Tank-O-death

[steveweast]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=12655724#post12655724 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by Mr.A
very nice! when do you plan to start the build?

Perhaps by the end of this year.


Everything that I deemed applicable to the next system was cleaned up and stored away. My main decision is still...

1) build back into the wall and view from only one side....and lose my now big screen tv that took that spot on the wall...or...

2) build a peninsula in the garage that's only viewable from the garage....say 10' X 8' x 4' .


I've made plans in my head with either scenario.......I just haven't decided the best course yet. The one decision that I have decided upon.....a more professional coldwater tank will be set up in the garage.....something like 7' X 4' X 3'. I sold my coldwater tanks/inhabitants to a good dive buddy of mine.....so, I get to visit them occassionally.

 

[Mr.A]

did you give away all of your livestock or sell it? I hope you can find those coldwater fish again, they were really nice.

 

[melev]

What a huge change - it's kind of sad to see everything literally erased from the garage as if it had never been there.

I like your future ideas, and look forward to seeing the next chapter in your reefkeeping tale.

 

[steveweast]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=12656120#post12656120 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by Mr.A
did you give away all of your livestock or sell it? I hope you can find those coldwater fish again, they were really nice.

I cut a deal with my LFS. He came over with a pickup and a bunch of trash cans. All livestock and rock was out of there in a few hours. Like I said before....I sold the coldwater livestock to a buddy of mine. The coldwater fish are easy to get again....not cheap....but easy. I collected all the inverts myself....and will do so again when the times come.

 

[steveweast]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=12656323#post12656323 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by melev
What a huge change - it's kind of sad to see everything literally erased from the garage as if it had never been there.

I like your future ideas, and look forward to seeing the next chapter in your reefkeeping tale.

I know exactly what you mean. The only remaining aquarium hold-over is the RO unit....which also supplies the kitchen sink. I find myself sometimes just giving that unit a long look. But, this is why I removed everything in the first place....I didn't want any lingering reminder of what was.....and any new system is going to be very different. There was no need to keep anything.

 

[melev]

PM sent

 

[Dudester]

Marc, we need to reserve a spot for TOTM for Steve's next tank ...

 

[lawboy888]

wow...this tank?! i just saw this...so sorry your tank was amazing. we have a friend in okc paulw also went through something similar but not as devastating...so sorry for your lost. hope you start again

 

[NanoCube-boy]

hmmm cool

 

[tacocat]

Hmm, I did a garage tank for a while. It was cool because there was no noise or humidity to deal with, plus there was no tank to distract daily activies.

At the same time, things would go unnoticed/unattended for days because I didn't have to see it all the time. Out of site, out of mind.

 

[8BALL_99]

Wow thats just cazy to me.. Take down a 800 and 400, Sell all the livestock. Just to start all over. GL with your next tank. I'm sure it will be a great setup.

 

[Reefski's]

where is the tank now? is it set up in a new home?

 

[tamarindthai]

you garage always clean it dosn't matter tank or no tank,,,
sorry to hear you took everythings down,but glad to hear the new one will be bigger and stronger and better,you knew wher i lived ,cheer steve.

 

[jnarowe]

yeah, a little different than your garage or my garage eh Dang? That's why Steve is in the right business!

 

[PurdueMAN_08]

So is this going to start back up? What ever happened to the tank if you don't mind me asking. One minute I'm building a huge tank from the inspiration this tank gave me and the next minute the inspiration is completely gone..... so sad.... well, I already purchased the tank so I might as well keep on with it.

 

[steveweast]

I do have plans to replace the tank. I want to do a few things differently this time....but....first I want to setup my next coldwater tank (something in the 600 gal range). I hope to have it setup by summer.......but first.....I want to see where this economy is taking us before sinking in cash.

 

[cwegescheide]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=12655421#post12655421 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by steveweast
Thanks everyone......I do miss the tanks; but, I'm also enjoying the break. I also took the opportunity to fix up the garage a bit too. I always wanted to repaint the garage and install a commercial epoxy floor....something that could never be done while the tank was running. When the decision was made to take a break....I brought my crew over.....and went from this:

to this in three days

The future plans are to increase the main tank's size to something in the 2000 gal range and add a coldwater tank in the 400 gal range. I may not not even go back into the wall. I may just stay in the garage with a large peninsula concept for the main tank. I really want to try a few things differently this time with...

1) minimal piping
2 no closed loops....only wavemaking and surge devices
3) better power efficency
4) better access
5) more open aquascaping
6) maybe employ a bit of natural light since my garage has windows that get direct sunlight

Since you took down your tank what's the difference in your electric bill? Is this the reason for #3??? I know when I took down my little 90 with halides and all the bells and whistles my bill came down about 70 dollars. I could only imagine how much yours ran.

 

[steveweast]

My bill came down from $450 to $100 a month. There are just better and more efficient ways to create the same flow these days than 8 years ago. I could double the size of the tank using the same energy as before......and.....I just don't want to maintain and worry about pump seals anymore. I'm done with worrying about leaks from seals, fittings, reactors, bulkheads, skimmers, unions, etc. Everything with be in (or over) a massive sump with extremely minimal amounts of piping.

 

[jnarowe]

Hey Steve, nice to "see" you! I am with you on designing for minimal piping and lowering the leak risk, but I still have not found a better way than a Sequence for sump-to-tank exchange. Do you have any new thoughts on this?

 

[AcroSteve]

The new gold series pumps have very nice performance curves.