Want to build in a big tank to my new home ...

[acmeguy]

Hi all,

Looking for advice, any and all welcome...

We have a new home in construction and I want to build a large tank into the walk out basement on a slab concrete floor. It will back on to the mechanical room and that is where I will house all of the equipment. I am installing a large HRV for humidity control and the home will have 2 large AC units.

I was thinking about the following size (based upon 8 foot lengths of glass as being the most economical I was told...)

8 feet long x 4 feet wide by somewhere between 28 and 32 inches in depth. Built on site out of glass. Low iron on the front and right side panels which would be viewable. Exterior overflow on the left side panel and accessable at the back and left panel from the mechanicial room.

I already have a 265 gallon in my office which is a mixed reef and has been my teacher for the last 5 years.

This is a whole new kettle of fish (so to speak) for me so I look forward to any and all advice, opinions, and the like...

Steve

 

[acmeguy]

WOW!

I've been browsing RC for a few years now and I have rarely not seen people offering up opinions and advice...

I'd appreciate any suggestions that might help me avert a bad design/setup because I may have overlooked something obvious or simple that others may have encountered in their setups...

 

[meschaefer]

It just seems to be a slow day in the large tank forum. Your current tank is bigger than the tank I am installing now, but here are some things to think about if you hadn't already?

Don't forget about power to the tank. Have them run a couple of dedicated circuits.

When planning out my current tank, I was told to avoid anything deeper than 30 inches as it makes it hard to reach in and rearrange things. With a tank that is 8 foot by 4 foot, you will definately have to become creative in how you work in the tank.
You may want to build a platform around the back of the tank that you can stand on and work from.

 

[dsandfort]

Well, I'm not really one to give advice (except maybe how to make certain mistakes) but I can share what I've done. It's exactly as you describe. New home, in-wall in a walk-out basement and built on site.

I'd try and get plumbing and floor drain to the mechanical room and maybe an electrical sub-panel.

This is what I've done and where I am currently.

http://reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?s=&threadid=1026436