Upgrade to a 125?????

[down&dirty]

So I just found a killer deal on a 125 gallon. It is pre-drilled on one side, but I believe the hole is only 1 inch so I will have to get it redrilled on both sides to 1.5 inches to work with my pumps. My question is that this is a glass aquarium. It is 6 feet long, 24 deep and 18 wide. There are no center braces on the tank. Also no plastic trim around the top and bottom. It appears to have had a wooden surround on the top that doubled as the hood. There were 2 glass braces siliconed to the wood, not the glass. I think they were put there strictly for lights. Does a tank this size need cross-braces, and if so where do I get some to install? Also I was thinking about running dual 250 metal halides over the top so that I can grow corals. I know that I would normally need 3 of them since you are supposed to do 1 every two feet, but could I get away with the 2 centered in the opening. Then I can focus sps under the lights and trickle to lps and softies away from the lights. I figure on 2 250 MH and 4 65watt actinic PCs. Then tank alone is $100, and for an additional 150 I can get a berlin skimmer, with pump, and a UV light, but I think I might try to work something for a additional CPR skimmer instead. The UV light is old, and for the money I can get a super twist that is much more effective. The reason for this, is my timer locked and burned my entire 75 reef to bits. All that survived is 15% of my stock, and I am moving so what better time to upgrade?

 

[ChrisRD]

The AGA 125 with those dimensions has two plastic centerbraces molded as part of the top trim. It's certainly possible to make a tank that size without centerbraces, but the glass would have to be fairly thick or you'd have to have perimeter (aka "euro") bracing.

Personally, I would try to avoid glass centerbraces if possible. If you're bracing it from the wood frame you might want to look into using cables or something similar that won't require any cleaning. If you do go for the glass centerbraces, you should be able to get something cut to size at a local glass shop and I would silicone it directly to the tank glass on both ends.

As for using two lamps - if you setup your rockwork accordingly, IMO your idea should work fine.

BTW, sorry to hear about your tank troubles...

I'll move this to the GRD forum to see if we can get you some additional feedback...

HTH

 

[Len]

A tank of that span really needs bracing. Unfortunately, I'm not the person to talk to for this kind of DIY project. If you'd like, ask this in the DIY forum or I can copy it over for you.

The CPR bakpak is undersized for a 125 gallon (even the double version). I'd go with a hang-on turboflotor multi if you must go with hang-on. Otherwise, you have a lot of nice in-sump options to choose from.

2 x 250W would be great, but the sides won't be able to support some of the more light-demanding corals.

Personally, I don't think the UV filter is a necessity.