Getting my dream tank
- Thread starter FishKing5
- Start date
Nice tank. How thick is the acrylic?
Tall tanks aren't difficult to maintain as long as you have the right tools. Get a long grabber (I like the 51" Unger Nifty Nabber), build a gravel vac (I used 1.5" sump pump tubing from the local hardware store and 4' of 2" PVC pipe with a 4" to 2" reducer fitting for the mouth of the vac) and a magnetic algae scraper and you're all set.
IMO, tall tanks look amazing; so much more impressive than short stubby tanks. The only downside is that you have to get a fairly powerful pump to overcome all that head height.
I would suggest not putting a traditional canopy with a top on it. Instead, just build a faux top, that just rests around the rim so that it looks like it has a top, but the top is actually completely open. That's what I did with mine and 1.) it makes maintenance a lot easier and 2.) you can't tell that it's just a facade because the top of the tank is so high.
Looking forward to seeing your setup once you have it up and running.
Tall tanks aren't difficult to maintain as long as you have the right tools. Get a long grabber (I like the 51" Unger Nifty Nabber), build a gravel vac (I used 1.5" sump pump tubing from the local hardware store and 4' of 2" PVC pipe with a 4" to 2" reducer fitting for the mouth of the vac) and a magnetic algae scraper and you're all set.
IMO, tall tanks look amazing; so much more impressive than short stubby tanks. The only downside is that you have to get a fairly powerful pump to overcome all that head height.
I would suggest not putting a traditional canopy with a top on it. Instead, just build a faux top, that just rests around the rim so that it looks like it has a top, but the top is actually completely open. That's what I did with mine and 1.) it makes maintenance a lot easier and 2.) you can't tell that it's just a facade because the top of the tank is so high.
Looking forward to seeing your setup once you have it up and running.
Haha it's 460 gallons. 82 long 48 high 27 inches deep. Do the calculationsIt is not a 500.. keep on dreaming
OK thanks so much for all the advice. I've never dealt with a tank this large so it'll be quite the learning process. Good thing I have until next year to set it up and get everything I need ready for it. I'm not how thick the acrylic is. I'm picking the tank up next Friday but I would imagine at least 3/4".the guy had it customly made from a pretty reputable builder so it should be nice. Only downside is that it's not drilled through the bottom but is connected to a protein skimmer that goes through the top of the tank so I'll have to probably look into getting it drilled in the bottom so I can hook up a sump to it. Any thoughts anyone?
From all that I've read, acrylic is fairly simply to drill yourself. Just buy the correct size bit, drill it to the correct size, attach a bulkhead fitting and you should be set. I'm planning on doing that when I get an acrylic tank.
However, I am by no means an expert on drilling tanks. Hopefully someone who has done it will chime in and tell about their experience.
However, I am by no means an expert on drilling tanks. Hopefully someone who has done it will chime in and tell about their experience.
