The start of my 300Gal starfire SPS tank

makoJ · 12/04/2006, 02:37 PM

Never done a tank build thread so here is my go at it.
Thanks to John and Brian at KingFish Aquariums in Austin for all of their help and time in planning and furture building of this system.

Tank:
Tank will be here in 2 1/2 weeks its going to be 96" x 30" x 25" tall, front is 3/4" low iron glass and the back and side panels are 3/4" standard glass. Made by Aquarium Environments
The bottom plate is type sch. 80 pvc with 5 holes counter sunk for my close loop.

CAD drawing:

Flow:

Closed loop:
oceans motions 4-way plumbed with a Sequence Barracuda

and using 4- 1.5" Omni Flex Nozzles

Tunze Streams:
I don't know how many of these I'm going to use but I currently have:
1-6200, 5-6100's,1-6080 and a 6060 as well as a multi-controller.
I will have to see where to place these as the tank gets plumbed up.

Return pump:
Sequence Dart

Sump
I designed the sump to run 4 - 7" filter socks and made it large enough to fit under the Iron stand that Aquarium Environment's is making me.

My CAD drawings:

Dan at Dan Aquatic's in San Antonio made my sump to my CAD drawings.

Room
The tank is going in between the windows and I will make a fake wall which will give me a small fish room behind the tank to work with.

I will keep updating the post with new pictures and progress and thanks for looking!

invincible569 · 12/04/2006, 02:44 PM

Nice to see another AE creation. Welcome to the club!

The guy who builds these tanks is considered a whiz and is very well respected. I didnt see anything about the top.. is it open top?

Also, what kind of lighting do you plan to use?

Bebo77 · 12/04/2006, 02:46 PM

what are all those little pieces of acrylic doing all over the sump?

makoJ · 12/04/2006, 02:51 PM

invincible569
Thanks I totally forgot to add lighting LOL
I'm going to be running 5- 400w 10k reeflux MH and 4 - 8' VHO actinic's. I'm going to build a custom hood that I can raise, out of aluminum. Eventually I will be adding Lumenarc's but right now it will be spider reflectors.

Bebo77
those are there for extra bracing, I don't think they are needed but it doesn't hurt either.

invincible569 · 12/04/2006, 03:18 PM

Post pics when you get it! Are you picking it up or are they delivering to you? The PVC idea is a great idea. You can accidentally drop something, not worry about your tank blowing up from all that stress.. and so on. LGAquaria in Italy also uses PVC with glass. Thats the only other place I know of that uses this technique. I do know that AE has been doing this for more than a decade though without any problems.

makoJ · 12/04/2006, 04:23 PM

They are delivering it to me. I will take lots of pictures I can't wait!!

I have to get it plumbed quick b/c I have to transfer my 150gal into it by the end of December.

I was blown away by the pvc bottom, its like built in BB lol

adddo · 12/05/2006, 07:27 AM

Looking at your 75g im thinking this will be a killer tank!

Keep us updated!

jnarowe · 12/05/2006, 06:37 PM

Strange. I saw a 150g...and it was sweet. Love this picture:

alien9168 · 12/05/2006, 07:39 PM

Lookin forward to this build!

It looks like your off to a great start

JGross4 · 12/05/2006, 08:28 PM

Nice! what thickness acrylic did you go with on the sump?

Chaotic Reefer4u · 12/05/2006, 11:18 PM

way to go mako...following along on this one.

Reefinabox · 12/05/2006, 11:47 PM

Looks like it will be fun. Tagging along

makoJ · 12/06/2006, 12:20 AM

jnarowe--I have a 150gal and my wife has a 75gal

JGross4-- its made of 1/4" acrylic

thanks everyone! wish me luck

jnarowe · 12/06/2006, 08:05 AM

nice.

boozeman · 12/06/2006, 09:48 AM

good luck!!
wheres the popcorn

naka · 12/06/2006, 09:24 PM

Congratulations Brian on your new setup. Keep us updated w/ your progress b/c I love your photo taking skillz. Nice job on going w/ external overflow box. If your front glass is low iron from AE, then I'm pretty sure your getting Starphire (PPG). I'm going to follow this thread for sure.

James

makoJ · 12/06/2006, 09:46 PM

Thanks James!

I pretty sure its Starphire also can't wait to see the tank

z28pwr · 12/07/2006, 09:32 AM

Congrats on the new tank Brian. You'll have to invite us over to take a look at it once it's up and running. I'm really curious about that PVC bottom.

KingfishJohn · 12/10/2006, 04:34 PM

John from Kingfish here and a few quick notes about Brian's tank.

The tank is actually 1/2" glass with the front panel being starphire. Then the whole tank is eurobraced using 3/4" acrylic.

The other big one is that the tank is actually being manufactured by Acrylic and Glass Exhibits (AGE). Their website is here www.acrylicandglassexhibits.com

I'll be following this thread

John

invincible569 · 12/10/2006, 04:52 PM

Brian.. check out AGE's website which is building your tank.. there they talk about Tommy.. the guy I told you about.

http://www.acrylicandglassexhibits.com/

makoJ · 12/10/2006, 06:26 PM

awesome I guess I had the wrong website
Thanks will check them out

invincible569 · 12/10/2006, 06:27 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by makoJ
awesome I guess I had the wrong website
Thanks will check them out

No, you had the right one. When you read it.. these are all sister companies.

invincible569 · 12/10/2006, 06:28 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by thedude15810
John
The other big one is that the tank is actually being manufactured by Acrylic and Glass Exhibits (AGE). Their website is here www.acrylicandglassexhibits.com

John

Oops I didnt realize this was already posted.

Sorry didnt read it all.

makoJ · 12/19/2006, 08:30 PM

I'm getting excited tank will be here on Thursday

so more pictures are coming soon.

Got my new 300 GPD RO/DI, a Mako from AquaFx

and a shot of the tank supplies: plumbing parts, Sequence hammerhead, and a Dart and flex pvc, etc....

I'm going to take a bunch of pictures stay tuned

naka · 12/19/2006, 09:32 PM

Brian, 300 gpd RO/DI called Mako? lol Can't wait to see the tank.

James

12/04/2006, 02:37 PM	#1
makoJ Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2004 Location: Texas Posts: 1,472 Blog Entries: 3	The start of my 300Gal starfire SPS tank Never done a tank build thread so here is my go at it. Thanks to John and Brian at KingFish Aquariums in Austin for all of their help and time in planning and furture building of this system. Tank: Tank will be here in 2 1/2 weeks its going to be 96" x 30" x 25" tall, front is 3/4" low iron glass and the back and side panels are 3/4" standard glass. Made by Aquarium Environments The bottom plate is type sch. 80 pvc with 5 holes counter sunk for my close loop. CAD drawing: Flow: Closed loop: oceans motions 4-way plumbed with a Sequence Barracuda and using 4- 1.5" Omni Flex Nozzles Tunze Streams: I don't know how many of these I'm going to use but I currently have: 1-6200, 5-6100's,1-6080 and a 6060 as well as a multi-controller. I will have to see where to place these as the tank gets plumbed up. Return pump: Sequence Dart Sump I designed the sump to run 4 - 7" filter socks and made it large enough to fit under the Iron stand that Aquarium Environment's is making me. My CAD drawings: Dan at Dan Aquatic's in San Antonio made my sump to my CAD drawings. Room The tank is going in between the windows and I will make a fake wall which will give me a small fish room behind the tank to work with. I will keep updating the post with new pictures and progress and thanks for looking! __________________ TOTM March 2008 It takes a strong man to cry, but it takes an even stronger man to laugh at that man. --300Gal SPS tank long gone but new tank on the horizon Current Tank Info: Custom 110g, Lights: Radion's Flow: 2 Vortechs

12/04/2006, 02:46 PM	#3
Bebo77 Premium Nonpaying Member Join Date: Jul 2005 Location: Lost Posts: 14,377	what are all those little pieces of acrylic doing all over the sump? __________________ Gabriel Current Tank Info: 300 Gal Envision Tank(98Lx30Wx26T) 120 Gal SoCalCreations Sump, Deltec TC2560, 2 LumenarcsMini 1 Reg on a light mover W Radiums 250& 400, Gallaxy ballasts, Red Dragon 10m3 return W/ 2 WavySeas, 2 6155 Tunze streams

12/04/2006, 02:51 PM	#4
makoJ Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2004 Location: Texas Posts: 1,472 Blog Entries: 3	invincible569 Thanks I totally forgot to add lighting LOL I'm going to be running 5- 400w 10k reeflux MH and 4 - 8' VHO actinic's. I'm going to build a custom hood that I can raise, out of aluminum. Eventually I will be adding Lumenarc's but right now it will be spider reflectors. Bebo77 those are there for extra bracing, I don't think they are needed but it doesn't hurt either. __________________ TOTM March 2008 It takes a strong man to cry, but it takes an even stronger man to laugh at that man. --300Gal SPS tank long gone but new tank on the horizon Current Tank Info: Custom 110g, Lights: Radion's Flow: 2 Vortechs

12/04/2006, 04:23 PM	#6
makoJ Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2004 Location: Texas Posts: 1,472 Blog Entries: 3	They are delivering it to me. I will take lots of pictures I can't wait!! I have to get it plumbed quick b/c I have to transfer my 150gal into it by the end of December. I was blown away by the pvc bottom, its like built in BB lol __________________ TOTM March 2008 It takes a strong man to cry, but it takes an even stronger man to laugh at that man. --300Gal SPS tank long gone but new tank on the horizon Current Tank Info: Custom 110g, Lights: Radion's Flow: 2 Vortechs

12/05/2006, 07:27 AM	#7
adddo “Goodnight, tiny humans.” Join Date: Sep 2004 Location: Stockholm, Sweden Posts: 1,008	Looking at your 75g im thinking this will be a killer tank! Keep us updated! __________________ If Pacman had affected us as kids, then we'd all be running around in a dark room, munching pills and listening to repetitive music //Bjarne

12/04/2006, 02:44 PM	#2
invincible569 Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2003 Posts: 5,715	Nice to see another AE creation. Welcome to the club! The guy who builds these tanks is considered a whiz and is very well respected. I didnt see anything about the top.. is it open top? Also, what kind of lighting do you plan to use?

12/04/2006, 03:18 PM	#5
invincible569 Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2003 Posts: 5,715	Post pics when you get it! Are you picking it up or are they delivering to you? The PVC idea is a great idea. You can accidentally drop something, not worry about your tank blowing up from all that stress.. and so on. LGAquaria in Italy also uses PVC with glass. Thats the only other place I know of that uses this technique. I do know that AE has been doing this for more than a decade though without any problems.

12/05/2006, 06:37 PM	#8
jnarowe Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: Poulsbo, WA Posts: 14,710	Strange. I saw a 150g...and it was sweet. Love this picture: __________________ Jonathan--Recovering Tankaholic. Current Tank Info: 70g fresh planted

12/05/2006, 07:39 PM	#9
alien9168 Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2004 Posts: 1,664	Lookin forward to this build! It looks like your off to a great start __________________ -Alien Current Tank Info: I used to have a 30g custom acrylic cube sps, lps, zoos, mushrooms, leathers, 3" gigas+ anthias. 30Xg Sea Horse Tank...starting fresh...

12/05/2006, 08:28 PM	#10
JGross4 Premium Member Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: Orlando Posts: 475	Nice! what thickness acrylic did you go with on the sump?

12/05/2006, 11:18 PM	#11
Chaotic Reefer4u ♥Acropora Aficionado♥ Join Date: Jul 2004 Location: Hollister,Ca. Posts: 5,163	way to go mako...following along on this one. __________________ Live everyday as if it was your last, take time to smell the flowers, enjoy all things living, never take anything for granted, you just never know when your number might be up... Current Tank Info: * 90g. Reef Ready TruVu tank with 30g. Platinum Filtration Series Sump SpS Acro enthusiast *

12/05/2006, 11:47 PM	#12
Reefinabox Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2001 Location: Florida Posts: 184	Looks like it will be fun. Tagging along

12/06/2006, 12:20 AM	#13
makoJ Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2004 Location: Texas Posts: 1,472 Blog Entries: 3	jnarowe--I have a 150gal and my wife has a 75gal JGross4-- its made of 1/4" acrylic thanks everyone! wish me luck __________________ TOTM March 2008 It takes a strong man to cry, but it takes an even stronger man to laugh at that man. --300Gal SPS tank long gone but new tank on the horizon Current Tank Info: Custom 110g, Lights: Radion's Flow: 2 Vortechs

12/06/2006, 08:05 AM	#14
jnarowe Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: Poulsbo, WA Posts: 14,710	nice. __________________ Jonathan--Recovering Tankaholic. Current Tank Info: 70g fresh planted

12/06/2006, 09:48 AM	#15
boozeman Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: new york Posts: 339	good luck!! wheres the popcorn __________________ WWBD ?

12/06/2006, 09:24 PM	#16
naka Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2002 Location: Houston, TX Posts: 1,544	Congratulations Brian on your new setup. Keep us updated w/ your progress b/c I love your photo taking skillz. Nice job on going w/ external overflow box. If your front glass is low iron from AE, then I'm pretty sure your getting Starphire (PPG). I'm going to follow this thread for sure. James

12/06/2006, 09:46 PM	#17
makoJ Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2004 Location: Texas Posts: 1,472 Blog Entries: 3	Thanks James! I pretty sure its Starphire also can't wait to see the tank __________________ TOTM March 2008 It takes a strong man to cry, but it takes an even stronger man to laugh at that man. --300Gal SPS tank long gone but new tank on the horizon Current Tank Info: Custom 110g, Lights: Radion's Flow: 2 Vortechs

12/07/2006, 09:32 AM	#18
z28pwr Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2002 Location: San Antonio, Texas Posts: 236	Congrats on the new tank Brian. You'll have to invite us over to take a look at it once it's up and running. I'm really curious about that PVC bottom.

12/10/2006, 04:34 PM	#19
KingfishJohn Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2004 Location: Austin, TX Posts: 474	John from Kingfish here and a few quick notes about Brian's tank. The tank is actually 1/2" glass with the front panel being starphire. Then the whole tank is eurobraced using 3/4" acrylic. The other big one is that the tank is actually being manufactured by Acrylic and Glass Exhibits (AGE). Their website is here www.acrylicandglassexhibits.com I'll be following this thread John

12/10/2006, 04:52 PM	#20
invincible569 Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2003 Posts: 5,715	Brian.. check out AGE's website which is building your tank.. there they talk about Tommy.. the guy I told you about. http://www.acrylicandglassexhibits.com/

12/10/2006, 06:26 PM	#21
makoJ Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2004 Location: Texas Posts: 1,472 Blog Entries: 3	awesome I guess I had the wrong website Thanks will check them out __________________ TOTM March 2008 It takes a strong man to cry, but it takes an even stronger man to laugh at that man. --300Gal SPS tank long gone but new tank on the horizon Current Tank Info: Custom 110g, Lights: Radion's Flow: 2 Vortechs

12/19/2006, 08:30 PM	#24
makoJ Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2004 Location: Texas Posts: 1,472 Blog Entries: 3	I'm getting excited tank will be here on Thursday so more pictures are coming soon. Got my new 300 GPD RO/DI, a Mako from AquaFx and a shot of the tank supplies: plumbing parts, Sequence hammerhead, and a Dart and flex pvc, etc.... I'm going to take a bunch of pictures stay tuned __________________ TOTM March 2008 It takes a strong man to cry, but it takes an even stronger man to laugh at that man. --300Gal SPS tank long gone but new tank on the horizon Current Tank Info: Custom 110g, Lights: Radion's Flow: 2 Vortechs

12/19/2006, 09:32 PM	#25
naka Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2002 Location: Houston, TX Posts: 1,544	Brian, 300 gpd RO/DI called Mako? lol Can't wait to see the tank. James