Want to help build a large reef tank?

@fabjr - All extremely good points and I promise you, I have broached almost everyone with him. I will take a second look at tanks tho. This tank has a 10 year warranty when placed on their stand. Naturally, this is only for the tank itself. No tank manufacturer will cover any consequential damages caused by a tank failure.
I agree with you on the height of the tank. If you will read from the top, I immediately wanted to change the height and make it a nice 500 gallon tank. I was shot down from word one, because of the change in look to the room. Everything in the room is "majestic". Changing the height of the tank takes away from the 'awesome" view. So... All of the cabinetry is being ripped out and the area above the tank will be opened up so that I have access. Is it like I would prefer? Absolutely not. I prefer depth, front to back for a nice open reef and depth of field and feel it is a better environment for the inhabitants in my opinion. Will I have room for my lighting and equipment and access, pretty much. Will I be able to redecorate without going for a swim. No. Before I set the tank, I will have to aquascape and be happy with it before it goes in. On saying that, if you look at the pics above, that tank has had those exact decorations and has not changed in 20 years. It is ugly. I do understand the ramifications of the size and shape of this tank. I am not happy with it but I have to work within the job requirements. There are many negatives, cleaning will be a chore, removing a fish from the tank will be a near impossibility, placing corals will require great dexterity... just to name a few.
I intend to keep the reef low and spread out and centered filling with LPS corals, maybe a few easier SPS and lots of easy, colorful reef fish. Probably some small schools. On the speculative part, normally I would agree, but not here. He's an older gentleman. His easy chair sits a few feet away and he wants it to look pretty, nice colors, lots of movement. He will never ask to change anything. And I don't mean this to sound like it does, but he really doesn't care. In his world this is not even on his radar unless he is home sitting in his chair or office and looks up and sees that ugly thing that it is now. His business takes him all over the world and he has a private jet that takes him. I have not actually even spoken to him in person since January when he said "Just do it". I deal with the house manager.
I do appreciate the input as it keeps me thinking and stops me from getting tunnel vision, so keep it coming!
 
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If your client ever feels an overwhelming need to adopt a worthy scion please let him know I am available and that my rates are very reasonable.

Dave.M
 
Hey, I'm working that angle. lol
It really is hard for everyone to understand this because it is a different world that he lives in. If you walked up to him on the street and asked him if he knew me, he would say no. Have no idea who you are talking about, yet I have been around him for almost 10 years. Does he know my GF? Yes, She has done his corporate travel for his companies for 23 years. Now, if you pointed at me in the same room with him and do you know him, he would say absolutely. I just don't exist in the same world as he does. He has been very generous to us. We have traveled all over the world because of him. Stayed in Tahiti for 10 days last year. I say this trying to explain, while we see reef keeping as a passion and think about the design that would be best for it's denizens he sees it as a decoration. Just something to look at and show off. Just make it happen.
 
I would suggest you reconsider acrylic. Starfire glass scratches almost as easy as acrylic due to it being low iron and softer than regular glass. Unless you find a better service company the same problem will happen again.
 
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