Try this again-My 600 gallon tank build

blfuller123 · 09/20/2007, 09:14 AM

A little more than a year ago, I built a 500 gallon tank and had plans to build it into the wall in my house ( http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/sh...hreadid=906741). Just as I made the first cut on the wall, we found out we were going to have another baby. Our then house was already full so we came to the conclusion to buy a house with another bedroom. I sold the tank and most of the goodies I had with it. We had a baby boy in May and moved into a bigger house about two months ago. I always said when I built another tank, it would of course be bigger than my last and it will be. I now have the acrylic to build my next big tank (all 5 sheets).

I have a wall that divides our living room and our family room that is 11 feet long. I am going to put this tank into the wall and it will be viewed from two sides. One viewing side will be flush in the wall. I plan on keeping mainly large fish-not a reef. The tank will measure 96 long x 48 wide x30 tall. Lighting will probabaly be some T5s. I have the acrylic tubing to build a pretty good size needle wheel skimmer (12 inch diamater) with an Orca pump. I still need to get a recirculating pump(s) for the tank.

I am going back and forth on the overflow(s) for the tank. I cant make up my mind if I want two external overflows: one on each side of the shortside of the tank or a single overflow in the center of the tank. The two external overflows would be nice because you wouldnt see anything inside the tank, but I would like to build a nice stand for the tank on the one side of the wall and that wouldnt look right with the over flows on each side. I would probabaly end up having to build another wall so it would be flush on both sides if I went this route. If I do a single overflow in the center of the tank, I was thinking of building up the rock around it and it would be like a center piece in the tank. Any suggestions?

This will be a really slow project because with three kids (two still in diapers) my spare time is limited. I will post pictures of my progress as it happens.

t11t5 · 09/20/2007, 10:18 AM

Good Luck........

Walter Costa · 09/20/2007, 10:45 AM

I hear you, man!
Had the same situation 9 month ago.
Now I am building a 500g on my beach side porch:

:.
So best wishes and keep on posting.

thor32766 · 09/20/2007, 02:43 PM

sounds like a great project. I am in the process of building my big tank, man the things that come up that you least expected!

blfuller123 · 09/24/2007, 04:43 AM

I got a little progress done this weekend. I got the last piece cut and then I glued up three of the pieces.

A little change to the original plan, my wife wants the tank to split the current wall, that way the tank only takes up 2 feet on either side. That works good, but I will need to frame up walls on both sides of the tank now. That solves where to put the over flows. I will do an overflow on both sides of the tank (the 4 foot sides).

I didnt get any pictures yet, but I will. It will probabaly be the weekend before I get it flipped over to glue the next piece.

Bax · 09/24/2007, 05:46 AM

Sound very cool! I like the idea of external overflows on the ends as you won't see them at all.

Let's see some pics as you build the tank too. Kudos for building your own. I think that requires nerves of steel to put a DIY tank that large in your wife's new living room dinning room.

Good Luck!

blfuller123 · 09/24/2007, 07:09 AM

Dont worry, it will be filled for a couple of weeks in the garage before I even think about taking it in the house.

I was really nervous with the first big tank I built. It doesnt seem quite as bad this time around.

khoivo1 · 09/24/2007, 07:16 AM

ohh here you are,,,i had been reading your other thead ,,all of surden you dissapear now i know why,,i can't image the moving you make,,,gotta be alot of work ,,,congra to the newbaby,,
don't for get to post picture we all love picture,,,
it gotta be more than two person help you to build big tank like that ,,its heavy i bet,,keep it upppppp thanks

blfuller123 · 09/24/2007, 08:38 AM

When I built the last tank, I had my brother on law helped me flip it one time, but the rest of the time I was able to do everything else by myself. This one is already getting heavy and I will probabaly need some help flipping it this weekend.

StingRay1969 · 09/24/2007, 10:27 AM

Can't wait to see the progress.

blfuller123 · 10/01/2007, 07:53 AM

I got a little more done this weekend. All of the vertical pieces of the tank are glued up. I just have the top and the bottom to do. Before I start on the top, I have to cut the teeth for the overflow. I am going to try and get that done and get the overflow box made this weekend. I will try and get some pictures then.

rlxwcapt · 10/01/2007, 09:41 AM

Sounds great. glad to see you are back. I read your last built and I can't wait to see this one. I will be following this one.

blfuller123 · 10/06/2007, 02:40 PM

I got a little more done today. I got the acrylic cut for the overflow and I got the teeth cut out. I am waiting on a friend to come over so we can flip it and I can glue the top. I even took pictures this time.

[IMG]http://i24.*******.com/14tvqme.jpg[/IMG]

Here is the overflow teeth. It will be 36 inches long.

[IMG]http://i21.*******.com/xfn30n.jpg[/IMG]

Hopefully I will get more done this weekend.

reeferman75 · 10/06/2007, 05:06 PM

Looking good Brett

reeferman75 · 10/06/2007, 06:02 PM

I am realy thinking of building one like yours just 24" tall. hey I am done with the skimmer so when your done with the tank maybe I will start on my tank on you can start on your skimmer ( LOL)

new_world_disor · 10/06/2007, 06:16 PM

holy ****. that thing is mahooooosive

blfuller123 · 10/06/2007, 07:08 PM

Got it flipped over on the top and started getting it glued up. Once it is cured, I will flip it back over and cut out the top holes.

[IMG]http://i22.*******.com/i1ln38.jpg[/IMG]

skriz · 10/06/2007, 09:09 PM

Looking sweet Brett!

46bfinGA · 10/06/2007, 09:35 PM

Very nice! I like the overflows on the side,that is going to make the back of the tank much cleaner looking.

Bax · 10/07/2007, 11:26 AM

Tank is going to be killer!

Nice livestock you got there!

pmjfuture · 10/07/2007, 12:17 PM

wow! 1st time seeing side overflows, very nice!

H20ENG · 10/07/2007, 02:55 PM

Man thats a lot of teeth! What method did you use for the alignment? Nice work!

blfuller123 · 10/07/2007, 06:18 PM

Thanks,

Yea, that is 36 inches worth of teeth. They are just 1/4 inch wide on 1/2 inch centers 1 1/2 inches down. I used a plastic square, a small c clamp and a router to cut them.

H20ENG · 10/07/2007, 06:49 PM

Dang! How many beers did that take?

I know you can make jigs for the table saw / router table, but that is a big piece to crosscut standing up.
WO4? You must have a nice big work table or a very flat garage floor.

thor32766 · 10/07/2007, 08:53 PM

yes this is one to watch for sure. good luck with it!

09/20/2007, 09:14 AM	#1
blfuller123 Premium Member Join Date: Jan 2003 Location: Lake Jackson, TX Posts: 511	Try this again-My 600 gallon tank build A little more than a year ago, I built a 500 gallon tank and had plans to build it into the wall in my house ( http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/sh...hreadid=906741). Just as I made the first cut on the wall, we found out we were going to have another baby. Our then house was already full so we came to the conclusion to buy a house with another bedroom. I sold the tank and most of the goodies I had with it. We had a baby boy in May and moved into a bigger house about two months ago. I always said when I built another tank, it would of course be bigger than my last and it will be. I now have the acrylic to build my next big tank (all 5 sheets). I have a wall that divides our living room and our family room that is 11 feet long. I am going to put this tank into the wall and it will be viewed from two sides. One viewing side will be flush in the wall. I plan on keeping mainly large fish-not a reef. The tank will measure 96 long x 48 wide x30 tall. Lighting will probabaly be some T5s. I have the acrylic tubing to build a pretty good size needle wheel skimmer (12 inch diamater) with an Orca pump. I still need to get a recirculating pump(s) for the tank. I am going back and forth on the overflow(s) for the tank. I cant make up my mind if I want two external overflows: one on each side of the shortside of the tank or a single overflow in the center of the tank. The two external overflows would be nice because you wouldnt see anything inside the tank, but I would like to build a nice stand for the tank on the one side of the wall and that wouldnt look right with the over flows on each side. I would probabaly end up having to build another wall so it would be flush on both sides if I went this route. If I do a single overflow in the center of the tank, I was thinking of building up the rock around it and it would be like a center piece in the tank. Any suggestions? This will be a really slow project because with three kids (two still in diapers) my spare time is limited. I will post pictures of my progress as it happens.

09/20/2007, 10:45 AM	#3
Walter Costa Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: Rio de Janeiro- Brazil Posts: 80	I hear you, man! Had the same situation 9 month ago. Now I am building a 500g on my beach side porch::. So best wishes and keep on posting.

09/20/2007, 02:43 PM	#4
thor32766 Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2005 Location: Chuluota, FL Posts: 6,072	sounds like a great project. I am in the process of building my big tank, man the things that come up that you least expected! __________________ "Live your life so no one has to lie about who you were at your funeral" click on my red house to see my tang compound! Current Tank Info: 29 gallon in Wall!

09/24/2007, 05:46 AM	#6
Bax Premium Member Join Date: Jan 2004 Location: New Jersey Posts: 5,619	Sound very cool! I like the idea of external overflows on the ends as you won't see them at all. Let's see some pics as you build the tank too. Kudos for building your own. I think that requires nerves of steel to put a DIY tank that large in your wife's new living room dinning room. Good Luck! __________________ 150 gallon Perfecto with 1500 gph GH overflow / DIY stand-wine bar / Dart Return / SRO XP3000 Ext skimmer / 75 g frag / 40 g fuge / 40 g DIY sump / Orphek P156 & Kessil 150A Current Tank Info: 150 DT/ 40B fuge/ 75g frag/ 40 g sump/ SRO XP 3000 Ext/ TUNZEs & VorTechs circulation/Dart return/ MTC Pro Cal/ UV & Oz

10/06/2007, 02:40 PM	#13
blfuller123 Premium Member Join Date: Jan 2003 Location: Lake Jackson, TX Posts: 511	I got a little more done today. I got the acrylic cut for the overflow and I got the teeth cut out. I am waiting on a friend to come over so we can flip it and I can glue the top. I even took pictures this time. [IMG]http://i24.*****.com/14tvqme.jpg[/IMG] Here is the overflow teeth. It will be 36 inches long. [IMG]http://i21.****.com/xfn30n.jpg[/IMG] Hopefully I will get more done this weekend. Last edited by Nanook; 10/15/2007 at 06:06 PM.*

09/20/2007, 10:18 AM	#2
t11t5 I love Bass Join Date: Nov 2004 Location: Ohio Posts: 1,847	Good Luck........

09/24/2007, 04:43 AM	#5
blfuller123 Premium Member Join Date: Jan 2003 Location: Lake Jackson, TX Posts: 511	I got a little progress done this weekend. I got the last piece cut and then I glued up three of the pieces. A little change to the original plan, my wife wants the tank to split the current wall, that way the tank only takes up 2 feet on either side. That works good, but I will need to frame up walls on both sides of the tank now. That solves where to put the over flows. I will do an overflow on both sides of the tank (the 4 foot sides). I didnt get any pictures yet, but I will. It will probabaly be the weekend before I get it flipped over to glue the next piece.

09/24/2007, 07:09 AM	#7
blfuller123 Premium Member Join Date: Jan 2003 Location: Lake Jackson, TX Posts: 511	Dont worry, it will be filled for a couple of weeks in the garage before I even think about taking it in the house. I was really nervous with the first big tank I built. It doesnt seem quite as bad this time around.

09/24/2007, 07:16 AM	#8
khoivo1 Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: snowta usa Posts: 748	ohh here you are,,,i had been reading your other thead ,,all of surden you dissapear now i know why,,i can't image the moving you make,,,gotta be alot of work ,,,congra to the newbaby,, don't for get to post picture we all love picture,,, it gotta be more than two person help you to build big tank like that ,,its heavy i bet,,keep it upppppp thanks

09/24/2007, 08:38 AM	#9
blfuller123 Premium Member Join Date: Jan 2003 Location: Lake Jackson, TX Posts: 511	When I built the last tank, I had my brother on law helped me flip it one time, but the rest of the time I was able to do everything else by myself. This one is already getting heavy and I will probabaly need some help flipping it this weekend.

09/24/2007, 10:27 AM	#10
StingRay1969 Premium Member Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Plainfield, IL Posts: 152	Can't wait to see the progress.

10/01/2007, 07:53 AM	#11
blfuller123 Premium Member Join Date: Jan 2003 Location: Lake Jackson, TX Posts: 511	I got a little more done this weekend. All of the vertical pieces of the tank are glued up. I just have the top and the bottom to do. Before I start on the top, I have to cut the teeth for the overflow. I am going to try and get that done and get the overflow box made this weekend. I will try and get some pictures then.

10/01/2007, 09:41 AM	#12
rlxwcapt Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Salisbury, MD Posts: 138	Sounds great. glad to see you are back. I read your last built and I can't wait to see this one. I will be following this one.

10/06/2007, 05:06 PM	#14
reeferman75 Moved On Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: Atlanta , Ga Posts: 296	Looking good Brett

10/06/2007, 06:02 PM	#15
reeferman75 Moved On Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: Atlanta , Ga Posts: 296	I am realy thinking of building one like yours just 24" tall. hey I am done with the skimmer so when your done with the tank maybe I will start on my tank on you can start on your skimmer ( LOL)

10/06/2007, 06:16 PM	#16
new_world_disor Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: cardiff, wales Posts: 1,393	holy ****. that thing is mahooooosive

10/06/2007, 07:08 PM	#17
blfuller123 Premium Member Join Date: Jan 2003 Location: Lake Jackson, TX Posts: 511	Got it flipped over on the top and started getting it glued up. Once it is cured, I will flip it back over and cut out the top holes. [IMG]http://i22.*******.com/i1ln38.jpg[/IMG]

10/06/2007, 09:09 PM	#18
skriz Moved On Join Date: Mar 2001 Posts: 502	Looking sweet Brett!

10/06/2007, 09:35 PM	#19
46bfinGA Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: Ball Ground, Ga. Posts: 1,333	Very nice! I like the overflows on the side,that is going to make the back of the tank much cleaner looking.

10/07/2007, 11:26 AM	#20
Bax Premium Member Join Date: Jan 2004 Location: New Jersey Posts: 5,619	Tank is going to be killer! Nice livestock you got there! __________________ 150 gallon Perfecto with 1500 gph GH overflow / DIY stand-wine bar / Dart Return / SRO XP3000 Ext skimmer / 75 g frag / 40 g fuge / 40 g DIY sump / Orphek P156 & Kessil 150A Current Tank Info: 150 DT/ 40B fuge/ 75g frag/ 40 g sump/ SRO XP 3000 Ext/ TUNZEs & VorTechs circulation/Dart return/ MTC Pro Cal/ UV & Oz

10/07/2007, 12:17 PM	#21
pmjfuture Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: New York Posts: 63	wow! 1st time seeing side overflows, very nice!

10/07/2007, 02:55 PM	#22
H20ENG Pro builder/aquarist hack Join Date: Jul 2002 Location: NORCAL (Vacaville, CA) Posts: 5,125	Man thats a lot of teeth! What method did you use for the alignment? Nice work!

10/07/2007, 06:18 PM	#23
blfuller123 Premium Member Join Date: Jan 2003 Location: Lake Jackson, TX Posts: 511	Thanks, Yea, that is 36 inches worth of teeth. They are just 1/4 inch wide on 1/2 inch centers 1 1/2 inches down. I used a plastic square, a small c clamp and a router to cut them.

10/07/2007, 06:49 PM	#24
H20ENG Pro builder/aquarist hack Join Date: Jul 2002 Location: NORCAL (Vacaville, CA) Posts: 5,125	Dang! How many beers did that take? I know you can make jigs for the table saw / router table, but that is a big piece to crosscut standing up. WO4? You must have a nice big work table or a very flat garage floor.

10/07/2007, 08:53 PM	#25
thor32766 Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2005 Location: Chuluota, FL Posts: 6,072	yes this is one to watch for sure. good luck with it! __________________ "Live your life so no one has to lie about who you were at your funeral" click on my red house to see my tang compound! Current Tank Info: 29 gallon in Wall!