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clownfish14
Crusty Old Shellback
6 posters

    Thinking of getting a new tank

    Crusty Old Shellback
    Crusty Old Shellback
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    Thinking of getting a new tank Empty Thinking of getting a new tank

    Post by Crusty Old Shellback Fri Jun 08, 2012 11:52 am

    Hey all,
    I'm thinking of replacing my acrylic tank with a bigger glass tank. One with Low Iron Glass viewing panes. Anyone know of a good place to get a large, say 500G tank that's 9' long?
    clownfish14
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    Post by clownfish14 Fri Jun 08, 2012 12:35 pm

    Wow. Thats a big tank
    Sandman
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    Post by Sandman Fri Jun 08, 2012 1:00 pm

    Check out Charlie and the Fish Tank Factory. He made my sump and is a really nice guy with amazing prices. His name is Charlie. When I upgrade to the 900-1200g tank I'll be using him. Even his low iron prices are low.

    Charlie and the Fish Tank Factory
    (562) 756-7555
    Crusty Old Shellback
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    Post by Crusty Old Shellback Fri Jun 08, 2012 1:14 pm

    It's not THAT big. Current tank is 400G and 7' long. But it has two main draw backs. It's Acrylic and it's 3 feet tall.
    So now that I got rid of the big skimmer on the right hand side, I want to use that space for a larger tank. I could go 10' long but that would only leave me 2' of end viewing space.

    So I'm looking at 9' long, 3' wide vice my current 2.5' and since I got rid of my closed loop plumbing in the back I have more room. And just 2.5' tall so I can reach the bottom without going diving. Smile

    I'll check out Charlies.

    clownfish14
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    Post by clownfish14 Fri Jun 08, 2012 1:42 pm

    Ya i was looking at having charley build me a tank before i found this one. He seems like a great guy.
    Crusty Old Shellback
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    Post by Crusty Old Shellback Fri Jun 08, 2012 2:53 pm

    WOW! What a difference in prices. I've gotten a quote from glass cages and Charlie.

    Glass cages: $2700 base price.
    $780 Starfire glass front and one side.

    Charlie: $4500 base price
    $ 800 starfie front only.

    I'll keep looking. Once I decide on a final, maybe I can call Charlie and see if he can go less. I know the Glass cages does not include shipping and I'm not sure what the shipping charges are to Oxnard. Not sure if Charlies includes shipping. But shipping can't be no $1800.

    Does anyone know about A.G.E.? I found their website but they don't sell to Joe public and they have no prices.
    clownfish14
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    Post by clownfish14 Fri Jun 08, 2012 3:19 pm

    Ive heard of AGE. Charleys prices are higher but i have heard some bad things about glass cages
    dfladermaus
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    Post by dfladermaus Fri Jun 08, 2012 6:38 pm

    I have heard nothing but bad things about glass cages, my advice would be to run from them. I "tried" to order something from them and went with Charlie even though he was a bit more expensive.
    Crusty Old Shellback
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    Post by Crusty Old Shellback Mon Jul 02, 2012 10:21 am

    Hey guys,
    I got a few quotes in and talked to a few manufactures, it seems that going to 9 feet in length almost doubles teh cost of the tank over just going 8 feet. So I'm looking at a couple of options and am looking for some input on size.

    I'm probably going to stick with 8 feet long on teh tank. I measured my arm and I have a 24: lenght so I'm thinking of 24" for teh height of the tank. Max I would go would be 30". I'm staying away from the 36" I currently have.

    Now for the biggies, the depth front to back. My current tank is 30". I have the room and could go up to as deep as 48". I can get to the back of the tank with out much problem. So what do you think? go with 48" depth? Stay with 30"? Or do something inbetween?

    What would you do if you had the room I have?
    clownfish14
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    Post by clownfish14 Mon Jul 02, 2012 11:48 am

    Definatly go 48 but make sure you have some sort of way to get behind the tank to do maintanince from that side. Mabey that extra 1 foot as like a walkway to get arround the tank?
    dwolson2
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    Post by dwolson2 Mon Jul 02, 2012 11:50 am

    how many vieewing sides are you going to have? could you make a plywood tank? i think the 48" wide would be better, since its better to have too much room than not enough. Thats a problem with my current tank, its not a lot of room front to back.
    Crusty Old Shellback
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    Post by Crusty Old Shellback Mon Jul 02, 2012 12:29 pm

    Two viewing sides, front and left side. Plywood tank? I've seen/heard of them but I think if I went that route, I wouldn't be able to go 4 feet wide.

    Clownfish, you've seen my tank. This one is replacing that one. Same spot. And I have access from the back thru some 4'x4' windows. And do you honestly think I can fit my fat butt in a 12" walkway? Smile
    dwolson2
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    Post by dwolson2 Mon Jul 02, 2012 12:59 pm

    Crusty Old Shellback wrote:Two viewing sides, front and left side. Plywood tank? I've seen/heard of them but I think if I went that route, I wouldn't be able to go 4 feet wide.

    Clownfish, you've seen my tank. This one is replacing that one. Same spot. And I have access from the back thru some 4'x4' windows. And do you honestly think I can fit my fat butt in a 12" walkway? Smile

    I thought a lot of guys that went that route, because a big tank like that has a lot of cost with that much glass.

    Here is a link with a guy who made a few sides viewable.
    http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?t=2022040&highlight=plywood
    Crusty Old Shellback
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    Post by Crusty Old Shellback Mon Jul 02, 2012 2:01 pm

    Interesting. Time for some more research. From but a quick overview, I may not need the 2X4 or 2X6 bracing in the back like I thought.

    Jimmy, you out there? Need another wood project? want to help?
    dwolson2
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    Post by dwolson2 Mon Jul 02, 2012 2:34 pm

    clownfish14
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    Post by clownfish14 Mon Jul 02, 2012 9:46 pm

    Truthfully i wouldent go with a plywood tank. Truthfully i dont think it would look to good at all
    Crusty Old Shellback
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    Post by Crusty Old Shellback Tue Jul 03, 2012 9:33 am

    Truthfully, how would it look any different that what I already have? Smile

    Current tank:
    You can only see the front and one end of the tank. The rest is covered by cabinetry. The two viewing panes are trimmed in wood. The bottom is covered in sand and rocks. The back has a blue coating on it. The back and non viewing side have coarline growing on them.

    A plywood tank would be:
    You can only see the front and one end of the tank. The rest is covered by cabinetry. The two viewing panes are trimmed in wood. The bottom is covered in sand and rocks. The back is painted blue with a clear epoxy over it. The back and non viewing side have coarline growing on them.

    So why would it not look the same? Wink Oh wait, the plywood tank would not have the pluged up holes in it that I currently have in the acrylic tank. Smile

    Or is there something I'm missing here? I'd still use Starfire glass for the viewing panes.
    clownfish14
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    Post by clownfish14 Tue Jul 03, 2012 11:18 am

    Oh ok i see what you mean when i thought plywood i didnt know you would paint the back blue lol
    dwolson2
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    Post by dwolson2 Tue Jul 03, 2012 11:49 am

    why not paint it black?
    Crusty Old Shellback
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    Post by Crusty Old Shellback Tue Jul 03, 2012 12:05 pm

    Actually I was thinking of doing a fade of light blue at the top to a darker blue at the bottom. That would give it more of a depth look.Plus you coat the plywood with epoxy and that is what actually is the strength to the tank. You can tint it as well or do a clear.

    Black may work too.

    I'm reading more on the plywood tanks and am liking what I'm reading. There's even a 1300g plywood tank. Only hard part is moving a big tank around to work on it in the garage. Then I'll need a bunch of you guys to help me move it into the house. Luckly I have a 6' door in that room and can go thru the back yard so no problem getting a 4' wide tank in the room. Smile
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    Post by clownfish14 Tue Jul 03, 2012 3:35 pm

    How do you attach the glass to the wood?
    dwolson2
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    Post by dwolson2 Tue Jul 03, 2012 3:43 pm

    clownfish14 wrote:How do you attach the glass to the wood?
    silicone
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    Post by clownfish14 Tue Jul 03, 2012 4:06 pm

    That dosent seem strong enough. Does it?
    Crusty Old Shellback
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    Post by Crusty Old Shellback Tue Jul 03, 2012 5:06 pm

    That's what they use on your glass cage you have right now. Wink
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    Post by clownfish14 Tue Jul 03, 2012 6:45 pm

    No i mean the bond between wood and glass. Most are glass to glass
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    Post by dwolson2 Tue Jul 03, 2012 11:00 pm

    It would be resin to glass. Resin has a surface similar to glass.
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    Post by sisterlimonpot Wed Jul 04, 2012 4:22 pm

    Here's an old link of a buddy of mine from wyomings wooden tank:


    http://reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?t=1571019&page=8

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