Reef Central Online Community

Go Back   Reef Central Online Community > Special Interest Group (SIG) Forums > Large Reef Tanks
Blogs FAQ Calendar Mark Forums Read

Notices

User Tag List

Reply
Thread Tools
Unread 05/09/2013, 07:05 AM   #51
worm5406
Not afriad to admit wrong
 
worm5406's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jun 2012
Location: South of WashDC in Maryland
Posts: 7,774
That is a very nice setup. What do the workers say about it? Do they come in and comment on it?

What are you going to do about natural light coming in?


__________________
Stock:LPS/SPS|1 hippo|4 OC Clown|4 Pepp shrimp|2 Brittle Star|3000+ Copepods|10+ MiniBrittle|8+ Bristle Worm|2 Anemone|100+ mini-feather|4 boys 14,21,22,22

Current Tank Info: Tank:300g Mixed Reef 300+lb LR|4" LS|5x MP40W|75g fuge|5x RadionPRO|RO DB250 skimmer|Apex
worm5406 is offline   Reply With Quote
Unread 05/09/2013, 07:09 AM   #52
dave.m
Registered Member
 
dave.m's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jan 2010
Location: Canadia
Posts: 4,276
Paul, can you please talk a bit more about the construction of the display tank itself? How thick is the glass? What is the material bounding the edges and how is it all held together? Your picture of the bracing looks like it is somehow pegged. What is all that about?

I am really interested in lighting a deep tank with LED canons as you have proposed. Do you have a PAR meter to test your set-up once everything is installed? I'd be curious as to how these work in a real-life scenario. Have you considered some of the other LED canons like the Orphek DIF pendants?

Thx,

Dave.M


__________________
My Gawd! It's full of corals!

Current Tank Info: None. Nil. Zip. Nada.
dave.m is offline   Reply With Quote
Unread 05/09/2013, 07:12 AM   #53
SPotter
Registered Member
 
SPotter's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jun 2010
Location: Mt. Pleasant, SC
Posts: 5,691
Ummm.....Im speechless. Cant wait to see this all come together!!!!


__________________
Steve

Am I really doing all of this for a fish tank??????

Current Tank Info: 360g Envision Acrylic Tank, Closed Loops, Vectra L1's, MP40QD's, 400w Radiums, Regal 300ext, Dastaco Ext3 CaRx, Controlled by GHL Profilux
SPotter is offline   Reply With Quote
Unread 05/09/2013, 07:32 AM   #54
Jarob
Registered Member
 
Jarob's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jul 2007
Location: Boston, MA
Posts: 409
Amazing build thus far! I will be moving to Austin next year and definitely hope to see this beauty in person!


Jarob is offline   Reply With Quote
Unread 05/09/2013, 07:47 AM   #55
FuzzyZipperbaum
Registered Member
 
FuzzyZipperbaum's Avatar
 
Join Date: Feb 2008
Location: Wayne Manor, Tampa Florida
Posts: 474
Quote:
Originally Posted by pmrogers View Post
1. Excellent point, rbarn. Our 205 was starphire and I did manage to put 3 significant scratches in it over its 15 year life. Mostly from over eager use of a metal algae scraper. Even still, the first impression on seeing the tank was that it was new and you had to make a point of looking for scratches; contrasted with the acrylic 750 that was half the age and looked like a war veteran. My plan for the new tank is to use only acrylic-safe algae pads and scrapers. My biggest worry for now is losing control of one of the taller aquascape pillars during install.

2. Yeah, I got a kick out of the crane. I was a huge Tonka fan as a kid.

Crane counterweight
The counterweight is 25,000 pounds and had to be delivered on a separate 18-wheeler flatbed.



Crane footing
Apparently even 18" square feet might punch through the asphalt of the street, so they bring 4' steel plates to further distribute the weight.
"1. Excellent point, rbarn. Our 205 was starphire and I did manage to put 3 significant scratches in it over its 15 year life. Mostly from over eager use of a metal algae scraper. Even still, the first impression on seeing the tank was that it was new and you had to make a point of looking for scratches; contrasted with the acrylic 750 that was half the age and looked like a war veteran. My plan for the new tank is to use only acrylic-safe algae pads and scrapers. My biggest worry for now is losing control of one of the taller aquascape pillars during install. "

am doing my rock formations right now....I have the same worries about falling aqua scape during set up. I hung heavy terry cloth towls on the inside when we were building the scape....it has saved me twice......


FuzzyZipperbaum is offline   Reply With Quote
Unread 05/09/2013, 08:23 AM   #56
pmrogers
Premium Member
 
Join Date: Dec 2002
Location: Austin, TX
Posts: 481
Quote:
Originally Posted by worm5406 View Post
That is a very nice setup. What do the workers say about it? Do they come in and comment on it?

What are you going to do about natural light coming in?
The workers mostly just laugh at the craziness of it all. None of them are aquarium guys but they got the idea this was going to be an unusual project starting from the 15 24" and 30" piers, through the 24" structural steel beams, and then the size of the crane used to hoist the tank. By the time the tank itself was dropped in I think they were done with being surprised.

I view the natural light as a good thing. My 205 got direct sunlight on one end for a few hours each day and the anemones and corals on that end were the happiest in the tank. This tank will only get fairly weak mid morning light. That said, there will be both full blackout and sheer shades on those windows as part of the media room light control system.


__________________
Paul

Current Tank Info: 1700gal 164"x48"x56" starphire and FRP tank
pmrogers is offline   Reply With Quote
Unread 05/09/2013, 08:49 AM   #57
chingchai
Premium Member
 
chingchai's Avatar
 
Join Date: Mar 2004
Location: Bangkok Thailand
Posts: 5,670
Paul. Very inspired build thread.
Thank you for sharing.
Look forward to seeing the progress.

All the best.


__________________
Ching (low profile)
" Life is too short to drink bad wine "
click on my homepage to see my tank on-line
chingchai is offline   Reply With Quote
Unread 05/09/2013, 09:12 AM   #58
yrema
Lounger
 
yrema's Avatar
 
Join Date: Nov 2005
Location: Manila, Philippines
Posts: 331
^ Chingchai pointed me to this thread.

Holy crap, Paul! This is one sweet, impressive build! Subscribed!


__________________
Warmest Regards,

Marty, Amery and Seth :)

Current Tank Info: 100gal Low-tech, Low-cost Mixed Reef
yrema is offline   Reply With Quote
Unread 05/09/2013, 09:17 AM   #59
AJsTank
Registered Member
 
AJsTank's Avatar
 
Join Date: Mar 2013
Location: Salt Lake City, Utah
Posts: 154
GOOD LORD this tank is huge. I did not know you could go this big with Glass. Can you please tell me who built it?


AJsTank is offline   Reply With Quote
Unread 05/09/2013, 09:29 AM   #60
Lofty
Registered Member.
 
Lofty's Avatar
 
Join Date: Oct 2003
Location: Phoenix
Posts: 779
Quote:
Originally Posted by techreef View Post
Clearly you put a LOT of thought into your sump design. Very nice. And yeah, when a crane is involved with unloading the tank, it's an epic build project. LOL. Beautiful home. I wholeheartedly agree with your ideas so far. It sounds like you are walking the same path as Dan's Arizona build. I'm looking forward to your progress.
Anyone have a link to this thread... I would like too check it out

Oh yeah... Subscribed!! This one is gong to be epic!


Lofty is offline   Reply With Quote
Unread 05/09/2013, 09:33 AM   #61
pmrogers
Premium Member
 
Join Date: Dec 2002
Location: Austin, TX
Posts: 481
Quote:
Originally Posted by dave.m View Post
Paul, can you please talk a bit more about the construction of the display tank itself? How thick is the glass? What is the material bounding the edges and how is it all held together? Your picture of the bracing looks like it is somehow pegged. What is all that about?

I am really interested in lighting a deep tank with LED canons as you have proposed. Do you have a PAR meter to test your set-up once everything is installed? I'd be curious as to how these work in a real-life scenario. Have you considered some of the other LED canons like the Orphek DIF pendants?

Thx,

Dave.M
Sure thing, Dave. The tank is constructed as a fiberglass reinforced plastic box with portholes cut out for the viewing panels. This is even stronger than an acrylic tank for the base frame. You then have the option of using either acrylic or glass viewing panels.

I don't know the details of how the viewing panels are sealed, but the main idea is that the brunt of the force on the panel is borne by the FRP frame. All the seals have to do is prevent water leakage; there is not a silicone or adhesive that is having to serve as both the structural element preventing the panels from bursting apart and also serve as the waterproof membrane.

The glass is 1.5" thick, three laminated layers of 1/2" starphire. I think the tank could have been built with thinner glass from a structural standpoint, but I also specified that the glass be thick enough to ensure zero visible deflection when filled.

The braces are pegged to the FRP frame with 5/8" stainless bolts. These provide additional strength to the frame, allowing for the top frame to be thinner than with a pure eurobrace design. Waterdog would typically use a single FRP panel with cutouts, no separate braces, but I did not want the shadowing caused by the FRP cross beams.

Regarding lighting, I will be using a PAR meter once things are set up. For now, I'm trusting that PAR will be okay based on a few data points: 1. Ecoxotic's assurances that these pendants are good for SPS level PAR at up to 72" water depth; 2. these lights are used in public aquaria for planted tanks up to 40' deep. Also, if PAR should happen to be a bit lower I'll be okay with this so long as I get good PAR for at least the top 30" of depth.

I didn't seriously consider Orphek mainly because they only offer up to 100W. I do have a couple of the Orphek Nilus panels that I might use over the frag tank, and they are very nice, though not quite the same build quality as the Ecoxotics.


__________________
Paul

Current Tank Info: 1700gal 164"x48"x56" starphire and FRP tank
pmrogers is offline   Reply With Quote
Unread 05/09/2013, 09:35 AM   #62
CREKTO
Registered Member
 
Join Date: Sep 2010
Posts: 4
Great project


CREKTO is offline   Reply With Quote
Unread 05/09/2013, 10:03 AM   #63
biecacka
Registered Member
 
biecacka's Avatar
 
Join Date: May 2008
Location: Columbus Ohio
Posts: 6,361
You have achieved royal status when chingchai post in your thread!
This is off to an amazing start, I can't wait to watch it grow. You should out seats in the room and charge admission
Corey


biecacka is offline   Reply With Quote
Unread 05/09/2013, 11:37 AM   #64
dave.m
Registered Member
 
dave.m's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jan 2010
Location: Canadia
Posts: 4,276
Quote:
Originally Posted by pmrogers
Sure thing, Dave.
Thx very much. That's a lot of info to digest.

Dave.M


__________________
My Gawd! It's full of corals!

Current Tank Info: None. Nil. Zip. Nada.
dave.m is offline   Reply With Quote
Unread 05/09/2013, 11:40 AM   #65
coral_lagoon
Pushrod Powered
 
coral_lagoon's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jan 2007
Location: Down The Corkscrew , CA
Posts: 1,263
Speechless..


__________________
Cars and keeping saltwater fish. That's what it's all about..
coral_lagoon is offline   Reply With Quote
Unread 05/09/2013, 01:58 PM   #66
Yurivd
Registered Member
 
Yurivd's Avatar
 
Join Date: Oct 2009
Location: PTA South Africa
Posts: 898
Quote:
Originally Posted by pmrogers View Post
Sure thing, Dave. The tank is constructed as a fiberglass reinforced plastic box with portholes cut out for the viewing panels. This is even stronger than an acrylic tank for the base frame. You then have the option of using either acrylic or glass viewing panels.

I don't know the details of how the viewing panels are sealed, but the main idea is that the brunt of the force on the panel is borne by the FRP frame. All the seals have to do is prevent water leakage; there is not a silicone or adhesive that is having to serve as both the structural element preventing the panels from bursting apart and also serve as the waterproof membrane.

The glass is 1.5" thick, three laminated layers of 1/2" starphire. I think the tank could have been built with thinner glass from a structural standpoint, but I also specified that the glass be thick enough to ensure zero visible deflection when filled.

The braces are pegged to the FRP frame with 5/8" stainless bolts. These provide additional strength to the frame, allowing for the top frame to be thinner than with a pure eurobrace design. Waterdog would typically use a single FRP panel with cutouts, no separate braces, but I did not want the shadowing caused by the FRP cross beams.

Regarding lighting, I will be using a PAR meter once things are set up. For now, I'm trusting that PAR will be okay based on a few data points: 1. Ecoxotic's assurances that these pendants are good for SPS level PAR at up to 72" water depth; 2. these lights are used in public aquaria for planted tanks up to 40' deep. Also, if PAR should happen to be a bit lower I'll be okay with this so long as I get good PAR for at least the top 30" of depth.

I didn't seriously consider Orphek mainly because they only offer up to 100W. I do have a couple of the Orphek Nilus panels that I might use over the frag tank, and they are very nice, though not quite the same build quality as the Ecoxotics.
This is a nice tank!

Here where i live the max size glass is 3,2m
Almost all big tanks are starfire ( i have never seen a acrylic tank ) and thy are still glued with silicon


Yurivd is offline   Reply With Quote
Unread 05/09/2013, 02:43 PM   #67
jestep
Registered Member
 
Join Date: Nov 2010
Location: ATX
Posts: 10
Any time a tank build involves a crane, you know it's going to be good...


jestep is offline   Reply With Quote
Unread 05/09/2013, 02:49 PM   #68
Bpb
Registered Member
 
Bpb's Avatar
 
Join Date: Oct 2012
Location: Texas
Posts: 3,148
Monstrous tank. Are you a member of austinreefclub.com

If not you should be. I'm sure the folks would love to meet you!


Bpb is offline   Reply With Quote
Unread 05/09/2013, 03:34 PM   #69
jhill
Registered Member
 
Join Date: Dec 2004
Posts: 107
Wow. This looks like it is going to be incredible. If you ever need a hand I am sure myself and fellow Houston reefers would be up for making the drive to help and check this monster out in person. I am sure this is stressful trying to get the tank and house completed while still having to work to pay for it all. Good luck and I will be following along closely for ideas for my upgrade.


jhill is offline   Reply With Quote
Unread 05/09/2013, 03:49 PM   #70
Timfish
Registered Member
 
Timfish's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jul 2010
Location: Austin, TX
Posts: 1,985
Very impressive! I would very much like to see this if you have an open house to show it off!

Quote:
Originally Posted by pmrogers View Post
. . .rails for holding an egg crate grill in front of the weir. I'll have to make my own and find an adhesive that is good for bonding PVC to FRP. . . .
You might check out Weldon-10. Not only is it good for different plastics it will also work on metal, glass and stone. Ed Konig at Austin Plastics, 512-836-1025, can get it for you and I'm sure it's available online.

And Bpb is right, the local club would love your input!



Last edited by Timfish; 05/09/2013 at 04:15 PM.
Timfish is offline   Reply With Quote
Unread 05/09/2013, 04:13 PM   #71
RIGUY314
Registered Member
 
RIGUY314's Avatar
 
Join Date: Apr 2012
Location: Rhode Island
Posts: 178
epic build for sure. This one is definitively one for the books! RC should have a new category - Monster Tanks. good luck with it.


RIGUY314 is offline   Reply With Quote
Unread 05/09/2013, 04:50 PM   #72
Sagz70
Registered Reefer
 
Sagz70's Avatar
 
Join Date: Mar 2011
Location: Sarasota
Posts: 569
This is gonna be a GREAT build! Will definitely be following along!

Sorry about your major loss though. :/


__________________
Sagar P.

90 Gallon 36x24x24 Mixed Reef
Sagz70 is offline   Reply With Quote
Unread 05/09/2013, 08:17 PM   #73
Robb in Austin
Registered Member
 
Robb in Austin's Avatar
 
Join Date: Aug 2007
Location: Georgetown, Tx
Posts: 1,016
Well, since ARC is getting all stalker-ish here...

Local's only!

Very nice build, BTW.


Robb in Austin is offline   Reply With Quote
Unread 05/09/2013, 08:25 PM   #74
MHG
Registered Member
 
Join Date: Feb 2011
Posts: 2,919
Tagging along


__________________
MHG (LIRA Member)
60G Cube, Kessil 360's
MHG is offline   Reply With Quote
Unread 05/09/2013, 08:26 PM   #75
jt48
Registered Member
 
jt48's Avatar
 
Join Date: Mar 2003
Location: Richboro Pa 18954
Posts: 762
Wow


__________________
My 900 Gallon System Setup.
75% of 344 DT to 125 to 60 refugium to two 40 breeders to 150 sump.
25% of 344 DT to 135 to a 75 to 150 sump.
Filtration includes passive filtration pads, skimmer, ca
jt48 is offline   Reply With Quote
Reply

Tags
reef

Thread Tools

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is On



All times are GMT -6. The time now is 05:38 PM.


Powered by vBulletin® Version 3.8.4
Copyright ©2000 - 2024, Jelsoft Enterprises Ltd.
Powered by Searchlight © 2024 Axivo Inc.
Use of this web site is subject to the terms and conditions described in the user agreement.
Reef CentralTM Reef Central, LLC. Copyright ©1999-2022
User Alert System provided by Advanced User Tagging v3.3.0 (Pro) - vBulletin Mods & Addons Copyright © 2024 DragonByte Technologies Ltd.