New Tank

[Rudy]

Greetings Everyone,

I have been waiting to post this message for about 10 years. Since I joined this site I (we) have been planning to build a custom home. Long story short, we began in August of this year and hope to move in early March 2007.

One of the most exciting parts of the entire project was/is my plan to have a large tank dividing the living room from the eat-in kitchen area. Well it is time to purchase the tank, so I can plan the appropriate size of the support wall. Wow! I just realized it is cool, that my tank will dictate the wall dimensions versus the other way around.

I am sure this will be the first of many following posts. Some of my questions I have asked over the years of long term planning, but I am sure I’ll have more pressing questions this time around. In the past, I have found this discussion board/forum to be a reliable source of information.

I have never had a tank larger than a 55 gal glass tank. I currently have a mini-reef (10 gal) which, believe it or not, has a sand bed which originated in a tank over 10 years ago. I plan to use some of that sand to seed bacteria colonies in my new tank. I am excited to see, first hand, how much it speeds-up the cycling process. I'm sure I'll have future (April or May) questions about this process.

My question is, I wish to have tank in the range of 200 – 250 gal for this project. At the risk of subjecting myself to advertising, are there any tank manufacturers, types shapes, etc. I should lean toward and/or avoid completely? At this time, my only certainty is the tank will be a rectangular shape.

Thanks for the helpful advice and recommendation.

 

[Max]

A 250 isn't as big as you think that it is man. I'd go for allglass or get a custom job. I'd go to mfk some of those guys have ponds lol. You so have to keep us posted on this one!

 

[Uncarved Block]

If I were you I would go with something like a 600 gallon or more. Bigger is always better (unless you're keeping seahorses), and its the perfect opportunity to fit in something really large on a project like this. If you do go very large, make sure you have a room or some space dedicated to everything that goes with it (since its a custom house you can plan for that too!).

 

[Rudy]

A 250 isn't as big as you think that it is man. I'd go for allglass or get a custom job.

If I am to go bigger I certainly will, but I think 300 gal is likely my limit. My ideal length of tank is 6' (72") (~ 83 cm). The width and height is negotiable, although I imagine a wider tank is preferred due to the larger surface area, Right? Thus I was thinking 2' (24") (~ 61 cm) width.

Whatever height is needed to reach my desired gallon range and look appropriate for the size livng area is what I will I'll purchase. If I can somehow squeeze 300 gal out of it, so be it. I'll be interested to see the price differences. The lowest I have seen acrylic tanks that size (225) is around $1100.00 with overflows drilled to buyer's specs.

Why do you mention all glass? I was under the impression acrylic was the way to go for this type of project

I'd go to mfk some of those guys have ponds lol.

mfk?

You so have to keep us posted on this one!

It will be my pleasure. Maybe, I'll try to keep a digital picture journal and post it in the DIY section. We pland to frame the area once I have my tank dimensions. Which was the impetus for my original post.

Thanks for the reply

 

[Lucas Kane]

Hey just putting my opinion in about your tank again only my opinion. If I had the money I would buy a peninsula tank its always been my dream to have one of those. it would make a perfect room divider and they are spectacular in my opinion. Anyway like Uncarved Block said Bigger is always better so if you have the money then for sure take it up a notch

Peninsula tanks have the dividing capabilities of your standard rectangle but with more viewing angles, When u walk from one room to the next the fish can always keep an eye on you which is great for most fish seeing as they can become very social.

Ok well that’s all I have to say good luck and post pics when you get it all set up I want to see this thing

 

[Lorna]

Pennisula would be spectacular. If doing this I would want to have more width than height. The reason would be to allow better aquascaping and convenience for cleaning. I know how hard it is to reach the bottom of a tank that is only 20 inches deep......also deeper tanks require stronger lighting to reach the bottom......another thing to think about. Would you have a fish room directly beneath the tank in a basement or something? where else would you keep your sump & equipment as a tank this size will require some equipment? Sounds like a wonderful plan and I would be very interested in your progress

 

[Rudy]

If I were you I would go with something like a 600 gallon or more.

Yikes, that is BIG! I am niot sure I could afford to set-up and maintain such a large sized tank. I magine every component gets more expeensive?

If you do go very large, make sure you have a room or some space dedicated to everything that goes with it (since its a custom house you can plan for that too!).

My plan is for the plumbing to go directly, through the open space within the support wall, into our full basement. I already have a 125 glass aquarium on a 4 foot custom hand-made stand (see attached) for a sump and refugium.

 

[dorkfish]

I personally would go for 30" - 36" width. 72"x24" gives you the same surface area as a standard 180 and won't give you much more space for corals and fish than a standard 180 would. Also, with the 6'x2' footprint, your loking at 30" tall to get 225g. For 270g, your looking at 3 feet tall. For 300, your looking at 40" tall. If you were to go with a 36" width, you would need 30" in height to achieve 336g, or only 24" tall to achive 270g.

 

[Rudy]

Pennisula would be spectacular.

When you and Lucas say Pennisula you mean basically a tank with is viewable from 3 sides, correct? That would be appropriate given one side would be against a wall.

 

[Rudy]

Would you have a fish room directly beneath the tank in a basement or something? where else would you keep your sump & equipment as a tank this size will require some equipment...

My plan is for the plumbing to go directly, through the open space within the support wall, into our full basement. I already have a 125 glass aquarium on a 4 foot custom hand-made stand (see pics in a previous response) for a sump and refugium.