600 gallon Acrylic Reef

pwhitby · #1 09/08/2005, 10:14 AM

As most of you know, I currently run a 225g glass tank set up as a reef. When I bought this tank, about 6 years ago I didnt spend the extra and buy a reef ready set up, I considered that, in hindsight, to have been a mistake. Originally the tank was established with VHO lights and mostly soft corals. A few years ago i decided to change up and rework the system. I added a couple of hang on overflows from lifereef, added a sump (75g) with a 30g refugium. I then upgraded the lights to 250W MH. Once the change over was completed I purchased a bunch of frags and let the tank do its stuff. I was really ahppy with the results. The corals grew well and the tank 9to me) looked great. To encourage more growth, I replaced my old skimmer and upgraded the lights to 400W. (5 of them) This necessitated adding a chiller. I also added a calcium reactor. Stuff really began growing then, which puts me at the point Im at now. I have ran out of space. Over the last 6 months I have had to aggressively trim many corals. These I have sold for the most part and the money i made has gone to the new setup.

For those who have not seen my tank recently, here are a few pictures of the 225g.

One of the the things that I did while working on my old system was to buy equipment over-rated for my needs. I always hoped to have a larger tank, and thus bought equipment with that goal in mind.

The tank is now ordered, and barring anything unforeseen happening, I should be able to see it in a few weeks. The basic tank is going to be acrylic with a black acrylic back plate. The overfows (gotta be reef ready) are located on the outside of the tank to leave more space for the corals and fish. The last pic I have is the basic design of the system to give you an idea.

This tank will be a beast. Looks small on paper, im sure I will freak out when I see it in person. Im even more sure that Lynn will definitely freak out......oh well....

Ill keep you guys informed on progress and post any pics I may have along the way.

Paul.

phlipper84 · #2 09/08/2005, 10:20 AM

How deep is it going to be?

pwhitby · #3 09/08/2005, 10:22 AM

i missed that part out didnt I. 30 inches

padixon2 · #4 09/08/2005, 11:14 AM

acrylic??? are you sure you want to go that route????

i can see needing acrylic for clarity...but the scratches...yuck,

pwhitby · #5 09/08/2005, 11:42 AM

have you tried picking up a 600g glass tank?

JimmyS · #6 09/08/2005, 11:52 AM

LOL, Paul you beat me to it. That is a lot of weight even for a acrylic tank.

If I am available Paul, I would be more than happy to help move it.

phlipper84 · #7 09/08/2005, 11:54 AM

I would think about glass failure as well. When glass goes, hope your insurance company believes that your toilet leaks salt water!

theishkid · #8 09/08/2005, 11:57 AM

any guess on how much it will weigh? any guess on how much if it were glass?

pwhitby · #9 09/08/2005, 12:41 PM

for acrylic, im guessing 6-700lb for glass twice that.

Just moving something that size made of glass would be all but impossible. Glass cant flex like acrylic, one stress and pow. that baby is history.

Im thinking several dollies and several people should get the job done.

phlipper84 · #10 09/08/2005, 03:20 PM

I know that my 240 Acrylic weighed in at close to 250. It is not only the weight, but the dimensions which make it difficult to handle.

ONEMANBAND · #11 09/08/2005, 04:01 PM

Your electric company might just invite you to the company picnic.

dugg · #12 09/08/2005, 04:21 PM

I hope your house has a slab foundation. Even with a slab you should check the entire room floor for cracks in the slab before you set that whale tank up. You may need to pour some support piers. With water and rock in, you will have over 7000lbs sitting there. Probably closer to 8000. Like having 2 large cars parked in your room, sitting on a 4x8 area of floor. Better safe then soaked i say lol.

mdiddy7s · #13 09/08/2005, 05:56 PM

How many lbs of LR have you collected for this event? You must have a ton (literally).
Mike D

Whaledriver · #14 09/08/2005, 06:07 PM

? WILL IT FIT IN THE DOO?
I always have to laugh at the tanks that go on sale because they cant fit in the door. At 30 inches you shoulbe ok but watch the twists and turns getting it into the room.

Good luck, the tank sounds like it should be awsome setup.

pwhitby · #15 09/08/2005, 06:30 PM

the door is fine, I have a straight hallway. Alternatively the window is more than wide enough

abigdog1976 · #16 09/08/2005, 10:57 PM

a piano dolly may be appropriate. i have moved many upright pianos (500 to 1000lbs) with them. you can rent them for about $20.

pwhitby · #17 09/08/2005, 11:00 PM

i was going to get two. Bring tank through on it side.

pwhitby · #18 09/08/2005, 11:05 PM

To give you an idea of the growth im getting, check the last pic above and this one. Same angle, a little larger, Thats growth over 18-20 months. You can see some areas where one coral has killed another in the pic.

Gwalker · #19 09/09/2005, 12:40 AM

You know, some folks might like to have your kind of coral problems!!LOL

Gary

asnatlas · #20 09/09/2005, 12:50 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by pwhitby
for acrylic, im guessing 6-700lb for glass twice that.

Just moving something that size made of glass would be all but impossible. Glass cant flex like acrylic, one stress and pow. that baby is history.

Im thinking several dollies and several people should get the job done.

Well, I have a 600gal (96x48x30) 3/4â€? Diamante (glass) tank on order with Will at AO... It will be going into my basement and I don't have a walk out... Going to go down the stairs...

Shawn

mdiddy7s · #21 09/09/2005, 09:05 AM

Make sure you send some pics of the process Asnatlas. I am sure all of us would be very interested. Good Luck.
Thanks,
Mike D

pwhitby · #22 09/09/2005, 09:09 AM

Its a tough problem to have.

Actually I used to have a real bad hair algae problem, but extra flow, increased aeration and some dedicated cleaners sorted that out. The best investment I made was a calcium reactor.

My main reason for wanting a larger tank is really because I have always wanted a big tank. The 225 is great, but not teh right dimensions for what i want to do. I want the tank to look more "lagoon" like, with mounds of rock for fish to swim between rather than the wall of rock i went with in my 225.

P.

MyMonkey · #23 09/09/2005, 02:58 PM

Wow. What lighting setup do you use. I would love to start seeing some things growing. My PC's seem a bit underpowered.

pwhitby · #24 09/09/2005, 03:04 PM

I have 4 400W Mh and a single 250W MH (this one is over my center brace, hence the lower wattage)

Paul.

Crusty Old Shellback · #25 09/09/2005, 03:13 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by pwhitby
for acrylic, im guessing 6-700lb for glass twice that.

Just moving something that size made of glass would be all but impossible. Glass cant flex like acrylic, one stress and pow. that baby is history.

Im thinking several dollies and several people should get the job done.

Guess again. It took 9 of us to move my 400G off the stand and into the truck and that was a pain. We had 10 to move it out of the truck and back on the stand after the move. It made it a lot easier. Also, go to harbour freight and get a bunch of those suction glass mover handle thingies. They work great for having a place to hang on the tank to move it with.