u spent on it

These are old pics I think I spent around 10k but we got ripped off like the guy building it charged us for starfire but gave us normal glass and we spent alot plumbing the tank downstairs and putting in support beams

 

[sean112280]

Thats a nice tank. Id like to see u build this new one. Then let us know what u used and spent. Good luck dude. Cant wait to see it.

 

[thelizardkin]

Thats a nice tank. Id like to see u build this new one. Then let us know what u used and spent. Good luck dude. Cant wait to see it.

Thank you I will keep you updated

 

[Jason1982]

Wow, I'm tagging along to see this build.. I have a new 360 gallon that I've already spent 10k on in the last 3 months and I have minimal livestock and corals..

 

[noobtothereef]

i could build a functioning 4000g reef for $10k, take a 4000g stock tank($1,500) a bunch of missmatched used lighting from reefcentral( maybe $1000) a giant used skimmer ($1500????) 2000lbs of marco rock ($4000) a couple used trolling motors and a giant 12v inverter($1000) heaters, and all the b.s ($1000) and darn i hit the $10k limit and dont have the $1000 i need for the salt mix for the initial fill theres no way to build a 4,000g reef for $10k , even at $20k its gonna be a catastrophy waiting to happen.........

Do you have a reef tank right now?

 

[thelizardkin]

i could build a functioning 4000g reef for $10k, take a 4000g stock tank($1,500)

the tank itself sould cost under $5k

a bunch of missmatched used lighting from reefcentral( maybe $1000)

the 1000w ballasts & bulbs cost around $100 each i need 6 thats $1200 then diy reflectors would be under $50 each so thats $2k

a giant used skimmer ($1500????)

i don't need a huge skimmer right away

2000lbs of marco rock ($4000)

i woulden't need that much i have 300-400lbs in my current reef and i found a place that sells bulk live rock $2 a pound i'd need about 1000lbs

a couple used trolling motors and a giant 12v inverter($1000)

i hope the trolling motors are a joke

heaters, and all the b.s ($1000)

that sounds about right

and darn i hit the $10k limit

once again that was not a limit but a estimate

and dont have the $1000 i need for the salt mix for the initial fill

the salt will be diy

theres no way to build a 4,000g reef for $10k , even at $20k its gonna be a catastrophy waiting to happen....

this tank is a long way off if it happens i have plenty of time to plan and figure out the cost

Do you have a reef tank right now?

4 posts up

 

[hpfunk]

Put the 10k into the 400gallon

Put the 10k into the 400gallon

the tank itself sould cost under $5k

the 1000w ballasts & bulbs cost around $100 each i need 6 thats $1200 then diy reflectors would be under $50 each so thats $2k

i don't need a huge skimmer right away

i woulden't need that much i have 300-400lbs in my current reef and i found a place that sells bulk live rock $2 a pound i'd need about 1000lbs

If your engineer is working for free and, you own a bunch of the equipment to demo and build re enforced concrete slabs and re enforced block walls...and know how to interpret and skilfully construct what the engineer drew...you have the hook up on a professional glass guy... and I fiberglass guy with material... I know I am forgetting some things to.
I think you will want a better tank than 5k could possibly build you. IMO

The lights that you quote are for parking lots or warehouses not growing coral.
I think you will want better lights if you intend on growing coral not algae. IMO

You will want a skimmer right away because big ones take longer to brake in, you won't have enough sand or rock for natral filtration, a skimmer would be the only thing keeping anything alive in this set up. IMO

400 lbs of live rock in a 4000gallon system will look like some pebbles in there... AGAIN respectfully IMO you will need every bit of the extra 1000lbs you suggest

I am not trying to hate... Just trying to be realistic

IMO put the 10k you have for this new tank and put it in that 400gallon. It looks good but imagine what 10K could do for that thing. This way you could stick to the budget or estimate or what ever it is, and get a result that could rival some of RK's TOTM's :celeb1:

 

[thelizardkin]

If your engineer is working for free and, you own a bunch of the equipment to demo and build re enforced concrete slabs and re enforced block walls...and know how to interpret and skilfully construct what the engineer drew...you have the hook up on a professional glass guy... and I fiberglass guy with material... I know I am forgetting some things to.
I think you will want a better tank than 5k could possibly build you. IMO

i know it should cost under 5k cuz i've seen tanks the same size cost that

The lights that you quote are for parking lots or warehouses not growing coral.
I think you will want better lights if you intend on growing coral not algae. IMO

i was a little off with the lights the ballasts will be 100 each but the bulbs would be 200 and they are made for aquariums

You will want a skimmer right away because big ones take longer to brake in, you won't have enough sand or rock for natral filtration, a skimmer would be the only thing keeping anything alive in this set up. IMO

i'll start with a skimmer rated for 1000g and then add another later when i need it

400 lbs of live rock in a 4000gallon system will look like some pebbles in there... AGAIN respectfully IMO you will need every bit of the extra 1000lbs you suggest

i'm going to make a frame of pvc and eggcrate and tie the rock to that

I am not trying to hate... Just trying to be realistic

i do understand and if i find this tank gets to be too much $ i'll build a smaller one

IMO put the 10k you have for this new tank and put it in that 400gallon. It looks good but imagine what 10K could do for that thing. This way you could stick to the budget or estimate or what ever it is, and get a result that could rival some of RK's TOTM's :celeb1:

i don't want to do that cuz if i move i can't take the tank with me and some of that 10k will go to waste

 

[thelizardkin]

i've been reading that low strength concrete can hold around 1 ton per square inch so if the floor is a inch thick i can hold at least 4,320,000 pounds for the tank