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  #1  
Old 04/12/2004, 10:59 AM
gregt gregt is offline
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Smile My new 400 gallon room divider tank

Ok, it's not 100% finished yet, but I've determined that it never will be.

I started thinking about this tank in August of 2003. Real designs starting meeting paper in October and it got wet in February. Saturday I hosted the local reef club meeting and showed it off to people for the first time.

This tank sets almost in the middle of my (25' x 25') great room. One end of the tank is sunk into the wet room that was built after putting the tank in place. The stand and hood were finished and integrated after the wet room was built.



The wet room ended up being much bigger than the original diagram and the tank is further in the middle of the room.

Anyway, this thread will by my tale describing the journey from this diagram to the final product.... I hope you enjoy the thread a fraction of how much I enjoyed assembling the system.

TABLE OF CONTENTS:
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Last edited by gregt; 06/10/2004 at 02:16 PM.
  #2  
Old 04/12/2004, 11:03 AM
gregt gregt is offline
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For those with high bandwidth, here is a movie I shot of the tank this weekend. It's just a teaser as I won't get to "finished" images again for a while.

http://www.saltyzoo.com/new/040410/tank-tour.htm

The tank is 300 gallons with a 100 gallon sump. It is 8' x 3'x 20". The tank is sunk 9" into the wetroom in order to hide the overflow and return plumbing.

Since this thread got so long, I figured I'd put some "finished" shots up front so you can see what you are in for if you proceed to the rest of the thread....













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Last edited by gregt; 05/14/2004 at 09:37 PM.
  #3  
Old 04/12/2004, 04:40 PM
Bomber Bomber is offline
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This tank is not big enough to be in the "Large Reef Tanks" forum. Could a moderator please move this thread?






















  #4  
Old 04/12/2004, 04:46 PM
gregt gregt is offline
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Here's the overflow designs.

I started with 2 2" bulkheads....



Then added four more....


But in the end, settled on just four:


I decided not to have any holes outside the overflow. All closed loop plumbing is done by using "hooks".
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  #5  
Old 04/12/2004, 04:48 PM
gregt gregt is offline
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Quote:
Originally posted by Bomber
This tank is not big enough to be in the "Large Reef Tanks" forum. Could a moderator please move this thread?


Jealous?
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If you want to know - ask. But I won't promise you'll like the answer.
  #6  
Old 04/12/2004, 05:01 PM
Totlxtc Totlxtc is offline
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Better tie down your clownfish before it blows away. Its going to be the most muscular clownfish in captivity.

Looks very nice greg!
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  #7  
Old 04/12/2004, 05:02 PM
gregt gregt is offline
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Quote:
Originally posted by Totlxtc
Better tie down your clownfish before it blows away. Its going to be the most muscular clownfish in captivity.

Looks very nice greg!
LOL, that clown LOVES to play in the current.
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  #8  
Old 04/12/2004, 05:06 PM
dgasmd dgasmd is offline
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Looks pretty nice Greg. If you don't mind me asking, who was your glass manufacturer?

That clown is pretty funny following you around despite getting blown by the current.

Can you take some pictures of te canopy opened from both ends so I can see how you designed it? I have a 10x4x2 coming in a few months and want to get some ideas since I am going with the same design as yours. Also, what bulbs are you running on it?

Thanks,
Alberto
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  #9  
Old 04/12/2004, 05:06 PM
Bomber Bomber is offline
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Quote:
Originally posted by gregt
Jealous?
Dang tootin! I love that tank!!
  #10  
Old 04/12/2004, 06:53 PM
asmodeus asmodeus is offline
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Well done

You need a few chromis in there about 20 of them
and anthias would be cool to..

mike

P.S love the tank
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  #11  
Old 04/12/2004, 07:07 PM
MAS MAS is offline
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Greg, why not build external overflows on that tank to save valuable viewing real estate? Since the tank is going to be butted into a closet I presume?
  #12  
Old 04/13/2004, 01:51 PM
gregt gregt is offline
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Quote:
Can you take some pictures of te canopy opened from both ends so I can see how you designed it? I have a 10x4x2 coming in a few months and want to get some ideas since I am going with the same design as yours. Also, what bulbs are you running on it?
You're jumping ahead, but that's ok, I'll post some lighting pics next for you.

Quote:
You need a few chromis in there about 20 of them
and anthias would be cool to..

mike

P.S love the tank
Thanks! Yeah, I'm not adding any fish until I get the UV up and running....

Quote:
Greg, why not build external overflows on that tank to save valuable viewing real estate? Since the tank is going to be butted into a closet I presume?
I toyed around with that but decided on this way because the returns fit nicely in the little cubbies created by the gap in the overflow. Had I gone acrylic I would have had the overflow external and had a slot in the tank all the way across.

If I miss any questions just point them out. Thanks for all the nice words!
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  #13  
Old 04/13/2004, 02:31 PM
gregt gregt is offline
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Lighting:

I wanted to be able to adjust the height easily, so I used chains for all the lighting. Passing the chains through PVC allows me to angle the lighting as well.

Lighting is 3 175W Ushio's on Icecap ballasts combined with 8 VHO actinics also on Icecap ballasts.
I plan on adding a fourth bulb as I feel the intensity is sufficient, but I'm not happy with the coverage on such a wide tank with the 3 bulbs and reflectors.













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If you want to know - ask. But I won't promise you'll like the answer.
  #14  
Old 04/13/2004, 02:39 PM
dgasmd dgasmd is offline
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Thanks bud. That looks pretty good. But I guess the question is, how in the heck do you get access to work inside the tank with the canopy there? Do you take the entire thing off?
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  #15  
Old 04/13/2004, 02:43 PM
gregt gregt is offline
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Ah, let me post a pic that shows that. See what happens when you jump ahead? There are doors EVERYWHERE. One of the highest priorities on my design list was that everything had to be easily accessible....
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  #16  
Old 04/13/2004, 02:48 PM
gregt gregt is offline
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Here's the canpoy from inside the wetroom looking out...



And the tank from inside the wet room. This is before the painting was complete.


Here a door, there a door, everywhere a door... This is the "back" side of the tank.


And here is the "front"

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  #17  
Old 04/13/2004, 03:20 PM
SPC SPC is offline
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Very nice Greg!

Why did you go with 4' flourescents instead of 8'?

Did you have someone build the cabinet and doors?

Let me see if I get this straight, 2 overflow pipes and 2 returns on the opposite end blowing toward over flow end?
Steve
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  #18  
Old 04/13/2004, 03:23 PM
gregt gregt is offline
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Hi Steve!

You get better wattage out of the shorter bulbs. I can drive 8 4' bulbs with two 660's for a total of 880 watts.

I've got 2 returns and 2 closed loops on eductors.... Plumbing pics will be coming up shortly...
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  #19  
Old 04/13/2004, 06:56 PM
Bomber Bomber is offline
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and if I had to pick just one favorite part, it would be all those doors. You can get to any part of the tank all the way around.

I love doors.
  #20  
Old 04/13/2004, 07:45 PM
gregt gregt is offline
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Let's rewind a bit and get back on track to the beginngings. To determine exactly where I wanted to place the tank I used a PVC frame....



The view from the front door


The view from the dining room.
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  #21  
Old 04/13/2004, 09:26 PM
Mustang Mustang is offline
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Wow looks great boy you really have that sand level LOL

Keep the pictures coming!
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  #22  
Old 04/14/2004, 02:35 AM
Sardaukar Sardaukar is offline
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Lookin good!
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  #23  
Old 04/14/2004, 05:32 AM
gregt gregt is offline
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Quote:
Wow looks great boy you really have that sand level LOL


Quote:
Keep the pictures coming!
I've got a couple hundred more.

Quote:
Lookin good!
Thanks!
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  #24  
Old 04/14/2004, 05:35 AM
gregt gregt is offline
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On to the stand.... I had the stand built by the owner of my LFS who has built more stands than I could count. I decided that I'd rather have someone that can do it perfect the first time do it than take a chance of me making a mistake. I'm ok at carpentry, and I've built stands before, but this one I wanted perfect.









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  #25  
Old 04/14/2004, 07:45 AM
SamsonNY SamsonNY is offline
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Very nice set-up.

Like the great room too.
 

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