large tank started 1915.01 gallon

R

reeflagoon

New member
awhile back i was looking to build an 8'x8'x8' tank well after constant backlash saying it can't be done. i have been out to prove people wrong that a large tank can be done without paying out the *** for it. as of saturday i started to weld my frame together for a 8'x8'x4' out of steel 1\2 i will have 3 cut out's for the 8'x4' acrylic at 1" thick on all 4 sides. 500gal refug. steel bracing ontop everything will be covered in epoxy to avoid rusting. the stand will be on steel beams to hold the weight. all steel will be from a steel scrap ward to cut the price. looking to run a wave maker on 4 3600gph pumps, will be a lowlight reef tank some spots will have higher lighting for a few lps corals but most of the tank will be polyps,zoo's and softys. i would like your feed back and advice on helping me build.thanks
 
So then your proving building a 8x8x8 tank can be done by building a 8x8x4 tank?

:confused:

Good luck, sounds like a good one to follow. Cant wait to see pics
 
good luck to Webb, and yes it will be very interesting, cheap..well kind of. and big, yeah baby

post lots of pics please

thanks, and listen but not to close, to the nay sayers, those whom do not try never win

Jose
 
Yes, have an engineer look at the load numbers and the location you plan on putting it. My architect said my 300gal would move my garage slab if I rested all the weight on it. He came up with the solution of resting it on the foundation wall instead. 3 years later it hasn't moved at all.

JeffP
 
Do you know if you need to account for expansion of the acrylic sheet due to increases in temperature or water absorption? Are you planning on using silicone to join your panels or going the traditional route?

jb
 
That sounds like an very impressive tank... Building a tank on a budget is one thing. Putting together all the equimpment to sucessfully maintain and operate your system can be another..... The cost of lighting, filtration, circulation, heating, cooling etc. can add up on a 1,900 gal system... your total weight will be somewhere around 8-9 tons... I know on my 500 gal. SPS reef monthly costs run around 500.00 to 600.00 per month. And the figure of 50.00 to 75.00 per gallon on a fully stocked tank hold pretty true. This includes back ups, pumps, chiller, lights etc. If this is your first large reef you will be amazed at how fast costs can add up!!! I think it's a safe bet that if you do everything yourself your still looking at around 25.00 - 30.00 per gallon... Not including monthly costs.... If you can get this system up and running for around 50,000. From start to finish, I think you have done well.... Can't wait for pictures, keep us all posted...


Good Luck.....
 
building a large tank will have it's up's and downs, but as far as spending $500-$600 a month on a 500gal tank is a first for me to hear. a friend on mine has a 135 reef and maybe spends 40 a month for the lights, he lets his tank run its self. i really dont plan on having all those reactors that i think are a waste of money for some ( not all ) my 55gal reef has been running its self for the past yr i may do a water change every few months and it is doing just fine. now as far as stocking my 1900gal will be a diff story and will take time. i plan on breeding some fish and snails and shrimp for the large tank and as far as corals go they will be prop. from my frag tanks. it's not something that i am looking to do fast. the tank will sit will the live rock for at least 6 months and do what it has to do. it's kinda like letting nature do it's thing.
 
hmm. interesting aproach webb...you take an aproach to reef tanks that many take with bonsai. dont force the art, let it happen itself...this should be very interesting. : )
 
<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=8997363#post8997363 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by webb miller
building a large tank will have it's up's and downs, but as far as spending $500-$600 a month on a 500gal tank is a first for me to hear. a friend on mine has a 135 reef and maybe spends 40 a month for the lights, he lets his tank run its self. i really dont plan on having all those reactors that i think are a waste of money for some ( not all ) my 55gal reef has been running its self for the past yr i may do a water change every few months and it is doing just fine. now as far as stocking my 1900gal will be a diff story and will take time. i plan on breeding some fish and snails and shrimp for the large tank and as far as corals go they will be prop. from my frag tanks. it's not something that i am looking to do fast. the tank will sit will the live rock for at least 6 months and do what it has to do. it's kinda like letting nature do it's thing.
Click to expand...

I completely believe this figure, however it is relative to what you plan on keeping. My 180 sps tank (300gal sys) costs me on average $150+/mo between electric, chemicals, etc. One question, how are you planning on circulating water in a tank that size? You will most likely require multiple circulating pumps which alone could run $100+/mo in electricity.

I am interested to see how the natural approach works. With that kind of system volume, I imagine it could work well.
 
Go for it..

I read your original post and thought why not?

Too many slated the idea, but I plan (dream) of something similar.

Keep posting updates, and pics asap!

Good luck.
 
Webb, I want to wish you luck. At first I wanted to say that you were nuts and didn't have a chance at making this happen. Now I really want to see this work. Your laid back Zen attitude is nice to see.

Are you planning to make your own rock? That would help cut down on the cost a lot.

Oh yeah, don't forget the pictures.
 
i like the fact that some think it can't be done. if you can remember people said the same thing about being able to keep a reef tank at home right ? it's like telling alexander the great that conquering the world could not be possible. :) now back to some of the questions. i will have at least 2 3600gph pumps coming off the refug, i will try 1 at first and then go from there. now most people have what you call a high end reef system.
MH lights,actinic lighting,skimmer,trickler filter,cal.generator,sump,heaters,temp controllrt,sensing probes,ozone generator,ph controller and so on.
now the way i will run mine will be what you call a Natural reef system or aka the berlin system. i want to cut the cost of running it down to be able to have something that nice. the refug will be at least 500gal which will have every saltwater plant to cut the waste down to the max. now if it doesnt do what it has to do over the months then hey you only learn by what you do.

thanks for everybodys reply's
 
FIGURES ON HOW MUCH SPENT ON A MO BASIC I HAVE TO DISAGREE WITH EVEN 4-600 A MONTH I HAVE A 600 GAL DONT COME CLOSE TO IT I PROB RUNING BOUT $2-250 MONTH
SPECIALLY IF U USE LOW WATT USEAGE PUMPS, WHICH THAT WERE I'M DOINT NEXT, I HAVE A BLUELINE 100RLT ITS 390W
GONNA GO WITH 2 REEF FLO 3600 USE 140W EACH. DEPENDS ON LOC TOO PRICE OF ELECTRICITY. HAVE FUN EVERY 1
HAPPY REEFING
 
Everyone's different in their approach to reef keeping. The figures I stated above reflect my experience with reef keeping. I run a high flow, high light system. To optimize the growth of my SPS. To push that kind of water and ligths, and to cool it all. Takes a large amount of electricity..
My power bill run around 250.00 to 300.00 a month. I'm running (4) 70, (2) 100 Iwaki's and a Hammerhead on a closed loop. Along with (4) 6200 Tunzes on a controller. Total system turn over around 35- 40 per hour.
When you figure turnover dont forget to add head loss. I was very surprised to install a flow meter and see for myself how much flow you can lose.
When I stated 400.00 to 600.00 a month I also took into account replacing lighting. I'm running (6) 400 watt halides (4) 160 watt VHO and (4) 96 watt PC along with (2) 175 watt halides on my fuge reverse to main lights. Just to replace my lights every 8 to 10 months runs around 960.00. You also have to figure water changes. I change around 200 to 250 gallons a month... Added 70 to 80 for salt... Additives, reactor media, food and equipment replacement is also figured into the mix...
So for my system the monthly costs are up there... I understand you can get by with no flow, very little lighting, no water changes.. Just fill the tank with water and salt and let it run itself. But in the long run I think the animals we are trying to keep suffer. And the time involved increases...

Just my .2 cents

Happy Reefing








and fill a tank with water and salt.
 
i think just sme ppl over do it sometimes like lighting. some ppl change alot of water when alot of the bigger systems with refugiums dont ever change their water but like 3-4 times a yr.
its def possible. i like to add real sea water i my water changes
real sea water have some bacterias that we cant reprodude with
sythetic water. it helps.

just 2 more cents up to 4 now, lol
 
One thing I will chime in with is that a generator is not a "high end reef" item. If your power goes out for a length of time (and by Murphy's law it will) you will need a source of oxygenation.

A generator is not a maybe cost, it is a must cost.
 
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