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Unread 05/16/2012, 05:40 PM   #1
danfeig
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A Reef Tank in the Desert - +/- 1,400 gallon system

I wanted to share with the Reef Central community my reef tank build, which I have been planning for the last several months. The main tank is a custom 850-gallon display, an approximate 260 gallon sump, an approximate 40 gallon refugium, three (3) 75 gallon tanks that will be plumbed into the main system but can easily be diverted into a standalone system if needed for quarantine or hospital tank(s), an additional approximate 100 gallon aquarium housing live rock. The main display will be an “in wall” system in my living room and will back into an approximate 150 square foot “fish room.”

A little background. I have been in the hobby, off and on, for 16 years. I grew up with mostly freshwater tanks, African Cichlids, Oscars and such. My first saltwater tank was a 70-gallon show tank. I have fond memories of my children as infants, falling asleep in their baby rockers watching my fish. I had to dismantle that system when our house went through a major renovation. Seven years ago we moved to a new house and I began planning my existing system, a 150 gallon mixed reef with a 40-gallon sump. This system sits in my bedroom. There is nothing more relaxing than laying in bed and watching my fish at night as my lights slowly dim into night mode.

I never do things half way and the bug for a large system started a few years ago. Nightly, I would pull out my laptop and show my wife pictures of larger systems; Chingchai’s, David Saxby’s, Luc Loyen’s (jawsee), to name a few. After asking and asking my wife, along with many compromises and promises, about eight months ago, she agreed! I have to admit, she has sacrificed a lot. The new “fish room” was her previous office.

Attached are pictures of the room the tank will be located and a rendering our designer mocked up.[IMG][/IMG]
[IMG][IMG][/IMG][/IMG]


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Unread 05/16/2012, 05:53 PM   #2
danfeig
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After obtaining quotes from several different aquarium manufacturing companies and going back and forth between acrylic and glass, I decided to go with an all glass aquarium. I ordered my tank through Simply Elegant Aquatics (SEA) in Tucson, Arizona who contracted with A.G.E. out of Garland, Texas.

Everyone at both companies were amazing to work with and highly reccomend both.

Attached are two photos that Jerry Acuff from A.G.E. sent while the tank was being constructed.[IMG][/IMG]


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Unread 05/16/2012, 06:00 PM   #3
tpallas
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Wow, looks great! Beautiful home. Looking forward to this one for sure.


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Unread 05/16/2012, 06:07 PM   #4
EricSIny
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Tank demensions?


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Unread 05/16/2012, 06:25 PM   #5
Chromey316
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Im in to watch this build.


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Unread 05/16/2012, 08:03 PM   #6
danfeig
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Tank Dimensions

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Originally Posted by EricSIny View Post
Subscribed.

Tank demensions?
I apologize. The tank is 96"x42"x48". The glass is 3/4" thick star fire. I am going with two overflows, one in the center and the other in the back right corner. I don't have the exact empty weight, but I believe it is +/- 1,200 lbs.


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Unread 05/16/2012, 08:09 PM   #7
shaggy
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Subscribing too...
Looks like a good start to a great build...


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Unread 05/16/2012, 08:12 PM   #8
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Subscribing as well. Looks like this could be a great setup.


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Unread 05/16/2012, 10:39 PM   #9
danfeig
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Rock/Aquascaping

While waiting for my tank to be built, I began planning my filtration system and ordered 300lbs of dry Pukani Rock from Bulk Reef Supply and an additional 300lbs of Ultra Premium Fiji Tukani live rock.

The dry Pukani Rock came in huge pieces. It was very easy to work with. I was very methodical in cutting, chiseling and drilling the rock and designing three dry rock towers.

Attached are pics of the rock:
[IMG][/IMG] [IMG][/IMG] [IMG][/IMG] [IMG][/IMG] [IMG][/IMG]


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Unread 05/16/2012, 11:08 PM   #10
danfeig
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Quote:
Originally Posted by tpallas View Post
Wow, looks great! Beautiful home. Looking forward to this one for sure.
Thanks tpallas. I am glad that you are following!


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Unread 05/16/2012, 11:09 PM   #11
danfeig
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Tagging along. Very nice
I am glad that you are following along!


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Unread 05/16/2012, 11:35 PM   #12
Dangerwill
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Your rock structures are awesome!!!! subscribed


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Unread 05/16/2012, 11:53 PM   #13
jjk_reef00
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Wow those towers look enormous compared to the bucket of salt in the background!
Subscribed!

What livestock are you planning?


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Unread 05/17/2012, 12:34 AM   #14
dca22anderson
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Love your rock towers! Nicely done!


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Unread 05/17/2012, 12:41 AM   #15
aimmia
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speechless. i will be following this thread for sure


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Unread 05/17/2012, 01:01 AM   #16
Sps Dream
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Good work.


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Unread 05/17/2012, 07:07 AM   #17
bikeboss11
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Sweet build... I will be tagging along for this


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Unread 05/17/2012, 07:20 AM   #18
SPotter
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awesome build....tagging along.


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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
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Unread 05/17/2012, 08:00 AM   #19
Crazy_Beaver
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This looks very promising!Tagging along!All the best...


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Unread 05/17/2012, 09:40 AM   #20
danfeig
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Quote:
Originally Posted by secrest View Post
Subscribing as well. Looks like this could be a great setup.
Quote:
Originally Posted by jjk_reef00 View Post
Wow those towers look enormous compared to the bucket of salt in the background!
Subscribed!

What livestock are you planning?
Quote:
Originally Posted by dca22anderson View Post
Love your rock towers! Nicely done!
Thanks guys! I am glad that you are following. I can use all the help that I can get!!!

Building the rock towers were fun and very time consuming. The dry Pukani rock is easy to work with, although it breaks easily. One minute I would be chiseling a small hole, the next, a large chunk would fall off. The challenge was getting flat surfaces that I could balance the rocks upon.

I ended up using the worlds greatest tool, The Sawzall!!!! I went through several blades but it was worth it.

To bond the rocks, I ordered Emaco S88-CI from Best Materials. It is good concrete mix that is safe to use. The towers have been curing for about 5 weeks now.


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Unread 05/17/2012, 09:46 AM   #21
danfeig
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Quote:
Originally Posted by aimmia View Post
speechless. i will be following this thread for sure
Quote:
Originally Posted by Sps Dream View Post
Good work.
Quote:
Originally Posted by bikeboss11 View Post
Sweet build... I will be tagging along for this
Quote:
Originally Posted by SPotter View Post
awesome build....tagging along.
Quote:
Originally Posted by Crazy_Beaver View Post
This looks very promising!Tagging along!All the best...
Aimmia, Sps Dream, Bikeboss11, SPotter, Crazy Beaver... Thank you for the kind words of encouragement. I am glad you are all here to help me out!


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Unread 05/17/2012, 01:14 PM   #22
sillygoose
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Hopping aboard - I'm inspired.


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Unread 05/17/2012, 01:44 PM   #23
MikeTR
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Can you give us a little insight on how you built your rock towers?


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Unread 05/17/2012, 02:36 PM   #24
havoc79
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I'm in cant wait to see the end result


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Unread 05/17/2012, 02:37 PM   #25
sancho153
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subscribed!!


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