New tank 300 gallon

Ograx · #1 08-31-2010, 04:11 AM

Well I'm looking at upgrading from a 125 to a just under 300 gallon tank.

I have a few question to those out there who have built a tank this size.

My wanted measurements are 72x48x20

What kind of bracing do I need at the top of this tank so it doesn't burst ?

I need the drain and return from sump to be invisible and not on 1 of the sides of tank. ( Tank will be in middle or room with 360 view)

Any ideas or pics of something similar would be much appreciated.

SeaHorse_Fanatic · #2 08-31-2010, 05:45 AM

You'll be needing some serious Eurobracing and probably a center brace as well for a tank that is going to have a 6' x 4' footprint. If the side Eurobracing is heavy-duty enough, you may get away without the center brace but that's a very wide tank. Having it only 20" tall though should help reduce the pressure alot.

lastlight · #3 08-31-2010, 05:52 AM

I was under the impression that glass thickness, tank height and horizontal span of the glass determines how much bracing you need?

The tank being 48" wide only means he has 2 sides that are 48" long whereas most large tanks are a bit shorter. Far as I understand those 6 foot sides need to be braced like any other 6 foot long tank and the 4 foot sides like any normal 4 foot long tank (all other things like thickness and height being equal).

Maybe I'm missing something though. If you have a 4x2x2 tank, does adding another 4x2x2 onto it to make the tank 4x4x2 require more bracing? I thought the pressure on the seams would be the same.

golf nut · #4 08-31-2010, 07:20 AM

http://www.oceansmotions.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=1129

Maybe this will help, I am sure using a better drain system the real estate could be increased.

lastlight · #5 08-31-2010, 07:29 AM

I remember that build. Total shame they didn't go with one overflow and try and make it a bit smaller. By the time they piled rock around those things it wasn't a very large tank anymore.

golf nut · #6 08-31-2010, 02:43 PM

I gave Derek at Miracles Aquariums a quick call to discuss other things, I asked him about the tank you wish to build, in his words using 3/4 glass you would need no Eurobracing at all providing you are not running a wavebox, which looking at the clean look you want will not be happening.

golf nut · #7 09-05-2010, 08:32 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by lastlight

I remember that build. Total shame they didn't go with one overflow and try and make it a bit smaller. By the time they piled rock around those things it wasn't a very large tank anymore.

Very true, not difficult to do at all, Bean or Herbie overflow with returns plus C/L feeds and returns could be a 1/4 of the size.

I just did a special for a customer, all done with just two 4" holes.