I thought that I would post some pictures from a new project I am under taking. It's a 600 gallon acrylic tank, (120L X 48W X 25H). There is going to be a 160 gallon sump/refugium located below the tank. The new tank will sit on a 42" high metal stand and have all of the related components located under the tank.

These pictures were taken at the factory this week. The tank will be delivered in the next ten day. I hope to be able to post more pictures as thing progress.

[IMG]http://i102.photobucket.com/albums/m95/goodwin9/NEW%20TANK/untitled.jpg[/IMG]

[IMG]http://i102.photobucket.com/albums/m95/goodwin9/NEW%20TANK/nt2.jpg[/IMG]

WOW.... Not even a year and you already outgrew your 450gal Tank??

I am obviously in the wrong business. What do you do for a living?

I have nothing to say except...holy crap!!! That's huge! I was just thinking how big a 55 gllon tank is! I'm with the diver on this one, what do you do for a living? Your house must be like 80 stories high...or long....just huge!!! BTW, what kind of tank is it gonna be? It would be an AMAZING reef, then again, it would be amazing as anything....

Here is a picture of the stand just after coming back from being powder coated. The stand is upside down in this picture. It was built in two sections so that it would fit through the doorway.

goodwin- quick question are you using aycrlic or glass? And what type of silicone do you use and where can you pick it up at ? How easy is it to build your own tank? Just interested because when I get my own place im goin to build one into the wall or make my own with everything built in as far as overflows and etc. Or would it be cheaper to just buy a already built tank?

The skimmer finally arrive for the new tank. It's an Euro Reef that was a little bigger than I had planned.

Now that the skimmer is here, the final layout of plumbing can begin. Here is a drawing of how things lay out under the tank.

Starting from the left side, sand filters, phos ban reactor & pump, next is the sump/refugium, 2 more pumps and the skimmer, next 2 more pumps with the calcium reactor located in front of them, next are the 2 sets of lifeguard's mechanical, chemical, and UV filters, and the 2 chillers are sitting on the right side of the diagram.

Looks like one big puzzle to me, but I think that it will work. (I hope!)

defently looks like another killer set up. keep us posted

I was wondering what manfucaturers you got your pumps, phos banreactor, calcium reactor, and the Chillers. I was wondering because I plan on making my own aquarium and set up for a seven hundred gal aquarium, when I get the money.Also how thick do you have your acrylic sheeting.

We had some issues with the Euro-Reef skimmer and had to reurn it. Here are a couple of pictures of the replacement I got from H&S. Looks like it should do the job with 3 Eheim 1260 pumps. Skimmer is rated up to 1000 gallons.

[IMG]http://i102.photobucket.com/albums/m95/goodwin9/NEW%20TANK/skim3.jpg[/IMG]

[IMG]http://i102.photobucket.com/albums/m95/goodwin9/NEW%20TANK/skim2.jpg[/IMG]

[IMG]http://i102.photobucket.com/albums/m95/goodwin9/NEW%20TANK/Skim1.jpg[/IMG]

The new calcium reactor has also arrived. It's from Reef Mania and is huge. There is a five gallon bucket and 5 lb CO2 tank sitting next to the reactor. 

[IMG]http://i102.photobucket.com/albums/m95/goodwin9/NEW%20TANK/NewCAreactor.jpg[/IMG]

Thought that I would post a few updated pictures of the tank and stand at the factory. After long delays, it it supposed to be delivered this weekend.

[IMG]http://i102.photobucket.com/albums/m95/goodwin9/NEW%20TANK/tank3.jpg[/IMG]

[IMG]http://i102.photobucket.com/albums/m95/goodwin9/NEW%20TANK/tank2.jpg[/IMG]

[IMG]http://i102.photobucket.com/albums/m95/goodwin9/NEW%20TANK/tank.jpg[/IMG]

[IMG]http://i102.photobucket.com/albums/m95/goodwin9/NEW%20TANK/tank4.jpg[/IMG]

Here are a couple of pictures of the "finally finished" sump/refugium. Total volume of 150 gallons.

[IMG]http://i102.photobucket.com/albums/m95/goodwin9/NEW%20TANK/sump.jpg[/IMG]

[IMG]http://i102.photobucket.com/albums/m95/goodwin9/NEW%20TANK/sump2.jpg[/IMG]

[IMG]http://i102.photobucket.com/albums/m95/goodwin9/NEW%20TANK/sump3.jpg[/IMG]

You have some amazing stuff. Where are you building your tank, in Dakota.I'd like to check out the factory, from south MN cant be that far away.

[QUOTE=SensiSeed]

You have some amazing stuff. Where are you building your tank, in Dakota.I'd like to check out the factory, from south MN cant be that far away.

[/QUOTE]

The tank is being manufactured by the Aquarium Company in Winthrop, MN

Here are a few pictures of the tank as the plumbing is getting finished up. Should be ready for delivery shortly.

[IMG]http://i102.photobucket.com/albums/m95/goodwin9/NEW%20TANK/MVC-008F.jpg[/IMG]

[IMG]http://i102.photobucket.com/albums/m95/goodwin9/NEW%20TANK/MVC-009F.jpg[/IMG]

[IMG]http://i102.photobucket.com/albums/m95/goodwin9/NEW%20TANK/MVC-006F.jpg[/IMG]

[IMG]http://i102.photobucket.com/albums/m95/goodwin9/NEW%20TANK/MVC-007F.jpg[/IMG]

[IMG]http://i102.photobucket.com/albums/m95/goodwin9/NEW%20TANK/MVC-005F.jpg[/IMG]

[IMG]http://i102.photobucket.com/albums/m95/goodwin9/NEW%20TANK/MVC-004F.jpg[/IMG]

WOW ! what a killer set up

Here is a diagram of the returns on the top of the tank.

[IMG]http://i102.photobucket.com/albums/m95/goodwin9/NEW%20TANK/Returns.jpg[/IMG]

The new tank finally showed up this afternoon. It was interesting moving the tank inside after we had a 4" snowfall. A sled would have worked better than the dolly.

[IMG]http://i102.photobucket.com/albums/m95/goodwin9/stuckinsnow.jpg[/IMG]

[IMG]http://i102.photobucket.com/albums/m95/goodwin9/Tankinsnow.jpg[/IMG]

[IMG]http://i102.photobucket.com/albums/m95/goodwin9/standinsnow.jpg[/IMG]

Here are a couple of more pictures from oving the tank into the house.

[IMG]http://i102.photobucket.com/albums/m95/goodwin9/NEW%20TANK/pullingtank.jpg[/IMG]

[IMG]http://i102.photobucket.com/albums/m95/goodwin9/NEW%20TANK/pullingtank2.jpg[/IMG]

[IMG]http://i102.photobucket.com/albums/m95/goodwin9/NEW%20TANK/tightfit.jpg[/IMG]

The stairs were the hard part.

[IMG]http://i102.photobucket.com/albums/m95/goodwin9/NEW%20TANK/stairs.jpg[/IMG]

Now the process starts reassembling the system. First problem encountered was the beam and the duct work above the tank.

[IMG]http://i102.photobucket.com/albums/m95/goodwin9/NEW%20TANK/pipesduckwork.jpg[/IMG]

after that was resolved, then it was a matter of connecting all of the pieces.

[IMG]http://i102.photobucket.com/albums/m95/goodwin9/NEW%20TANK/puttingthepicestogether.jpg[/IMG]

A special stand was built to hold the Lifeguard canister filters to provide for easy access under the stand.

[IMG]http://i102.photobucket.com/albums/m95/goodwin9/NEW%20TANK/filterset-1.jpg[/IMG]

[IMG]http://i102.photobucket.com/albums/m95/goodwin9/NEW%20TANK/settingthepumps.jpg[/IMG]

[IMG]http://i102.photobucket.com/albums/m95/goodwin9/NEW%20TANK/canistercradle-1.jpg[/IMG]

Here is a picture of the pumps running the chiller lines and the phosban reactor, sand filters, and refugium.

[IMG]http://i102.photobucket.com/albums/m95/goodwin9/NEW%20TANK/phosand.jpg[/IMG]

Installing the trim work on the stand and tank.

[IMG]http://i102.photobucket.com/albums/m95/goodwin9/NEW%20TANK/trim.jpg[/IMG]

[IMG]http://i102.photobucket.com/albums/m95/goodwin9/NEW%20TANK/veryclose2.jpg[/IMG]

Installing the nozzles on the various returns.

[IMG]http://i102.photobucket.com/albums/m95/goodwin9/NEW%20TANK/installingreturns.jpg[/IMG]

Most everything done with the tanks, waiting to be filled.

[IMG]http://i102.photobucket.com/albums/m95/goodwin9/NEW%20TANK/trimdone.jpg[/IMG]

Next came the project of getting power over to the tank. There weren't enough circuits available, so that meant a new panel.

[IMG]http://i102.photobucket.com/albums/m95/goodwin9/NEW%20TANK/oldpanel.jpg[/IMG]

[IMG]http://i102.photobucket.com/albums/m95/goodwin9/NEW%20TANK/newpanel.jpg[/IMG]

[IMG]http://i102.photobucket.com/albums/m95/goodwin9/NEW%20TANK/newbox.jpg[/IMG]

Finally, 4 new 20 amp circuits at the tank. I hope that is enough to run  everything??

[IMG]http://i102.photobucket.com/albums/m95/goodwin9/NEW%20TANK/outlets.jpg[/IMG]

I had to get my water man to come over and plumb the tank to my RO storage and salt mixing tanks. Top offs are automatic and with a turn of the valve, water changes can be done.

[IMG]http://i102.photobucket.com/albums/m95/goodwin9/NEW%20TANK/michae.jpg[/IMG]

[IMG]http://i102.photobucket.com/albums/m95/goodwin9/NEW%20TANK/topoff2.jpg[/IMG]

Time for some rock. I sent my supplier in CA a sketch of how I was thinking about placing the rock work in my tank.

[IMG]http://i102.photobucket.com/albums/m95/goodwin9/NEW%20TANK/Rockwork.jpg[/IMG]

He made a cardboard mock up of my tank and proceeded to place hand picked Marshall rock in a lay out similar to the drawing I had sent him. He photographed the rock and sent it to me for my approval prior to shipping.

[IMG]http://i102.photobucket.com/albums/m95/goodwin9/NEW%20TANK/jeffsphoto.jpg[/IMG]

From his picture, it didn't appear to me to be nearly enough rock, but was told I could always get more if needed. I told him to go ahead and ship the rock. He placed it in the boxes according to groupings, left, center, & right. That way, I would have some idea of how to place the rock in the tank.

The next morning after he shipped the rock, I went out to the airport and had 12 boxes to try and fit into my car. Guess I wasn't thinking much when I left to pick it up. I was expecting so many boxes.

Half the fun was trying to get them all in my car, the second part was carrying them all down to my basement.

[IMG]http://i102.photobucket.com/albums/m95/goodwin9/NEW%20TANK/liverock.jpg[/IMG]

wow dude, and i thought my 175 took a lot of room..Just think soon you can charge admission as an aquarium theme park

I had a friend from the local aquarium society offer to help auquascape the new tank. He showed up with swimsuit and beach towel in hand and the work began. We started out by laying out the pieces from each section in the tank.

[IMG]http://i102.photobucket.com/albums/m95/goodwin9/NEW%20TANK/rocksonfloor.jpg[/IMG]

[IMG]http://i102.photobucket.com/albums/m95/goodwin9/NEW%20TANK/Travis1.jpg[/IMG]

[IMG]http://i102.photobucket.com/albums/m95/goodwin9/NEW%20TANK/middlepile.jpg[/IMG]

[IMG]http://i102.photobucket.com/albums/m95/goodwin9/NEW%20TANK/travis22.jpg[/IMG]

[IMG]http://i102.photobucket.com/albums/m95/goodwin9/NEW%20TANK/looking.jpg[/IMG]

It was a good thing that the lights hadn't been put up. Travis was worn out after we got it all in the tank.

Next, came the sand. LFS brought over the sand in 7 large buckets, nearly 500 lbs which sounded a little bit too much..

[IMG]http://i102.photobucket.com/albums/m95/goodwin9/NEW%20TANK/san5.jpg[/IMG]

[IMG]http://i102.photobucket.com/albums/m95/goodwin9/NEW%20TANK/san2.jpg[/IMG]

[IMG]http://i102.photobucket.com/albums/m95/goodwin9/NEW%20TANK/san1.jpg[/IMG]

[IMG]http://i102.photobucket.com/albums/m95/goodwin9/NEW%20TANK/Grant1.jpg[/IMG]

After all of the buckets were emptied, there wasn't any sand left over for the refugium.

After all of the rock had been placed in the tank, the left over rubble was placed in the refugium. I was surprised at how little was left over.

[IMG]http://i102.photobucket.com/albums/m95/goodwin9/NEW%20TANK/leftover.jpg[/IMG]

Here is a picture of the tank with the new rock and sand after the work was finished.

[IMG]http://i102.photobucket.com/albums/m95/goodwin9/NEW%20TANK/cloudywater.jpg[/IMG]

Time for the skimmer to go to work and do its job. This shot was taken the following morning.

[IMG]http://i102.photobucket.com/albums/m95/goodwin9/NEW%20TANK/skimmerday1.jpg[/IMG]

[QUOTE=B515001]

wow dude, and i thought my 175 took a lot of room..Just think soon you can charge admission as an aquarium theme park

[/QUOTE]

I've thought about it....After this is up and running, I may have to ask for donations at the door....

i have two questions , what do you do for a living and what is this tank going to support.

[QUOTE=scot]

i have two questions , what do you do for a living and what is this tank going to support.

[/QUOTE]

I'm involved in computer sales and service. The tank will be predominately SPS corals and fish. I haven't come up with a list as of yet.