"Dream Tank"!!!!

[daniel411]

I've debated, thought about it, gone back and forth... I'm ordering! An acrylic 480 gallon tank thats 2' tall, 4' wide, and 8' long! Built in filtration with prefilter, wet dry, 2 chemical trays, spot for skimmer, heater, and return pump. And a blue back.
So before I waste away all the money I saved to furnish my new house.
Does anyone have any experience with a company called "Aqua Art" thats based in ohio? I'll happily have a cinder block entertainment center to have this tank!

 

[lesleybird]

Hi, It says that your current tank size is a 38 and you are jumping into a 480 gallon? Are you sure you know what you are getting yourself into? A 20 percent water change on a 480 gallon is about a hundred gallons. Are you prepared to do this on a monthly basis? I hope you have scuba gear to go in and scrape the algea every month? Personally I think it would be better to get something more in the 150 to 200 gallon range if you have not had a really large tank before. That way you know what you are getting yourself into as far as maintanence time and expense.
Good luck, Lesley

 

[daniel411]

Hey Lesley,
Yes, I just have a 38 gallon now. I had a 90 gallon up for a year and a half before. Not that a 90 is a large tank by any means, I've also helped my room mate with setting up/maintaining a 180 gallon reef, and in the process of setting up a 300 gallon aggressive. I'm still learning though, and thankfully learning alot from this board.
I'm keeping my small super manageable 38 gallon as my reef with just a couple small fish and inverts. Planning on turning the new tank into an aggressive or "large" school of tangs. Since it won't have many inverts, I believe I should be able to go longer distances between water changes. Example, Novice has yet to need to do a water change. I'm also hoping to be able to control my algae with a refugium of macro-algae, ro/di water, uv sterilizer, an overcapacity euro-reef skimmer, and depending on the aggressive species... a large snail population. Since its fowlr I'll think I'll be able to get away with just vho lighting. I had no problems controling algae on any of my tanks, except the 180. Which is currently doing great now that theres more snails in it.
I've looked at aquariums in the 180-240, and 300 gallon range. I still won't know exactly for sure if this tank will really be to huge for the condo I'm getting. If it is, I'll go down to a smaller tank. I don't think it will take up to much of the living room though. Also with it having so much surface area it won't be that bad on the floor, which is slab. Think their's really anything else to consider before going to this big of a tank?
Thanks for looking out,
Daniel

 

[broncofish]

Originally posted by Lesleybird
A 20 percent water change on a 480 gallon is about a hundred gallons. Are you prepared to do this on a monthly basis?
With that kind of water volume I don't think he will need to do monthly water changes, heck I know people with 55g tanks that don't do water changes.....but it is still a good point, because wow that is going to be one expensive tank to set up, lights stand canopy whoooo thats a butt load of money.

 

[oregonbud]

I want your job
Seriously though a 480 is huge, I'm just cringing at the cost of LR for that setup, figure 1.5 lbs at 4 bucks a lb, 2880 just for rock
Why not stay down in the range Lesa was mentioning, it'd save you some cash as far as maintainence goes, and unless you are wanting sharks, you can have a <b><i>really</i></b> good variety of livestock.
Then again if you have the cash, and can afford the maintainence, I say go for it, I would love to have a huge tank like that someday, although unless I win the lotto it will never happen
Side note - I see you are a fellow boarder, where do you go in MI? The last time I was in Saginaw, I thought there were only a couple hills that were built on garbage mounds in MI, if you ever get out this way (Oregon or Washington) drop me a line, I am up at the mountains pretty close to 2-3 times a week in the winter, and always looking for people to go ride with (wife can't keep up yet

 

[jarvis]

I think its perfect for a fish only tank. I would stay away from any built in filter system though. If its going to be a reef I would probobly shorten your width down to about 2.5 for lighting issues.

 

[rubberburnerme]

<<<has a little over a 1200 gallons plz. take some time to studie the extera cost involved for example the added electric on the lights the pumps the hundered $ on water change aint that much wait till you add chemicals in that amount or the live rock when its said and done -the tank it cost $35 a gallon for the setup than add your tank price to it and now you got to stock it with fish
a fully setup tank of that size is about 21,000 ..oo here you go you'll need about a 1500 watt heater that will be on constance for 3-4 days when you start it up run 2 hair dryers all the time inside to with the a/c on and see what your electric bill is that will tell if you can do it becuse you can always do a little at a time but once you plug it in thats it it too late than if you need help doing this e-mail me pinpony@yahoo.com

 

[rubberburnerme]

<<<has a little over1200gal. not all of the message went through just think on the added cost or i can help you if you want
my e-mail it above in last thread

 

[krunk]

dan, that sounds awesome. so wheres the new house?

 

[mastino mike]

I say the bigger the better. If money is an issue just go with fish only. We all want the biggest tank we can afford. Have you ever thought about going the plywood with acrylic or glass front route??

 

[eric4usa]

Placement is key
I have a 300gal and needed to brace the floor trusses below my tank in the crawl space.
480gal x 8lbs/gal = 3840lbs
+ ~300lbs for stand+canopy
+ min 100lbs sand
+ min 100lbs Live Rock

[hr]
Equals:
At least 4340lbs (2.17 tons)
This is like parking a large SUV in your family room.
most floor trusses will not tolerate that without reinforcement.
Put the tank in a location where you can overkill the support from underneath, or on concrete slab.

 

[daniel411]

Thanks for all the insight.
Actually since the height of the tank is only 2'. The costs are, for the size, really cheap. As it stands, still have to verify that the pricing is the same as it was in march, I'm looking at around 3500 with stand, canopy, heater, built in wet dry, delivery, etc.
I really don't feel I'd need to do water changes to often. Really planning on just fish only. Just a few small piles of live rock scattered around. After the tank, pick up a skimmer, sterilizer to help with algae (anyone disagree about them helping algae control), a few tunz large power heads., a bunch of sand from home depot, maybe 8-4 vho's (its just for illumination), and maybe 200 lbs of live rock-tonga branch. I'm looking at some cooler water sharks, so I don't think heating the tanks going to be much of an issue. Withit not being a reef-invert, lighting really only needs to be for illumination, and a day/night cycle for the fish's health.
I'm still trying to figure out how much electricity it will all use, if it will simply be to big for my new place. Whether or not I can afford/be willing to pay the electricty costs, etc.
"Oregonbud" We're hiring lol, but the work environment trully sucks... but good pay and 8 days in a row off every month. The rest of the month you don't do anything but work for the most part. If I can't go with this size, I'll deffinately get a 240-300 and try making... over a couple years. A nice reef. My room mate currently has a 180 reef, and a 300 sitting empty in the basement. Looked up every acrylic manufacturer I could, and realized that I could get this tank for just a bit more than a 300... so now I'm trying to see how feasible it is... pretty much set on it. Yes, I'm deffinately wanting sharks with this one, hence it being 4' deep. OT: Mt. Trashmore! Yep, we used to have a snow "resort" made of trash. No, actually probally within an hour and a half theres 4 different small hills... they suck for skiing but for playing in a terrain park they're all right. Up by Traverse city theres; Boyne Highlands, Boyne Mountain, and Nubs Nob. All three you can actually have fun at, nothing like what you have though I'm sure. I try going up there about once a month. Wow, I wish I could go 2-3x a week! I feel lucky if I make it two times a month. Only really amazing place we have in michigan is www.mtbohemia.com NOTHING but double, triple, and quadruple black diamonds! Runs that have nothing but cliff, after cliff, after cliff. Pretty intense. I deffinately want to make it out to washington one of these winters soon. Can you really still snowboard through the summer?
"Rubberburnerme" I'll email you later on this week.
"Krunk" House is in Chesterfield, actually found a condo that was in foreclosure twenty minutes after it was posted online, had the purchase agreement signed within two hours! Hence the willing to spend so much on a tank. First house, pretty excited. How'd you fair with the power outage? I had to runout to Brighton to pick up a generator last night.
"Mastino Mike" Honestly, I'd always be worried if something leaks on a diy tank like that.
"eric4usa" Understand the placement issue. Just to be safe, we have extra support set up for the 180 upstairs. Didn't even consider putting the 300 anywhere but on the basement slab. Luckily, yeah a basement would have been cooler, this condo is built on a concrete slab. Also since the tank is only 2' high and has 8'x4' surface area. The floor pressure will be more spread out.
WOW, that felt like a novel!

 

[krunk]

actually, we didnt even get affected by the power outage .
your only 90 miles away, i should stop by and check it out sometime....... . but i wouldnt bother with the built in filters and such.
you got any instant messengers?

 

[daniel411]

Hey Krunk,
Really glad you didn't get caught in all this mess. You're more than welcome to come on over and check it out anytime. Hoping to be moved in within a month. I'd save 850 by not having the built in filters. Just with that size tank. I'm not sure if I'd want to risk any potential overflow of a sump. I had to take down my 90g because of a messy overflow back in winter. Plus with fish only, I'll use a wet-dry anyways. No instant messengers, I'm at work and they won't work through the firewall, I don't have net access since I'm moving soon.
That was you who was interested in the 90 and uv right? If you're still interested, I haven't been able to get any of that infomation. But it was picked up at "Jan's Tropical Fish" on telegraph in taylor or dearborn. With wooden stand from there, metal stand if you want it, and the uv. Its not major show quality, but its decent. I'd let all go extra cheap.
Meant to ask you before, what all reptiles do you have? I used to have a 3' columbian tegu who was actually tame. Just took way to much work to keep him tame.

 

[krunk]

i was interested in the 90, my 10" oscar and 15" pleco make the 55 look small. probaly not too uv anymore.
i have a water dragon, had him for 2 years. im thinking about getting more, something really exotic. No snakes cuz my mom is scared sh!tless of them.
but i just turned 15 so i cant drive over and see your place.

 

[krunk]

but i would drill the holes yourself, much easier, i drilled my sump, its not that hard. Muich cheaper.

 

[daniel411]

If you want something really exotic, www.agamainternational.com Argentine tegu's act like puppy's! Well, to an extent
Congra'ts on the birthday. As for drilling a tank. I'd literally cry if I messed up a tank that costs that much. lol
I really don't have time now, but after I move, if I still have it. I'll give that tank to you "really" cheap to help your fish out.

 

[krunk]

alright, sounds good, i can wait.
yeah, i would be really pissed too if i destroyed my own 2000$+ tank.
are those really mean? i want too put him in with my water dragon. i have a 5'x18"x5' cage for the both of them i built.

 

[mastino mike]

Daniel411,
Im in the process of building a 700g plywood with acrylic front reinforced with 4x4s. Im not using epoxy. Im using a rubber pond liner. My buddy has 800 built the same way and you can save tons of money this way. If done right you wont have any leaking problems.4x8 sheet of 3/4 inch acrylic costs about 300 to 500 depending on where you get it. The pond liner was about 225. The silicone cost me 45 bucks for 5 tubes. The wood, nails and glue was about 150$. bulkheads were about 75$. You can still own an extremely large tank and you dont have to take out a loan to do it. The tank itself cost me about 1100(bare bones). The only leaks you need to worry about is around the bulkheads and where the liner is attached to the acrylic. This is a fish only tank.

 

[offshore80]

HOLY COW! I hope you are planning to build the house around that tank! Shesh... Or have a 8' sliding glass door to get it through. I played hell with my 175.
Do y'all think I'll need to reinforce my joist under the house for this 175? It goes across joist not with them.