Need your input on designing new Tank

[invincible569]

ok guys.. today I visited an LFS and this is what he came up with. He drew it out on paper, and I transferred it to Visio. The only downfall I see to this design is that its 375g. Im looking for a tank over 400 and no more than 500. Not sure if I should go 60x60 or 72x48. I dropped the height to 30" instead of 32 because I saw a displayed tank with 30 at his place and it was very tall! So I dropped it to 30"H. I do not want to do a closed loop from the bottom because my stand will be open at the bottom and there will be no plumbing lines visible or any type of equipment. I may regret this later though. ? I also dont want to drill anything extra as it will cause the tank to stress more when using glass. He said perimeter bracing only is a tough call on a tank this wide/long. I would be scared to see that my tank spilled all over the floor one day because of this decision. Besides with a 30" tall tank, it would be hard to see anything on top. So he added 2 braces to the perimeter bracing. Can you guys give me some input and advice. I want to make sure I do this right and not regret anything I do. Oh, overflow will be on the corner right becasue of my ultimate aquascape design.

Oh, tank will be viewable from 3 sides against a wall. No more in wall.

[nbd13]

Hey nice tank, i was looking at that size for my next tank, but it cant fit through my door.

if you want more gallons, then i would go 72x48x30 that would give you 6 feet for your tangs or large angels and then you would also get the depth. You get the best of both worlds with that size and you woul dget over 400 i think, i just checked and it comes out to about 448. so that would fit your gallons.

Also may i ask why you choose glass over acrylic? are you going BB or DSB?

what size bulkheads are you going with? 1.5" or 2"?

i take it you do not want any powerheads in the tank along with no plumbing visible? if so i like the idea of using 2 cloosed loops. you need 2 more holes though. i think 2 closed loops and the return from your sump would keep your SPS happy as long as you placed them right.

hope this helps some. i take it this will be a mixed reef like your current one?

Hey one more question, how are you going to aquascape it with 3 sides veiwable? could you give me some insight?

also i think i need to see soem pics before you tear down you current tank! haha

Nick

[Detritivore]

i would do an external overflow if you have the space

i know someone who lives in socal that has almost the exact same dimensions as you... you might want to see his thread...he's got a remote sump, gravity fed skimmers and such...pretty interesting...

[nbd13]

do you have a link?

thanks!

Nick

[Detritivore]

its on RC

just search for "semi cube" by thetedinator

[nbd13]

oh ok, i have been following that tank.

thanks again.

Nick

[invincible569]

Thanks guys! This is the information I am looking for. I want as much information needed so i can research and make a better decision.

Jonah, an external overflow would be nice, but since my tank will sit in the living room area, I want to hide it. I can do this easily with the aquascape i have in mind. This will also give me the option of having 2 returns through this overflow at 2 different angles.

Nick, you know me to well already. I am definitely getting away from the powerhead visibility option. I dont want to see one powerhead in sight. With the type of reef setup I am doing, I honeslty dont feel flow will be a BIG concern for me. It will me a mixed reef aiming more towards LPS/Softies. I still dont want dead flow.. but there will be a designated area for SPS only unless its some type of monti that doesnt require high flow. My aquascape will be a little different and definitely will not be one like you have seen. At least I hope not! Im going to keep this one to myself for now. Until I have it setup, then i will show the vision I was talking about. Lets just say that I will not need as much lighting as everyone thinks. I will have to manuever my lighting accordingly for this setup and it wont be a top down light setup. Angles are my main concern. Ive always loved an open setup with plently of swimming area as it makes the view more pleasant to look at and more natural. There will be a theme to this tank. As for your questions, here are my answers:

1. I was thinking of 72x48x30. The only downfall to this is the actinic lighting I will have above it as a perimeter. The longest VHO's are 60". I want to cover all areas of the tank, but I guess I could get 2 shorter ones and combine them? With 60x60, I think it would be easier to also create my dream aquascape. I need to draw it out and plan to see which way would be be better.

2. My LFS said all I needed was 1" bulkheads. But I was thinking of getting a sequence and I know that a hammerhead is 2". I still havent decided on the pump I want. Moonpod gave great advice about not needed a strong return for less bubbles before they get to the return pump while in the sump. And if thats the case, I have 2 Iwaki pumps that are already 1".

3. It will be viewed from 3 sides and will be SSB. I chose glass as of right now because just thinking about acrylic makes me think about the hairline scratches I have on my existing acrylic tank. Im pretty anal about this and have always been scared to clean my tank. Im always VERY cautious and when I am, can still mess up and then I will have a bad day! Who knows, I may change my mind later after I do all of this research, but for now, Im sticking to glass.

[Detritivore]

the longest VHO's i've seen are 72"...do you mean T5?

[nbd13]

Alright sounds great! for my next setup i am going with only closed loops and NO powerheads, i am sick of looking at these 4 6100s.

lets see, as jonah mentioned VHOs come in 72", t5's i think come smaller.

i agree with moonpod on the flow through the sump. and my next tank will just have enough flow, all the flow will come for me through a closed loop or maybe a surge system i have been thinking of.

on the bulkhead size TRUST ME! go bigger thank you think i have 2 1" bulkheads and i hate the sound! go with 1.5" bulkheads for your drains and 1" returns. that way the noise will be cut down and just incase you have extra drain capacity. it is really no that much more expensive to do and there is no ill effect to going with 1.5" bulkheads.

on the whole glass vs acrylic issue, i for one just cant think of going bigger than my 180 in glass, with all the stories of people's tank cracking and draining on their floor makes me worry.

the only bad thing about acrylic is the scratching like you said, i guess i would rather take being careful when cleaning that taking a chance of having my tank on my floor and there goes all that money, haha.

anyway what are you think as far as lighting and the rest of the equipment? like what skimmer and so on.....

i like your idea or the sound of your idea, of the open aquascaping, i cant stand the "reef wall" look anymore,

i really would like a tank 12 or 14 feet long and 4 feet wide and do a bunch of small islands and stager them from front to back, kind of like that 20 footer that bachir has.

anyway let me know if you have more questions.

Nick

[invincible569]

Nick,

are all those stories only with Oceanic tanks? Trust me, im not buying Oceanic.

Im not sure if I will do T5's anymore.. but I would like to. They are 60". I guess you guys are right, VHO's are 72. Back to the drawing board. As for the MH's, that will depend on the aquascape. The aquascape is first priority, then I will work around to fit the lighting as needed. As for the skimmer, I have always loved Deltec's. May get one of those. The cleaning head sold me.

[nbd13]

That sounds great!

so you still think you are sticking with the 60x60x30?

what about a 96x48x30? or even a 72x72x30 no thats a cube tank!

what size glass are you going with? are you going low iron or just regular or starphire? i really think its worth the money for low iron or starphire just for the 3 sides that you will veiw it from of course.

Nick

[invincible569]

I may do the 72x48x30 like you said. I have been thinking about it. I wanted to stay with a cube design. We will see.

Not sure what size glass yet either. Still shopping around. The thicker the glass, the greener. But with starphire, thats not the case. I havent found a good starphire place yet. You know of anyone? I heard it was like double the price?

[nbd13]

it is expensive, but is this going to be your last tank upgrade? if so i would spend the extra money and go with starphire for the veiw pannels.

i do not really know of any good places for starphire, but make sure you get a good builder.

Nick

[fkadir]

Edward, are you going to go for eurobracing around the perimeter of the tank? greatly improves the tank rigidity. I have a 72x30x30 and no bracing, just top and bottom eurobracing. No Issues so far and it has been 1.5 yrs.

[invincible569]

Nick, it wont be my last. I still plan to upgrade to 7-800 later.. but that would be LATER. Thats when we buy a bigger home.

Farish, yes, it will be permiter all the way. But also have two centerbraces for extra protection. I forgot to draw the extra perimeter bracing on the front/back.

Do you guys think I should get holes for some seaswirls on each corner of the back? I never used a sea swirl and was wondering if it was worth it.