Yes another custom tank

calvin415 · #1 10/20/2006, 10:50 AM

Okay, well the tank is still under assembly but since I posted on another site for a contest I figured I'd post it here as well... I'll have an actual pic posted tomorrow.

The entire tank's dimensions are 48x12x8 with a built in filtration/refugium. The available display volume is 11.29 gallon and sump/refugium can hold a max of 5.39 gallons. These volumes are based on actual water dimensions as the tank is built out of 3/8". I'll post some pictures when the tank is finished but for now, here's a CAD rendering of what to expect. I figured I'd try to do something never seen before so here is my 4 footer which will be wall (shelf) mounted.

The black part of the false wall will be removable so I can see directly into the sump if I need to. Each each end will spill over and go through a HOB filter cartridge before going through refugiums (again one for each end) and then the return pump will be located in the middle. The pump will feed a return manifold of 6 which will return the water 1" above the bottom of the tank. The returns are angled via loclines, bouncing the water off the display panels creating random flow throughout. The only maintenance should be to replace the filter cartidges which will also handle my carbon.

Planned lighting will be dual VHO's in an acrylic canopy...

chocolateblnt · #2 10/20/2006, 11:25 AM

Oh Snaps!

flfirefighter13 · #3 10/20/2006, 01:26 PM

taging along on this one, My wife and I are debating going with a 150 in the liveing room or custom building a few similar tanks and makeing a display wall. We want to be able to divide into a few species tanks to avoid compatibility problems. Im evry intersted in how this filtration works out for you.

Zero-2-Sixty · #4 10/20/2006, 01:27 PM

wow dude, i want to see this! that looks like a sweet tank design

calvin415 · #5 10/20/2006, 02:21 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by flfirefighter13
taging along on this one, My wife and I are debating going with a 150 in the liveing room or custom building a few similar tanks and makeing a display wall. We want to be able to divide into a few species tanks to avoid compatibility problems. Im evry intersted in how this filtration works out for you.

The filtration method should work great! I've employed this method on another tank I built for a friend of mine and it's been setup for 4 1/2 months so far and his nitrates are still reading 0!!! That's right 0 nitrates and that's with a Coral Beauty, and 2 Damsels in a 14 gallon tank. Should I even mention there hasn't been a water change yet! Everything is doing terrific, even the angel (which I couldn't believe he put in there) is fat and happy!

Here's a link to the build.
http://archive.reefcentral.com/forum...hreadid=856148

This 14 gallon is incredibly successful and that's with 1 filter pad and a small refugium... This one will have 2 filter pads and 2 even larger refugiums, more live rock and less livestock.

calvin415 · #6 10/20/2006, 02:22 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Zero-2-Sixty
wow dude, i want to see this! that looks like a sweet tank design

Thanks bro, more pics will be posted tonight!

alien9168 · #7 10/20/2006, 04:19 PM

Looks great!!!

I am so excited.... all of your projects are fun to watch! They always look clean and different.

Thanks for startin up another project eric...i know it'll turn out awsome...as they always do

ZOKU · #8 10/20/2006, 07:54 PM

Wow.... awesome dimensions!!

spf9992001 · #9 10/20/2006, 09:11 PM

Hey Eric - good to see you back at it. Are you doing the acrylic work yourself? If so, try to take lots of pics for all of us diy acrylic wannabeenoobs.

Thanks,

Jake

calvin415 · #10 10/20/2006, 10:00 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by alien9168
Looks great!!!

I am so excited.... all of your projects are fun to watch! They always look clean and different.

Thanks for startin up another project eric...i know it'll turn out awsome...as they always do

Thanks dude! I really appreciate the kind words! I hope I don't let you down...

Quote:

Originally posted by ZOKU
Wow.... awesome dimensions!!

Thanks ZOKU!

Quote:

Originally posted by spf9992001
Hey Eric - good to see you back at it. Are you doing the acrylic work yourself? If so, try to take lots of pics for all of us diy acrylic wannabeenoobs.

Thanks,

Jake

Thanks SPF! I am doing the acrylic work myself, it's already assembled so I won't get to take too many more pics, but I'll be honest everything you need to know is already on the DIY forum.

If you have any questions, please feel free to PM me!

The tank is far from done, still a lot of sanding and polishing to be done but here are some pictures...

And to give it some scale...

calvin415 · #11 10/20/2006, 10:00 PM

And a couple movies...

badgers034 · #12 10/20/2006, 10:19 PM

How many GPH is that pump??

calvin415 · #13 10/20/2006, 10:40 PM

370 GPH.

badgers034 · #14 10/21/2006, 01:12 AM

I see. Is that a ViaAqua?? If so, I have one on my 125 (fresh) the pushes 1321 GPH. The thing is pretty big, but it pushes alot of water.

chocolateblnt · #15 10/21/2006, 02:00 AM

Superb Craftsmanship ... well worth a window partner

MarineGirl411 · #16 10/21/2006, 07:05 AM

calvin how did you get your seams so perfect? My acrylic sump ended up with a bunch of bubbles. I used weldon 3. Did you make it yourself? Did you router it? It's looking great. =)

calvin415 · #17 10/21/2006, 09:44 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by badgers034
I see. Is that a ViaAqua?? If so, I have one on my 125 (fresh) the pushes 1321 GPH. The thing is pretty big, but it pushes alot of water.

Yes, it's a ViaAqua, but it's one of their smaller pumps... Should do the trick.

Quote:

Originally posted by chocolateblnt
Superb Craftsmanship ... well worth a window partner

Thanks buddy!!!

Quote:

Originally posted by MarineGirl411
calvin how did you get your seams so perfect? My acrylic sump ended up with a bunch of bubbles. I used weldon 3. Did you make it yourself? Did you router it? It's looking great. =)

I did make it myself. Just used the pin method for the welds and then routered it flush... I still need to sand all the edges and then polish; it should look tons better when I'm done.

chocolateblnt · #18 10/21/2006, 01:48 PM

Hey Eric ... empty your mailbox

calvin415 · #19 10/21/2006, 04:20 PM

Sorry.

It's cleaned up...

Flobex · #20 10/21/2006, 11:11 PM

Wow, this is very cool, I love these projects... excellent craftsmanship, can't wait to see more!

calvin415 · #21 10/21/2006, 11:36 PM

Thanks Flobex!

Well, I just need to let it cure just a little longer before I do a water/flow test... Here's some more pics:

Just the tank...

Tank with return manifold...

With return pump...

With removable cover...

chocolateblnt · #22 10/22/2006, 12:06 AM

... that looks so fresh and so clean!

Zero-2-Sixty · #23 10/22/2006, 02:20 AM

amazing tank! i have never seen its equal
you can bet ill be following up on this one

calvin415 · #24 10/22/2006, 11:31 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by chocolateblnt
... that looks so fresh and so clean!

Thanks Dude!

Quote:

Originally posted by Zero-2-Sixty
amazing tank! i have never seen its equal
you can bet ill be following up on this one

Wow, thanks for the compliment!

Henry22 · #25 10/22/2006, 03:27 PM

Get some water in this thing. I want to see the flow throughout the tank. What are the stocking plans?