Tank Planning

[mike61289]

Hey everyone!

I'm new here. Been in the hobby for 14 years now. I have kept a 75 gallon reef tank and a 30 gallon seahorse tank. Now, I'm looking to expand (drastically). The plan is to move into a new place that can accommodate the tank that I desire.

I'm looking into a 800 gallon to 1000 gallon system. The main tank has to be cubic in shape and 500 gallons minimum. An overflow, sump, refugium, and quarantine will all be part of the system. The problem is that I never had a setup like this and I have never been equipment savy. This is where I will need help.

The main tank will be a reef that is made up of many sps coral and lps coral, as well as an anemone. I'm not sure if I will include clams (bad experience with one) or soft coral. I will not be including any predators, such as triggers. The fish plan will be mostly herbivores and planktivores.

To get things started, I am wondering what the standard dimensions are for a 500 gallon cubic aquarium. I would like to maximize the dimensions as much as possible to ensure that the fish can move around with relative ease in all directions.

Any help would be great. Thanks.

 

[druzzelle]

I've seen quite a few 48x48x48 tanks... I think thats around 480 gallons

 

[dave.m]

There are no "standard" tank sizes once you get over 200-300 gallons. They are all custom built, which means you decide what you want, go to several tank manufacturers for prices and their suggestions for options/features. Agree on the price and then start shopping for the additional bits n pieces you will need to make the tank go. You can have the sump built by the same maker as your tank or shop around the various places that specialize in custom sumps.

Instead of expecting everyone here to tell you what to do I suggest you start reading the many large tank build threads here to see what others have done and why they chose the equipment they did.

One thing I think you should consider is including a separate fish room to contain all your maintenance equipment and quarantine systems. With a tank as large as you mention, all your support systems are going to be larger and take up a lot of room. A dedicated fish room is definitely the way to go if you can afford it.

Dave.M

 

[Relojdepeso]

^^ the way to go ^^

 

[tommyboynj]

Having the fishroom is the way to go. Being able to lay things out and having the room to work on all the equipment required for these large systems is worth the expense. I just had an 800 sqft addition build and with the hobby in mind I had all the necessary structural requirments taken care off to deal with a tank up to about 500 gallons. I had a dedicated fish room planned in as part of the work also. After many long months of planning and construction I just started adding water tonight. While I'm moving from a smaller cube to a 170 gallon peninsula tank for now, I built everything with "the next tank" in mind. Research, planning and realizing that these big builds are no small task both physically and financially from the beginning will make the process more enjoyable.

 

[triggreef]

Whatch u got against them triggers??

If you don't like em then you don't like em but bluejaws and saragassum are very reef safe imo. Mine never gone after any snail or hermits or shrimp.

 

[mike61289]

Thanks for the suggestions!

I have been reading many of the great threads here and also from lots of books. Just wanted some quick insight before I continue my planning.

Nothing against triggers I just have a bad experience diving with some Black Triggers... A school of them almost tore apart my wetsuit! I didn't realize I was so delicious!

 

[csb123]

You'll need some powerful lights to punch through 4 ft of water.