400 gallon glass tank build - Page 3

Oildalemonkey · 03/12/2011, 08:21 PM

You work quick, Dan! That is so cool how you made the supports for the sides; I guess I've never seen how it's done. Are you going to build 489 gallon tanks for the rest of us now?

wakesurfdan · 03/12/2011, 08:22 PM

photo 3-4.jpg

photo 5-4.jpg

wakesurfdan · 03/12/2011, 08:27 PM

I have a hand operated fork lift and will be raising the whole build stand up to the steel stand level and sliding it over

widmer · 03/12/2011, 08:36 PM

Very cool. When sliding it over are you going to use a bunch of dowels to roll it on, like when they built the pyramids?

wakesurfdan · 03/12/2011, 08:38 PM

Ok I have the total cost to date for tank , stand
Glass for tank which has starfire glass front and sides $1,490.00
Steel for stand $280.00
Silicone $72.00
Total $1,842.00

Not bad for a tank I got 3 quotes on and the cheapest was $5,600.00 without a stand!
From Glass cages without shipping
I will also be building the filter system from scratch so after all said and done I should have $3,800.00 invested before liverock ect.

discus510 · 03/12/2011, 08:41 PM

nice build but if it was me i wouldnt dare to make such a big tank if its my first tank build. im havin my tank build by keith grandt in sacramento. hes using 3/4 all around and 1/2 on bottom plus a 2" around bottom edge of tank.
dimension of tank is 120 x 36 x 27 with no cross brace on top only 4" around makin it a euro brace and top and side r low iron glass. im only payin a lil more than wat u said u would pay all glass for the 3/4 glass. and the price includes building it and bringin it to my shop and puttin it on the stand =)
PS this tank isnt goin to be a reef tank

wakesurfdan · 03/12/2011, 08:47 PM

There's NOTHING better for me than the satisfaction of stepping back and saying yep I built it myself!!!

widmer · 03/12/2011, 09:08 PM

Definitely hear you on the satisfaction. But I wonder what thickness GC would have made it out of - I recently got a 48x15x12 rimless starphire from them and they used 1/2" all around and eurobraced with another layer of 1/2" in the bottom as well. Overbuilt? Maybe, but my significant other is really un-reefsafe...

jsw810 · 03/12/2011, 09:12 PM

I agree 100% about building it yourself. You certaintly seem to have researched this completely and know what your doing. Keep us up to date on the progress.

discus510 · 03/13/2011, 01:59 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by wakesurfdan

Ok I have the total cost to date for tank , stand
Glass for tank which has starfire glass front and sides $1,490.00
Steel for stand $280.00
Silicone $72.00
Total $1,842.00

Not bad for a tank I got 3 quotes on and the cheapest was $5,600.00 without a stand!
From Glass cages without shipping
I will also be building the filter system from scratch so after all said and done I should have $3,800.00 invested before liverock ect.

now tats a good price i thought u spent 2900 on glasses itself from all glass. umm wanna help me build one??

wakesurfdan · 03/16/2011, 08:47 PM

heres a couple of pics starting on my euro bracing and overflow boxes.
Anybody got some good overflow designs? looking at the pics I have 3 -1 1/2" bulkheads in each overflow box, 1 will be a return with a t at the top feeding 4 -3/4" lockline returns and the other two 1 1/2" bulkheads are going to be drains. Any good Ideas would be more than welcome.photo-1.jpg

Doug864 · 03/17/2011, 06:56 PM

Coast to coast exterior with bean animal overflow.
Regards,
Doug

Quote:

Originally Posted by wakesurfdan

heres a couple of pics starting on my euro bracing and overflow boxes.
Anybody got some good overflow designs? looking at the pics I have 3 -1 1/2" bulkheads in each overflow box, 1 will be a return with a t at the top feeding 4 -3/4" lockline returns and the other two 1 1/2" bulkheads are going to be drains. Any good Ideas would be more than welcome.Attachment 142379

oquockyo · 03/17/2011, 07:16 PM

WoW !!!! thats really amazing. I would never have the balls to take on something like that. You got some skills.

Texastravis · 03/17/2011, 08:25 PM

Looking good so far!

As for those dimensions and glass thicknesses....Best would have been 1/2" sides and 3/4" front and back panels..too late now though lol. Consider adding one more brace in there...If not you wont have anything to worry about first 5 years but try to keep vigilant on your seals throughout the tanks life.

Quote:

Thats My 560/g 120x36x30 was 1/2" Starfire sides and 3/4 bottom and is still up and running 5 years later. Everyone here way over builds everything.

We people that "overbuild" like to build our tanks to last over 10 years. That and an added $500 to a $10,000 investment for added insurance is pretty nice. I would keep an eye on those seals at about the 10 year mark. Poor Mark (Melev) busted a leak on his beautiful 300 gallon and his tank was only 30" wide, not 36".

wakesurfdan · 03/17/2011, 08:34 PM

I will post pics on Sunday of all the bracing. Besides the 2-4" end braces on top there are 3-6" across the top and 2" bracing along edge of bottom

wakesurfdan · 03/17/2011, 08:59 PM

Also if the difference was only $500 it would have been a no brainer!!
But the difference was going to be $1,200 between 1/2" and 3/4"

Texastravis · 03/17/2011, 10:11 PM

Quote:

Also if the difference was only $500 it would have been a no brainer!!
But the difference was going to be $1,200 between 1/2" and 3/4"

That comment wasnt really directed at you. That is usually the typical cost difference on tanks in the mid sized range of around 200 gallons.

I see now that you say that your water level height wont be above 27". This actually makes things 10x better. Every inch of water you add beyond 27" (for your tank) will decrease the tank life significantly. At 27" I would suggest watching the seals at about the 15 year mark. Adding just 1 more cross brace would help even more as well, but it will be pointless and ineffective adding anymore than 4. If it helps change your mind you could consider changing brace size to 4" and having 4 of them. This will be stronger than 3x 6" ones but actually less cover.

But, I am kind of assuming that you havnt aded the center braces just yet.

wakesurfdan · 03/19/2011, 11:55 AM

photo 3-11.jpg

photo 1-11.jpg

photo 2-11.jpg

wakesurfdan · 03/19/2011, 03:22 PM

Finishing up bottom euro bracing today, I installed 1/2" thick by 2" wide strips along bottom edge. I will start top bracing this afternoon and photo 3-12.jpg

photo 4-9.jpg

photo 2-12.jpg

photo 1-12.JPG have the basic tank done by tomorrow. This week I will be making and installing overflow box covers and hopefully lift tank onto stand next weekend

Reefnut2010 · 03/19/2011, 06:36 PM

You seem to know what you're doing, and your tank and seams look very clean. If I had the skill to DIY, I would do the same, as the prices for these things are ridiculous !! Its a glass/acrylic box for GODS sake !! Looking forward to some pics of a stocked tank. Good Job !!

widmer · 03/19/2011, 07:39 PM

Great progress, tank looks fantastic

It's really starting to make me feel like my tank was wayyyyy overbuilt... Mine is 48"x15"x12"h and was also made out of 1/2" glass w/ 2" eurobrace in bottom... Maybe I should rent it out on weekends for bomb disposal?

vietcu · 03/19/2011, 11:24 PM

This is really motivating me to build my own tank. I have been kicking around the idea of building my own large tank, and you might actually push me towards doing it

. Looking real good so far, tagging along.

wakesurfdan · 03/20/2011, 04:40 PM

Almost there just have the 10 ft long by 4" strips that go along the edge.photo 1-13.jpg

photo 2-13.jpg

photo 4-10.jpg

photo 3-13.jpg

wakesurfdan · 03/20/2011, 04:44 PM

If someone could explain how to upload full size pics things would look alot better

widmer · 03/20/2011, 04:49 PM

Set up an account with photobucket.com It's free and works great. You just upload your images to the website and it gives you the code right there for putting them in your post.

03/12/2011, 08:21 PM	#51
Oildalemonkey Registered Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Shafter, CA Posts: 110	You work quick, Dan! That is so cool how you made the supports for the sides; I guess I've never seen how it's done. Are you going to build 489 gallon tanks for the rest of us now? __________________ "All you need is one good coral."

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03/12/2011, 08:22 PM	#52
wakesurfdan Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2011 Location: Sacramento Ca. Posts: 462	photo 3-4.jpg photo 5-4.jpg

03/12/2011, 08:27 PM	#53
wakesurfdan Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2011 Location: Sacramento Ca. Posts: 462	I have a hand operated fork lift and will be raising the whole build stand up to the steel stand level and sliding it over

03/12/2011, 08:36 PM	#54
widmer Drug Enthusiast Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: Rochester, MN Posts: 2,958	Very cool. When sliding it over are you going to use a bunch of dowels to roll it on, like when they built the pyramids?

03/12/2011, 08:38 PM	#55
wakesurfdan Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2011 Location: Sacramento Ca. Posts: 462	Ok I have the total cost to date for tank , stand Glass for tank which has starfire glass front and sides $1,490.00 Steel for stand $280.00 Silicone $72.00 Total $1,842.00 Not bad for a tank I got 3 quotes on and the cheapest was $5,600.00 without a stand! From Glass cages without shipping I will also be building the filter system from scratch so after all said and done I should have $3,800.00 invested before liverock ect.

03/12/2011, 08:41 PM	#56
discus510 Moved On Join Date: Sep 2009 Location: San Jose, California Posts: 803	nice build but if it was me i wouldnt dare to make such a big tank if its my first tank build. im havin my tank build by keith grandt in sacramento. hes using 3/4 all around and 1/2 on bottom plus a 2" around bottom edge of tank. dimension of tank is 120 x 36 x 27 with no cross brace on top only 4" around makin it a euro brace and top and side r low iron glass. im only payin a lil more than wat u said u would pay all glass for the 3/4 glass. and the price includes building it and bringin it to my shop and puttin it on the stand =) PS this tank isnt goin to be a reef tank

03/12/2011, 08:47 PM	#57
wakesurfdan Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2011 Location: Sacramento Ca. Posts: 462	There's NOTHING better for me than the satisfaction of stepping back and saying yep I built it myself!!!

03/12/2011, 09:08 PM	#58
widmer Drug Enthusiast Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: Rochester, MN Posts: 2,958	Definitely hear you on the satisfaction. But I wonder what thickness GC would have made it out of - I recently got a 48x15x12 rimless starphire from them and they used 1/2" all around and eurobraced with another layer of 1/2" in the bottom as well. Overbuilt? Maybe, but my significant other is really un-reefsafe...

03/12/2011, 09:12 PM	#59
jsw810 Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2011 Posts: 5	I agree 100% about building it yourself. You certaintly seem to have researched this completely and know what your doing. Keep us up to date on the progress.

03/16/2011, 08:47 PM	#61
wakesurfdan Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2011 Location: Sacramento Ca. Posts: 462	heres a couple of pics starting on my euro bracing and overflow boxes. Anybody got some good overflow designs? looking at the pics I have 3 -1 1/2" bulkheads in each overflow box, 1 will be a return with a t at the top feeding 4 -3/4" lockline returns and the other two 1 1/2" bulkheads are going to be drains. Any good Ideas would be more than welcome.photo-1.jpg

03/17/2011, 07:16 PM	#63
oquockyo Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2003 Posts: 104	WoW !!!! thats really amazing. I would never have the balls to take on something like that. You got some skills.

03/17/2011, 08:34 PM	#65
wakesurfdan Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2011 Location: Sacramento Ca. Posts: 462	I will post pics on Sunday of all the bracing. Besides the 2-4" end braces on top there are 3-6" across the top and 2" bracing along edge of bottom

03/17/2011, 08:59 PM	#66
wakesurfdan Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2011 Location: Sacramento Ca. Posts: 462	Also if the difference was only $500 it would have been a no brainer!! But the difference was going to be $1,200 between 1/2" and 3/4"

03/19/2011, 11:55 AM	#68
wakesurfdan Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2011 Location: Sacramento Ca. Posts: 462	photo 3-11.jpg photo 1-11.jpg photo 2-11.jpg

03/19/2011, 03:22 PM	#69
wakesurfdan Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2011 Location: Sacramento Ca. Posts: 462	Finishing up bottom euro bracing today, I installed 1/2" thick by 2" wide strips along bottom edge. I will start top bracing this afternoon and photo 3-12.jpg photo 4-9.jpg photo 2-12.jpg photo 1-12.JPG have the basic tank done by tomorrow. This week I will be making and installing overflow box covers and hopefully lift tank onto stand next weekend

03/19/2011, 06:36 PM	#70
Reefnut2010 Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2011 Location: San Gabriel Valley, Ca Posts: 427	You seem to know what you're doing, and your tank and seams look very clean. If I had the skill to DIY, I would do the same, as the prices for these things are ridiculous !! Its a glass/acrylic box for GODS sake !! Looking forward to some pics of a stocked tank. Good Job !!

03/19/2011, 07:39 PM	#71
widmer Drug Enthusiast Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: Rochester, MN Posts: 2,958	Great progress, tank looks fantastic It's really starting to make me feel like my tank was wayyyyy overbuilt... Mine is 48"x15"x12"h and was also made out of 1/2" glass w/ 2" eurobrace in bottom... Maybe I should rent it out on weekends for bomb disposal?

03/19/2011, 11:24 PM	#72
vietcu Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: Akron, Ohio Posts: 1,280	This is really motivating me to build my own tank. I have been kicking around the idea of building my own large tank, and you might actually push me towards doing it . Looking real good so far, tagging along.

03/20/2011, 04:40 PM	#73
wakesurfdan Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2011 Location: Sacramento Ca. Posts: 462	Almost there just have the 10 ft long by 4" strips that go along the edge.photo 1-13.jpg photo 2-13.jpg photo 4-10.jpg photo 3-13.jpg

03/20/2011, 04:44 PM	#74
wakesurfdan Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2011 Location: Sacramento Ca. Posts: 462	If someone could explain how to upload full size pics things would look alot better

03/20/2011, 04:49 PM	#75
widmer Drug Enthusiast Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: Rochester, MN Posts: 2,958	Set up an account with photobucket.com It's free and works great. You just upload your images to the website and it gives you the code right there for putting them in your post.