Project 187G
 

So as some of you saw, in my 75G thread, I came up with plans for a larger system (an upgrade actually).

I got my quote back from Red Coral for a custom built tank yesterday. And was pleasantly surprised. I've decided to go for it.

The Tank:

Dimensions: 60"x36"x20" w/ 24"x6" external "V" Overflow.
Tank Volume: 187G


My crappy Google Sketch-up of the tank, missing a few holes, but you sorta get the idea. The overflow will only be 24" wide, not the 36" like in this diagram.
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v3...theupgrade.jpg

Unfortunately when I designed the tank, I never actually went out into the room and took measurements, it was just an idea I came up with one night. So I was having some troubles figuring out how I would actually fit this Peninsula style tank in the room, spent a good chunk of time tonight with fishytime(thanks doug) discussing different options as I didn't think it was gonna work out. I tossed the idea that I might have to go with the traditional look. We measured, and figured... nothing we came up with really enticed me..... Until I decided to move some furniture around, and came up with a place to put the tank, as the Peninsula I want. without terribly blocking the view of my current tank for the next 9+ months.

This tape box will probably get shifted towards that Tunze box a bit, it doesn't look at tight as these pictures show it to be. The coffee table and chair won't be staying there. The chair would end up on the 3rd side of the tank for viewing. Sitting from the closest end of the couch, you get an "almost" straight on view of the 36" viewing panel, which will be Starphire, sitting at the far end of the couch, will give you a great view of the 60" side.

FLASH:
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v3.../Roomshot1.jpg

Actinics:
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v3.../roomshot2.jpg


For filtration upgrade, I am planning to try out a Hydor 1000.. Lighting won't change a whole lot from my current setup, all I would add is a 4x24W T5 to go on the ends and in between the MHs.

Closed loop system on this tank as well, however the pump will be upgraded from a Snapper to either a Dart Gold or Hammerhead Gold. Return from the sump will probably be the Snapper from my current closed loop on my 75.

Anyways, I'll keep you posted! Tis gon' be slooooow.

Wish me luck!! :drinking:

Sounds like an awesome concept! Good luck with the build!

Can I ask the reason for your choice of a "V" shapped overflow? Is there an advantage to it? (maybe less detrius buildup?)

Im planning an almost identical tank idea - but 48 instead of 60" long, the same width and height... and out of acrylic. Im interested to see how yours goes!

Cheers,

Chris

I would like to suggest that you seriously take a look at having all viewable sides done in Starfire glass. Maybe take something else a little slower to save for the price difference in the glass. I would say this tank will be around for awhile and you wouldn't want to regret it a few years from now.

Thanks Chris... The reason for the V shaped overflow is to open up some space along that wall of the tank for sump return, CL intake. It should help with keeping detritus build up down as well, but it was more to provide me some space for plumbing.


I'll see what the extra cost would be... Only reason I was getting the end panel done was purely for photographing the tank length wise, whereas from the sides, I can don't have to shoot much deeper into the tank than my 75G because I can shoot from both side.

Ohh, the space idea is great and makes plenty of sense! Haha. If it was me, I probably would have just build a bigger overflow box on the end and run the plumbing down into it or through it - yours is less work, haha.

Cant wait to see this develop!

Cheers,

Chris

looks like a cool build.

lol, i know 20 inches is high, but it looks tidepoolish in your sketchup drawing :P

should be a nice tank.

Yea, I need a bit more practice with the program... :lol: I've got the materials for the tank stand sitting my living room... Wish we could stop getting snow every other day, so I could get to work on the stand, as I don't have any indoor area where I can cut wood.. Ohhh someday I will have a garage.. :twised:

What is a Peninsula style tank?

3 Sides viewable... similar to this.

http://www.ecoaquatica.com/images/150r.jpg

I like that idea.

With three sides.....think of all that glass for you to obsessively clean:mrgreen: j/k.

Nothing wrong with clean glass on a tank! Makes it more enjoyable even.

feel free to come enjoy yourself at my place...wait...that didn't sound right...nevermind.


Stoked for the build!

LMAO....that was great!

I appreciate the offer.. :lol: but I just spent 5 hours cleaning 800G worth of tank at Country Hills Toyota.. :drinking::crazy: I'm done cleaning for a few days..

Is you arms sore??:mrgreen: Was it bad?

have I been lost?? I dont remember pics of this 800g tank??

My arms aren't sore in the sense of muscles... but I sliced my knuckles/hands and right forearm pretty bad on the euro-bracing... But yea it was pretty bad... Worse than I could EVER let my tank get... they are 2sides viewable and you could barely see through.. :neutral:

Plus I don't think they have enough salt in the system because my cuts never hurt while in the water, but as soon as I dipped my hand in a tank at RC and my own tank at home.. my hand lit on fire!!!:onfire: So I suspect that's why they have had a lot of fish die lately. :twitch:

It's at a dealership here in calgary.... Wasn't a thread on it...

And it's actually 2x400G Curved Tanks... end to end.

Surely it's worth snapping a couple pics for us BC'ers to drool over???

Maybe in time after it gets taken care of a bit better... It's been sorta neglected up till now... :neutral:

OK, sounds great


Now, back on track. Have you had any quotes yet on tank build price, with all 3 sides Starfire? I love Peninsula style tanks, and some day WILL build my own. but just not here, we need a bigger home, so no sence getting all carried away here.

Yea, I got a quote for triple Starfire... The tank pretty much doubles in price to add the two long sides... Way outta of my price range for this, it's enough extra cash to buy the new skimmer, sump/qt tanks, and probably the Hammerhead pump... I think I can live without it... :wink:

EDIT: and maybe the extra 4x24W T5 supplemental lights... MAYBE! lol

Josh on your outlet from your overflow you have 6" at the bottom. For your overflow holes you will need at least 2" between the holes and from the edge of the piece of glass. So if you are going with a 2" Bhead hole is 2 3/4" and 1 1/2" Bhead emergency hole is 2 1/4" making it 2" + 2 1/4" + 2" + 2 3/4" + 2" = 11 inches. Sorry I should have caught this earlier in your drawings.
Kevin

I should have caught that too!! Thanks Kevin..

Start your overflow angles from the top of the overflow, you don't need to go straight down that 8".
Kevin

Been doing some work on the tank stand these last few days... Unforetunately I picked up some uneven piece's of 2x6 so I have been having a few headaches getting it level and straight... It's close, but needs some shimming.:lol:

The center posts will be added after I get my sump area layed out.. I plan to fit a 40G Breeder, 20G Fuge, 20G return tank, and ATO reservoir, and 1x Sequence Snapper and 1x Dart or Hammerhead.. haven't decided yet..

Eitherway, this stand isn't a finished project by any means... but does add life to the thread. :cheer2::boink:

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v3...G/IMG_0258.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v3...G/IMG_0259.jpg

As you can see the back right corner is a bit high, this is due to a warped 2x6... It flattens out easy enough when there is weight, but I plan to fix it correctly.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v3...G/IMG_0260.jpg

This gives you an idea of how wide the tank will be.. :mrgreen: 36"... Aquascaping heaven!
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v3...G/IMG_0261.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v3...G/IMG_0262.jpg

Hi, I'm just wondering if you are going to put verticals under each corner of the top frame. This way it isn't just screws holding the top frame on. I know that you mentioned you are going to put middle supports in right? It's going to be a beautiful tank with 36" of room....lots of aquascaping options. When is your tank going to be ready?

Des

Yea, I will be adding verticals in the middle, after I get my sump area figured out. As well as the vertical supports on the 4 corners..

Tank will be ready about 2 weeks after I give a deposit for it.. haha.. :wink: Which I still need to do...

Thanks!

So after some serious re-consideration, I am scrapping the Peninsula part of this tank. The room just doesn't work well enough to incorporate the tank properly, and I think in the end it would look very out of place where I was originally planning to have it.

This means the tank design has been edited. It will be 2 sides viewable (1 long (60") side, and the short (36":lol: ) end). This change in design might allow me to run Starfire on both viewing panels, I'll have to get an update on the cost. The 2nd long side will now become the back of the tank where I will run 2 of the 4 return lines from my closed loop, the other 2 will still come up through the floor and be hidden underneath the rock work. Overflow will stay at the end of the tank, no real changes there, other than adding my sump return line up through the overflow box. So I will have water returning through 3/5 panels of the tank. :mrgreen:

I will also be incorporating a 20-25G viewable refuge at the end of the stand (down where the mitre saw is sitting in the pics).

Couple pics to give you an idea of where the tank will be sitting now. My 75G is directly behind me from where I took the pics.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v3...G/IMG_0414.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v3...G/IMG_0415.jpg

That's all I can think of for now for an update.

never has hunks of wood and nails and stuff looked so sexy :D

Eta for the tank?

Personally I think this is a better idea. To have a stand in the room as an island, I think you need a very large area and the tank should serve as a divider. I do like the new position, but have you thought of a corner tank?

Likely putting in the order this week... not really in a rush for it, but would be nice to get it so I can work out the rest of the system. Seems like new ideas always creep up when you visually have the tank in front of you.

This is in the corner... :wink:

I know it's "in the corner" but a meant a "corner" tank.

WOw i didn't know that they made HOME DEPOT SALT:lol::lol::lol:
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v3...G/IMG_0261.jpg

The lower ceiling over that corner position is going to drive you nuts. Looks good, though. You have to starfire glass both the viewable sides.

The tank is only 20" high on a 36" tall stand.. I should have plenty of head room over the tank for maintenance. I've got Alberta-Newb (Trigger Coatings Inc) building a lighting bracket which will have the capability of raising up with small gas lifts, out of the way for tank work or changing bulbs. Probably looks lower in the picture, but I have close to 26" from tank rim to roof. Unless your thinking something different??

I expect the quote back tomorrow with the cost of both side's starfire. I really want them but I'll have to see what the cost is. :wink:

I got my quote back from Red Coral for the updated design of the tank, including the addition of both viewable sides in Starfire glass and the eurobracing w/ Polished edges (so I don't slice my forearms all to hell)... And in came it a few dollars (<$100) over my budget so I will be going with the dual starfire choice. :mrgreen:

In the meantime I have been slowing working away on the tank stand... I got the Aquacontroller Jr. mounted (not pictured yet) and just test fitted the Pine paneling around the viewable 20G refugium tonight.. Still need to trim about 2" off the top edge of the panel and add trim around the refuge frame to hide my poor carpentry skills :lol: ...

Sorry, only the one photo to satisfy the masses...:razz:

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v3.../187stand1.jpg

Suggestions on a refugium background color? I was thinking either white or blue. The display tank will have a black background though so I'd like to avoid clashing colors.

loking good. Is that a rubbermaid garbage can in there? How tall is the stand? I built mine 33.5" to the top. Now I'm wondering, to high? just looks HUGE in my little house


DUHH,. just read up above, "The tank is only 20" high on a 36" tall stand.."

im glad to know im not the only one who thinks its good to store there power tools in the living room haha.