Thinking About Going Big! Ok... I'm going BIGG!

P

prettypearl08

New member
Okay... I am sold I think I am addict...I was sitting in my parents living staring at their entertainment center thinking how great a 300 - 500 Gallon Aquarium would look in instead of her tv and all those embarrassing childhood pictures of us.....

So without my fiances approval I made plans to go big at least 300 Gallons BIG! Leaning more towards 500 Gallons, but I think he'll really notice that one! My plan is to put it in his man room where we are having a full bar and a 60in flat screen plasma put in I figure with all the liquor, testosterone, pool and a big tv he won't notice I spent 10G's on an in-wall aquarium set-up instead of our wedding.... Let's just say I am girl who is just not into that big wedding... I WANT MY IN-WALL SETUP! Maybe the wedding can be in his "man room" and the tank can be the back drop for our wedding pic's!:bum: :beer: ! It's cheaper.

Back to the tank.... Now my first debate I had with myself was Glass or Acrylic for my big set-up..... Can I get some input!
 
Congratulations!

Congratulations!

A good decision, from the groom's point of view! Way to go!

We are in the middle of a project just as you describe. If you would like to follow along on our thread, we would be pleased...I think it's a little over 35 pages long, after just 60 days from the beginning...

It might give you some ideas...

Your first decision - glass or acrylic? Why not the best of both, with a PVC bottom for strenth and flexibility... that's what we used... a "hybrid" tank...

Just click on the little red house above.

LL
 
<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=15422425#post15422425 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by prettypearl08
A definite will do! I forgot to list the demensions 300 gallons, 60"L x 24"W x 48"H.
Click to expand...

Ooh! Ouch! Have you already ordered the tank? You might want to re-think a 48" deep tank... hard to clean, maintain and light... just a thought!

Personally, I wouldn't go over 29" depth unless you have NBA-length arms...Think about 36" width and a 72" length. A 72x36x29 tank is about 300G. I think you'd love that size in the man cave... plus you could do the obligatory "mermaid" swim in the tank for your fiance... :D

LL
 
Last edited:
While I will live vicariously through this build, I too wouldn't go that tall on any tank. I prefer under 24" in height.

Good luck on the project and I very much look forward to more developments!!

I am in the early stages of a 95g rimless build now and cannot wait to get water in it. Addicting, isn't it?
 
Wow! That's good thinking!
Wish my wife had great idea's like that.... ;) I had to spend BIG money on a wedding, I am lacking a man's room and had to build the inwall tank myself.

Good luck with the initiative!
 
I told him his "man room" is using my aqaurium space and since the room is big enough.....I decided we could put them both together. I do want some height to it so he said drop my height to 36" because he didn't want to be coming in to get a drink and find me stuck upside down doing a handstand getting stung by anemones trying to reach the bottom........ So I need to re-do demensions.......

Here is what the set-up would like I want the aquarium higher so when they put the bar in it will be at a great viewing height. I thought about putting it in the family room at first but since that was already done I decided to choose the room that wasn't complete yet.... So the picture will change a little I got my fiance on the AutoCad trying to see how high to raise the base so it 's lifted to where I want it. The problem is when we are ready to install it needs to be where it can be lifted I will definitely have to call in the professionals...

I keep being reminded of all my demands...... Someone broke into the house we are living now and stole my Bubble Magus Protein Skimmer I got Friday.... Now I got to order a new one. I wonder if its covered on my homeowners insurance..... They stole other stuff but my skimmer touched a nerve...........


<a href="http://s870.photobucket.com/albums/ab269/drjlchrystal/?action=view&current=Aquarium300Gallon.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i870.photobucket.com/albums/ab269/drjlchrystal/Aquarium300Gallon.jpg" border="0" alt="This is what the set-up would look like!"></a>
 
Last edited:
Why not just raise the height of the stand so the bottom of the aquarium would be even with bar. Then you can decrease the height of the aquarium to a workable 30". Going vertical really doesn't benefit most fish. Most fish do better in a tank with a bigger footprint (L x W). Also try make it so you have access to the aquarium from the front as well.
 
I'd do some serious thinking about that height. I have a 30" deep tank (265g) and I can just barely reach the bottom. The bottom back is no-man's land. It gets irritating - I honestly wish I had gone with 24" height and regret the 30". I can't imagine 36" much less 48"!

Also that extra height greatly complicates water changes. More height=more volume=more salt water to mix up. That means a big container to mix the water and increased salt costs.
 
<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=15424604#post15424604 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by welsher7
Why not just raise the height of the stand so the bottom of the aquarium would be even with bar. Then you can decrease the height of the aquarium to a workable 30". Going vertical really doesn't benefit most fish. Most fish do better in a tank with a bigger footprint (L x W). Also try make it so you have access to the aquarium from the front as well.
Click to expand...

The above is a great idea for your location... The surface area of the water is so much more important than depth... My tank is 96" x 36" x 25.5" - the tangs love the eight foot swimming length...

If I had to do it over again, I would put my stand at 45" instead of 41" - putting the display area near eye level... just where you would hang fine art on your wall...after all, it IS living art...

Your stolen gear should be covered by your Homeowners insurance, less whatever your deductible is...hopefully you purchased "replacement cost" coverage..

LL
 
<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=15424604#post15424604 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by welsher7
Why not just raise the height of the stand so the bottom of the aquarium would be even with bar. Then you can decrease the height of the aquarium to a workable 30". Going vertical really doesn't benefit most fish. Most fish do better in a tank with a bigger footprint (L x W). Also try make it so you have access to the aquarium from the front as well.
Click to expand...

That is what I had in mind raising the height of the stand to give that viewing height I am trying recieve and raise the height of the cabinetry base.
 
Hopefully I won't be flamed here but I'm going with a 48" deep tank myself. After I got past the 300gal stock tank, I was spending custom tank money anyway and I was suprised that going with the deeper tank didn't really up the cost very much. My LFS has several fabulous reef tanks that are 39" and 48" deep. I looked at 24" deep tanks next to these and the deeper tanks definately have a dramatic effect. Yes, I will face a few challenges dealing with things at the bottom of the tank, but there are long tools available so I shouldn't have to break out the snorkle.
 
i have a 300 gal cube 48"x48"x31" deep . i have long arms , im 6'2", and i love the depth. if i get a bigger tank, and i am really starting to want one i will probably get one that is 36 inches deep. you need to get good at using instruments to reach things at the bottom and keep the glass clean but it allows for alot of vertical layers that i think make the tank look nice. i also like putting my tanks on tall stands so i can look straight into the tank without bending over or sitting down. if you decide on a deep tank it would be alot easier if you have access to the tank from the front and the back of the tank. bottom line is its more work and harder to keep up but if its the look you want it is worth it.
 
<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=15425907#post15425907 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by discocarp
Nah you won't get flamed, GoToSleep. Tall tanks look fantastic. Just be prepared for maintenance challenges. :)
Click to expand...

My first/current challeng is aquascaping. I've got over 400lbs of dry rock in my garage that I'm trying to artfully arrange into a shape that will work well in my tank. Right now the piles are over 30" tall.
 
<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=15425300#post15425300 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by GoToSleep
I will face a few challenges dealing with things at the bottom of the tank, but there are long tools available so I shouldn't have to break out the snorkle.
Click to expand...

Can you point me (link) to some of those long tools?

The only tools I can find are cheap plastic and worthless for picking up anything small (too crude), or heavy (too flimsy).

LL
 
<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=15422909#post15422909 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by Lightsluvr
Ooh! Ouch! Have you already ordered the tank? You might want to re-think a 48" deep tank... hard to clean, maintain and light... just a thought!

Personally, I wouldn't go over 29" depth unless you have NBA-length arms...Think about 36" width and a 72" length. A 72x36x29 tank is about 300G. I think you'd love that size in the man cave... plus you could do the obligatory "mermaid" swim in the tank for your fiance... :D

LL
Click to expand...

You sold me on the hybrid aquarium I found a dealer in Houston. I am narrowing the demensions I want some height and enough surface area. I got my fiance putting his architectural skills to work designing the room! Once he get it all drawn up. I will post it.... My next will be help from you guys on a sump and plumbing etc......
 
<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=15429394#post15429394 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by Lightsluvr
Can you point me (link) to some of those long tools?

The only tools I can find are cheap plastic and worthless for picking up anything small (too crude), or heavy (too flimsy).

LL
Click to expand...
Lightsluvr just to let you know I have tried all types of grabbers and claws, and to be honest all of them don't stand up to the saltwater conditions. If they have any type of metal it will eventually rust.
My last set of $50.00 grabbers broke due to picking up too heavy of rocks. I glued it back together and it worked for a couple more week untill the steel cable inside snapped from rusting.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

Similar threads

H
High ammonia in 24 year old tank
Replies
15
Views
325
brandon429
brandon429
S
Thinking about starting again!
2 3
Replies
59
Views
2K
Reefing102
Reefing102
Paul B
Think like a fish
Replies
1
Views
161
Vinny Kreyling
Vinny Kreyling
C
RSM Max Nano XL Plan / Build
2
Replies
21
Views
540
griss
griss
J
Back into the Hobby
Replies
15
Views
549
griss
griss
Back
Top