That must have been a large tank.

No, not really, but in order to maintain integrity with the amount of hole is wanted drilled they said it needed to be that thick.

It's so great to hear about everyone's experiences, I really don't want this thread to be a builder basher though..... so I hope there is no offence to all the builders out there. Everyone is always entilited to their opinion good and bad. I am going to review my specs this weekend and hopefully post what I am thinking of. After I do that, I welcome everyone's feed back. But only on your personal experience would be great. There are good ways and bad ways of doing everything and when it comes to building a large tank its the strength and integrity that is the ultimate cause for concern. Everything else depends on how much work you really want to put into your system.

Having said that, Albert, I know that Brian used an external skimmer and PVC bottom. I am planning on that too. Hoping that I can have the bottom machined for the holes and made from 1" PVC is what I am looking for. When ever I talk to Denis about acrylic or PVC, his comment is "only glass" he comes across as very set in his ways....granted, he has aquaria experience, but I have done a lot of reading over the last year, and I am quite firm on my reasoning, (unless of course someone can convince me other wise without sounding negative and critical). I really can't wait to show you all but I need it more to scale than how I have it....mspaint just doesn't cut it :sad:
Cheers,
Theresa

There are no builders in Canada for PVC bottoms as far as I'm aware. I like the idea, it makes sense, but you'll have to bring a tank up from the States if you want this kind of build.

Regarding acrylic, here's a few first page links off the RC search engine:

http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/sh...ostid=11428532

http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/sh...hlight=tenecor

http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/sh...hreadid=790161

There was a point in time that I was dead set on acrylic being the superior material. We were fairly close to bringing in acrylic tanks, then I did some more objective research and found that the increased costs of acrylic is rarely worth the time/effort.

Everything I have read on pvc bottom tanks says you need to have some highly specialized or at the very least not common tools for bonding the glass and pvc (i think it was ultraviolent lights etc.) The people on RC who have them swear by them, i got a quote from I believe it was AE but shipping was out of my price range. Plus they are fairly new ideas and have not had a chance to "stand the test of time" so to speak. If i could have afforded it i would have done it in a second. As far as an acrylic tank all i know in my less then objectable opinion (only scanning threads, no real research) is i see time and time again people saying they would go glass if they could re-do it. That being said some of the larger "show" reefs on various boards use acrylic. I find these particular people have a certain foresight into their takes most people are lacking, they are very well thought out and the people have to money to do it right. Ie extra acryic for covers when cleaning in tank so no sand moves , specialized cleaning instruments/ideas etc. Not saying us normal folk are lacking in preparedness, just maybe the means... :)

Maybe a bit off topic, but what are the advantages to a PVC bottom?

You could throw a Rotweiller and four toddlers into a tank with a PVC bottom and it wouldn't break.

I wouldn't do something that cruel, to a dog...

Yeah, but what about 4 Albert_dao's and an Albertosaurus though? Still OK, or should the PVC be tempered first?

LMAO...obviously you have children.