My 300 gallon acrylic tank

[steve the plumb]

I have been waiting for my new tank to arrive for several days now and it just came in.There is already one thing I don't like about this tank is the top.It has 3 seperate holes(I guess thats what you would call theme,on the top of the tank) one in the middle and two on both ends.I thought I would have more open space on the top of the tank.I don't know now what to do about lighting.I can use 3 mh pendant lights.I was going to use 2 x 48" T5 units but now I am wondering how the light will penetrate threw the 3/4 " acrylic.Plus the acrylic is all around the edge so there is no way I can use a powerhead on this tank.It looks like I will use a vortec or go with a closed loop.The tank is 96x30x24.I have pics but I don't know how to download them onto this site.I can give you more details about the tank.
overflow is in the center(back wall) with 2x 2
' holes for the drains.I also have 2x 1 1/4" holes in the overflow box witch I intend to run my return line.The overflow has 2 x 3/4" on the top sides for the return line.So the water will go into the bottom threw the overflow and out the side.This way there will be no pipes visible.So know I will either drill for a closed loop or get the vortech pumps.I think the vortecs will cost more money than buying a dart pump with an ocean motions unit.

[cbui2]

you should be able to research the home page with detail instructions how to resize and upload pics. i think everyone uses photobucket.com to host all pics. congrats on your tank, pics would be helpful.

[steve the plumb]

http://s194.photobucket.com/albums/z47/stevetheplumb/

[steve the plumb]

Ok I think I did this correct with photo bucket if there is anything I did wrong please let me know.I am not to good with computers.Am I supposed to do the link the way I did?

[pcostanzo]

I have a 300 gal acrylic also. This was my 1st acrylic tank and when it arrived I was also surprised on how big the top brace was. Mine has 2 openings instead of 3. I would keep the lights over the opening because the acrylic does get a lot of salt creep and cuts the light down. As far as posting your pictures go under "post reply" then click on "how do I post an image" Good luck.

[steve the plumb]

I posted the images you can go to the link above and see the tank pics.I do find that I have very little room from the top of the tank to the teeth of the overflow.I am wondering if the water level will be to high.

[Acrylics]

For lighting, use either the 3 x MH or the T5 set-ups, light will go through the acrylic just fine. Should get about 95% light transmission through the material provided it's kept clean of salt creep. I would not recommend placing MH directly over the acrylic, no matter what.

Can't see much of the overflow, what size are the slots? (width & depth)

You can use powerheads if you 'd like, Tunze sells magnets for theirs which work well through 3/4" material, others might as well.

As for the top openings, look like normal acrylic tank openings to me, what was it you were expecting?

As for Vortech vs CL; personal preference IMO. I would not allow money to be the deciding factor. IME, this is just a small part of the overall scheme and $100 here or there should make little/no difference in the long run (just being honest here). Figure which you actually like better and let that be your judge.

JMO,
James

[steve the plumb]

Sorry I wanted to take better pics but I don't want to remove the plastic since I have to move the tank around.I didn't know how the light would penetrate the 3/4" acrylic.It seems that the slots are ok its just that I doesn't give me much room between the slots and the top of the tank.It looks kind of close like 1/2" maybe.I can try to take better picks of the overflow.I thought I would have more of an opening on the top of the tank.Will be a bit tough to get the hands in there at times.I do like the fact of less evaporation.I can try to take better pics

[steve the plumb]

I posted more picks.I don't know how to seperate them.The overflow slots are around 3/4" long.The tank look thinner than 3/4 " but I have to measuer.I would also have to measure but it looks to be a good size.Can I still use T5 lights for this tank like I wanted? http://s194.photobucket.com/albums/z47/stevetheplumb/

[mavgi]

congratulation on you new tanks steve

on photobucket click on the IMG Code (the fourth link under your image ) and paste it to your message

[steve the plumb]

thanks.Did the link work for you?Did you see the tank pics.I am going to build the stand on Sunday.My friend has a wood working shop so instead of me doing it with my tools this will be alot more simple

[steve the plumb]

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[steve the plumb]

pics are not in order

[steve the plumb]

I will do them in order the next time.Thanks Magvi for the info.I will more than likely get an ocean motions 4 way with a pump but witch pump I am not sure of yet.I don't want to drill a 3" hole for a 2" bulkhead.I would prefer something smaller.It might be better to go with an 8 way but thats alot of holes.

[steve the plumb]

these are some pics of my old tank(150 gal)before my kalk disaster

[steve the plumb]

[steve the plumb]