steveb's 400 Gallon Acrylic Build (1 Viewer)

[steveb]

Well I have been hinting around and asking questions in a couple of different threads. So here it is I ordered a 96x40x24 acrylic tank along with a custom sump a couple of weeks ago to go in the sun room we just had built. All of the equipment for the tank will run on two dedicated 20 amp circuits.


I was going to go w/external overflows but that added another 6" and my wife was already having a fit. So to remain in marital bliss I went with internal overflows instead.

Here's the sump. I didn't add any bubble traps. My reason is that the sump is wide and has a large refugium section between the skimmer and the return pumps.

Now what to do about a stand.....

I'm trying to decide between wood or steel/skinned.

I've been talking to Justin Henry about making a wood one that assembles on site to get the 42" height.

But keep thinking about the cleanliness of a steel or aluminum frame.

So I spent some time playing with SketchUp late last night and came up with this... Let me know what you think. The top part shown is not a hood - its an extension to raise the stand height.

All of the 2x2 stuff would be 0.125 wall and the 1.5x2's in the center bottom piece would be 0.1875 wall. Seems like most of the steel stand builds on RC use 0.125 wall. But I'm no structural/mechanical engineer.

Oh and look what Mr. Fedex left for me today...

I'm debating about whether or not to use a Pan World pump I have or go with two internal Eheim pumps for the the returns. What do you think?


Still don't know about lighting either. Considering 8 AI Sol Blue's but 4k is a lot of coin and I have already dropped a lot of coin. Any suggestions?


I purchased a used ATB 1050a v1.5 here on Marsh to use for this build.
Here is what it looks like new...

In addition I also have Geo 612 Calc reactor and a no name Kalk reactor that I will be using for Calc/Alk needs along with my trusty APEX controller.

 

[rxonco]

Looks great. That big, you might as well go with steel stand. Then you can skin it with what you want.

 

[RR-MAN]

Awesome...

I agree with Randy, go with the steel stand. If you like the modern design, you can duplicate the Elos stand. It looks nice.

 

[flexrac]

so justin can make your skin, will he be staining it as well? what did he quote you?

did you design the layout for the stand?
i need to goback and play with google to see if i can design mine.

 

[steveb]

so justin can make your skin, will he be staining it as well? what did he quote you?

He said he could but like I said in the cabinet maker/woodworker thread he really would prefer an all wood. That is what he is quoting me. But I really like the metal stands I think they provide a lot more room.

did you design the layout for the stand?
i need to goback and play with google to see if i can design mine.

I built it all myself in sketchup but copied some ideas for the base part from a stand on RC, but modified it some (used 2x2 instead of 1.5x1.5 only put a center support in) and then added the top portion to get my height.

Would really like to get an engineer type to verify everything for either aluminum or steel.

 

[flexrac]

i kind of figured that's what he would say.

no one answered you on rc yet? i saw your thread.

 

[steveb]

i kind of figured that's what he would say.

no one answered you on rc yet? i saw your thread.

Yeah go figure. I posted in the steel stand thread last night since mine saw no activity. KCRESS said he thinks the spans are a little large but if I use the extension on top it will probably all right. Wish I knew a mechanical engineer.

 

[tmgrash]

Go with the AI, it will be an investment you wont regret. The amount of MH that size tank would need sure would heat up a sunroom, so tell your wife are getting the AI's for HER

 

[Ostentum]

I recently saw a tank in New Orleans about 450g on a wood stand. The stand maker made it out of 3/4" plywood structural with an additional 3/4" plywood premium grade wrap around the outside. The house flooded during Katrina and even when everything dried out the tank never collapsed through the whole ordeal. Now for my disclaimer, I dont know if I personally would go that route, because it would make me nervous, but obviously it works.

 

[RR-MAN]

Go with the AI, it will be an investment you wont regret. The amount of MH that size tank would need sure would heat up a sunroom, so tell your wife are getting the AI's for HER

Oh man he will become homeless. For a tank that is 96X40, how many fixtures does he need?

 

[flexrac]

got two for sale if you need a start, just a few months old, in great condition and still have the boxes. no visible signs of ware. they are the blue versions. (sold to Steve)

also check this out:
http://www.framexpert.com/solutions/racks_and_cabinets/fish_tank_aquarium_stand/

 

[tmgrash]

got two for sale if you need a start, just a few months old, in great condition and still have the boxes. no visible signs of ware. they are the blue versions.

also check this out:
http://www.framexpert.com/solutions/racks_and_cabinets/fish_tank_aquarium_stand/

Felix, did you not like yours?

 

[tmgrash]

Go with the AI, it will be an investment you wont regret. The amount of MH that size tank would need sure would heat up a sunroom, so tell your wife are getting the AI's for HER

Oh man he will become homeless. For a tank that is 96X40, how many fixtures does he need?

I would go 10, but I overkill. Truthfully could get away with 5 for a 24inch deep tank. Seems lots of people are going with 1 per every 2ft.

 

[flexrac]

i love them, but my wallet cannot afford to add more to my new andfinal build. 225 gallon, 60x30x29 reef tank. i bought the first one and traded my camera for the second, dishing out cash for anymore will break me.

 

[tmgrash]

my new and final build.

 

[Ostentum]

Felix, dishing out anymore cash the wife might break you. I am still trying to decide how to approach my other half with, hey honey, I am going to buy a 300g tank, she is still a little annoyed with my last snafu where I forgot to remove a filter sock and it added 20gallons to the floor and wall. Also I am not sure how, guess what you know how you wanted to tile the whole house, well its going to have to wait till Feb when I get my bonus. We can do 1 room now and add a larger aquarium since I am running out of room to grow out my corals.

 

[steveb]

my new and final build.

Yeah really Felix we have heard that before

If your like me the fun is in the building!

 

[steveb]

Also I am not sure how, guess what you know how you wanted to tile the whole house, well its going to have to wait till Feb when I get my bonus. We can do 1 room now and add a larger aquarium since I am running out of room to grow out my corals.

I think that is the perfect way to address it Or you could follow my lead...

We where looking at furniture for the new room and my wife wanted a 54" table and chairs for the room and I said "umm honey that wont fit" she said "what do you mean that wont fit?", I said "Well you know the aquarium I wanted to put out there?" she said "yes its 72x30 everything should fit fine", I said "ummm no its 96x46" she said "96x46? Are you crazy!?" and I said "a little" and then called and had the exterior overflows moved to the inside to make it 96x40 but I wasn't gonna give another inch.

 

[flexrac]

my new and final build.

Yeah really Felix we have heard that before

If your like me the fun is in the building!

deff like you, but i have no room to go bigger after this, unless i win the lotto, then i will design it and have someone build it.

 

[steveb]

my new and final build.

Yeah really Felix we have heard that before

If your like me the fun is in the building!

deff like you, but i have no room to go bigger after this, unless i win the lotto, then i will design it and have someone build it.

You could go vertical