OzATL's 1000g Display Build Thread
 

It seems like a very long time since I broke my previous 400g tank down, got rid of all the coral, migrated the fish and moved to our new home in 2012.

I started prepping in 2013 and it took 5 months for the new 1000g display to be built and shipped to the house in the fall last year....

So I'll start a condensed and expedited build thread here to get caught up. This will be an SPS dominant reef like my previous tank.

The tank is in the terrace level directly on the concrete slab.

Tank dimensions 120x60x32

3 sides starphire glass and dual external overflows sitting on a steel stand. The filtration room is to the right of the display room.

Equipment List
1000g Starphire Display
3x1000W 20k Halides
22' of VHO Actinics
20' of Ecoxotic LEDs strips
300g Commercial MRC Sump
Custom MRC Pro III Skimmer
Commercial MRC 240W UV
Dolphin 6250 main return pump
Waveline 12000 Secondary controllable pump
80g Refugium
80g Frag/Holding
MRC Calcium Reactor
MRC Reactor #2 DiNitrator
MRC Carbon Reactor
MRC GFO Reactor
6-8 Vortech MP60's
Apex with 5 EB8's, 3 EB4's, WXM, VDM, PM1, etc, etc
All schedule 80 with numerous digital flow meters

The blank canvas start....."what will an 11' 1000g tank look like in here?"
http://i889.photobucket.com/albums/a...psa748c562.jpg

Carpet out. display footprint identified. New tile going in thanks to my tile guy Bill.

http://i889.photobucket.com/albums/a...ps1cc3c9b3.jpg

All tile complete, ready for display to arrive

http://i889.photobucket.com/albums/a...ps2794b66e.jpg

How do you get an 11' tank from outside to the final location? You build a long skateboard.

http://i889.photobucket.com/albums/a...ps79522c0c.jpg

I wanted full access to the rear of the display so I cut an access hole that will later be finished out.

http://i889.photobucket.com/albums/a...ps924753cf.jpg

My blank slate filtration room, I almost don't remember this room empty now.

http://i889.photobucket.com/albums/a...psc0ec3eee.jpg

Tank Delivery!!!!
 

Now the fun part.

The tank was crated and shipped to a local dock where they couldn't move it due to the size weight. I had to think quickly about how to get a 12' x 6' x 9' crate of glass and steel to the house......

http://i889.photobucket.com/albums/a...ps73acc937.jpg

.....you call a flatbed company and convince them everything will be ok. Then you tell the dock folks to push it onto the flatbed, clinch real tight, and hope for the best....

http://i889.photobucket.com/albums/a...ps0fc92045.jpg

http://i889.photobucket.com/albums/a...ps707f0203.jpg

Oh, and there is a 6'x3'x3' long glass sump on top of this as well! :)

Challenge
 

So how do you get a crate off a ridged flatbed built for cars? Great question because at this point below even with straps, pushing, and pulling, it was too heavy to move an inch!

http://i889.photobucket.com/albums/a...ps294c5c97.jpg

"Hey are those straps long enough to go in the door and out of the window of the brick house?" Tow truck driver "Are you kidding?" Nope. We strapped the tank to the house and I told him to slowly pull the truck forward. To my surprise it started moving! We inched it down and a few minutes later...

http://i889.photobucket.com/albums/a...psf4be7b19.jpg

Getting the display in place
 

After hours of uncrating it was time to get things in place.

http://i889.photobucket.com/albums/a...ps649931ee.jpg

And with only 6 regular mover/helpers, we were able to get the tank on the skateboard, in the house, into the reef room, and somehow on the stand.

http://i889.photobucket.com/albums/a...ps784e455e.jpg

http://i889.photobucket.com/albums/a...pscf33b3e4.jpg

http://i889.photobucket.com/albums/a...psf679577a.jpg

Carpentry
 

Let the wrapping begin....

http://i889.photobucket.com/albums/a...ps3147963f.jpg

http://i889.photobucket.com/albums/a...psc434e83e.jpg

http://i889.photobucket.com/albums/a...psedfd7f03.jpg

http://i889.photobucket.com/albums/a...ps2e504a42.jpg

When it's time for finishing and painting, you know you're getting close!

http://i889.photobucket.com/albums/a...psf814e855.jpg

http://i889.photobucket.com/albums/a...psf53e22af.jpg

and at long last, the display area is finished!!

http://i889.photobucket.com/albums/a...ps0ca542b6.jpg

Apologies for having to restart the thread. moving along....

This kinda shows the size (I'm 6'5" 250)....

http://i889.photobucket.com/albums/a...psbcc81c68.jpg

Starting the light rack....

http://i889.photobucket.com/albums/a...ps7372e245.jpg

Light rack test hang

http://i889.photobucket.com/albums/a...psdde235b9.jpg

Getting the overflows plumbed....Big thanks to a friend (Randy) for doing this part with me.

http://i889.photobucket.com/albums/a...ps6336f0e1.jpg

Very BIG build!
Love the room it is in. Is the plumbing sch. 80 or 40?

I've seen this in person and I hate to ruin the story, but I'll tell you guys it's absolutely amazing!! :)
Hopefully I can buy something from you again just to shoot the crap some more and look at the guts.

Just assumed it had to be acrylic being so big. Starfire on that size tank??? Wow!

WAHOO!!!!!!!!!! About time you got this thread going!:beer:

This tank Falls under the category (classy)

You sir are living the dream, wow. I love the room it's in.

In....

Thanks guys. I'll try to get more up later today.

All schedule 80.

Thanks Tony. Nice meeting you.

Tell me about it, it's been a crazy 8-10 months for my business. More of our efforts to be posted soon.

Light test

http://i889.photobucket.com/albums/a...pse8559b89.jpg

1000 watt MH, great choice!!!! what is the MRC Reactor #2 DiNitrator? what kind of Dinitrator?

OMG!!! I think I'm in love! Haha

My God in heaven...

I just went back and re-read how you got this massive GLASS tank into the house with only six people. You sir, are a genius.

I would assume once the tank was rolled into the house, you used either one or two air conditioning hoysts to raise the tank into position, once the forks of the hoyst system was underneath your massive skate board?

Bye the way, your setup is simply amazing,
Randy