Starting with a 500 gallon aquarium

This should help with some ideas on setting up a large aquarium...

http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/forumdisplay.php?f=252

As far as containers for water changes (if you can't do the auto changer) would be a large Brute food grade trash can. Also use one to store your RO/DI.

Congrats on the deal and the tank! Can only hope to be able to have something like that one day.

Formal demand for pictures has been issued! :)

+1 on using dry rock seeded with some good LR for your creepy crawlers.
 
If it's really a killer deal..GO FOR IT!!! You'll wish you did if you don't. The base rock with live rock is a great idea to save some money. After a year, with good maintenance, that base rock is now live. I'd def go for it....
 
I dunno... a 500G would be a dream tank for me.. until I got the first months electric bill. If my tanks now cost me $100+ a month in electricity to run, and I am using LEDs for lights, I can see a 500G tank easily costing $250 a month just for electricity. I have seen some killer deals myself on larger tanks, more so recently with the economy, but I know I could not afford the equipment or power bill to run a tank that large. Something to think about if your thinking of a reef tank.. if your just going for a predator tank, stingray, lions, puffers, eels, etc, it would be much much cheaper to run the tank.
 
Have you seen the 500gal?? That's the size of 2 bathtubs!!! If you get the 55gal brute tub (that's what i have) and use it to change water---it would only be 10%!!!!

If you do not get coral, the lighting would not be expensive.
 
yea I would totally fill it up with base rock and just get about 100-125 lbs of LR to get it started. I couldnt imagine how much 700 lbs of live rock would cost. I know that I have about 95 lbs of rock in my 55 gallon tank and all in all with the equipment and live rock I'm guessing I have about 4500.00 invested in my tank as is. Couldn't Imagine a 500 gallon wow but hey if you have the money to do it then do it I know I sure wouldn't turn down a good deal. plus is your tank going to be on a concrete floor? that's an awful lot of weight on a house floor if not.
 
Have you seen the 500gal?? That's the size of 2 bathtubs!!! If you get the 55gal brute tub (that's what i have) and use it to change water---it would only be 10%!!!!

If you do not get coral, the lighting would not be expensive.

2 bathtubs?? You must have very large tub as standard 5' probably would only hold around 110 G.

Even just on fowlr appropriately set up, would add up quiet a bit as found out with 700G Fowlr appropriately set up/circualted/lighted, not too mention cost of salt in fowlr, much less for reef, imo.

Unless has solar system and off the grid, should seriously consider electic bill + others. Of course, if OP is Millionaire, please disregard my concern:)

tank dimensions?
 
Have you considered building your house in the middle of the ocean and putting glass around a small section of your front yard as an alternative? ;)


Very jealous if you pull it off.
 
Ya if I came accross a killer deal and turned it away I would probably kick my a** later but then again the money for everything does have to come from somewhere. Its a big investment not only cash wise but time wise etc.. But think of the bragging rights with a 500 gal tank in your house.. It sure would be a tough decision, glad its not me... Cause Id probably do it..
 
" tank dimensions? "
Make sure such tank will pass thru doorS/stairwells if any, as few associates had performed UNPLANNED renovations/home improvements :):laugh::rofl::argue::hitting:due to such tanks.
 
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