My new 450 Gal "pail"
 

I'd like to introduce to you my new (9 month) 450 Gal reef tank.

I'ts been a huge project for me and I want to share and have

some reaction from you.

I'll start from a very updated pic' and go back for the steps since

the first day of establishing it (and it will take some time...)

The size is: L 98 inches , H 36 inches , W 34 inches.

Front is 15 mm starfire glass, the rest is 19 mm glass.

http://i259.photobucket.com/albums/h...8/0708-059.jpg

P.S : forgive me for my average english, since it's not my mother tongue.

Beautiful tank! Great coloration!

UMMMM......More pictures. You can't tease us like that!!

Uhh yah, please continue your story... I need some of that crack!

Garrett

Green carpet anemone looks nice. FYI...the one I have has grown to nearly 2 feet across!

Beautiful!!! I love all the fish. It looks like you have some Damsels in there too. I'm one of the few Damsel fans out there. I have a
few myself.

BTW your English is fine. If you didn't mention it I would have thought it was your language.

OK, all started when I got to the conclusion that my (old) reef tank has overflowed. I couldn't add sps frags on the rocks.. It was about 200 Gal size, and too boring to keep.



http://i259.photobucket.com/albums/h...o/DSCN0003.jpg



http://i259.photobucket.com/albums/h...o/DSCN0005.jpg










So it took me a while but finally it happened.

Because of the big size of the new planned tank, we had to construct it at the place it's going to be located and had to move the old inhabited tank to a different location. My friend a contractor, had his ideas...

http://i259.photobucket.com/albums/h...er2007_007.jpg

http://i259.photobucket.com/albums/h...er2007_012.jpg

http://i259.photobucket.com/albums/h...er2007_015.jpg

http://i259.photobucket.com/albums/h...er2007_016.jpg



Almost there...

http://i259.photobucket.com/albums/h...er2007_014.jpg


There...
and the new stand is there too.



http://i259.photobucket.com/albums/h...er2007_021.jpg





To be continued

WOW bmco, your new tank and previous tank are awesome!

Your old tank was "boring"? Looked so much better than anything I've had yet. :( Wish I were that bored. :D

Both tanks are beautiful!

I have to say that the pictures don't do this tank justice.
bmco happens to be a very close friend of mine so I get to see his tank quite often. It is amazing to see the progress the tank has made in 9 months. WOW!!!!

AHA! I knew that was Israel based on 2 things sandalim (the sandals) and the outlets, but couldn't confirm until Edan's post. :)

Kol Hakavod! Beautiful tanks and amazing corals!

Best, Itay.

"The old tank was boring"
Ha!
You go man! That is awesome!

Sorry.. I didn't mean boring tank. What I meant is that the tank didn't inspire me anymore, couldn't vary it anymore, No new fish or corals.
But I already forgot it .:D

While constructing the new tank
I abandoned it, and not much left to move to the new one.

The light was based only on 6 T5 lamps and no additives or water changes for about 2 month, salinity dropped critically.

http://i259.photobucket.com/albums/h...er2007_032.jpg


Itaysworld, I must say you have sharp eyes..You're right.
:wavehand:

Ok, let's roll on glass construction process quickly.

The big guy (Kalmi) and his crew had to sweat for few hours of hard work.


http://i259.photobucket.com/albums/h...er2007_022.jpg

http://i259.photobucket.com/albums/h...er2007_025.jpg

http://i259.photobucket.com/albums/h...er2007_026.jpg


Wide passageway for external overflow box by diamond carving

http://i259.photobucket.com/albums/h...er2007_031.jpg

The overflow box

http://i259.photobucket.com/albums/h...er2007_039.jpg

http://i259.photobucket.com/albums/h...er2007_034.jpg


My little son insisted on trying the new empty pool.

:D


http://i259.photobucket.com/albums/h...er2007_042.jpg

http://i259.photobucket.com/albums/h...er2007_045.jpg




To be continued.

Certainly, one of the greatest tanks in Israel.

very nice tank! i can't wait to see more pics!

That is an awesome tank! I wish i could get one that big and afford it.

Subscribed, looking forward to more pictures...

Thanks guys..

Well, after the glass work and silicone cleaning came the pipe playing.

Sequence Hammerhead pump will be used for sump - tank circulation, chiller and other external equipment.

http://i259.photobucket.com/albums/h...er2007_047.jpg

Over flow and in tank pipes. ( I decided not to work with closed loop system and work with Tunze stream pumps)

2 top nozzles and 3 front locline nozzles. 1 under rockwork "flute" pipe for clean oxygen rich water from skimmer and sump.

http://i259.photobucket.com/albums/h...er2007_050.jpg


http://i259.photobucket.com/albums/h...er2007_057.jpg

I put the sump in place and did successful water test for leaks.

http://i259.photobucket.com/albums/h...er2007_069.jpg


http://i259.photobucket.com/albums/h...er2007_075.jpg

is equipment readily available there?

Jay Fortay , sure.

We have every equipment , American , German or even Chinese.

Looks great so far keep up the pics

That is just so awesome
Absolutely fantastic!!!

cheers
:beer:


B.T.W
when will the reef-center.com version will be published?

Now, for the hardest part of the project, the rockwork, sand and bottom setup.



I decide not to place the rocks on the sand or the bottom glass. No DSB or sand under or around the rocks. This kind of setup will prevent sand problems in the future.



The rocks were placed on PVC pipe stands to allow space under the rocks and to prevent the sand from moving under the rocks.



http://i259.photobucket.com/albums/h...er2007_083.jpg



I surrounded the stands with acrylic strips (2 inches high) to prevent the sand from sliding under the rocks, glued it to the glass and passed the pipe through them.

Eggcrate placed on 1.5 inch high pipes as a base for the rocks.

The outcome seen here



http://i259.photobucket.com/albums/h...er2007_089.jpg



http://i259.photobucket.com/albums/h...er2007_106.jpg



http://i259.photobucket.com/albums/h...er2007_097.jpg



http://i259.photobucket.com/albums/h...er2007_134.jpg

http://i259.photobucket.com/albums/h...er2007_131.jpg

To be continued

Moshik