Scott's 50-Gallon In-Wall Build

[scbauer]

Originally posted by Electrobes
I'm in exactly the same situation as you.. have everything but the tank.. though it looks like I am going to build it myself. Just wanted to say awesome build and look forward to seeing the progress

Thanks! Do you have a build thread?

[plyr58]

tagging along for the build thread! Looks like it will be a cool tank. Did you consider AGE to make it for you?

[scbauer]

So far I have quotes from Lee-Mar and Elos for glass, and ATM (a local manufacturer) for acrylic. I have decided to go glass, though. I don't have a local store here who contracts to AGE, they all use Lee-Mar. If you have a way to contact AGE for a quote I would really appreciate it.

-Scott

[tbone28]

Scott, Tom (from AGE) told me that any LFS can order an AGE tank. Contracts are not needed. The AGE I ordered through my LFS was a first for them.

[scbauer]

Hey tbone, thanks for the info. I'll see if I can't get one of my LFS's to contact them. Do you happen to have some contact info for Tom or anybody at AGE? I've heard good things about them, but didn't realize I could buy from them.

-Scott

[tbone28]

Scott, they don't sell direct to the public, but you can talk to Tom about your design, etc. Actually, all of my interaction was with Tom. The only purpose the LFS served was to order the tank for me.

www.acrylicandglassexhibits.com Tom's number is at the bottom of the page.

[scbauer]

Another update, but no pictures. I ran 2 dedicated circuts from my main breaker to the tank. I was so proud to get it finished in 1 day because it looks professional. Conduit all around the top of the garage, pulled 2 wires through, each on their own 30 amp circuit breaker. Don't think I'll really need this much power, but I wanted the chiller to be on its own circuit.

tbone, thanks for the info... I think I'll call Tom tomorrow and see if he knows an LFS here in Vegas that can order from him. Still waiting on my final Lee-Mar quote.

-Scott

[scbauer]

Hey guys, so I've started brainstorming ideas for my sump and was hoping I could get some feedback from everybody reading this. Here is what I'm thinking of... the drain from the display tank would drain into a filter sock in the top-right corner, into the skimmer section. Then, it would flow into a "fuge" section, then past the pump that feeds the UV, though a few baffles, into the return area. Thoughts?



-Scott

[spleify]

Looks good Scott, If it were me, and I'm sure you will get lots of mixed opinions on this. I would lose the UV sterilizer. Especially right in the fuge, you will lose a lot a beneficial pods and such that could help feed your tank.

JMO

Spleify

[scbauer]

Originally posted by spleify
Looks good Scott, If it were me, and I'm sure you will get lots of mixed opinions on this. I would lose the UV sterilizer. Especially right in the fuge, you will lose a lot a beneficial pods and such that could help feed your tank.

JMO

Spleify

I know the debate and appreciate the comments. I've decided to use the UV and determine the results myself. We'll see how it goes.

[FL.Joe]

nice plans

[scbauer]

Okay, that last picture was something I threw together at 2 in the morning. Here is my second attempt... I think this is a much better design given the 17x20 footprint I have. The sump will be 13" deep with the water level being at about 12".



Let me know what you guys think.

-Scott

[scbauer]

Small Update...















I bought the tank today!!!!!!!! I found the exact dimensions I was looking to build custom... 2 issues:

1) tank isn't drilled, hoping a pro can help me with that (and that it isn't tempered)
2) no Starphire

but... I got the tank for $150, so I can't complain. More updates tomorrow.

-Scott

[Nano Chris]

Looks good like that 1st pic lol u added a person.

[scbauer]

Okay, I promised updates and didn't deliver... I suck.

Update 1) Contacted a tank manufacturer here in town asking if they sell scrap acrylic as I'm looking to build the sump myself. Hoping to get that answer this week so I can stop by and pick up the pieces and work on the sump this weekend.

Update 2) Still looking for a good glass shop here in town who might be able to drill the tank for me. Anybody have any ideas on this? Do "Window and Door" places typically do this kind of stuff?

Update 3) Bought a T5 setup to help with the lighting... planning on using a few 24" actinic bulbs for some more blue "pop"

Update 4) I'm currently seeking thread posters. Looking for input on my tank build and am not getting much response... anybody?

-Scott

[kar93]

I'm not sure if Window and Door places do it. If you have a local reef club then there maybe someone there who will do it for you.

[scbauer]

it just so happens that I DO have a local reef club. I'll reach out to them to see if anybody there can help me. Thanks!

-Scott

[chrismunn]

http://glass-holes.com/main.sc

http://www.regal-plastics.com/acrylic.html

[scbauer]

Originally posted by chrismunn
http://glass-holes.com/main.sc

http://www.regal-plastics.com/acrylic.html

Thanks for the links! I have considered drilling the holes myself, but I was hoping to get an experts opinion as to whether or not the glass was tempered.

[scbauer]

Great News! Just decided I should look up the manufacturers website and stumbled upon the Marineland website. I remember reading something that came with my tank saying something like "All Perfecto/Marineland products are..." so I realized the tank was built by marineland. About 3 minutes of research online brought me to a PDF that shows the specs for my tank. For those interested, you can view all marineland tank specs (and I believe all perfecto tank specs) here: http://www.marineland.com/sites/mari...=3235&mid=3228

This is what I found...


So, it looks like I now have confirmation that the only panel of tempered glass on my tank is the bottom. Time to head over to glass-holes.com and order myself a hole saw for glass!

-Scott

[chrismunn]

http://reefcentral.com/forums/showth...5&pagenumber=9

there's a chart on the 3rd post in this thread

[scbauer]

That is correct (well, almost). Actually, there are separate pages for their "standard tanks" and their "specialty tanks" but the idea is the same. I'm glad I found this page... I feel much more comfortable about drilling the tank now, so much so that I'll probably do it myself this weekend (if my bits come in from glass-holes.com )

-Scott

[scbauer]

Okay, just paid for 4 bulkheads, 1 diamond coated hole saw, and a few black PVC elbows. Should be a fun weekend.

-Scott

[chrismunn]

did you order the bits already? im sure it will be easy to drill the glass. ive used a glass core bit to drill through 1.25" thick granite before, its easy. just make sure you keep the core bit wet. some people use plumbers putty to make a water dam, or you can run a hose while you drill. i just make a water dam using masking tape....

[scbauer]

Originally posted by chrismunn
did you order the bits already? im sure it will be easy to drill the glass. ive used a glass core bit to drill through 1.25" thick granite before, its easy. just make sure you keep the core bit wet. some people use plumbers putty to make a water dam, or you can run a hose while you drill. i just make a water dam using masking tape....

Yep, bought the hole saw from glass-holes.com along with 4 1" bulkheads. The plan is to build an overflow and have 2 1" bulkheads used for the drain of the overflow, then use the other two for closed-loop intakes. Any thoughts as to how I can accomplish this with my tank? One key note is that the back-left corner of the tank will be about 2" away from a wall at a 45-degree angle, so I can't put a bulkhead too close to the left side if it's on the back wall. Also remember I can't drill the bottom.

-Scott