My new plan....

[moore_rb]

... is to do a 36x30x24(or 30, I haven't decided how deep yet), 120+ gallon cube style tank. It will sit in the corner of our living room at an angle so that it is 3 sides viewable.

Here's where it get's crazy. I plan to build EVERYTHING myself. I did the stand and canopy on my 70, so I know I can do that, and I've built a skimmer, phosban reactor, and various other pieces, but I haven't built a tank in nearly 20 years, and all those back then were glass. I've never built an acrylic tank, but I can't get past the cost savings between $500 in raw sheet, vs $1200 for a completed tank.

I'll build this tank out of 3/4 inch acrylic, and the sump out of 3/8 inch. I have some cool ideas for the stand and canopy as well, like making removable outer panels instead of installing doors, so that my hardware is more easily accessible.

I'll run the 2 400W SE lamps that I'm buying from Skip, along with a single 175w that I'll take from the 70. The other 175w lamp will light my chaeto fuge.

Main circulation will be via a Sequence pump (probably the 3600 GPH model),and a pair of MAK4's in closed loop mode. My current 1200 GPH dolphin pump will power the skimmer.

I plan to build a skimmer that can be adapted to use either a beckett head injector, or a Mazzei venturi injector, and I intend to run it for a period of time with each injector type to see which one is more productive and efficient with my pump at removing waste.

I hope to build the tank and the stand and canopy during the week between Christmas and new years, and I want to have the system running and ready to start transferring livestock before our next kid is born in early April 06...

I'll be keeping a photo journal and posting pics here on RC as I go, and on weekends when I know I'll be working on it, I'll be extending invitations to anyone who wants to come out and drink beer and share stories...

Should be fun. Wish me luck.

 

[Fliger]

Good luck, sounds great!

You could use 1/2" with those dims though, unless you go 30" maybe you'd need thicker, but 36x30x24 and 1/2" is more than enough. You need a strong magnet cleaner when you get to 3/4" which can scratch a little easier if not careful.

Mmmmm ... beeeer ....

actually just wanna edit - i should say I THINK 1/2" would be fine. probably check the DIY forum or contact some tank builders. 3/4" and you can definitely use a thin perimeter brace.

 

[kirstenk]

Sounds like a challenge. You really won't need the 175W, the 400's will be more than plenty!

 

[moore_rb]

Dave,

I probably will use 1/2 inch if I do a 24 inch height in order to save a few bucks, but if I go 30 inches deep, I'm gonna go with 3/4. Good point on the cleaning magnet. I'll probably have to drop $75 on a the big carnivore.

I'm on the fence about whether I'll do a DSB or a SSB in the display tank (I will do a DSB in the fuge), so this decision will dictate what height I go with. My 70 right now is 18 deep, but only 13 inches of useable depth because the rest is sand... I don't like that.

Without giving away too much of my aquascaping plan (those details come much later), I want to have plenty of free swimming room above the rock for my chromis, and possibly a small school af anthias.

Another reason I plan to go a little thicker is to increase the glue joint contact area at the corners. I figure overkill is better than underkill..... After it's done I plan to let the tank cure for 4 weeks to ensure 100% bond strength. I've been reading all of Acrylicman's posts in the DIY forum, and I'm going with his guidance and methods.

Kirsten,

I want to run 20k lamps off the 400's, with the goal of beauty and color over growth, and I'll run a single XM10K lamp on the 175 to increase PAR and growth. The photoperiod on the 175 will only be 4 hours per day, to simulate the brightest part of the day between 10am and 2pm. I'll run the 20k's for 8-10 hours per day, and I'll run a single 95w VHO coralife 6500K for 2 - 2 hour periods per day for dawn and dusk.

 

[Fliger]

Sounds good but 48x30x24 shounds better. ;-) Since its custom you don't have to fall into categories and you can go 40 or 44. I had a 44x28x26 and it was the bomb. I loved that tank.

 

[moore_rb]

48 Inch length is not out of the question, still a possibility, (40-44 is more likely) but I am set on 30 inch width, and I'm leaning more toward the 30 inch depth, especially since I should have plenty of lighting wattage to penetrate that depth. I want to maintain a good 6-8 inches of open water above the tops of my tallest corals, rather than doing the standard "rock wall" look, but I might be giving away too much of my aquascaping plan again....

Also, my plan is to build a 4-5 foot tall skimmer (for crazy contact time) that will reside behind the display, so the taller the display, the taller the skimmer can be...

 

[kirstenk]

I run two 400W on my 72" tank. I have a 175W in the middle that I run (like you want to) during the middle of the lighting period. I tried the 10K 175W but didn't like it so they are all 20K XM's at the moment. Color and growth are both good!

Ya just don't need that 175W unless ya feel like heating things up a bit more and wasting money. BUT........I do have my lights perpendicular to the tank and most don't so that could make a difference maybe...........?

 

[Fliger]

Here are some pix of the 44x28x26 tank. I think you will grow out of the 36" really fast and you'll have the lighting to go bigger. I loved the stand, you could have KiethJackson build you one if you wanted.

 

[moore_rb]

Well, final dimensions have been decided:

48 long
36 wide
30 deep

That should make a great 3 sides viewable tank, and hold 225 gallon. I will use 5/8 inch (or possibly 3/4 if the cost difference isn't too outrageous)

I'll start work on the stand and order the Acrylic next week.

Kirsten- I'm still considering what you said about the extra 175 in the middle being overkill with the 2 400's, but with the 30 inch depth and using SE bulbs, I'm still leaning strongly toward using all three lamps..... I'll make my final decision after I get the assembly all together and I'll check my lighting levels at the tank bottom with a lux-meter and adjust the wattage until the reading matches the level that I currently have at the bottom of my 70, because I know I have enough light in my current tank to grow acropora and clams on the substrate.

The beauty of planning is that you can change the plan as you go...

 

[Myfitz]

Cant wait to see it. I would be willing to help out if you need any help. I build most of my stuff in my tank so I am somewhat handy. I am thinking about building a good size tank myself. Including a refugium on the back that is part of the tank. Just a thought.

 

[moore_rb]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=6212273#post6212273 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by moore_rb

The beauty of planning is that you can change the plan as you go...

HA!

I didn't realize just how right I would be....

My aquarium plan has a new number 1 priority: finding a new source of employment. Once that little hurdle is overcome, I'll pick up the new aquarium project where I left off.....

Stay tuned....

 

[aztbs]

Sorry to hear that, that is just awful timing with the holidays, a tank build, and a baby on the way. Good luck with your job hunt

 

[RicoJ]

Robert let me know when you are ready to start again, I would like to help out.

Rico.

 

[moore_rb]

No real updates. Still waiting for that first, all important job offer to come in. I've interviewed with 8 local companies over the past 3 weeks, but still no offers yet....

I've got about a thousand headhunters calling me every day, too.

Tons of interest outside of Az. If I was able to relocate, I'd already be working again....

The time off has given me the opportunity to really think over my aquarium design, though. I've made many minor tweaks in my strategy, mainly regarding flow through the system and electricity conservation, and I've drawn some diagrams

 

[moore_rb]

Well, even though my new tank plan is still on hold, I though I'd post a sneak peak at part of the project.

I took some time this week and fabricated the Beckett foam injector for the skimmer I'm gonna build for the new tank. Here is a pic of the completed injector sitting on top of the super-sweet auto cad design drawing ( :lol: ) that I came up with.....

I'll bring the injector to the meeting this afternoon for folks to check it out. It ain't pretty, but it works like a champ, and it disassembles completely so the Beckett can be cleaned out periodically.....

 

[vanmle]

If you decide to build the acrylic aquarium, I am interested on how you do. I might even be able to come over and assist if you want me to. I want to do a similarly deep tank myself. I would like something like 72"(long) x 36"(deep) x 24"(high). I really like a deep tank.

 

[vanmle]

Rob,

Is there any reasons why it has to be acrylic? How about using low-e glass? It would be heavier, but fewer scratches later on and if you mess up, you can always take it apart and start again.

Van.

 

[moore_rb]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=6720951#post6720951 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by vanmle
Rob,

Is there any reasons why it has to be acrylic? How about using low-e glass? It would be heavier, but fewer scratches later on and if you mess up, you can always take it apart and start again.

Van.

I thought about that. Glass is easier to scrape coraline off of also. The big detractor for me about glass is clarity. Since this tank will be three sides viewable, I'd have to use 3 starfire panels, which would increase cost dramatically....

Glass also requires a lot of large clamps to keep pressure on the panels while the silicone sets up, so I'd have to buy more tools.

I may not get perfect joints with zero bubbles, but by saving 70% over the cost of a commercial tank, I can live with that.....

Van, I'll let you know when I'm ready to start building the tank. You're welcome to come over.

 

[moore_rb]

I started a thread on my skimmer project in the DIY forum:

http://reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?s=&threadid=776314

 

[moore_rb]

Ahhhhhhhhhh........... {big sigh of relief}

I Recieved a job offer from Wells Fargo yesterday. I start March 6th at the new building down on South Price Road in Chandler.

I guess it's time to start building my stand and order some 1/2 inch acrylic.....

:dance:

My original schedule is completely blown, however. I'll be lucky now if I'm ready to switch over my livestock before the end of summer.... Oh well, at least I can start moving forward on this project again.