reefdna's 375 gal solatube build

got most of the quotes back in and right now Envisions is in the lead We are planning on still building and moving in a few years when the market changes. The plans we have drawn have a large fish room and plans for a 80"x 60"x 30" Tank. I think I'll go back to glass then since we are planning on living in that home till retirement.

Why Envisions? They were around $3,500 after shipping and had some great feedback here on RC.

Evryone else is over $4,500 before shipping. I'll post some more when I have that finalized and have my quote from the solatube companies. Thanks again for all the help so far.

Ed C
 
****SUBSTRATE*****

I have a ton of around 200+#'s of Live sand that I've had for around 8 years with plenty of critters and such. However I need to cycle the new tank before I start adding the coral form the old tank

I have always used Arag-alive for a new tank and have always liked the end result. I also want to add more white to the sand this time. My questions:

should I just start with all new live sand, seed a lot from the sand I have now and throw my current sand into the refugium?

How would throwing a bunch of the fine white sand that petco sells in with the arag-alive work?
http://www.petco.com/product/7534/Nature-s-Ocean-Premium-Marine-Substrates.aspx
 
So Tenecor called me to see if we could work it and they earn my business. I respect that immensely. Brian has been easy to work with and seems eager to earn my business. One of the difference in the quotes was Tenecor was quoting 1.25" material and Envisions was quoting 1". Tenecor is now quoting me 3200 for 1" material if I pick up and $4,000 for 1.25"

Delimma: Can anyone definitively tell me that 1" material will bow with a 60" length without a middle brace and 4" eurobracing. Need advice and input.

Ed C
 
First, congrats on the tank build. It will be fun. Since you are in AZ you will have enough light to support your tank on Solatubes imo, I would just make sure you have actinic to make your viewing more pleasurable.

I live on the the East Coast and I don't get nearly enough sunlight to support my tank so I have a combination of sola tubes, MH and VHO actinics.

Here is a pic of the tubes running. This is a old pic when I was building.

IMG_5894.jpg


Here are some recent pics of the just the tubes running and no other lights on the tank.

DSC_0478.jpg


DSC_0477.jpg


DSC_0475.jpg
 
s1214215 - that is an awesome link. answered allot of questions I had been rolling around. though it's a good thing we don't have to put up with massive brush fire's like OUs way southern partners do. Thanks for the link.

elvictre- Very nice work. You're tubes look like they are about 12" off the water. Are They? You seem to have some bright penetration at that height and that is a question I have been trying to answer as well. could you please poet mre about you rbiulkd and why you did what you did with height, size tubes, etc. Especially how you modified the domes? Thanks again

Ed C
 
Ed I don't have a build tread on this board, sorry.

Anyway the tubes are 24" off the tank. I used the optiview reflectors so the light would spread more. I used them so I could try to replicate nature as much as possible. My fish and corals wake up to natural light everyday. I don't get direct light on the tubes until 12/1 ish until 5 ish. So I get a burst of light into my tank everyday for a few hours.

If I had the amount of sunlight you have all year long I would have done it differently, For instance I am running 2 14" tubes on a 120x48x24 tank. I would have run 4 21"tubes if I was in AZ. and have few T5's for actinic. You will see that natural sunlight is way too yellow and you will want some actinic.

Hope this helps.

Vic
 
First of all awesome ideas so far, I have looked into the solar tubes a little for my built in Florida and they are definitely still an option, so I'm looking forward to hearing what direction you go.

As far as the closed loop I'm kind of a water movement junkie and have seen the OM working on a couple different tanks and is pretty impressive. I am getting some wavy seas plus myself in a week as it gives a good range of motion and controllability and fits in better with the water movement I already have. I am also going to use a hammerhead pump so PM me in 2 weeks if you would like to see how it goes. :D Also I am using a wave box for the first time on my current tank and I don't think I would keep a tank without one again. Not so much because it creates great water movement (as it doesn't in the traditional linear sense of water movement and can't be used as the sole source of movement) but it does give my tank a much more natural look and I think it has a good effect deep inside coral colonies and rock work. I think the addition of a OM or other wave making device is definitely worth the extra grand in the long run.

One thing on the wavy seas over the OM is that they don't have a drum that can get clogged which I heard can be a problem on some OM setups.

Hope that helps.
-Tom
 
so when are we to see any updates about either your plan or if you are beginning to install the soltubes?
 
Sorry for the delay in posting. Medic School, surgery and finishing the plans.... I went with Envisions Acrylics and will post pics as it progress's. I have not even called any sola tube dealers yet but will have that done this week. I will post what I find out. (Plus finishing the theater as well!

Ed C
 
Looking foward to the progress!!! Have fun :lolspin: hehehe... in medic school. Dont know how you have time for any of the rest with that going on..

I've got my Captains interview at 1130 in the morning :wildone: uhg!!
 
Good luck with the interview. Get some sleep and make sure your clothes are ironed tonight! I''d be OK with riding backwards for the next twenty years. :D I am hoping to have this done by end of June before the summer gets here in force.. Next step is getting the stand welded and coated quickly. Again good luck tomorrow.
 
Sorry for the delay, I have been doing finals, finishing building the Theater room, and trying to still be a father! I have pics nad thh eawesome tank arrived yesterday. It is a monster. Thanks to James and Envision acrylics. I swear I will post pics wittin a few days.

Ed C

PS I've also gottne picked up full time by El Mirage FD
 
O and as you are well aware the monsoon is coming :eek2: . I hope you will have everything covered up by then.. if you need a hand I can try and help
 
Ed
Just checking in to see how th build is going.
Wow you have been busy, not on the site much anymore.
Let me know if you ever need an extra pair of hands
 
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