my 500 gallon reef tank

[Steve canada]

Hello My name is Steve and I am from Montreal Canada.I have been reef keeping for over 10 years.I have had several reef tanks with various corals and fish.My wife gave me the ok to start my dream tank(well thats what I heard in my mind).I bought my tank but then shortly after I lost my job so the tank was on hold.I then started the tank once I found a new job. I am in the long process of building a 500 gallon reef tank.I purchased this acrylic tank some time ago (2 years now) but its been a very slow process.I built a wood stand.I added my live rock and I added fish and some corals that I had from my old 300 gallon tank.I am working on my sump room but its been very slow.I have no filtration on this tank other than carbon gfo and water changes.I need to get my butt in gear to finish my sump room.I have my old led lights that I bought from china on my tank but I just bought my new ReefTech led fixtures so I am dying to try them out.I know its sounds crazy because I am doing things backwards but I had live stock from my old tank.I should explain that I moved and thats why I shut down the 300 and bought the 500.I had given most of my corals to my friend (while I moved) but he killed most of them.I have some pics that are several months old but I will try to post some new ones.He are some pics
<a href="http://s194.photobucket.com/albums/z47/stevetheplumb/?action=view&current=IMG_1041.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i194.photobucket.com/albums/z47/stevetheplumb/IMG_1041.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a>

 

[Steve canada]

You can see that my tank is pretty empty as far as corals go.I m currently having a problem with cyano baterica and I am sure its because of my water quality.I took some pictures of the reefTech led fixtures.Here are a few pics.
<a href="http://s194.photobucket.com/albums/z47/stevetheplumb/?action=view&current=IMG_1035.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i194.photobucket.com/albums/z47/stevetheplumb/IMG_1035.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a>

<a href="http://s194.photobucket.com/albums/z47/stevetheplumb/ReefTech%20led%20fixtures/?action=view&current=nikoletta049.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i194.photobucket.com/albums/z47/stevetheplumb/ReefTech led fixtures/nikoletta049.jpg" border="0" alt="reeftech led"></a>

<a href="http://s194.photobucket.com/albums/...ixtures/?action=view&current=nikoletta038.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i194.photobucket.com/albums/z47/stevetheplumb/ReefTech led fixtures/nikoletta038.jpg" border="0" alt="fixtu"></a>

<a href="http://s194.photobucket.com/albums/...ixtures/?action=view&current=nikoletta053.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i194.photobucket.com/albums/z47/stevetheplumb/ReefTech led fixtures/nikoletta053.jpg" border="0" alt="reeftech led"></a>

 

[pauliwalnuts]

Welcome to MR.
What's the dimensions on the tank ?

 

[ryangrieder]

Welcome. Looks nice. More pics?

 

[JARRETT SHARK]

Big tank means big $$$$,LOL
Good luck and I hope you keep sending us pics!!!

 

[Steve canada]

Thank You very much.I thought I posted more pics yesterday but I might have made and error in posting them.I will take some new pics.The tank has a cyano problem because of the lack of filtration and the amount of fish in it.Yes that is my fault.

The tank is 8 feet long 4 feet wide and 28 inches tall its 3/4 acrylic and it has 4 open holes in the top of it.I have an external coast to coast overflow on the right hand side of the tank with 4 x 3/4 return lines.The tank was drilled for 2 x 1 1/2 drains but I thought that might not be enough so I added another 2 drains.The panel on the overflow side is black.I ordered the tank from the states(its a Tenecor tank) and had it delivered to my house,from there I hirded some movers to bring the tank inside its resting spot.I have a 6x6x9ft high room next door to my tank so the sump and skimmer will go in there along with any other equipment I can squezze into that small space.I bought a fan that has a humidity sensor and it will be installed in the sump room.The room that houses the tank is 10 x 10 so its kind of small for such a large tank and I have been told be people who have seen the tank that its kind of a waste but I didn't do it for others I did it for me.It would have been nice to have a larger room to display the tank but my house isn't that big and the tank weighs over 5000 pounds.I will give a lsit of my equipment later (I am at work) and I have a lot of stuff that I am not using.I know my wife has busted my chops to sell my used stuff.

 

[Steve canada]

Big money is correct.The stupid thing is that I couldn't find a reliable tank builder here in Canada.Miracles is good but they ddin't want to ship to my house.Something about crossing the quebec border (I am in the same country and its like a 6 hour drive) and I had to meet them half way and the shipping cost was crazy yet I get the tank from California (4000 miles away) and it cost me half the price to ship if not less.The tank cost me $4500 with shipping and duties.

 

[ClosetFishGeek]

Nice I love big builds........ Keep the pics coming.

 

[Mattl22]

Keep it commmmmmmmmming more pics of equipment

 

[albano]

Thank You very much.I thought I posted more pics yesterday ...

The tank is 8 feet long 4 feet wide and 28 inches tall its 3/4 acrylic

Looking good Steve, but definately TIME to GET GOING! I guess that Canadian fish are very patient!

Saw your other pics in Photobucket...
Looks like you added some extra center supports to your original stand build ...I would be more comfortable with even more upright supports.

Also those dimensions are incorrect for a 500g tank, are you sure it's 4' wide, OR are you including the overflow into the 8' length?

 

[Steve canada]

Its 8 feet x 4 feet x 28 inches it might be 480 gallon.It was listed as a 500 gal tank.The external overflow is 6 x 12 deep.I can tell you one thing ITS DAM BIG.The stand is made with 2 x 3/4 plywood that is glued and screwed together allong with 2 x 4 running along the sides and I made double 2 x 4 braces to run along the middle span.There are 4 braces so the stand alone is very strong.It has not moved or shifted with the weight of the water and I used around 1000 screws to hold it together.There is a lot of space under the tank but I didn't want to use this area as a sump (no head room its to tight).The stand is 36 inches high.The openings are 2 feet x 15 inches and as I mentioned there is 4 of them.I bought the tank from fish tank directs.When I ordered it the original pic had 2 large openings so I thought I would get the same thing.Stupid me they didn't take any pics before they shipped it or while they where building it and I was dissapointed when I got it but I got over it.The tank alone weighs 650 pounds so it wasn't as if I was going to return it.I have placed a 1 inch foam board under neath the tank.The builder (or dealer) only required me to use a sheet of plywood but not to screw it down.I had looked into glass tanks but couldn't find anyone (here) that was trustworthy to build it never mind the cost and the weight.I still prefer glass because of the scratch issues but acrylic is clear and its not that hard to remove a scratch.I am always very careful but it happens.I have a scratch repair kit just in case.

 

[albano]

Its 8 feet x 4 feet x 28 inches it might be 480 gallon.It was listed as a 500 gal tank.The external overflow is 6 x 12 deep.

Actually it would be BIGGER...if it's 8' plus the overflow, it would be called 560g, if it's 8' including the overflow it would be 525g.

I have a 'similar' acrylic tank (96"x 40"x27"h), that's why I knew that the #s could not be right.

It has not moved or shifted with the weight of the water

I would hope not.. once it does, it's probably too late!

 

[allenjj]

Cool tank

Sounds like an awesome tank. once you get your sump room finished would love to see pics as I am working on mine.

 

[Steve canada]

The stand is pretty solid.I built it with a friend of mine and we went overboard.The tank is big.I can't get to all of it from the front of the tank.I left around 10 inches of space in the back of the tank and I will build some type of step so I can work on it.I have most of the LR towards the front of the tank so there is a large space in the back where the fish can swim around.I have a lot of fish.

2 x hippo tangs
1 x sailfin tang
1 x unicorn tang (vlamengi)
1 x chocolate tang
1 x yellow tang
1 x clown tang
1 x long nose hawk fish
1 x x mas wrasse
1 x 6 line wrasse
1 x convict blenny
1 x bi color blenny
2 x golden midas blenny
1 x valienti puffer
1 x toby puffer
10 x green chromis
1 x antheis
1 x cleaner shrimp
1 x female blue throat trigger
1 x male blue throat trigger
2 x regular clown fish
1 x black clown fish
1 x fox face
1 x rabbit fish
1 x powder blue tang
1 x goby (forget what species)
DAM 37 FISH and no filter other than water change,GFO and carbon

 

[Steve canada]

I think I have to do something about my sump room because I need to get some filtration on this tank.I have been stalling because every time I spend money on the tank I gat a comment from the wife.I can't blame her since she is the bread winner and I am the bread eater.I need to get some plumbing parts and then I have to water proof the sump room.I thought that I would need an A/C unit for the tank room but everything is fine.The good thing is it has been 100 degrees and the tank has not spiked in temp.I was so worried about that but with led lights and a cool basement its been great.The room temp and humidity is pretty low considering there is 500 gallons of water in there.

 

[Steve canada]

my old 300 gallon

 

[Steve canada]

my dart NW skimmer and the SWC twin cone

 

[Steve canada]

MY dart its 3 feet tall

 

[Steve canada]

My old 150 gal

 

[bbreef240]

nice tank...welcome to mr.....love the demensions....