200 Gallon Shallow Reef

[reef keeper]

I started with my build today. Or should I say rebuild. I was looking around at a 7 ft build and called a few places but the cost was just too high. I got quotes up to 6000.00. That's just not in the budget. I found a tank that was a real wreck. Crooked sides, old silicone. The girl told me it was 84x30x30 and 3/4" glass. Turns out its 84 x 30 wide by 20 tall and 1/2". I paid 260 for the tank.

The old crappy plastic trim can off in my hands and the edges of the glass are rough.

I called around and found a glass shop that can polish the edges and clean up the mess lol. One of the sides is actually too short so I'll replace it and use the glass for bracing.

Plan is to euro brace it with an external bean animal overflow. I'm cutting the back piece down to 19" to get the coast to coast overflow. It's a hair shorter than I dreamed of but for the money I can live without 4" of water.

I'll be building a custom 40" stand so I have lots of room in the stand to access my skimmer etc.

Lighting will be 3 20" lumenarc 250 w radium bulbs. I picked up 3 new in the box pfo magnetic ballasts today. They will drive the radiums properly.

Looking around for some led accent lights but may run some 6' VHO.

I'll update this thread as we go along!!




The tank



Removing the ugly centre brace supports that were stuck on the side of the glass. Mineral spirits anyone??!

 

[bart84]

That's going to be quite the project. Looking forward to seeing it up and running.

 

[Kyle1970]

Cool dimensions too.
Too much work for this lazy guy.
How easy is it to get 1" taken off a piece like that?

 

[reef keeper]

Pretty easy. Since the whole tank is apart they just cut it. And they Polish it. And it's gonna be exactly the right sizes. I just got it all apart. The brace was the hardest. Took 3 hours. The rest was 20 minutes

 

[heath]

you are very ambitious, great project though.. it will be beautiful when is done..

 

[reef keeper]

It sure isn't beautiful right now lol. On the hunt for aluminum track to hang my lights. No canopy!! Going to be slick.

 

[jeffopentax]

Will be following this one!


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[EricTMah]

Looks like you're going to have your hands full.

Looking forward to seeing this build take shape!

Sent from my Z30 using Tapatalk

 

[reef keeper]

I'll have it cleaned up tomorrow and then off to the glass place to get the edges etc cleaned up and polished. I Just imagine it full of happy fish and corals

 

[Kman]

It will be a cool tank. Keep up with the build pictures.

 

[scubasteve]

pm me when you need the 90 degree clamps seems you will be ready for them before me..... i get to drill my glass tomorrow

 

[AdInfinitum]

Cool....this sounds like it will be remarkably similar to my new build that is just getting ready to get going!!!

Mine has a bunch of home renos attached to it so I'm sure it won't progress as fast as yours but I'll be watching this closely to steal all your good ideas

 

[reef keeper]

Lol. Steal away! The part that is a little scary is the overflow box. Steve you have a 65mm drill bit? I need 3 holes so I could bring it when I get the clamps lol

 

[reef keeper]

Today I cleaned up the edges. They are so unfinished and rough that I sat and stared at it all for a while. By the time these panels are refinished with polished edges I'm going to lose at least another inch, making it only 19" tall. With substrate, and the notch I might only have 17" left.

The 2 side panels weren't cut straight so I would have to replace them, and there was a decent chip out of the back..... So what do do.... What to do......

I took a good look at the bottom panel and funny enough it has polished edges and is cut perfectly. I'll get the glass shop to buff it up and clean up any nicks.

I'm going to get for new side pieces cut - a new front, and sides at 24" tall and the back pane 23". I'll take one of the bad sides (the worst of them I suppose lol) and get it cut up for the overflow box. Then I can drill it and put it on.

Total cost for the new glass pieces is 80 for each side and 240 each for the front and back. So 640 and I get a 240 gallon 24" tall tank that is exactly the size I've always wanted. The bottom pane would cost me over 500 so I'm still up just on that piece.

Funny how things work out.

 

[pulpfiction1]

its gonna look amazing when its done,thats the only thought you really need to keep moving forward

 

[reeferkeeper420]

Wish i woulda known i have a 180 torn apart in my yard you coulda had for free. You woulda still needed to polish them up and replace one piece of glass, but woulda been free.

 

[Thanh]

Will be following along with everyone. I attach an image ,where u can get the TSlot aluminum

 

[reef keeper]

Thanks thanh! Riley you still have the tank?

 

[AdInfinitum]

At that point you've got to go with "TANK OF YOUR DREAMS"!!!

 

[reef keeper]

Ad infinitude I totally agree. I always wanted one 84x30x24. I found one online once for 1600. I'll probably end up around $1000 with everything said and done.

fYI I will have 4 250w DE fixtures with ballasts for sale soon. Plus a 175 w