Designing a monster

[Harleyguy]

My wife told me I could have either a new car (08 Viper) or my fish tank... So after some long hard thinking... I'm getting the tank (God I love my wife).
This is going to be a long project with a ton of planning (I will not even be home from Iraq until June). The only thing I have to do immediately is figure out the exact design for the tank (more specifically the holes in the tank for plumbing).
Thanks to jnarowe I have decided to go with a tank that is 60" front to back. The dimensions will be 120"x60"36" viewable form 2 sides (one end and the front) with a full length external overflow.
The tank is going to be glass (low iron on the two viewable sides) and I need to have the plans to the builder by the first of the year.

Any and all help will be greatly appreciated.

[deadatbirth]

stupid decision....lets see a $84k car or a reef tank...i love my tank, but i think a new Viper would top that. dumba55

[Harleyguy]

It's the only way my wife would let me get an 1100 gal tank. I'll get the car in a year or two anyways, I just wanted this first.

[mikey3165]

haha im sorry to say but you got owned by deadatbirth

[Harleyguy]

Oh and.... Thanks for the kind words...

[deadatbirth]

didnt you just say the car or the tank? man you army guys arent all there. u shoulda joined the marines

edit: or the air force..stay outa my corps

[Jar*Head]

Deadatbirth, this is a reef discussion forum. Let not talk about branch of service. How much do you know about the Corps? What make you think your Corps is any better than the Army, Navy or Air Force.

Harleyguy, great choice. please keep us posted on your design. Many old reefers here can help you with the design and choice of equipment.

[Harleyguy]

I know people here just can't live without pictures, so here is what I have. When I started my original tank I needed a place to put the equipment and the only place I could think of was in the "crawl space", so here is what I did sorry the picture are not that good.

This is what it looked like before I started





Here is after many, many, many hours of digging


and




I put a drain in the center of the floor and once the floor is poured I will have a 7' ceiling

[Harleyguy]

To Reef Central

deadatbirth

[deadatbirth]

i mean dont get me wrong, i love my reef tanks, but turning down a $84k+ car to get a 1100 gallon tank, doesnt make sense to me.
id love to have a 1100 gallon tank, but id rather have a 600hp car...especially after my tour in Iraq.

[Jar*Head]

deadatbirth, May be you are too young to see the reason . If i have a choice like Harleyguy, i would do the same.

[Harleyguy]

I guess I just have different priorities... What can I say...

[clekchau]

Originally posted by deadatbirth
i mean dont get me wrong, i love my reef tanks, but turning down a $84k+ car to get a 1100 gallon tank, doesnt make sense to me.
id love to have a 1100 gallon tank, but id rather have a 600hp car...especially after my tour in Iraq.

i've owned a couple of 500 plus hp cars and a few very fast sportbikes also and i'd rather have the tank all day, every day but in the end, its his choice and personal preference so why are you crapping on his thread?

harleyguy, i had the same choice but it was between a road king and an aquarium and i chose the aquarium, now the proud owner of a 8 month old 600 gallon aquarium and i have no regrets.

plus, i am getting a ducati next year anyways

[everl0ng]

yeah, i would have chosen the tank as well. where the hell are you going to be able to drive a car that fast? more insurance, more gas, worries about damages, only driving in certain weather...you can enjoy your reef tank all year round. maybe what he needs after a tour in iraq is some peace and quiet and something a little more scerene and relaxing. i'm definitely excited to see this one up and coming.

[Kannin]

I'll take the tank over the Chrysler product anyday. The Viper is made by the same company that brought you the K Car. Big (P.O.S.)

Hours of enjoyment and relaxation every day or an overpriced car built with 12 year old technology. Plus... I don't know about your wife but mine would gripe every time I wanted to speed.

[Harleyguy]

Thanks guys, I have to say in the end it really wasn't a hard choice. The tank will give both me and my family years of enjoyment. Both my wife and I are really happy with my choice, and in the end I guess that's all that matters. Now if we could all put this behind us and help me figure out how I'm going to plumb this beast so I can get it built I'll be happy.

[everl0ng]

haha yeah it looks like you have some heavy duty work to commense in the near future. hopefully the plumbing won't cost as much as the tank

[Harleyguy]

The last tank I did was a 220 and It cost me almost $150 more to plumb the tank then the tank did, no to mention the 842 trips to HD for parts...

[Reefaquariumnut]

What height are you thinking your stand will be?

[steve the plumb]

so from the looks of it you have to dig out the entire basement to the same level.You are in the army so I am sure you have done some form of digging in your time.I hate digging!I think its time Santa's little helpers got there hands dirty.While you are away the Sargent in charge(the wife) will have to organize a digging party to get down there and get some work done.Weather small hands or big hands the job can get done.This way when you come back you don't have to do anymore digging.Then again maybe your title allows you the privilege of having other people do it for you.Just come back safe along with the rest of your buddies.Nice to see someone give jnarowe a run for his money.Thats a big tank

[JEFFTHEREEFER]

Tagging along


Thanks for protecting our country. I know you and your family make many sacrifices for the rest of the people that live in this wonderful country.


HATS OFF TO YOU

AND BE SAFE!!!

[Harleyguy]

Originally posted by Reefaquariumnut
What height are you thinking your stand will be?

My last stand was 40" tall, but the tank was only 32" so this time I was thinking 32-34" tall... any thoughts?

[steve the plumb]

What will you keep under the stand?Your the one who will have to get in there to work on something unless the sump and everything else are kept in another section of the house.

[LionFish-xS-]

Originally posted by deadatbirth
i mean dont get me wrong, i love my reef tanks, but turning down a $84k+ car to get a 1100 gallon tank, doesnt make sense to me.
id love to have a 1100 gallon tank, but id rather have a 600hp car...especially after my tour in Iraq.

OK the car is cool for a guy out to hit the streets Pick up chicks.
Get married to chick, chick runs off with pool guy! takes 1/2 of what you own, you cant even afford a nano tank now.!!

I like your Choice man.
Take care over there! come home and start that d@mn Tank!

[boozeman]

I like the way you handled things with diplomacy...good luck on your build