Another Newbie here

Bonefish · 02-25-2005, 08:08 AM

Hello I want to build a reek tank and I am looking for help. I am going to do a 300 gallon tank that will be 96x24x31. What do you recommend glass or Acrylic. Depending on what store I go to it changes. I was looking at a Tenecor acrylic? is this a good tank? Also where could I get some good plans to build a cabinet that could support a tank that big. I know I will be putting the sump below it. Of course I do not know exactly what I should put in that sump yet. I want to do it right the first time. What would be your list of equipment to buy if someone gave you a blank check. Anyone live in the Tampa Bay area that I could talk to. Thank you in advance for your time. Mike

nemoaquatics · 02-25-2005, 08:31 AM

HEY MIKE I LIVE IN THE BRANDON FL. THERE ARE SOME REAALY NOLIGABLE PEOPLE ON THIS SITE AS WELL IN THE BRANDON AREA. SEND ME AN EMAIL TO NEMOAQUATICS@MSN.COM AND I CAN GIVE YOU SOME NAMES LOCALLY THAT CAN HELP IF YOU WOULD LIKE.BOB

Eric · 02-25-2005, 08:38 AM

Welcome

I'm eric new to you'll find there is plenty of help from all members .going all out on your first tank well here's a link it's a good place to start reading you got your work cut out for you http://www.reefsanctuary.com/knowledgebase
good luck see you around check out the knowledge base you'll find alot of what you wanna know about everthing pertaining to reef tanks

Bonefish · 02-25-2005, 09:07 AM

Thanks guys. So you live in Brandon, where do you to buy all your fish and supplies? I live in Apollo Beach.

Woodstock · 02-25-2005, 09:10 AM

Welcome to Reef Sanctuary Bonefish!!

Wow!! 300 gallons

Sounds like fun! I prefer glass tanks over acrylic

Witfull · 02-25-2005, 09:12 AM

definately glass,,,plastic scratches so easily,,,inside and out.

good luck with the beast! pictures of in progress set up~

Bonefish · 02-25-2005, 09:31 AM

So it seems like glass is the way to go? Whose glass tank do you recommend? I was looking at Glass Cages. What other options are our there in glass? Thanks Mike

mkpaulson · 02-25-2005, 10:02 AM

welcome aboard, you may want a check with Glass Cages and see if their tanks are reef ready. if you can get it that way, that the way to go.

Bonefish · 02-25-2005, 10:26 AM

Man I just read the thread on your 210. That is awesome. Whose lights do you recommend? Have you been happy with the lifereef stuff? If you were buying for a 300 gallon tank what would you order? Would you have done anything different for your tank now that you have had it set up for a while?

Bonefish · 02-25-2005, 10:55 AM

aquariumsforyou.com
Any thoughts on this company?

mkpaulson · 02-25-2005, 12:11 PM

thanks for the compliments on my tank, first off have you given any thought in where you're going to place the tank? a tank that size with all Live rock, water, the weight of the glass tank, and equipment you probably talking 5,000 lbs. make sure your floor will support that kind of weight.

on the lighting subject that kinda depends on what to plan on keeping in your tank as far as corals or clams or anemones. you probably want to go with it least 4x 250 W or maybe 400 W metal halide lighting for a tank that long.

are you planning on a sand bed or bare bottom?

I really like my reef life skimmer and sump I would highly recommend them but I probably would go with the vs3 72" skimmer instead.

I agree with every one of that glass tanks are probably better in the long run but when you get above 300 gal. I would probably really consider acrylic to save on the weight factor also drilling for a closed loop circulation system.

Bonefish · 02-25-2005, 12:32 PM

Did not think about the weight on the tile. Should have have the tile removed under the stand so that it sits on concrete or do you think the tile can handle that much weight? I was going to go with a sand bottom. Here in Florida do I need to get a chiller or heater for the tank ? We live on the water so the temperature is moderated with the sea breeze. Also do you think I can pull salt water out of the canal I live on or is not safe to do that? Thanks Mike

mkpaulson · 02-25-2005, 01:02 PM

You are definitely going to need a chiller, the lighting will add a lot of heat to the tank.

I would probably get one small heater is to be safe.

you will need to invest in a good ro/di water purification filter, all of your makeup water and top off water should be ro/di water. using water from the ocean or the canal would be a no-no.

as far as the floor goes you would probably be ok on the tile but not knowing the type of tile you have I would probably recommend having a professional look at for you.

Bonefish · 02-25-2005, 01:38 PM

Thanks Mark for all the info. I got to go to work now so I can pay for this tank.

Gina · 02-25-2005, 05:29 PM

Welcome to Reef Sanctuary! Another monster tank to watch take shape!
What type of tile is on your floor?
That would be one concern when it comes to setting this bably up!
Can't wait to see some pics!
I would also try to get a reef ready one for sure!

02-25-2005, 08:08 AM	#1 (permalink)
Bonefish Tunicate Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: Apollo Beach, FL. Posts: 8 View Gallery Karma Komment	Another Newbie here Hello I want to build a reek tank and I am looking for help. I am going to do a 300 gallon tank that will be 96x24x31. What do you recommend glass or Acrylic. Depending on what store I go to it changes. I was looking at a Tenecor acrylic? is this a good tank? Also where could I get some good plans to build a cabinet that could support a tank that big. I know I will be putting the sump below it. Of course I do not know exactly what I should put in that sump yet. I want to do it right the first time. What would be your list of equipment to buy if someone gave you a blank check. Anyone live in the Tampa Bay area that I could talk to. Thank you in advance for your time. Mike

02-25-2005, 09:10 AM	#5 (permalink)
Woodstock The Wand Geek was here. ;) Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: North Carolina Posts: 22,862 View Gallery Karma Komment Add yours!	Welcome to Reef Sanctuary Bonefish!! Wow!! 300 gallons Sounds like fun! I prefer glass tanks over acrylic __________________ ~Doni Marie~ *GOT ICH???* ~120 Reef Chronicle ~ *~Breeding Picasso Clownfish~* "Energy and persistence conquer all things." Benjamin Franklin __________________________________________________ ______________________________________________ 120 mixed reef, dual Reeflux 10k 250 MHs, dual Geiseman Actinic T5s,Neptune AC III, ASM g3, 2x Korallia #3, Mag 9.5 return

02-25-2005, 10:02 AM	#8 (permalink)
mkpaulson Plate Coral Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: port republic,va Posts: 750 View Gallery Karma Komment	welcome aboard, you may want a check with Glass Cages and see if their tanks are reef ready. if you can get it that way, that the way to go. __________________ Mark Last edited by mkpaulson : 02-25-2005 at 05:50 PM.

02-25-2005, 12:11 PM	#11 (permalink)
mkpaulson Plate Coral Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: port republic,va Posts: 750 View Gallery Karma Komment	thanks for the compliments on my tank, first off have you given any thought in where you're going to place the tank? a tank that size with all Live rock, water, the weight of the glass tank, and equipment you probably talking 5,000 lbs. make sure your floor will support that kind of weight. on the lighting subject that kinda depends on what to plan on keeping in your tank as far as corals or clams or anemones. you probably want to go with it least 4x 250 W or maybe 400 W metal halide lighting for a tank that long. are you planning on a sand bed or bare bottom? I really like my reef life skimmer and sump I would highly recommend them but I probably would go with the vs3 72" skimmer instead. I agree with every one of that glass tanks are probably better in the long run but when you get above 300 gal. I would probably really consider acrylic to save on the weight factor also drilling for a closed loop circulation system. __________________ Mark

02-25-2005, 01:02 PM	#13 (permalink)
mkpaulson Plate Coral Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: port republic,va Posts: 750 View Gallery Karma Komment	You are definitely going to need a chiller, the lighting will add a lot of heat to the tank. I would probably get one small heater is to be safe. you will need to invest in a good ro/di water purification filter, all of your makeup water and top off water should be ro/di water. using water from the ocean or the canal would be a no-no. as far as the floor goes you would probably be ok on the tile but not knowing the type of tile you have I would probably recommend having a professional look at for you. __________________ Mark

02-25-2005, 08:31 AM	#2 (permalink)
nemoaquatics Tunicate Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: BRANDON, FLORIDA Posts: 17 View Gallery Karma Komment	HEY MIKE I LIVE IN THE BRANDON FL. THERE ARE SOME REAALY NOLIGABLE PEOPLE ON THIS SITE AS WELL IN THE BRANDON AREA. SEND ME AN EMAIL TO NEMOAQUATICS@MSN.COM AND I CAN GIVE YOU SOME NAMES LOCALLY THAT CAN HELP IF YOU WOULD LIKE.BOB

02-25-2005, 08:38 AM	#3 (permalink)
Eric Neon dottyback Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: PA Posts: 685 View Gallery Karma Komment	Welcome I'm eric new to you'll find there is plenty of help from all members .going all out on your first tank well here's a link it's a good place to start reading you got your work cut out for you http://www.reefsanctuary.com/knowledgebase good luck see you around check out the knowledge base you'll find alot of what you wanna know about everthing pertaining to reef tanks

02-25-2005, 09:07 AM	#4 (permalink)
Bonefish Tunicate Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: Apollo Beach, FL. Posts: 8 View Gallery Karma Komment	Thanks guys. So you live in Brandon, where do you to buy all your fish and supplies? I live in Apollo Beach.

02-25-2005, 09:31 AM	#7 (permalink)
Bonefish Tunicate Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: Apollo Beach, FL. Posts: 8 View Gallery Karma Komment	So it seems like glass is the way to go? Whose glass tank do you recommend? I was looking at Glass Cages. What other options are our there in glass? Thanks Mike

02-25-2005, 10:26 AM	#9 (permalink)
Bonefish Tunicate Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: Apollo Beach, FL. Posts: 8 View Gallery Karma Komment	Man I just read the thread on your 210. That is awesome. Whose lights do you recommend? Have you been happy with the lifereef stuff? If you were buying for a 300 gallon tank what would you order? Would you have done anything different for your tank now that you have had it set up for a while?

02-25-2005, 10:55 AM	#10 (permalink)
Bonefish Tunicate Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: Apollo Beach, FL. Posts: 8 View Gallery Karma Komment	aquariumsforyou.com Any thoughts on this company?

02-25-2005, 12:32 PM	#12 (permalink)
Bonefish Tunicate Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: Apollo Beach, FL. Posts: 8 View Gallery Karma Komment	Did not think about the weight on the tile. Should have have the tile removed under the stand so that it sits on concrete or do you think the tile can handle that much weight? I was going to go with a sand bottom. Here in Florida do I need to get a chiller or heater for the tank ? We live on the water so the temperature is moderated with the sea breeze. Also do you think I can pull salt water out of the canal I live on or is not safe to do that? Thanks Mike

02-25-2005, 01:38 PM	#14 (permalink)
Bonefish Tunicate Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: Apollo Beach, FL. Posts: 8 View Gallery Karma Komment	Thanks Mark for all the info. I got to go to work now so I can pay for this tank.

02-25-2005, 05:29 PM	#15 (permalink)
Gina Moderator Join Date: Dec 2003 Location: Indiana Posts: 8,823 View Gallery Karma Komment	Welcome to Reef Sanctuary! Another monster tank to watch take shape! What type of tile is on your floor? That would be one concern when it comes to setting this bably up! Can't wait to see some pics! I would also try to get a reef ready one for sure! __________________ Gina and Mark's 75 Visit Our Sponsors Gina's Cube Gina

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