Norstar's 350 gal Tank Build

Norstar · #1 06-14-2009, 10:56 PM

Well, after waiting for 40 years, I finally got my dream tank. OK, maybe not the 50,000 gal. like I really wanted (you know, flooding the basement and cutting a trap door in the floor -

), but it's a beauty.

Everyone thinks I'm crazy for putting it in the garage, but I like it there. I can putz around, make a mess on the concrete floor, spill some water, have a beer. It's also my workshop, hence the tools and telephone equipment, so I do spend a lot of time in there.

I set-up my 85 gal. RO/DI tanks a little while ago, as well as my 85 gal. mixing tank. It saves on the limited floor space in the garage to have it up so high.

In case you're wondering, the industrial racking can handle 12,000lbs per shelf. Too much support is always enough!

I just installed a 8000 btu air conditioner to control the heat in the summer time. The room is approx. 250 sq. feet and it seems to be doing the job so far. It saved me a lot of money compared to buying 3 chillers for all the tanks in the room.

It may not look big, but the tank weighs 900lbs!!! It's 90" X 30" X 30". The sump is 72" X 24" X 20". Getting the sump in was the easy part. Carrying a 900lbs tank with 8 of your best friends in the world (!!!) was the hard part. But we got it in.

Before I go any further, a BIG thank you to Wendell, Jim, Dave, and Joey at OCEAN AQUATICS for helping with the aquarium install. Wendell made it all happen, and had lots of patience for all my questions and occasional freak outs!

Dave Tiemstra from West Coast Aquarium Services is coming in next week to plumb the tank. The sump and skimmer should be in next week. After that, I will have to take a (financial!!) break for the summer.

More to come soon!

.

christyf5 · #2 06-14-2009, 11:08 PM

Holey awesomeness! Congrats!!! Sadly the first 3 pics don't show up so we can't see the full stupendousness that is your new tank. Let me know if you need help with the photos

Norstar · #3 06-14-2009, 11:11 PM

Thanks!!

I have tried to repost the picures - can you see them now?

Leah · #4 06-15-2009, 12:39 AM

Oh yeah we can see them, umm holy thats alot of tanks can't wait to see the bigg one up and running. Amazing my family would disown me.

Norstar · #5 06-15-2009, 12:41 AM

Ahhh, a hobby that keeps Dad happy is a wonderful thing!!

ferret · #6 06-15-2009, 12:43 AM

Woo! I'm deeply impressed and love the idea to accomodate all the sw tanks and equipments in the garage. I do hope my wife can give her consent so that my dream can come true

fishytime · #7 06-15-2009, 12:50 AM

Holy frijoles

Dat ones gonna be a beast! How many gallons do you already have going there and how many total will it be after the big-un is done? Is the present system all plumbed together? Will they be plumbed together with the big system? Big tank gonna be a reef?

JDigital · #8 06-15-2009, 12:52 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by fishytime

Holy frijoles

Dat ones gonna be a beast! How many gallons do you already have going there and how many total will it be after the big-un is done? Is the present system all plumbed together? Will they be plumbed together with the big system? Big tank gonna be a reef?

Any more questions? LOL

System looks like its gonna be great.. but I got the same questions as fishytime!

Norstar · #9 06-15-2009, 12:57 AM

Hey Fishytime! The 4 tanks in the back are all plumbed together. The top two tanks are a 50 g and 65 g. There is a (i think) 40 gal refugium, and the sump. The front tank is a 65 with a ??g sump.

Not sure what I am going to do with the 350g. It will probably start as a fowlr, and then a reef as I won't be able to resist the temptation. I have always wanted to have larger fish (but not too large), and now I have the opportunity.

Btw, we split the garage in two 8 years ago. The front half is for the kids (bikes, freezer, junk....). The back half is my workshop/aquarium room. I wonder if I can list my fish as employees??!

christyf5 · #10 06-15-2009, 01:43 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Norstar

Btw, we split the garage in two 8 years ago. The front half is for the kids (bikes, freezer, junk....). The back half is my workshop/aquarium room. I wonder if I can list my fish as employees??!

LOL, another garage where cars don't live. I love it!

I can see the pics now, that is a monster

And your other tanks, they deserve some more photos too!

I'm intrigued by the racking, where does one get that type of stuff?