Need help with 1,000 Gallon tank

[falcon7xx]

I need some help with a 1,000 gallon tank. I am in the process of building a new house and i am looking into putting in a salt water tank to seperate 2 rooms in the house. I had a someone come in yesterday and they want to build a tank that is 9ft long x 5ft tall x 3ft wide. Basically the water will come out from the bottom of the tank and return to the top of the tank.

My questions are:

Is this to deep because how do you clean the sandbed and will lighting hit the bottom of the tank so i can put corals on the bottom of the tank.

I also want to put tangs in there and i know they need alot of room to swim. Should I go longer and more shallow with the tank.

I am no expert, but this guy that i talked to that wants to build the tank is telling me that the sand will clean itself and there will be no cleaning needed. I have had friends with tanks before and i know you have to clean them about every 2 weeks and do a water change once a month.

Please help!

 

[reddog170]

At that depth about the only way you will clean the bottom half of the tank is to go diving. There are plenty of low light and non photosynthetic corals that would reduce you ligh requirements. I would use LED's on a tank that size as they are more capable of getting light to the bottom and not requiring a second job to pay for the electric.

 

[shifty51008]

[welcome]

I would post this in the large tank forum you will prob. get better answers. but I would go with a shorter wider tank.

alot of the lighting will depend on what type of corals you want to keep. also you will have to look about how your gonna get flow around the tank.

 

[RcToners]

It sounds like you are very new to saltwater. You are going to want to take it very very slow before you jump into a huge tank like that.

 

[Beaun]

That is really, really tall. The lighting would need to be 400w or even 1000w bulbs. I would consider dropping to ~30" deep and making it either longer or wider. Go check out the large tank forum to see what others have done; also, questions you may have might be better answered in there: http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/forumdisplay.php?f=252

 

[julie180]

Welcome.

I would hesitate to do a tank that deep. You will at some time want to get to the bottom, even if its just to pick up a fallen frag.

I also question the water coming out from the bottom and back into the top. What type of system will be in place if the power fails. If you don't have a fail safe system and the pump should ever shut off, your tank will drain completely.

Good luck

 

[john32]

At that depth about the only way you will clean the bottom half of the tank is to go diving. There are plenty of low light and non photosynthetic corals that would reduce you ligh requirements. I would use LED's on a tank that size as they are more capable of getting light to the bottom and not requiring a second job to pay for the electric.

How much would it cost to use LED lights on a tank long and wide?

 

[john32]

Just curious but would the LED Lights be effective for SPS and LPS corals at that depth?

 

[frozenreefer]

you do know that a tank that large is going to be a very pricey setup right?

 

[Palting]

WOW!! This is definitely the wrong forum for this question. Large tank forum is where you want to go. Heck, go to your neighboring public aquarium for info. Man, that is one big tank!

 

[twiggyb]

Just curious but would the LED Lights be effective for SPS and LPS corals at that depth?

My LEDs don't reach the bottom of my 24" tank for sps. I keep them all up top. IMO they'd have to be pretty powerful LEDs to reach down 5'. I'm not sure though.

 

[Nanook]

[moved]

 

[90ct]

My LEDs don't reach the bottom of my 24" tank for sps. I keep them all up top. IMO they'd have to be pretty powerful LEDs to reach down 5'. I'm not sure though.

What brand LEDs are you using? I put my SPSs on the bottom of my 180g tank and turn the White LEDs down to 55% otherwise they will bleach my corals.

 

[discus510]

if u can i would do 5 ft depth (front to back) and 3 ft tall or 4ft whichever way ur not goin to be able to get to bottom good luck with the build and if hes plannin tank this big i dont think he will need a 2nd job to pay for it this tank goin to cost him in the 6 figures area tats not including the live stuff tats goin in

 

[tozzi]

i dont think he will need a 2nd job to pay for it this tank goin to cost him in the 6 figures area tats not including the live stuff tats goin in

I agree. If u have the initial cash to buy this tank, dont worry about the electric for 6 or 8 - 400w mh, i doubt it will b a prob. Heck im broke and i have 4-400watters goin!

I would do a tank 8 or 10 feet long x 4 or 5 feet wide x 30" deep. awesome rockwork could be done. But this size would be best if u are gonna view front and 1 or 2 sides. If your only viewing the front, go 10 or 12 feet long x 3 feet wide x 30" or so high

 

[dzfish17]

I have to agree with the other post that the added height is going to make it a challenge to work on.

I bought a tall tank (96x36x46) that is currently empty. I have to climb in the tank to work on things (closed loop, ect).

I would reconsider going with a tank that is that tall. Im setting mine up as a FOWLR because of all the demands of a reef tank (lighting, water movement, temp ect).


Dave