450 gallon tank

[AWW]

Who wants to know what I have been up too?

I have been planning a big project like this for about a year, and i have finally got around to doing it! After much debate, i decided to go acrylic. Dimensions came easy. 8X4X2. With all the bracing, on a 4X8 sheet, i wasted virtually no acrylic. These dimensions also allow me to get out an average doorway.

Anyways, on Christmas eve we finished the walls of the tank, the only thing left is to install the bracing. We decided to go ahead and finish the trim before hand, so it would give a little protection while moving the tank.

Cost for the project was relitivly low, I thought it would be much, much more.

$2,000 - Acrylic, pint of weld-on 4, tube of weld-on 16, All supplied by EM Plastics
$500 - Stand. This included frame work (roughly 20 8' 2X4's) plywood (three sheets of 3/4) Prime and paint, purchased from Windsor plywood
$70 - Frame work for tank

Luckily we already had a router, and had connections for large wood working clamps. Without this, we could have added another $500 easily

But everyone knows cost doesn't stop there. Equipment comes into play too. I haven't totaled all this up.

Fx5 - X4
Ebo jager 300 watt heater - X3
Glo 54 watt balist (dual Bulb) X6
Power glo 46" Bulb X6
Life glo 46" bulb X6
Glo reflector X12
3 mm quartz tan and brown 250 lbs +
Das fertilizer trays
Uv sterilizer
Hosing, HOB over flow, etc, for trickle system
Etc, etc, etc.

In time i will likely add a sump in time.

A project like this is nothing without pictures! Here are a few pictures of construction earlier this week.


Home made rigging. This one was fun.... the first is always the worst.

All 4 walls up

Trim on

Off with the paper!

We have already rotated the tank into its final resting place. This would not have been possible with out those little moving pucks, best 20 bucks ever spent. After we install the euro-bracing, we will Test fill! Hopefully by January 7th! I will update again when the bracing is installed.

Alex

[Diztrbd1]

That is awesome .... looking good thus far Alex! Looking forward to seeing the progress!

[gklaw]

Nice size.

No top reinforcing or euro-brace ! ?

[AWW]

Nice size.

No top reinforcing or euro-brace ! ?

Relax, Euro brace! Ahaha just not installed. You didnt read the whole thread

[AWW]

That is awesome .... looking good thus far Alex! Looking forward to seeing the progress!

Thanks john, Can't wait for it to be done!

[jobber604]

That's a 'sic' tank. The footprint is like a pleco's paradise playground! Great project you have going Alex. Look forward to seeing this project filled

[m_class2g]

awesome!!!!!!!!! breed some rays! great footprint and great project! you should have considered running a big sump! depending on your bioload, 4 fx5s may not be enough. whats going in there!?

[hondas3000]

How thick is the acrylic? For long term acrylic is a must. Awesome build Alex. Your vertical trim really blocking the acrylic view.

[AWW]

That's a 'sic' tank. The footprint is like a pleco's paradise playground! Great project you have going Alex. Look forward to seeing this project filled

Thanks ming! not for Pecos though

awesome!!!!!!!!! breed some rays! great footprint and great project! you should have considered running a big sump! depending on your bioload, 4 fx5s may not be enough. whats going in there!?

I know. Sump may be added later. The inside dimension of my stand was only 22" high, and for servicing ill probably get pissed at the lack of space. I do have room behind to add a sump in the future if i want too. We will see how the Fx5's do to start and change things later.

As for stocking, I have my cichlids from upstairs, and definitely some rays as well.

[AWW]

How thick is the acrylic? For long term acrylic is a must. Awesome build Alex. Your vertical trim really blocking the acrylic view.

bottom acrylic is half inch. the 4 sides and the euro bracing is 3/4 inch. Yeah I am really happy with how the trim turned out. Although i loose a little viewing space, it hides the edges well.