Prop Tank???

[instrance]

Would like to build a prop tank. I have decided to build it shallow. Only so i will only have to use 1 150 metal halide. These are the dimensions i would like to build it 20L X 20W X 12 H. If you know where I could buy glass for a good price and the thickness of glass I will need for this can you please post. I will post a autocad drawing soon. Thanks

 

[instrance]

Just got a quote from glass cages and they said for what I want
it would be 160 built and shipped. 24x24x12... Or Diy 94 Diy it is..

 

[instrance]

Anyone know whats a good method on figuring out the thickness of the glass to be used?

 

[Ding2daDong]

I got a quote a while back for a 24"x20"x12" glass aquarium from a BIG aquarium store off of bird road... Forgot the name but I know you guys know which LFS I am talking about. Anyways they quoted me $48 so I would go there.

I also here they made some of our members tanks and some LFS's tanks! Great work!

-Matt

 

[instrance]

Cool thanks, If anyone can buzz in with the answer i would greatly appreciate it. Thanks!

 

[FatmanII]

Sounds like a plan, Im currently setting up a 10 gallon one with a 75W Metal Halide spare I got, until things out grow that one. The 75W means less $$$ on electricity.

 

[Flamehawk]

Withotu center braces, 3/8" thickness is more than enough. you can do 1/4" but i would brace such a tank if i went with 1/4" .

The price Glass Cages quoted you, is this for the glass only or an already built tank. Either way, it is a great pricce if it's 3/8" thick glass.

Hope thishelps, JOHNNY

 

[Flamehawk]

Aslo, may i recommend going with a 24" x 24" footprint. If you use any of the better LumenMax or LumenArc Reflectors, the spread is 24x24" or 36x36", respectively. You want to match the footprint of the tank to the maximum spread of whichever light (reflector) you're using.

So with a single 150watt bulb on a LumenMax Reflector, you can light a tank with a 24" x 24" footprint to it's maximum potential.

So in essence, you have a tank with the same growing space as a 55gal tank that uses only 150watts to light everything pretty well.

Hope helps, JOHNNY

 

[nyvp]

i thought the lemenarc and max both spread 3x3 unless your talking the mini's

 

[instrance]

Cool thanks for the info will build it this w/e

 

[Flamehawk]

The minis definately better over 2x2ft. With dimensions of 11” L x 11.5” W x 5” , however, the LumenMax's spread is much smaller than the spread given by the much bigger LumenArc (19.5” x 19.5” x 8.5”). The LumenArc minis are 14.5"W x 14.5"W x 6.5"H so they actually fall in bewteen the LumenMax and the mini LumenArc. At the end of the day, what will dictate the spread, given the same reflector, is the distance of the reflector and bulb from the tank. You dont want to hang a 150watt bulb way too far from the tank because then the light, while having a good spread, will be too weak.

Hope this helps, JOHNNY

 

[instrance]

Would 2 250w de hqi be too much for this?

 

[jeffbrig]

IMO, 250w is going to be a waste of electricity $$ on a tank that shallow. Don't forget, even in a shallow tank, you can raise the frags on egg crate so they're just a few inches below the surface. Your goal should be to grow as many frags as possible for absolute minimal cost.

 

[instrance]

Thanks again

 

[racermike27]

Hey Ozzy, If you are building the tanks I would like to get one made as well. I will come over and I guess just do what you do basically LOL. As I have no experience using glass. Do you have a CAD design you were thinking about?

 

[instrance]

What size tank do you want to build? This is what I am building with a center overflow :0)
Tank Information:


Material = Glass
Tank Height = 24"
Tank Width = 24"
Tank Length = 12 "
Glass Thickness = 3/8"
Approximate Gallons = 30

Cut List:


Bottom = 11 1/4 " x 23 1/4"
Front = 12 " x 24"
Back = 12 " x 24"
2 Sides = 24 " x 23 1/4"
Top Front/Back brace = 11 1/4 " x 2"
Top Sides brace = 23 1/4 " x 2"

Additional Materials

1. Tube of aquarium grade silicone
2. Tape or clamps for holding the peices in place
3. Solvent for clean up.
4. Rags/Paper towels for clean up.
5. 1/4 inch wooden dowels.

 

[racermike27]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=9357587#post9357587 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by instrance
Material = Glass
Tank Height = 24"
Tank Width = 24"
Tank Length = 12 "
Glass Thickness = 3/8"
Approximate Gallons = 30

Ozzy is the tank going to be 24" high? or 12" high?

For the center overflow how are you going to drill the holes for the drains? I would prefer mine to have a corner overflow. But that is no big deal

 

[racermike27]

The way you have the measurements laid out it seems as thought the tank is going to be a 30g HIGH tank.
Is this what you wanted or do you want a shallow prop tank?

I was more thinking along the lines of a shallow prop tank...

 

[instrance]

So setup will be
30 gallon prop tank with acrylic center overflow using acrylic tubing I want a clean look..
10 gallon fuge chaetomorpha macro algae
1 maxijet 1200
150 watt 10000k metal halide with a magnetic metal halide ballast.
2 24 watt true actinic giesemann
1 24 watt 6500k pc fuge light
1 in sump protein skimmer maybe diy
Egg Crate for corals

Will see how temp go. If to high will buy a chiller

 

[instrance]

Oops i goofed

Tank Information:


Material = Glass
Tank Height = 12"
Tank Width = 24"
Tank Length = 24 "
Glass Thickness = 1/4"
Approximate Gallons = 30

Cut List:


Bottom = 23 1/2 " x 23 1/2"
Front = 24 " x 12"
Back = 24 " x 12"
2 Sides = 12 " x 23 1/2"
Top Front/Back brace = 23 1/2 " x 2"
Top Sides brace = 23 1/2 " x 2"