hubris007
New member
Ok, so i've been watching my 200-300 gallons of refugium stagnate for the last year and a half, as i just couldn't get myself to run the plumbing from it to the main tank, so i could get my shtuff up and running again (everytime i get a system going fully for 6 months or more, we find some reason to move). But it looks like we'll be staying here a while, so it's time to take the plunge.
After suprisingly little discussion, i have gotten my wife to give me the spare bedroom, so i can delve back into the hobby with both feet. With the aquisition of said room, i no longer have to run plumbing to the basement and back to have a decent refugium and sump (when i say decent, just search ghettofuge.
)
What even better is, the closet in said bedroom butts up against the guest bathroom (plumbing, baybee!).
A quick sketch so we're on the same page...
So, i says to myself, "CJ (cuz that's what i call myself in my head) that wall's begging for a tank." Well, who am i too argue with myself. So the planning begins. I'm sick of dealing with small tanks, and if i'm going to spend the money to build in wall, i don't want to ever want to go larger. I'm thinking 300gal sounds like a nice number. Ever try to order a 300Gal glass tank? They ain't cheap. What's more, they're damn long. 8' is a little longer than i'd like. What's more, we're looking at 3 grand to purchase it...maybe acrylic is the way to go... So, if it's gonna have to be acrylic, why not get it custom. Maybe something like this...
Ok, here's some quick calculations...if 5' to a long side and 2' in short width and 2' deep, that's 240 gals. If 2.5' deep, 300 gal.
If 4' to a long side and 2' short sides, that's 180 for 2'depth and 224 for 2.5' depth. That's not big enough...
Ok, 4' long sides, 3'short sides, 2' depth=224gal 2.5'=280gal.
5'long sides, 3' short sides, 2' depth=314gal 2.5'=400gal.
As for how much viewable we want (ie. the long sides) i think my wife and i will have to decide that through aesthetical evaluation. As for the short sides (front to back depth of tank) i could definately use some help deciding. Is 2' too small to have room for nice sized rock formations and water flow? Is 3' too long for the reach of the average human arm (will probably have accessable from front and back)?
As for (up/down) depth, will i feel like an *** if i make it only 2 feet deep (ceilings are 8')? Should i go 2.5 feet depth? I plan to do mostly corals.
Anyone have experience with custom acrylics? Is this design even feasable? Am i looking at doubling the cost by making it L-shaped?
Other thoughts i'm kicking around... Can i do this with 2 pieces of glass and the rest plywood? (i pay people to do stuff, because i don't trust my DIY skills) If so, how much less $$$ do you think i'd be looking at? I don't weld, i don't drywall, i don't do electrical, so the wallwork is going to be contracted out, unless i get a TON of help.
Just some inital ideas and questions i thought i'd throw out there and see what happens. Hope to hear from you soon
CJ
After suprisingly little discussion, i have gotten my wife to give me the spare bedroom, so i can delve back into the hobby with both feet. With the aquisition of said room, i no longer have to run plumbing to the basement and back to have a decent refugium and sump (when i say decent, just search ghettofuge.
)What even better is, the closet in said bedroom butts up against the guest bathroom (plumbing, baybee!).
A quick sketch so we're on the same page...
So, i says to myself, "CJ (cuz that's what i call myself in my head) that wall's begging for a tank." Well, who am i too argue with myself. So the planning begins. I'm sick of dealing with small tanks, and if i'm going to spend the money to build in wall, i don't want to ever want to go larger. I'm thinking 300gal sounds like a nice number. Ever try to order a 300Gal glass tank? They ain't cheap. What's more, they're damn long. 8' is a little longer than i'd like. What's more, we're looking at 3 grand to purchase it...maybe acrylic is the way to go... So, if it's gonna have to be acrylic, why not get it custom. Maybe something like this...
Ok, here's some quick calculations...if 5' to a long side and 2' in short width and 2' deep, that's 240 gals. If 2.5' deep, 300 gal.
If 4' to a long side and 2' short sides, that's 180 for 2'depth and 224 for 2.5' depth. That's not big enough...
Ok, 4' long sides, 3'short sides, 2' depth=224gal 2.5'=280gal.
5'long sides, 3' short sides, 2' depth=314gal 2.5'=400gal.
As for how much viewable we want (ie. the long sides) i think my wife and i will have to decide that through aesthetical evaluation. As for the short sides (front to back depth of tank) i could definately use some help deciding. Is 2' too small to have room for nice sized rock formations and water flow? Is 3' too long for the reach of the average human arm (will probably have accessable from front and back)?
As for (up/down) depth, will i feel like an *** if i make it only 2 feet deep (ceilings are 8')? Should i go 2.5 feet depth? I plan to do mostly corals.
Anyone have experience with custom acrylics? Is this design even feasable? Am i looking at doubling the cost by making it L-shaped?
Other thoughts i'm kicking around... Can i do this with 2 pieces of glass and the rest plywood? (i pay people to do stuff, because i don't trust my DIY skills) If so, how much less $$$ do you think i'd be looking at? I don't weld, i don't drywall, i don't do electrical, so the wallwork is going to be contracted out, unless i get a TON of help.
Just some inital ideas and questions i thought i'd throw out there and see what happens. Hope to hear from you soon
CJ
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