500 gal reef converted to 850gal reef

steveweast

steveweast

Member
Actually....skimmer losses plus evaporation equals about 10gpd.
The hood is just a box that I built from 2 X 4's and particle board. I then covered the whole thing in Formica. I then put the whole thing on a sliding rail system from Home Depot that is more conventionally used for hanging barn doors. Here's a pic before it went up:
 
chris17

chris17

Member
Earlier in the thread he said that it between evaporation and skimate he looses about 9gallons a day.
Steve, did you purchase the kalk,Calcium, and phosphate reactors??I am going to attempt to build a kalk,Calcium, and a skimmer for my new tank. . . . ..thanks for answering my questions!!!:jumping: :jumping:
 
chris17

chris17

Member
WOW, those are some beast ballasts, that is cool how you have the hood on a sliding rail system. Very good idea. I was thinking of a way to do somthing like that for my new tank so that it wont be such a hassle to get into it.
 
sw65galma

sw65galma

Active Member
Are you worried at all about chemicals from exhaust or anything else in the garage getting into the tank?
I was the one that asked about the weight limit of Wood I-beams earlier...
I'm still looking into it...but as a plan-B i'm looking at setting it up like you have it..in the garage with a looking room attached.
Thanks,
 
sammyg

sammyg

Member
Any news on your eagerly anticipated website? Will the address still be the same as you stated earlier?
Regarding your tank, I was wondering *approximately* how many species of corals are in there, and what proportion of it is soft/LPS/SPS.
Thanks!
Sam
 
sw65galma

sw65galma

Active Member

Originally posted by seeweed
hey 65 get that 300 going
I just put it together last night.
I'll probably fire it up this weekend, once i decide where to put it.
I didn't realize how big it is until I put it in my house.
The tank alone is like 8FT long by 2 Ft wide by almost 3 FT tall.
Not to metion it will probably weigh 2 tons.
I'll post pics soon.
 
neowind

neowind

Member
Can't wait to see the site up and running. Looks like it may be getting sooner? I am now getting a page can't be displayed instead of the normal ad site that was there. Can't wait to see it. :D
 
hookedonreefs

hookedonreefs

Member
Steve - first let me say after seeing your tank from both sites, it still amazes me.
Second, If I could borrow you display room and include whoever is in Leopard_babe's avatar for just two hours - I could die a VERY happy man!

Lastly, will you do any tank consultations in the future? The reason I ask is I may be building a large tank 700 - 1000 gallons soon, and would love to pick your brain for a while.
Thanks!
 
steveweast

steveweast

Member
Some answers....
Acrylic is 1' thick on all sides plus top and bottom.
My reactors are made by Deltec.
The garage is well ventilated which prevents fumes from posing a problem....but, I still don't run the cars in the garage except when entering or leaving quickly.
My soft corals include one yellow leather, a few gorgonians, a patch of star polyps, some xenia, some mushrooms, and lots of ricordeas. LPS includes an elegence coral, a lobo, and a three year old goniopora......the rest is SPS (which is too much to count)
I don't do consultations...but, I will answer any question that I can.
The website is in the hands of the web designer. I think that he's nearly finished (although I may delay it since I finally decided to replace my four skimmers with one very large Deltec skimmer with self cleaning capabilitites and I would want that change reflected on the site)....he was having some trouble with the hosting service; but, I think that problem is resolved now.
 
alison

alison

Member
WOW Steve! Your tank is awe inspiring. I plan on building a 300 next summer, when I get some extra cash and some gift certificates from lowes. I have some builders in my family that would love to help me. Right now I only have 2- 55 gal's ones a reef the other a fish only. I think 300 is a good spot to start at in a larger reef. Enough to keep what you want without getting too expensive to keep up. By the way, I love your house photo too.
Questions: 1) What kind of glue, and melting process did you use to hold the acrylic together? 2) Did you buy metal halides from a hardware store, and adapt them yourself. 3) What kind of acrylic is safe to build with for a saltwater tank, and what thickness is best for a 300 gal.? Thanks for any info in advance.
:happyfish -alison
 
calvindo

calvindo

Member
WOW!!! holy cow, talking about eye candy! i get goose bumps just looking at your equipment. :eek: a definate dream tank!
how much does it cost you to keep the tank running?
 
chris17

chris17

Member
Steve by far the best web site I have seen for sombodies tank. That worm is the scareist thing I have ever seen!!!!! Very nice site.
 
chris17

chris17

Member
Steve,
In all the pictures you have I dont see your Co2 bottle. You do have one right?? Also, do you have any close up pictures of your calcium reactor, Kalk reactor, or phos. reactor?? I am trying to understand how it all hooks up, and how it all works. . .Thanks again:yes:
 
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