[stephaniesquires]

I was going to replace my very scratched 240 acrylic with a glass one of the same size. However, as I researched I realized that large glass tanks can be very fragile. If the stand is not perfectly level it can affect the integrity of the tank. So I went with acrylic again. But, went a little taller. The length and width are still 96 and 24, but it's now 30" tall. It has rounded corners and will have a coast to coast overflow (thanks to pogodzib's suggestion). The entire setup will have to be redone (again) as I have changed from overflows drilled in the bottom to overflows drilled on the back. I am also moving the sump and fuge into the garage (on the other side of the wall).
The tank will be here in a week or two so I will post pictures and progress...

[stacef]

Congrats Steph!!
What are you doing with your 220 acyrlic then?

[e_baer]

It just keeps getting bigger and bigger....before you know it your gonna be owning a public aquarium!

[stephaniesquires]

Originally Posted by stacef

Congrats Steph!!
What are you doing with your 220 acyrlic then?

Well.... if I can move the washer and dryer and raise the sink then I can use it as a sump I dont have enough room in the garage yet to do that, but have a few ideas. I will be plumbing everything through the wall into the garage to cut down on noise and give me better access. If that proves to be impossible it wll sit in the garage till it finds a new home!!!

[stephaniesquires]

Originally Posted by e_baer

It just keeps getting bigger and bigger....before you know it your gonna be owning a public aquarium!

Yeah - i keep looking at the pool and think it would be a great reef tank, but the heating bill would kill me!!!!

[stacef]

Awesome! Wow and 520 gallon system! haha. I was overwhelmed with my 370 g system I am going to have. So you will definately need a chiller being in the garage in cali! I am so excited to see your tank arrive.

[stephaniesquires]

Originally Posted by stacef

Awesome! Wow and 520 gallon system! haha. I was overwhelmed with my 370 g system I am going to have. So you will definately need a chiller being in the garage in cali! I am so excited to see your tank arrive.

Definitely be getting a chiller. The good thing is that the wall it is on is the 'coolest' of the 4 walls. The tank should be ready in 10 to 14 days. Now I just have to get everything out of the tank, (paint the wall behind the tank as it looks like it hasn't been painted in years) move the plumbing, fuge and sump and then reset up the tank!!!

[e_baer]

I guess its a good thing you didint get a full reef going in that tank yet!

[stephaniesquires]

Originally Posted by e_baer

I guess its a good thing you didint get a full reef going in that tank yet!

Yep!! the chromis are still in qt - so no fish to catch. I think I can catch the snails... But I want to make sure everything stays healthy. I have lots of pods now and lots of color on the previously dead rock. I'm hoping to get everything switched out as quickly as possible.

[stephaniesquires]

Spent much of the day breaking down the old tank, sump and fuge. Got the rock and most of the critters out and into buckets. Many, many buckets, 2 large trashcans etc... (House smells like Seaworld!) And only about 50 gallons ended up on the floor due to 'malfunctions' while pumping the water out. Still have some sand to get out....
Had a plumber out to look at moving the washer/dryer and sink in the garage (and fix the sink hoses from my original attempts at connecting and under sink RO/DI unit) so I can use the 240 as a sump - he looked at me like I was totally nuts I told him saltwater tanks were an obsession, not a hobby and sanity was not required!!! Cost to relocate the water lines, gas lines, etc.. are prohibitive to say the least!!!
Soooo, still going to move the sump and fuge intot he garage, but now I've got a (scratched) 240 without any need for it...

[Jeremy0322]

you could craigslist it, or set up one of the most awesome QT tanks ever

[stephaniesquires]

QT !!! It's too scratched on the display side to make a good DT, but I wonder of someone would want it for a big sump like I wanted to do... At 8 feet long it's a bit difficult to find somewhere to put it!

[e_baer]

Originally Posted by stephaniesquires

Spent much of the day breaking down the old tank, sump and fuge. Got the rock and most of the critters out and into buckets. Many, many buckets, 2 large trashcans etc... (House smells like Seaworld!) And only about 50 gallons ended up on the floor due to 'malfunctions' while pumping the water out. Still have some sand to get out....
Had a plumber out to look at moving the washer/dryer and sink in the garage (and fix the sink hoses from my original attempts at connecting and under sink RO/DI unit) so I can use the 240 as a sump - he looked at me like I was totally nuts I told him saltwater tanks were an obsession, not a hobby and sanity was not required!!! Cost to relocate the water lines, gas lines, etc.. are prohibitive to say the least!!!
Soooo, still going to move the sump and fuge intot he garage, but now I've got a (scratched) 240 without any need for it...

wait, so your not gonna use it as a sump?

[thelastmucci]

Steph are you going to be the next one to have a 600 gallon display and then fall off the face of the earth due to overwhelming bills hehe. J/K BTW

[stephaniesquires]

Originally Posted by e_baer

wait, so your not gonna use it as a sump?

No way it will fit in the garage. Id have to move gas lines, water lines and drain lines (with a cement slab we're looking at tearing up the foundation) my sweetie is very tolerant and usually has no objection to whatever I do, but this was pushing the limits of his good nature!!!

Originally Posted by thelastmucci

Steph are you going to be the next one to have a 600 gallon display and then fall off the face of the earth due to overwhelming bills hehe. J/K BTW

I do have a new place picked out for the next tank - but it would probably be a 150 or so.... I keep trying to disappear for awhile but my office staff always tracks me down!

[e_baer]

Any new updates on the build?

[stephaniesquires]

Tank is up, with water and rock and sand - the plumbing is finally done - 4 overflow drain lines to the sump/fuges - 1 line to the 90 gallon fuge, 1 drain line to the mangrove fuge and 2 lines to the sump. The 90 gallon fuge drains to the sump as does the 35 mangrove fuge. The 2 return pumps (pumps need to be replaced with something bigger..) split to 4 returns and the return flow is directed to the back wall behind the rocks..

It's still a little gurgly, I'm working on reducing the 'tub draining' noise - Since the overflow box runs horozontally across the back of the tank and the holes for the drain lines are on the back wall (up fairly high) the water doesn't drop, it flows out - I'll post pics later...

All is looking great - ordered more live rock, live sand, some GARF, new light tubes... All I need now is to have an electician put in some GFCI's so I dont destroy the house and get the temp consistent and I'm ready for livestock...
I'll post pics soon..

[e_baer]

Is there another thread with all the information on it?

If not how much LR and LS do you have?

Cant wait for the pics!