150g designs

[abromby]

thanks Drew....Absolutely awesome.....I had run into this site some time ago, but lost it....it is exactly what I was looking for. Onwards.......
much appreciated.

[kwirky]

I got the glass for my 120g cut at bow valley and assembled it myself. the experience of dealing with bow valley wasn't perfect, very long delays.

But I found bow valley's glass was WAY cheaper than getting glass from anywhere else. The glass for my 120g was all 12mm which is not typically that thick for the sides of a tank that size. It cost me about $320 for the glass, and $10 a hole for it to be drilled. The eurobracing cost me about $15 cut. I assembled it with the help of a friend to hold things steady without any problems.

If you're looking at tank design for a 150g tank, maybe a 3'x3'x28" 157g tank. That can then be lit by a single 400W MH light in a lumenarc III reflector. Plus the glass isn't a crazy height so the sides can be 12mm glass. The bottom would be 16mm. A tubular steel stand would be recommended with cross-beams on the upper part of the stand to support the tank.

You'd then have a sweet sweet 3'x3' space for a sump and other equipment.

Plus a tank with those kind of dimensions give you depth, front to back, in your tank to aquascape. That's my own "dream" tank anyways that I'll have at some point down the road.

[GreenSpottedPuffer]

Remember though if you want to keep tangs and some of the more "active fish", a 3'x3' tank would not work. They will go nuts if they can only swim 3' before having to turn around.

[Doug]

http://216.187.96.54/vbulletin/forumdisplay.php?f=38

Just one of the threads from our library.

[Der_Iron_Chef]

Can you just walk in to Bow Valley, or do you need to call, email, make an appointment, etc?

[Phanman]

just walk over, try golds too! a friend just bought a custom tank, sump, and stand for a good price. They are extremely knowledgeable and helpful for new reefers.

[kwirky]

i thought gold's was doing no more special order tanks "until further notice"? Has that "futher notice" passed and they're doing them again? If gold's is doing custom tanks again then talk to albert there. He'll help you design a good system with up-to-date plumbing n such. Would cost more than dealing directly with bow valley but that's the price you pay for service instead of wholesale.

[Phanman]

I believe so, hes going to build me a sump, and didnt say anything about no special orders so id go there.

[Zylumn]

Originally Posted by Der_Iron_Chef

Can you just walk in to Bow Valley, or do you need to call, email, make an appointment, etc?

I have called a few times the first two I was told to call back another time as no one was there that could help me. The third time I was told someone would talk to me and after waiting 10 minutes I hung up. I will most likely call again as their prices are good but give them a try as you might get luckier than I.
Kevin

[mark]

Might trust BVA to buy glass but after my experiences getting a tank, never would I again or recommend them to anyone.

But if you do deal with them, definitely don't give them any money until product in hand.

Am still happy with the tank and sump, but the hassle...