Tanglovers 520 Gallon Display Build

[tanglovers]

Still to do:

- Mount lighting over tank and figure out exact spacing
- Setup calcium reactor
- Setup auto top off and figure out which reservior I will be using
- Paint a set of 90s for the front closed loop returns (had to redo these - lower them down some - so gray ones are in short term)
- Dose Prodibio to hopefully speed up the cycle
- I am sore more I am forgetting at the moment

 

[erics3000]

Looking Good

 

[canyousee]

Nice job with the PVC I like where you have the returns for the OM 4 way the drum should stay nice and clean. Lots of room for your animals with the fine job on the rock work, I hope you took your wife out to dinner.LOL

 

[willj313]

nice tank cant wait to see fish in it

 

[tanglovers]

Update, the tank is drained....

I noticed an issue with the tank once I filled it, the back piece of euro-bracing was coming loose at the seam. I decided to address this issue and drained the tank. I will be redoing the silicone seams on the long pieces of euro-bracing (front and rear) and adding a whole second eurobrace all the way around. The original eurobracing sat down inside the top lip of the tank, looking back likely not the best method. All of this eurobracing will still be in place as well as a whole second set that will sit ontop of the exisiting and sides/front/rear. More of the standard method of eurobracing.

I have all the new eurobracing now in hand (had to special order it). I pulled out of the pieces that were loose and have the tank all cleaned up. I am planning on install the new bracing the next few days and hoping to start filling it (again) this weekend.

 

[mpoletti]

Sorry to hear about the slight set back, Good luck getting the tank refilled. I'm looking forward to seeing this one come together.

 

[jpsika08]

Sorry to hear this, but, great you noticed it and did something about it :thumbsup:

 

[tanglovers]

It is a slight set back but not a huge deal. Much easier to deal with now with no fish or corals in the tank. Once it is done I know it will be more then strong enough.

Looking back at it, I wish I would have just planned on doing it from the start since I questioned the euro-bracing design right away.

 

[Creetin]

Yes good that you noticed it now than later.
Sounds like a nice tank, Cool to see the angels in there later.

 

[cmaxwell39]

Sorry to hear about the setback. As frustrating as it is to tear a tank down once it is full, it is way better to do it now then have to remove livestock and all that mess to have to fix it later. Good luck as you move forward. Can't wait to see it come together.

 

[brainchild24]

Very cool setup can't wait to see the final product.

 

[tanglovers]

Well a long overdue update.

All the bracing work is done and silicone is cured. Tank has had water back in it for about 2 weeks now and doing great. It is cycling and I did the initial Prodibio dose about 3 days ago.

Otherwise no big changes to the setup, fish are anxiously awaiting their addtion but that will take some time.

Next week hoping to get the lighting mounted over the tank, get the screen tops built and start getting the Apex hooked up.

Fish (first ones) will likely be the following week if everything is still doing good.

 

[tanglovers]

Well another small update.

The metal halides are all mounted above the tank, the spread / lack of shadows sure is nice due to the bracing being glass. All my previous setups have had plastic cross braces.

The mesh tops are made and installed over the tank.

The apex is not yet hooked up, playing around with it on the kitchen table and figuring out where I am planning on mounting all the pieces still.

I also added the first three fish to the tank today. A pair of long nosed butterflies (Forcipiger flavissimus) and a moorish idol (Zanclus cornutus). The idol I got from another hobbyist when I picked up a pair of bandit angels (Apolemichthys arcuatus) for my sub tropical non-photo tank and the long nosed butterflies I have had for a couple months now in QT.

I will try to get some pics up tomorrow!

 

[caliking]

looking good.

 

[crvz]

Well another small update.

The metal halides are all mounted above the tank, the spread / lack of shadows sure is nice due to the bracing being glass. All my previous setups have had plastic cross braces.

I've noticed this on my most recent tank, so I'm sure you appreciate that difference.

Any chance you could elaborate on the net top? I need to start putting one of those together.

 

[tanglovers]

Here are a couple quick pics. Obviously the install is far from done.

Here is a full tank shot - only the end halides on. I am amazed by the spread and lack of shadows:

The mesh tops:

The idol:

The long nose butterfly pair:

If these three fish do fine then next week there will be a larger group of additions, my fairy wrasse harems and most of the smaller angels.

 

[tanglovers]

I've noticed this on my most recent tank, so I'm sure you appreciate that difference.

Any chance you could elaborate on the net top? I need to start putting one of those together.

They are made out of window screen framing, spline and then 1/4" clear mesh. The mesh I have seen from various online places. I ordered mine from a guy over on R2R which I found to be the cheapest.

I have lids on all my tanks, I have lost way too many fish to jumping. All fish jump, period. Even my rimless tank has a lid on it....

 

[crvz]

thanks for the response. I love the idol, I hope to have one in my system some day.

 

[Dejavu]

I bet it feels good to have fish it there!

 

[tanglovers]

It sure does, been a long time coming. If all goes well there will be another 15 or so added in a week or so.