Large acrylic tank owners *opinions wanted!*

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CichlidAddict

Gambusia
MFK Member
Apr 19, 2006
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I'm tossing around the idea of replacing all my current tanks with 1 large one - 8' x 4' x 30" which is about 600 gallons.

A couple questions for you large acrylic tank owners:
1) I'm guessing a wet/dry would be the only way to go for a tank this size, right? The only downside I see is the noise. How loud are your big wet/drys?
2) What to you use to cover the openings at the top? They're like rounded rectangles.
 
Well mine isn't 600 gallons but, I agree with you on the W/D. I use a rubber mat under my pump and you can't hear it. I have a removable piece of plexi glass as the top of my W/D. I have a canopy on mine.
 
I have a 180g, by far not huge, but acrylic and big nonetheless. I actually do NOT run a W/D, but rather 2 ocean clear canisters w/Reeflo Dart pump and a backup simple 400gph canister filter.
Silent and seems to get the job done pretty damn well.

As for covering the top, I have it open to the world as my fish are bottom fishies and no one even swims upwards of the middle of the tank.
 
My tank came with plexi covers with little nubs on them to keep them from sliding sideways and falling in. It's braced so there's 2 of the rectangular holes instead of one. On an 8' tank you might have 3. I'm planning to build a canopy because now it looks kind of crappy with the striplight just sitting on top, and it's in the living room.

Re: the filter, the tank is drilled for a sump and it's not loud at all. I'm probably going to replace the sump with a bigger one and a stronger pump but still I don't think it will be loud. Eheim or other canister is probably quieter though.
 
well i have a 180 that is acrylic, and it has a wetdry (and an FX 5 on it). This was a custom made tank, and it had a pvc piping in the overflow that had slashes cut in it all the way down the pipe-needless to say that didnt work becuase water was flowing out so fast that it was gurgling. the hubby and i replaced it with a durso stand pipe-which works great and keeps the noise level down.

for covers, i had 2 pieces of acrylic cut to fit the holes so i just slide one over when i feed. i also was told never to use windex on acrylic because little cracks form, they dry out over time and the tank will crack so i just wipe it down with a damp tshirt.
 
Thanks for the info guys! The tank builder recommended about a 120 gallon wet/dry. This will definitely be a monster if I can come up with the cash for it. :nilly:
 
For my acrylic 300 I plumbed the filtration lines for both the wet/dry and closed loop through the wall into the mudroom next door. I know that's not practical for everybody but it sure makes for a quiet tank in my living room.

For the top covers I currently have some 1/4" acrylic sheets cut to cover them but they are warping like a mother and I am constantly searching eBay for somebody to post some scrap 1/2" or larger sheets for sale to make new ones.

And like navygirl said, don't use Windex, use an acrylic cleaner like Novus.
 
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