Starting a 500 gallon build

  • We are currently upgrading MFK. thanks! -neo
Things are getting back on track to continue with the setup, put in about 250 gallons today to see how the condition of the acrylic looks with water, still waiting on bubbles to clear up, but hopefully nothing major to be buffed out. Finally nice to see some water in the tank since its been in the house for a while now.
 
what are you planning on putting in it?
 
Mr. Grumpy Gills;3340848; said:
an interesting diy filter you could consider is the algae filter. Its a simple filter with algae consuming up the excess nutrients in the water. Its cheap to maintain and only need to clean it about once a week and uses lights to grow the algae. a 24"x12" or a 24"x24" could do it.
just to put a thought out there.
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yeah check out my article on it in my sig
 
Since I have to move in about 1.5 years, and don't want the extra work related to moving a SW tank, I am planning to move my 120g African tank into the 500g. I have filled the tank completely to test for any leaks and well as for any noises from stand integrity, but everything checks out. I have been in the process of working out a plan to finish setting up the tank and transferring from the other tank.

The tank will using pool filter sand, "River jack" rocks, and several pieces of driftwood that I am trying to find. Filtration with be dual FX5, although I have a concern on the FX5 pumping capability. If the filter is used with the in tank hoses, but maximum height is 4.9 ft from top of lid to water level. I can get the filter to just around that, but the suction end will be coming from the drains in the overflow, and the return running through discharge lines also drilled in the overflow, going out of the top of the overflow and back into the tank using loc-lines.

I have been curious about drilling the overflow (which is half a hexagon) on the two angled walls and running the discharge points up through there. Any comments on that would be appreciated. Once that is settled, I will start ordering all the remaining items.
 
Just ordered a bunch of items for the tank (plumbing, power heads, equipment for cleaning and aquascaping in such a deep tank, UV), so things will start coming together as the packages arrive. I am planning on skinning the steel frame, and am looking for someplace to buy some pre-made cabinet doors. Anyone have a good source that wont kill on shipping? I was hoping for Lowe's or HD, but I didn't see anything...
 
Any pictures? Your making us drool here. BTW did you ask someone at lowes for cabinet doors? They should have some.
 
No pics, because everything looks the same right as the last pic except for some more stand bracing on the sides.

I am going to Lowe's again on Saturday because I need a ladder to get into the tank, so I'll talk to someone about doors. I'm hoping to get all I can do this weekend finished, as I am on the schedule of items arriving now. But I am hoping to get the sand and rocks in, plus driftwood if I can find some large pieces I like, power heads in and start heating the water...but I am also getting a puppy on Saturday too (wife's trade for me to get this tank)...so it'll be a busy weekend.
 
Subsribed and then some! Can't belive this thread has only 6 pages... I love your tank. Question, I HATE blue backgrounds on tanks and have passed up allog of good CL deals because of the background. What did you use to change it? Paint the inside?

I am curious because I thought of painting one but worry about internal scratches building up over time and bugging the crap out of me. :duh: Would loe to find out what you did to change it. Looks great.
 
JK47;3444561; said:
Subsribed and then some! Can't belive this thread has only 6 pages... I love your tank. Question, I HATE blue backgrounds on tanks and have passed up allog of good CL deals because of the background. What did you use to change it? Paint the inside?

I am curious because I thought of painting one but worry about internal scratches building up over time and bugging the crap out of me. :duh: Would loe to find out what you did to change it. Looks great.
Click to expand...

Unfortunately it only appears to no longer be blue in the last picture due to lighting. If you look close you will see some wood panels on top of the tank because my cats can still jump on top of the tank, and they have jumped down into the empty tank before. So it only looks darker because of the light being blocked. I agree that I don't like blue as much for FW, but since I will ultimately do a SW setup I didn't change it. They are blue plastic sheets that I also cannot think of an effective way to change it. Sorry!
 
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