Om84
Active Member
If the acrylic was indeed 2” thick would your recommendation be any different?
Very large 600 gallon Acrylic tank question
- Thread starter Om84
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Gonna throw something else out there…have you had the house heavily inspected for all the humidity damage a tank that size can inflict? Did they have a dehumidifier or have the tank and equipment room super well ventilated?
I’d be looking for rust in the HVAC system as a start.
I’d be looking for rust in the HVAC system as a start.
ss88
Active Member
You might be able to add a frame around the tank made from metal to extend the life. But not the best idea.
ss88
Active Member
Yes. If the acrylic was thicker my statement would be different.
However its important that the acrylic be properly annealed post fabricated
Om84
Active Member
Great point. The owner installed a pretty big dehumidifier. There is ventilation into the cieling where the tank is. We had a inspection done and they didn't see any damage thankfully.
Om84
Active Member
Would love to hear more about this. Is this something someone inexperienced can do? After closing I'm just thinking of having a local builder who is familiar with custom large acrylic work to come out and do inspection. I just worry they will encourage me to just buy a new tank lol.
Om84
Active Member
I took the owner's words but didn't measure the acrylic myself. Honestly it looked like it was 2" thick. Will confirm this. Thanks so much
ocicilioni
New Member
ocicilioni
New Member
I have a 350 gal acrylic reef aquarium. 36" deep. 3 Natura Icons 6" above and 2 Kessil A360XE tuna blue lights.
Talk to Orphek. There are new items available not yet on their website. The Natura Icon is their latest light replacing the Atlantic Icon with more output and efficiency. They also now have the OR4 light bars not shown on the website. They offer 45 deg lenses for deeper light penetrations. Open a vide chart. They are easy to work with. Also Kessil has their new 500 x tuna blue. they offer 55 and 35 deg reflectors. i think you can get 4-5' of light penetration.
Talk to Orphek. There are new items available not yet on their website. The Natura Icon is their latest light replacing the Atlantic Icon with more output and efficiency. They also now have the OR4 light bars not shown on the website. They offer 45 deg lenses for deeper light penetrations. Open a vide chart. They are easy to work with. Also Kessil has their new 500 x tuna blue. they offer 55 and 35 deg reflectors. i think you can get 4-5' of light penetration.
Om84
Active Member
Tank is braced on top. Still have to confirm acrylic thickness. I did send a message out to @Tenecor Aquariums but have not heard back.
Om84
Active Member
So I finally bought the house. The acrylic is 1.5” thick, not 2”.
Everything looks like it’s running well. For now I want to plan what I need to do if I were to keep this tank.
The plumbing is strange on this tank. 675 gallons but only 2 drains that are 1.5”. The drains are on either side on the bottom of the tank. Overflows are inside the tank. No emergency drains exist which is a bummer because I always plumbed for a bean animal. There are no returns! Returns was plumbed externally with 1” pipes coming off of an external blue line pump and going to the top of the tank on the sides and using a manifold type system there are 4 outlets aimed from the top of the tank in various directions. I think the point was to use it for more flow.
There is barely any room under the tank because of the support system for the stand which is all wood.
The sump is a surprising 40 gallon tank that allows one large filter sock.
If I were to use the tank I’m gonna need a sump. I do like filter socks and I want at minimum 4 of them.
There is no skimmer on this tank.
I will need a giant skimmer. I’m a fan of Life Reef Skimmers so will probably get one of those. I do want a large refugium and then of course return section. I do think having a bubble trap will be important.
Given the space constraints I’m likely going to need 2 tanks and plumb them together and use as a sump. I’m thinking tank one will be for drain and filter socks which will be plumbed to another tank that will have room for skimmer, refugium, and finally return.
Thoughts?
Everything looks like it’s running well. For now I want to plan what I need to do if I were to keep this tank.
The plumbing is strange on this tank. 675 gallons but only 2 drains that are 1.5”. The drains are on either side on the bottom of the tank. Overflows are inside the tank. No emergency drains exist which is a bummer because I always plumbed for a bean animal. There are no returns! Returns was plumbed externally with 1” pipes coming off of an external blue line pump and going to the top of the tank on the sides and using a manifold type system there are 4 outlets aimed from the top of the tank in various directions. I think the point was to use it for more flow.
There is barely any room under the tank because of the support system for the stand which is all wood.
The sump is a surprising 40 gallon tank that allows one large filter sock.
If I were to use the tank I’m gonna need a sump. I do like filter socks and I want at minimum 4 of them.
There is no skimmer on this tank.
I will need a giant skimmer. I’m a fan of Life Reef Skimmers so will probably get one of those. I do want a large refugium and then of course return section. I do think having a bubble trap will be important.
Given the space constraints I’m likely going to need 2 tanks and plumb them together and use as a sump. I’m thinking tank one will be for drain and filter socks which will be plumbed to another tank that will have room for skimmer, refugium, and finally return.
Thoughts?
Any way you can plumb thru a wall into a room you can dedicate for a Fish room? if so I got a ton of ideas for sump, skimmer, fuge etc. 
Acrylic I believe is pretty easy to drill, but you have to go real slow I think so as not to build heat which will melt and warp the stuff. So it is possible for you to add a 3rd drain for a bean style. And to plumb returns in to the top back wall if you wanted.
If you must put the sump under the tank I might measure and use plastic water tubs from Tractor Supply. They are super easy to drill and bulkhead to plumb together and not to pricey. I used a 50g for a Saltwater mixing tub for a long time.
I am a firm believe in water volume so I'd want to make a sump as large as I could, that's why I use a 125g 6ft tank for a sump on my 300g.
Acrylic I believe is pretty easy to drill, but you have to go real slow I think so as not to build heat which will melt and warp the stuff. So it is possible for you to add a 3rd drain for a bean style. And to plumb returns in to the top back wall if you wanted.
If you must put the sump under the tank I might measure and use plastic water tubs from Tractor Supply. They are super easy to drill and bulkhead to plumb together and not to pricey. I used a 50g for a Saltwater mixing tub for a long time.
I am a firm believe in water volume so I'd want to make a sump as large as I could, that's why I use a 125g 6ft tank for a sump on my 300g.
My sump which has been built is 72x24x24> DT is 235gals. Big sumps in dedicated space is a real plus. here is what I have scoped out
I highly recommend fleece roller over socks for sure
Check out these skimmers
I highly recommend fleece roller over socks for sure
Check out these skimmers
Om84
Active Member
There is a room but there are basement stairs that divide the fish tank from the other room. The other issue is we were going to use that room for an exercise equipment / work out room. Another issue also is the small room the fish tank is in is ventilated so well with industrial dehumidifier that I really would like to keep the sump in the same place. I can still get volume but will need to connect multiple sumps/tanks and plumb them to each other. What are the cons of doing it this way?
I wanted the main drains to drain into a 55 gallon which will be underneath the main tank and drain into filter sock vs rollers. Then this tank will have plumbing (likely 2 bulkheads) at the bottom with plumbing going across the bottom to the other side where there is some space.
Now this area is kind of oddly angled. But if you look at that back wall it is 46” in L and the W” is about 19”. I wanted to put another tank here which will hold the skimmer and return. I want a big refugium so refugium will have to be remote.
If I do it this way I can fit everything in one place which I know my wife would prefer (demand).
I wanted the main drains to drain into a 55 gallon which will be underneath the main tank and drain into filter sock vs rollers. Then this tank will have plumbing (likely 2 bulkheads) at the bottom with plumbing going across the bottom to the other side where there is some space.
Now this area is kind of oddly angled. But if you look at that back wall it is 46” in L and the W” is about 19”. I wanted to put another tank here which will hold the skimmer and return. I want a big refugium so refugium will have to be remote.
If I do it this way I can fit everything in one place which I know my wife would prefer (demand).
Om84
Active Member
Nice idea. I’ll have to measure what I can fit there. I need to figure how to use the space I have the best way possible.Can you possibly do this
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