Finaly I get my big tank!!

[Saltywater]

My 96"x 36" x 30" acrylic 449 gal display thank has been ordered. It should be here around 01/30/06. I can't wait till it is setup so I can transfer my old tank over. I also ordered a 43" metal stand wrapped in Oak and a 24" high Canopy. The wood is going to be stained with a Red Mahogany stain. Total system will hold 568 gal.

[Black71gp]

awesome keep us updated.....

[Carl_in_Florida]

I'm onboard

[Wryknow]

I love your tank dimensions! Did you consider going with a glass tank instead? What was the deciding factor for you?

[Saltywater]

Thanks, I think it will look great in the dinning room. It will be the first thing you see when you enter the house. I considered both glass and acrylic. There where many deciding factor.
1.) Acrylic is a lot liter than glass.
2.) The Acrylic tank will have cleaner lines.
3.) No silicone seams to worry about.
4.) no green tint to the acrylic.
5.) Price was right

[Saltywater]

Her is my equipment list so far.

Life Support
36" x 20" x 20" Precision Marine Acrylic Sump
Blueline 70 HD pump to run the circulation.
Sequence Hammer head to run Gamma 40 watt UV, EuroReef CS 8-3+RC Skimmer,1/3hp and 1/4hp Arctica Titanium Chillers and a 55 gal refugium.
2 6000 Tunze streams
2 Seio M620

Lighting
3 x 250 watt German Metal halides w/20k HQI Bulbs
Moonlights
Actinic lighting will be added later.

Live rock and Sand
340 lbs of Fiji and Marshall Island Premium Rock
120 lbs of Live sand

[law086]

I'm interested to see how it works out with only three MH's.

Will you have front and rear access to the tank?

[Saltywater]

I will have very limited rear access to the tank. The lighting setup was designed by a local Aquarium Company that specializes in installing custom aquariums. They are doing the installation and the setup and transferring the old tank contents into the new tank.

[zaireguy]

wow can`t wait to see it

[Saltywater]

It has been awhile since I last posted here. So I figured I would post an update. The tank and stand should be here this week. Then I just have to schedule the install.

All the additional electrical work was completed this week. Now I am just waiting for the tank and stand to be delivered.

[Fade]

I just got my 96-36-30.


http://i35.photobucket.com/albums/d193/fade32/Picture025.jpg


I hope you will have as much fun with yours as I am with mine.

[deansreef]

sweet tanks

[Saltywater]

Fade32,

Sweet looking tank. I hope I do to. I can't wait till it gets here.

[Saltywater]

I just found out last night that my tank is not going to ship for two more weeks. But it should be installed the week of Valentine's day.

[Saltywater]

Well after many delays my tank is finally shipping on 03/15/06. I can't wait till they have it installed and everything transferred into it.

One of the guys that are going to install the tank was over last night to see what was going to be needed to do the install. He said that they are going to fill the new tank with tap water and not RO/DI water. I have a very big concern about this because everything in the old tank will be transferred to the new tank the sameday it is setup. Also our tap water is very high in phosphates. To prevent the tank from cycling the new tank will have over 500lbs of cured LR and about 120lbs of LS.

There are several issues why everything needs to be completed the sameday.

1.) 90% of the equipment from the old tank is being used on the new tank.
2.) The old tank is sold and is to be removed by the same people setting up the new tank.

Is there any draw backs to them using plain tap water? I would prefer to use RO/DI water if I had the space to store that much water.

[pondfrog]

You've invested this much in the tank DO NOT fill it with tap water for any reason other than to leak test it.
Insist on waiting for the RO/DI and get a temp system for your livestock or find someone in the area who will truck in large amounts of RO/ID water for you. Will a local store hold your stuff for you for a few days?

You could buy 10 garbage cans and start filling them now.......:)
Sounds crazy but if it's the only option.........I probably would do it!! :)

[Saltywater]

I would have to ask a couple of the LFS if they could hold my stuff. Because I don't think any one of them would have enough empty space. See below for a picture of the right side of the current tank. There are also 17 fish and 11 shrimp. That would need to be housed somewhere else.

http://reefcentral.com/gallery/data/500/54282IMG_0346.JPG

[Family Reefer]

DONT DO THE TAP WATER !!!!!!!!!!

Go to AirwaterandIce.com "I think" I will double check. Buy a RO/DI Filter and start making the water !!!! Fill up some 50 Gallon Trash Bins and do it that way. It would take only a few days to do it and you will be very thankful. The water here is terrible......Trust me. You will lose thousands of dollars and see lots of your aquatic friends be very ill and more then likely die. Also you should use all the water from your current tank which would make up 25% of your new one.....That will also be very helpful in making it a smooth transaction.

If the people who are installing your tank want to put TAP water in the new one I would be really concerned about them doing anything for you. You might want to look into having someone else do the job. "NorthTampaTang" on the boards does this kinda thing and is great.......His name is Wes touch base with him and see what he would charge you.

Either way I am sure it will be beautiful and wish you the best of luck with your new addition........................

David

[jnarowe]

Allow me to chime in here...I have been filling my tank for about 20 days now and I still have a few more to go. I have been holding rock in a rubbermaid tub for months waiting for this tank to get done. Under NO circumstances should you use tap water. That will be the start of a very unpleasant exerience!!

I got two 96 gallon rolling trash cans from I believe Home Depot and they work great for water production plus they can be easily moved. They were used to move the rock when I bought the tank and now they are my pure water and SW holding tanks.

Please find a way to either get a bunch of pure water or store your livestock while the new tank fills.

[bjmycroft]

So only a few days until your tank arrives! Excited Yet? Im ordering my Dream Tank on Monday so im really enjoying reading peoples threads who are about to get their biggie!

Good luck for the 15th when its delivered!

-Bob

[alien9168]

THis will be cool!
-alien

[Saltywater]

I have been excited since I placed the order on 01/09/06. Its going to be like christmas all over again. Best of all is that I am getting my dream tank and it is not costing me a thing. It was one of my christmas presents this year.

[Keith Better]

Where did you order your tank from? Please let me know the quality as I am looking to go a similar route.

[asnatlas]

Keith Better
http://reefcentral.com/images/welcome.gif
To Reef Central

[alien9168]

Saltywater-

Theres nothing better than getting something you want----without spending a penny! :D

Hope you enjoy your present!

:D

-alien

[Saltywater]

Well another delay on the shipping of the tank. Now it is scheduled to ship on 03/22/06. I hope this is the last ship date and it does ship. But I am not holding my breath on this.

[tomasga]

Just touching base on the TAP water subject. IMO I would not under any circumstances fill a tank with TAP water as it is not pure, metals, phosphates, etc... Find a way to get the water shipped to you, What I did on my 150 was buy three trash cans from home depot and with my truck I went to the LFS and they sold me the water, for you it would probably be more trips but well worth it in the end.

[pondfrog]

convinced yet on the tapwater thing?


:)

I know about delays, my big one should have been in about 6 months ago, now I'm down to 4 weeks...........

Of course I've been saying that now for about 3 months...........

[Saltywater]

I talked to the person that is now doing the install and he is going to provide enough RO/DI water to fill the tank. The plan now is to use the water from the old tank and the additional RO/DI water needed.

[alien9168]

Good! At lease you will have the ro/di to fill the tank :D

-alien

[vair]

It says your from Clearwater... whats the TDS of your tap water?

Dave

[BTTRFLYGRL]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=6903985#post6903985 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by Saltywater
Well after many delays my tank is finally shipping on 03/15/06. I can't wait till they have it installed and everything transferred into it.

One of the guys that are going to install the tank was over last night to see what was going to be needed to do the install. He said that they are going to fill the new tank with tap water and not RO/DI water. I have a very big concern about this because everything in the old tank will be transferred to the new tank the sameday it is setup. Also our tap water is very high in phosphates. To prevent the tank from cycling the new tank will have over 500lbs of cured LR and about 120lbs of LS.

There are several issues why everything needs to be completed the sameday.

1.) 90% of the equipment from the old tank is being used on the new tank.
2.) The old tank is sold and is to be removed by the same people setting up the new tank.

Is there any draw backs to them using plain tap water? I would prefer to use RO/DI water if I had the space to store that much water.

I filled my 240 with conditioned tap water...but when I do water changes on my 125, I put that water in the 240.[ its RO/DI water] I also have been doing top offs with r/o. My tank has been cycling for nearly 2 months, I plan to let it sit for another 2 months while continuing to change out the water. When I move the fish, I will be moving their water with them. It was so much easier to fill the tank with the water from the faucet with my long hose, mix in the salt, then add rock and sand after...by the time I move my fish, hopefully the tap water will be gone;) Do you have to transfer tanks so soon?

Another thought..if you go to Lowes, Menards, you can purchase an undersink filter. It is hooked into your cold water line. This would at least help to remove the Chlorimines in the water. I have one under my sink so the water runs through this before going to my r/o unit. And for my quarantine tanks for which I do daily water changes, I unhook my r/o and simply use the filtered water [ I can fill 30 gallons in 10 minutes as opposed to 24 hours with my r/o] I do still use tap water conditioner

[TJcop]

I'm curious about your light selection. I have 3 250w lights over my 125, and that's not enough in my opinion.
Are you planning on an SPS tank?
My new tank I'm working on will be 30" deep, and I'm planning on 3 400w lights.
Do you think you'll have enough coverage?

Can't wait to see your tank whenever the dang thing arrives!

[alien9168]

Use lumenerecs. THen it will definatly be enough coverage.
:)

-alien

[BTTRFLYGRL]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=6977434#post6977434 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by Saltywater
I talked to the person that is now doing the install and he is going to provide enough RO/DI water to fill the tank. The plan now is to use the water from the old tank and the additional RO/DI water needed.




ooopps! missed this post:)

[Saltywater]

Vair,

I could not tell you what my tap water TDS is. I have never tested it.

TJcop,

MY current tank is a 180 gal with 3 250watt lights over it. I think it provides to much light for that size of a tank.

The new tank is going to be a mixed reef tank just like I have now. I think the 3 250 watt lights will give plenty of light for the new tank. At the bottom of the new tank I will be keeping very low light Corals. Like Rhyzophilia, Dendronephthya spp., Studeriotes sp., Tubastraea faulkneri.

[Saltywater]

Just talked to the manufacture of the tank and stand. Everything finally shipped on 03/27/06. It is scheduled to be delivered on 03/31/06. Now I just have to see if the lfs will install it on Saturday 04/01/06. If not then it can not be installed until the week of 04/10/06. I have been waiting on this tank and stand now for 3 months. I never though it would take this long just to upgrade my tank.

[Saltywater]

New tank has arrived and will be setup on 04/10/06. Can't wait till it is up and running.

[Wryknow]

Yeah! Are you able to get any sleep or are you troubled by recurring dreams of setting up your new tank? (I know I didn't sleep well for a week when I got mine :) .)

[Chrisrush]

Who are you getting the tank from? A 4 month delay seems like quite a long time.

Chris

[Saltywater]

Wryknow,

I am not getting any sleep at all. I just want the tank in my house then I will be sure that it is actually here. After 3 months of delays you tend to want physical proof. I am not troubled by recurring dreams of setting up the new tank because I am paying someone to do that.

[johnstelting]

I'd be very careful when dealing with any company that first states they will use tap water and then when questioned state that they will now use RO water. I'd test the water they bring in before putting it in the tank just to make sure you know what is being put in the tank.

Even better, as several have suggested, make your own water, then you know exactly what's going in the tank.

Don't go cheap now............

[Saltywater]

Chrisrush,

Tank and stand both came from Tenecor.

Tank has arrived and is in place. Plumbing will begin on Monday. Then I will transfer the contents of the old tank into the new tank.

[alien9168]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=7114413#post7114413 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by Saltywater
Chrisrush,

Tank and stand both came from Tenecor.

Tank has arrived and is in place. Plumbing will begin on Monday. Then I will transfer the contents of the old tank into the new tank.

Tenacor makes really nice stuff...tell us how you like there work. :)

[TJcop]

Not to hijack, but I just got my quote from Tenecor. If you're interested, check out my new thread in the Large Tanks forum.

[alien9168]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=7118381#post7118381 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by TJcop
Not to hijack, but I just got my quote from Tenecor. If you're interested, check out my new thread in the Large Tanks forum.

Thanks dude. I'll definatly check it out :smokin:

[Saltywater]

Alien9168,

The workmanship on the tank and stand is great. I am very happy with my decision to get the tank and stand from them.

The new tank is up and running. I will try and post some pictures tonight after work.

[alien9168]

Cool. I look forward to them ;)

[Saltywater]

Here ar some pictures of the new tank.

Empty Tank in Place on Stand.
http://reefcentral.com/gallery/data/500/54282Tankonstand.jpg

Picture of tank sand and water was added. Also the contents of the old tank had been added.

http://reefcentral.com/gallery/data/500/54282Tank.jpg

Tank almost cleared up. We where pumping the tank water into the filter bags to help clean the tank.

http://reefcentral.com/gallery/data/500/54282Tank1.jpg

Tank after it had settled.

http://reefcentral.com/gallery/data/500/54282Tank2.jpg

[Saltywater]

Tank Plumbing.

http://reefcentral.com/gallery/data/500/54282Plumbing.jpg

Electrical

http://reefcentral.com/gallery/data/500/54282Fishroom2.jpg

[Saltywater]

I got word this weekend that the canopy is now under construction. The canopy will fit from the top of the tank to the ceiling. The rest of the LR should be here tomorrow and then I can finish the aquascaping. I will also be able to setup my LR only refugium. Also my chemical filter and the rest of the T5's should be in tomorrow.

I am also looking at purchasing a IKS controller for on this system. I just need to figure out the details of what I want and then get a price.

[Saltywater]

http://reefcentral.com/gallery/data/500/54282Refugium.jpg

[jnarowe]

That looks really nice. Can you get a closer shot for us sluts??:D

[robthorn]

hey salty looking good I am local do you mind me asking who did the setup?

[Saltywater]

robthorn,

Finz of Tampa is doing the setup.

[Saltywater]

jnarowe,

I will take a couple of close-up shots and post them. It will probable not be until tomorrow night.

[alien9168]

Nice refugium! :)

[robthorn]

yeah I know chris very well and the other chris and oh yeah the other chris too. they are super good to me there. everything is looking good so far keep it up. I am transfering to my new tank this saturday fun fun.

[robthorn]

stoped by chris's yesterday but didn't get anything live since I just changed over I have to give it some time before adding anything. ran with water and about 50 lb rock for just over a month. they had some nice acros I had to pass on but there will always be more.
hows the life in your tank since the change over?

[Saltywater]

robthorn,

The Chris's have always been good to me. I am very impressed with there work and there dedication to the hobby. I hope they do well with the store now that they own it.

I was over at Chris's last weekend and picked up a half moon shaped Catalapbyllia that is about 12" in length.

I stopped over at chris's yesterday also. I picked up the rest of the rock for the new tank another 120lbs. I also picked up a green Heliofungia he just got in. I also picked up 2 Tubastraea's he was holding for the new tank along with 2 Dendronephthya spp. and a Studeriotes sp.

Everything is doing well since the change over the final aquascaping is going to be done on Tuesday. I'll post more pictures then.

[robthorn]

hey I see you are running pc lights also have you thought of t5's? I bought a lot of ballasts for 4 ft bulbs and I am going to pass the remaining 8 along at the same price I got them for they are about half price and supposed to be brand new. I hooked up 4 yesterday and they are doing very well so far.

[Saltywater]

jnarowe,

refugium close-ups as you requested.

http://reefcentral.com/gallery/data/500/54282Refugium_CU.jpg


http://reefcentral.com/gallery/data/500/54282Refugium2_CU.jpg

[jnarowe]

Very nice growth...I see you have the same algae that my turbo snails are wearing! :D

[Saltywater]

jnarowe,

I harvest about a pound of algae every 2 to 3 weeks from the refugium.

Here are some pictures of the new rock I just got this weekend.

http://reefcentral.com/gallery/data/500/54282New_Rock1.jpg

http://reefcentral.com/gallery/data/500/54282New_Rock2.jpg

I also got 1 piece that weighs 60 pounds it is cureing right now. I will get a picture of it and post it as soon as I can.

[Saltywater]

Pictures of new additions to the new tank.

http://reefcentral.com/gallery/data/500/54282New_Additions1.jpg

http://reefcentral.com/gallery/data/500/54282New_Additions2.jpg

http://reefcentral.com/gallery/data/500/54282New_Additions3.jpg

http://reefcentral.com/gallery/data/500/54282New_Additions4.jpg

Elegance Coral
http://reefcentral.com/gallery/data/500/54282Elagance_Coral.jpg

[jnarowe]

A 60 lb. rock? I would love a couple of those! I am not getting much macro growth in my fuge and I think it's a combo of lots growing in the display and maybe not good enough lighting.

[robthorn]

ha so your the one. I was in there talking to chris and asked him if he had any very large pieces of rock and I think you left about an hour before i got there. I remember him saying you took the sun polyps also. just missed you . john has some 35 and 45 lb tables that I was going to get but it's still uncured and I am not willing to foul the new tank so I will wait. he had another rock that was just over 50 lb that looked like it had a foot sticking out of the one side of it. very cool looking.

[jsweir]

You picked some tough corals to keep - good luck with that....

Looks great!

[Saltywater]

jnarowe,

I have a 400watt halid over my Refugium. It is maybe about 12" off the top of the tank so it gets lot of light. The 60lb rock has a flat base and several fingers sticking up. I can't wait till it is in the tank.

robthorn,

I left Chris's on saturday with 120lbs of live rock and 7 corals. I need to fill up this big tank.

jsweir,

I hope they do well in my tank. I am planning on doing one side of my tank in corals like the carnations. I think it will look so cool when I have it completed.

[jnarowe]

What temp. is the halide?

I am running two 6500K compact florescent bulbs recommended here on RC but I don't see the growth I should have. Interestingly enough, the turbo snails in the fuge have a nice helping of coraline algae growing on them. That seems strange when I don't get much macro growth.

Then again I am using a 50g Rubbermaid bin for a fuge and so what I have looks small compared to many other fuges I have seen!

[robthorn]

oh the nightmarish lights of america. had so many of those go out and everyone I know. last a few months then I guess the ballast would fail. had one make it 6 months and that was the best I could get from one. I run all t5's now with excellent results so far. also lighting an entire 265 gallon sps dominated tank with 432 watts and everything is growing pretty well and the colors are really coming around. I will be starting a thread very soon about my tank in the tampa club forum here on rc I just ahve so much going on at home where I can do it.
hey salty I am taking a couple large branching hammers to fins thrusday evening or friday at the latest. also a very large greenish colt. I know you have a big tank with alot of different stuff so you may or may not be interested in some large pieces. also an awesome red sea sailfin thats about 6 inches. and a mated quad of ocellaris. definately a larger female and a male and two juveniles that are all together. they have not laid eggs that I know of but I would say they are close because of there sizing.

[jnarowe]

So I need to bag the CF's?? What do you recommend for the fuge then?

[Saltywater]

robthorn,

I'll have to check them out when I go in on Saturday. It seems I am either there or at Johns. Thanks for the heads up about them.

[robthorn]

same here I am at johns alot. actually more than fins because I have just been there more in the past and after johns fins is a haul.
they cost more but t5's are the way I see the future going. they are incredible in my opinion. I also think we are using too much light most of the time. at least wattage wise. I can't measure par or ppfd so I have no clue on comparing them. I know I had 250 radiums and ushios and iwasaki's and so far I am getting better results from the t5's . I have only been running them around 6 months or so. I am also trying new ballasts instead of ice cap. the 660 killed my bulbs in about 4 1/2 months. i bought advance t5 ho ballasts and they look great but they are not even a week old.
the right advance ballast can be found by somewhat coded part numbers. icn 2s54 is the 2 bulb program rapid start ballast for 4 ft 54 watt bulbs. these are the exact ballasts I am using for my tank. I am running 4 of them and I got them for $23 each but they are normally around $45. I got a good bulk deal so I bought 12 to save and figured I would pass the others on to whom ever may want them. not looking to make any money just wanted to save for myself. anyway the right ballast can be found by first it being an icn ballast. then the # of bulbs and an s for whatever reason I do not know but all the t5ho program start ballasts have it in the number and then the wattage of each bulb. all the 2 bulb ballasts will run 1 or 2 bulbs as far as I have seen. using 2 bulbs per ballast makes it easier to stage your lighting also .

[jnarowe]

Are there T-5's in fuge temp. like 6500-6700??

[robthorn]

there are 6500k,and 11000k, also actinic and another blue bulb that peaks around 450nm. I do not like the blue myself . these are what d&d/geisseman/ati have available.

[jnarowe]

Thanks rob! I'll look into it. I am just nto happy with my fuge growth.

[Saltywater]

New pictures after aquascaping.

Left side of tank.

http://reefcentral.com/gallery/data/500/54282Left_Side.jpg

Center of tank.

http://reefcentral.com/gallery/data/500/54282Center.jpg

Right side of tank.

http://reefcentral.com/gallery/data/500/54282Right_Side.jpg

I'll post some pictures of my clowns hosting in my elegance coral tomorrow.

[Saltywater]

clowns hosting in my elegance coral

http://reefcentral.com/gallery/data/500/54282Clowns_Hosting_1.jpg

http://reefcentral.com/gallery/data/500/54282Clowns_Hosting_2.jpg

[jnarowe]

Clowns are so strange. There are a couple in the LFS hosting in a tunicate decoration. It's actually plastic that has been overgrown with coraline and they just back into the tubes. Totally funny!

[robthorn]

hey hows things with the tank? do you have tunzes and a wavebox in there? I want to hear one before I purchase one. I am trying to be quiet and efficient as much as possible.

[Saltywater]

I don't have a wavebox. I desided against it because I would still need the same number of Tunzes in the tank. I just went with 6 Tunzes.

[Saltywater]

robthorn,

The new tank is doing well. Very happy with it. I will try and post some updated pictures tonight.

[Saltywater]

http://reefcentral.com/gallery/data/500/54282IMG_0655.jpg

http://reefcentral.com/gallery/data/500/54282IMG_0657.jpg

http://reefcentral.com/gallery/data/500/54282IMG_0664.jpg

http://reefcentral.com/gallery/data/500/54282IMG_0665.jpg

http://reefcentral.com/gallery/data/500/54282IMG_0667.jpg

http://reefcentral.com/gallery/data/500/54282IMG_0669.jpg

[jnarowe]

http://reefcentral.com/gallery/data...282IMG_0667.jpg

Is that an albino hammer in the bottom center?

[otterpop510]

wow.. amazing tank.. a dream to have a 450 gallon tank, you could put almost anything you want.. especially fish-wise..

[Saltywater]

This is the view of the tank when you enter the house.

http://reefcentral.com/gallery/data/508/54282Full_Tank.jpg

Some additional pictures from different angles.

http://reefcentral.com/gallery/data/508/54282Full_Tank2.jpg

http://reefcentral.com/gallery/data/508/54282Full_Tank3.jpg

[virginiabreeze6]

Tank looks great, what is the brownish, tubular soft leather on the left side?

[Saltywater]

virginiabreeze6,

I think you are talking about the Gorgonia. See picture below.

http://reefcentral.com/gallery/data/508/54282Left_Side_of_Tank.jpg

[thor32766]

wow sweet tanks everyone!

[thor32766]

wow sweet tanks everyone!

[Saltywater]

My new fuge arrived this weekend to replace my current one.

http://reefcentral.com/gallery/data/1/54282New_Fuge.jpg


New Fish addition this past week.

http://reefcentral.com/gallery/data/1/54282Pencil-Eye_Tang.jpg

[jnarowe]

Both the fish and fuge are wild!