New Money Pit
- Thread starter Jeff Hood
- Start date
- Location
- Virginia
You keep your kid in a fish tank too? I thought I was the only one. Here's a tip for you, don't put any newspaper on the bottom for poop and pee, it's easier to just wash it out with a hose. On second look, looks like you've already figured that out since you drilled the tank at the bottom. When your kid gets older, make the holes bigger to accomodate bigger poops.
Nice tank, by the way!
Nice tank, by the way!
I figure if the Aquarium thing does not work out then I will turn it into a tanning bed. Just plop in your air mattress and turn on the metal halides. Plenty of room unless you are 7 feet tall.
The tank is a Tencore and its 512 gallons using the internal volume to figure.
External dimentions are 84x40x40. Bottom is 3/4 inch thick. all sides are 1 inch thick and the top is 1.25 inches thick. Two huge holes in the top for putting rock or children into the tank. On the back I have two huge external built in overflows with two 2 inch holes for 1.5 inch bulkheads. In the back I have two 2 inch holes drilled for closed loop circulations and Four holes in the bottem for the returns that will travel through the rock pile.
On top I have 4 holes 1 inch for seaswirls. I will use 4 Ampmaster 3000s for the circulation. Half going through the duel Stock tank sumps and the other two going through the closed loops.
Another Little giant 3mdq for the 300 gallon refugium pond.
Should be a fun project. I hope it does not look like crap when I'm done. The Aquascaping will not be a wall of rock. I plan on using lots of PVC and acrylic rods to build a solid structure consisting of Two large towers on each end and a skinny Tower in the middle leaning over. In the front in the middle there will be a small mound surronded by sand. No rock leaning on the back wall so I will be able to keep it looking blue all the time.
You guys should have seen how I had to unload it. Its amazing I got it in the garage safe and sound.
Check out the pics and story here
http://www.cableone.net/jkhood/pictures.htm
Jeff
The tank is a Tencore and its 512 gallons using the internal volume to figure.
External dimentions are 84x40x40. Bottom is 3/4 inch thick. all sides are 1 inch thick and the top is 1.25 inches thick. Two huge holes in the top for putting rock or children into the tank. On the back I have two huge external built in overflows with two 2 inch holes for 1.5 inch bulkheads. In the back I have two 2 inch holes drilled for closed loop circulations and Four holes in the bottem for the returns that will travel through the rock pile.
On top I have 4 holes 1 inch for seaswirls. I will use 4 Ampmaster 3000s for the circulation. Half going through the duel Stock tank sumps and the other two going through the closed loops.
Another Little giant 3mdq for the 300 gallon refugium pond.
Should be a fun project. I hope it does not look like crap when I'm done. The Aquascaping will not be a wall of rock. I plan on using lots of PVC and acrylic rods to build a solid structure consisting of Two large towers on each end and a skinny Tower in the middle leaning over. In the front in the middle there will be a small mound surronded by sand. No rock leaning on the back wall so I will be able to keep it looking blue all the time.
You guys should have seen how I had to unload it. Its amazing I got it in the garage safe and sound.
Check out the pics and story here
http://www.cableone.net/jkhood/pictures.htm
Jeff
No problem. Its going into the wall in the 3rd car garage. I will have to rent the Terex forklift again to lift it to the stand. The darn thing weighs 900 pounds! The lids that came with the top are about the same size as a 45 pound weight lifting plate but I think these are heavier. 1.25 inch acrylic weighs a tonn.
You probably do have the space you may just have to get rid of something. I am moving my Wetbar to the living room. Im tearing it out to build the Aquarium wall. I would rather eat breakfast looking at the tank than looking at my wine list.
Jeff
You probably do have the space you may just have to get rid of something. I am moving my Wetbar to the living room. Im tearing it out to build the Aquarium wall. I would rather eat breakfast looking at the tank than looking at my wine list.
Jeff
- Location
- Virginia
A little advice on the refugium pond (I'm assuming that you're using a rubbermaid stock tank as you are using stock tanks for your sumps). Either replace the bulkhead that comes with it, or make sure it's really tight. It's not a very strong plastic, and I made the mistake of using mine after testing it with a smaller volume of freshwater. The increased weight of saltwater and filling it all the way resulted in a tiny drip, which I had to buy a huge wrench to tighten. It's obvious how soft the plastic is since it scored the nut pretty well. Good luck and have fun with all the designing!
Thanks for the advice Davelin. I have read many websites about them but will go over all of them before the plumbing begins.
SPC, It was not a hard decision for me to go with Acrylic because of the size of the tank. I may regret it in the future but right now I don't. I also just got back from the public aquarium in New Orliens and their acrylic tanks seem to hold up well to public abuse. Im sure they have to buff them from time to time but they all looked great.
The weight difference is dramatic. This thing is heavy enough as it is. I am going to need a fork lift to get it onto the stand. As far as scratches, Ill deal with them when they occur. The rock work will be all drilled and hooked together. I don't plan on having any loose rocks near the front. The tank is 40 inches front to back so the rocks should be some distance from the front. the rest of the sides don't matter because its built into the wall. Also the tank is SOOOO clear. I have never seen a glass tank look as crystal clear as this thick acrylic. I know Starphire has had a good rap but a tank this big would need a double payne of the stuff and I did not want to mess with it. Also the tank would have weighed around 14 to 1500 pounds.
Jeff
SPC, It was not a hard decision for me to go with Acrylic because of the size of the tank. I may regret it in the future but right now I don't. I also just got back from the public aquarium in New Orliens and their acrylic tanks seem to hold up well to public abuse. Im sure they have to buff them from time to time but they all looked great.
The weight difference is dramatic. This thing is heavy enough as it is. I am going to need a fork lift to get it onto the stand. As far as scratches, Ill deal with them when they occur. The rock work will be all drilled and hooked together. I don't plan on having any loose rocks near the front. The tank is 40 inches front to back so the rocks should be some distance from the front. the rest of the sides don't matter because its built into the wall. Also the tank is SOOOO clear. I have never seen a glass tank look as crystal clear as this thick acrylic. I know Starphire has had a good rap but a tank this big would need a double payne of the stuff and I did not want to mess with it. Also the tank would have weighed around 14 to 1500 pounds.
Jeff
Hey jeff, I noticed your location, do ya think it'll hold up to an f4 or 5?
Looks like the making of a perfect setup, and the fact your wife is still smiling when the bill arrived cant hurt either!! Give us updated picks when you can, sometime I want a big tank (250) and am curious about extra plumbing etc for it. Good luck!
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