New 280 with a twist.

[just dave]

After the bottom broke on this tank.

Everything was sent off to new homes. Nothing was lost due to the tank breaking.



I started planing its replacement. I've always wanted to try and create an illusion. So the new tank was positioned in the wall so that three feet is on one side of the wall and the other three feet is behind the wall. If it works out it will look like the tank doesn't end. Here is a picture. I still need some more rock but I ran out. More is arriving Tuesday.









Started adding corals.

Keep in mind the tank is 72" front to back. A 30"x30"x36" section sticks out in the room, the rest is behind the wall.

[just dave]

Some more progression shots.

Many of the corals are from the original tank.
Pieces, pieces of pieces, pieces that grew into colonies...etc.









It still has some trim work that needs to be done and painting but this shows how the sides slide open.

[jgs107]

great idea...lets see some pics of it in the room with better light

[Jan Helge]

Gonna be good

[thor32766]

that is sweeet!!!

[rhino509]

very very very cool.cant beleive you experimented with a tank that big....lol.i totally get the look you were going for.also like the font panel that slides off for access,clean.hope to see more :P

[dascharisma]

I Love It!

I am doing something similar with my new tank. It is a 420 with 3ft in the room and 1ft behind the wall. My goal was to hide all the pumps behind the rockwork. After seeing it in place, I definitely wish I could have stuck a couple more feet behind the wall.

Here is a link to my build thread:
http://archive.reefcentral.com/forum...5#post10970375



Brad

[tabndust]

cool build

[just dave]

Originally posted by jgs107
great idea...lets see some pics of it in the room with better light

It's in my shop , not my home.

[WWodyz]

Nice Aquascaping! do you have rods in the rocks that are stacked up?

[just dave]

Originally posted by WWodyz
Nice Aquascaping! do you have rods in the rocks that are stacked up?

Thanks.

Gravity and cable ties.

[Bax]

That is a cool concept, I love the depth of some of these monster tanks and you capture that with a standard sized tank this way. It also gives you some interesting possibilities as far as drilling the tank behind the wall for CLs and such, do you have any pics of the behind the wall layout?

[Grevious]

Very cool idea. Love how it looks.

[sfilingeri]

Not to sidetrack you but those pics up top, how did you make that trim on them to look like they are in a photo album............



Thanks !!

[Cabin3tGuy]

[Reefdiver77]

Not to sidetrack you but those pics up top, how did you make that trim on them to look like they are in a photo album............


I would imagine Cabin3tGuy would have the answer to this question. Jason???

[joeycadre]

can't wait to get down there wednesday and check it out.

[schigara]

I visit Kermits at least once a week and am one of those who is helping Dave with his retirement plan. Heh!

I must say. This new Display tank has to be the best I have seen yet or tied with the Giant Octagon tank at The Fish Store and More on Peachtree in Atlanta. It's not nearly as stocked yet or as big but the rockwork, lighting, fish and invert combination is what I hope my tank could be someday be.

Congrats Dave, on a job, in progress, very well done!

[jcato]

i seen this tank first hand when i was in the shop on thursday and love the illusion that it gives by being recessed into the wall.

good job!!

john

[just dave]

Originally posted by sfilingeri
Not to sidetrack you but those pics up top, how did you make that trim on them to look like they are in a photo album............



Thanks !!

It's some Korean program that was given to me some time ago.
It's loaded on my home PC. I'll see what it's called.

[griffithimage]

I like your idea of the the tank going forever. I'm building a 36 inch deep tank and after looking at ocean dive photos that the horizon just becomes blue and hazy, I wanted to try to create the illusion that it goes the background goes on forever. I've thought of mainly lighting the front of the tank while the rest gradually becomes darker. With your experience of this tank, how deep do you have to go? Don't want to highjack your thread, pm me if you want.

[just dave]

Originally posted by griffithimage
I like your idea of the the tank going forever. I'm building a 36 inch deep tank and after looking at ocean dive photos that the horizon just becomes blue and hazy, I wanted to try to create the illusion that it goes the background goes on forever. I've thought of mainly lighting the front of the tank while the rest gradually becomes darker. With your experience of this tank, how deep do you have to go? Don't want to highjack your thread, pm me if you want.

I'm certainly no expert but with the depth you are talking about you may want to look into what are called "infinity backgrounds."

I have not seen one employed by anyone in some time but the results were achieved by placing a slightly translucent sheet of dark blue acrylic behind the tank and using florescent lighting behind it to achieve the look you are after. I've also seen pictures of tanks with a curved sheet placed behind the tank to create a similar look with different types of lighting effects. One thing that is certain , you will have to be able to access the back to keep it clean or the illusion will be spoiled.

The first picture of the tank that broke was a 48" deep aquarium and it had five 400w MHs on it. when the back two were off it had a somewhat depthless look.

Below is a picture when it was younger with those lights off.


To everyone else, thanks for the kind words. I'll post more pictures when I figure out how I screwed up my camera settings and correct them.

[just dave]

Update

Full front






Left





Right

[Harleyguy]

That's a really unique idea. Glad I thought of it... lol Very nice

[Bax]

Really, very nice!