Peninsular 280 bar build

[Lowredranger]

Well i figured I would start the build thread before i got anywhere just to make sure I am getting it right from the start.

I currently am running a 34g Solana tank. I purchased a used 180g Glasscages tank and it has sat in my living room for a month as i pondered over things.

I decided i hated the look of the massive overflows on the back wall so i decided to figure out a way to go peninsular. I figured if i would be ordering a new tank i might as well go bigger.

New tank to be ordered Monday from glasscages will be 72x36x25 per their specs 280g with starphire glass on the 3 viewable sides. I will have 2 10x7 overflows on the one end with 3 4" gaps for my already purchased vortech powerheads that were planned to be used with the 180g. I will probably need to add a couple more since the tank size has grown.

I am still trying to figure out how to get my bar built in to be cost effective b/c i have convinced the wife she has to cut most of her spending for a couple months to afford this. The bar specs will be 7ft long by 5ft wide, 1ft all the way around the tank. I have considered placing a slab of granite/silestone that size but price is probably to much so will be checking with and probably going with a Formica top, or maybe just silestone around the tank instead of the whole thing but not sure how to brace that with the stand. Can't forget the 5 bar stools that have already been picked out.

Still rambling...

This will be placed up against a sliding glass door so the water storage and skimmer will be on the patio with the door slightly open and possibly venting the canopy and stand to the outside.

I think you got the jist of the plan now here is the current equipment list.

280g 72x36x25 Starphire
75g sump. Already have
Stand will be 36"-38" tall haven't decided yet
8x80w Overdriven to 100w a piece with RG Reflectors on Icecap 660 ballasts
Skimmer Reeflo Orca 250
Return pump run on a manifold Reeflo Dart. Already have
AquaC RX-1 Calcium Reactor
Calcium Reactor Media: : ARM Media Coarse, 10 lbs.
CO2 Cylinder: : 10 lbs.
CO2 Regulator: : Milwaukee MA957
pH Controller: : Milwaukee pH Controller
RK2 Controller brought over from the Solana
3 Vortech pump probably will need 2 more
2 carbon/phosphate reactors. Already have
100lb marco rocks already ordered.

I will be going with a sand bed and open mixed reef look, i hope i can come close to some of the amazing aquacapes on here.

Well let me know what you think i will try and keep this updated not sure how fast it will come to be probably at least a couple months minimum.

I will get a couple pics up of the current setup and where the new tank will be going.

Thanks for reading
Jason

 

[Lowredranger]

Here is a shot of where the current tank started 6 months ago.

Here are some up to date shots of the tank and its inhabitants. All livestock from this tank will be moving to the new tank.

I know these are pics of a big tank but i know everyone get riled up if there aren't any pics.

 

[Lowredranger]

As you can see this tank is full and i have a couple pieces that i am getting from a friend who is breaking down his tank that i still have to find room for.

Last night the large acro in the middle decided to fall over after i broke off a branch that was touching my green birdsnest. Well with no room he is just kinda resting on the rock waiting for his new home.

Here is a pic of the Solana and the 180 that i was going to setup in its spot.

Here is a shot of where the new tank will be located, it will come length wise from the right side of the sliding glass door out 7ft. The couch will be gone since that will be part of the bar area now.

We raise and release orphaned squirrels that is who is in the way at the moment they will probably move to the 180's spot when the new tank comes in.

That's all i got for now, let me know if you see anything i may need to consider or change.

Will keep you updated on the progress.

Thanks
Jason

 

[ArizonaReefer]

If you have not ordered yet you might want to look into the 300 gallon Deep Dimension Tank by Marineland. 72L x 36W x 27H -

I'm in Phoenix and not been able to find anyone who can get me one.

Being in FL maybe you would have better luck, I have seen a few build threads from others in FL.

 

[Lowredranger]

Thanks i will tank a look, i thought those tank were already pre-made? I am not sure haven't looked into them but i have to have the overflows on the end.

Nice pic that looks like a lot of fun what size is that? Did you finally pick which one to go with?

Thanks

 

[ArizonaReefer]

I wish it was mine, Its a 300 the size that I'm trying to get.

None of the LFS here seem to be able to get me one. I have not given up yet though

The photo is from this build thread.

The Wall Must Come Down

I'm under the impression that Marineland will put the holes where you want them.

Here is another thread on them

 

[Lowredranger]

Ok i will check with them on that. I also was not sure about the starphire since i want it on 3 sides. I called a local store and they quoted me $1699 for that tank it was with at least the front panel starphire but he was not sure off the top of his head on the overflows.

I am not sure quality wise but if you add in the price for the other side to be starphire it is the same price or a little more than i was quoted at glasscages. Will check into it though, wouldn't mind the extra couple inches of height.

I just want to get this thing ordered before i change my mind on the cost of the whole project.

 

[Underwaterparadise]

If GC is still making tanks like they used to 4-5 years ago that thing is going to weigh a TON!!! I have 54x30x25 3 sided starphire pennisula tank from GC that was made about 5 years ago. It is so freaking heavy I need about 6 people to even move the thing. They use 2 planes of glass on the bottom + they euro brace them top and bottom. (at least they did mine that way). I love my tank but as soon as I can afford a new one this heavy sucker is getting sold!!

Sounds like a nice build though!

 

[Lowredranger]

It does not sound like you had any problems with the tank are you just getting rid of it to go bigger? Do you have a build thread on your tank i would like to see how you did the peninsular style.

I believe they are still made the same i think the 180 that i have at the moment is a glass cages it has the eurobrace top and bottom. It took 2 people to lift with a couple helpers.

I am waiting at least a day to hear back from Marineland on whether my specs can be met and the price.

 

[Underwaterparadise]

Sorry no build thread. I'm not getting rid of it, the tank has worked great for me. The only dislikes I have about it is the weight and the crappy trim (but my stand and canopy cover the trim so not a concern for me).

 

[~sp0ok~]

any new update????

 

[Lowredranger]

Thanks Underwaterparadise i figured i would go the same route with the trim b/c i have noticed they don't do the best trim jobs. I was going to go with the black vertical silicone as well maybe will look a little better and our stand/canopy will be black.

I need to get out and look at the cost and colors for the formica top since that seems like the most cost effective way.

Other updates not a whole lot was working this morning on the google sketch but i am really slow at it.

 

[Lowredranger]

Here are a couple sketches of the tank. It shows where the overflows are and how i will be positioning 3 of the Vortech's. I do not think everything is perfectly scaled out.

I will try and work on a sketch of the whole thing next.

 

[erics3000]

Looks like you will be having a lot of fun.hahahh

 

[Ed Reef]

Why don't you place both the overflow external, instead of internal. It will make cleaning the back of the tank easier and save you some real estate inside the tank.

Just a thought - if it's not too late.

 

[erics3000]

I think the same reason I didn't... glass cages doesn't like to do external overflows.

 

[Lowredranger]

Yep that is the reason they do not do external overflows and i would have been about $800 more minimum from another manufacture that does external. It doesn't really bother me that much since i will have 3 viewable sides unlike most and that side is just going to have powerheads on it anyway so nothing could have been placed right up against it.

Believe me i definitely did think about it, i haven't ordered it yet i was checking with Marineland i will check back again with aquarium obsessed to recheck the price difference.

 

[Ed Reef]

Another thing to note is that Vortech might not be able to give you sufficient flow towards the other end of the tank. My tank is similar to yours and I used a combination of streams and vortech - of course this will also depend if you are planning to keep SPS or just softies...

 

[Lowredranger]

I was going to go with a mixed reef. I planed on bringing my return from the dart through the canopy to the other end but that would probably only be putting 1000-1500gph on that end of the tank. I was think if those 3 were not enough i could add some more on that end. I did not know how much the wave action helps if i can get the whole water column moving left to right it may compensate for the lack of direct flow but i am not sure.

 

[Lowredranger]

ArizonaReefer, I talked to a local store today and they estimated that the Marineland tank to my specs would be about $2400, also i got a quote back from Aquarium Obsessed and they were around $2400 + Shipping. So i am probably gonna just go ahead with the glasscages tomorrow for around $1800.