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melev

Stage One Complete

Rating: 5 votes, 4.80 average.
26 Comments
by
melev
, 08-04-2010 at 12:17 AM (8637 Views)
I'm happy to report that after three weeks of planning, two phone calls and about 40 emails, my next tank - my dream tank - has been ordered. I'm going to walk around like this for the next six weeks.



This is a custom-built Marineland 400g, built to my exacting specifications. You saw my drawings a few weeks ago, and the guys at Marineland did the math to make sure it would be a rock-solid creation.

The two main viewing panels are Starphire glass. The back panel is regular glass. The end with the external overflow will be hidden behind a full sheet of black acrylic notched with teeth.

The dimensions of this tank are 84" x 36" x 30", plus the external overflow that is 6" x 36" x 8".

With those dimensions, I'll have an area 7' x 3' to set up my new reef, completely open and without distraction of overflows. Spock is going to love her new home.







The top is criss-cross double-eurobraced to give me full access to the display area and keep the tank strong. The front and back panels are 3/4" thick, and the two ends are 1/2" thick. The end with the overflow will also have a 1/4" black acrylic panel, making that end 3/4" thick. I'll be able to continue to provide flow with Vortech pumps. The bottom panel is made with 3/4" glass. The external overflow is reinforced with a strip of glass beneath the box.

Black plastic trim will wrap the bottom and the top of the tank, hiding the seams. Black silicone is what I chose for the seams.

The overflow has three 1.5" drains and two 1.5" returns. It will easily accommodate the flow provided by a Sequence Dart pump.

I expect the tank to deliver mid-September. Which gives me time to get the room ready for its arrival.

Needless to say, but I'll say it anyway - I'm getting excited.

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Comments

Page 1 of 2 12 LastLast
  1. Workaholic's Avatar
    AWESOME! Glad to hear you've got the new tank sorted out. I'm very happy to hear you went with a marineland tank. I've often thought about them building me a custom tank for my next upgrade when that day finally comes.
  2. Snakebyt's Avatar
    GRATS TO YOU.. i cant wait to see this thing getting going
  3. dwittster's Avatar
    The real question is how much is this monster going to weigh! That and are they going to put it in your house or are we?? LOL

    So happy for you though! This tank is so going to rock! I cannot wait to see it!
  4. Snakebyt's Avatar
    new sump being built for the new tank?

    Love the shirt in the first pic
    Updated 08-04-2010 at 01:24 AM by Snakebyt
  5. Hat39406's Avatar
    That is awesome Marc! I can't wait for the build to get started now. Very funny pic...LOL. What does the shirt say? ;-)
  6. melev's Avatar
    Yes, this tank is getting a brand new sump. The one I have now will be up for sale.

    The shirt says "We glue small animals to rocks." I got it from a LFS in Oklahoma.
  7. Hat39406's Avatar
    I like that shirt! :-)
  8. Midnight's Avatar
    Hey Marc, are they building the stand for it as well? Or do you have to find some metal fab guys to build it for you? Mid September seems like a long wait, don't they know they should drop everything and get all the boys at Marineland working on your tank?
  9. syedjilani's Avatar
    Good luck melev. Having external overflow is god desicion. Is any credit goes to me.......
  10. mro2you2's Avatar
    where you get the shirt??
  11. TomNeely's Avatar
    Good for you Marc!

    I also want to know where to get the shirt!
  12. washingtond's Avatar
    When do you expect to have everything done and your livestock in their new home?
  13. agsansoo's Avatar
    Congrats on the new tank ! Since this is going to be bigger (400 gal), what are your plans to reinforce the foundation directly under the tank ?
  14. Servo's Avatar
    So let me get this strait! There is going to be a gutter all along the front and back of the tank for surface skimming that leads to the external overflow? Is that correct? If so, that is a very interesting design.


    @agsansoo He won't need to reinforce the foundation as it is all concrete.
  15. chrisfowler99's Avatar
    Looks amazing!

    How does Marineland compare with AGE on pricing for custom tanks? Especially with the fact that I'd have to ship a Marineland tank versus drive to Dallas to pick up an AGE tank...saves a boatload of cash on shipping.

    I've gotten quotes from AGE (on a previous design incarnation). I guess I need to talk to the local Marineland vendor and see about getting a quote from them.
  16. chrisfowler99's Avatar
    One question: I'm assuming you're going to setup similar to how your old tank was setup, with the front and one end viewable at a corner.

    With the overflow extended on the other end, how is the wall going to be configured so that the front of the tank is in the viewing room, but the overflow is in the fish room?

    In trying to design a tank with a similar overflow setup that was to be in-wall, I had to pull the over back about 6" from the front edge to accommodate the width of the wall on that side of the tank.
  17. Bobbywade's Avatar
    Thats a nice setup I guess time the time is getting close to start the new fish room!!!
  18. raddogz's Avatar
    This is going to be a hella sweet tank. Congrats!
  19. Alaska_Phil's Avatar
    You mean you're not going to enlarge it to full size and hang it over the hole in the wall? :lol:
    I didn't even know Marineland made custom tanks.
    Looks great, should be an awesome setup.
  20. cruelle's Avatar
    Sweet tank can't wait to see it.
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