230 gallon in-wall, room divider, reef build

MarsRover

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**** UPDATE ****

8 June 2018-

Please see Post #341 for information regarding the failure of my Acrylic and Glass Exhibits Inc. (A.G.E) / The Fish Gallery system

*******************




Hey everyone,

I have decided to start planning by big build. I figure i am about a year off from actually having this tank but since it's going to be a major project i need to start planning.

A little about me, I recently purchased a house, i am located in the San Gabriel Foothills, about 25 minutes outside of LA. I'm an engineer working for NASA. I did reefing and worked at an exotic fish and reptile shop all throughout high school. Then in college i stopped reefing and now that i have been settled in LA for 2.5 years with a steady job, it's time to get serious.

I presently have a ~50gal oceanic tank with MH & T5's. It has been going really well but space has always been an issue. I want to go to my forever tank. I'm anticipating having the new tank in question for at least 10 years.

The location i want to build it is in a wall between my living room, family room, and dining room. The idea is to have at least two sides visible. This is 100% a load bearing wall. I have not yet taken the walls off yet to see what madness lies beneath. Additionally, the floor is crappy hardwood floors ontop of a concrete slab, so at least i have that going for me. Downside is the concrete is likely not flat underneath (ugh... don't ask...) so that will need to be in the game plan as well.

As i said, BIG project.

So on to the fun stuff!

LOCATION: The wall presently behind my fish tank is the wall in question.









Going to have to put some sort of architectural column on one or both ends of the fishtank unfortunately....





I'd have a cabinet for storage and sump under the tank (basically on the ground) and openable louver style doors on either side at the top that allows tank access and storage of lighting.

Ideal Display tank dimensions so far that i've measured are as follows: 60"x24"x36" (the 36 inches may be negotiable... depends on what is under the wall and how much access i'll be able to allow myself)

By my calculations, 60"x24"x46" ≈ 1872.84 lbs ≈ 224.42 gallons of H2O

Soon i will get some CAD models together to start virtually building.

Anyone know where i can find a tank of roughly these dimensions for a good price? Acrylic or Glass? If Glass what kind?


Thanks folks! Really looking forward to this adventure
 
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revhtree

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Following!
 
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MarsRover

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anyone have any good recommendations for Acrylic vs glass? anyone know a good location in the LA area to source this?

thanks!
 

Toomnymods

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anyone have any good recommendations for Acrylic vs glass? anyone know a good location in the LA area to source this?

thanks!
For a glass aquarium builder in cali try Leemar, they are top notch, acrylic sumps and tanks their is a shop named advanced acrylics in cali that does awesome work..
 
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MarsRover

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Starting to get estimates for the tank:

The Sea Shore Quote: I requested quotes for two overflows drilled located at 1/3's in the 60" dimension and slightly off center, on opposite sides of the 1/2 mark in the 32" dimension.

60x32x36 - Visio Glass Aquarium 1/2" Tempered Glass W/ (2) Off Center as Indicated Overflows $3240 (delivery included)

60x32x36 - Visio Glass Aquarium Starphire Glass W/ (2) Off Center as Indicated Overflows $3960 (delivery included)

60x32x36 Custom R-Cast Acrylic Tank 3/4" W/ (2) Off Center as Indicated Overflows $4,250 (delivery included)

What do you all think?

Started working on the CAD last night. Waiting for more estimates to come in. Will post CAD images soon!

-Ben
 
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MarsRover

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Glass cages:
60 x 31 1/2 x 36 1/2 tall glass aquarium $ 1900.00 Shipping to a freight terminal $ 400.00 ( Frontline --Industry Ca ) and then I'd have to bring it the rest of the way

The fish king:
Glass is $3400 1/2 inch tempered with over flows and 3 holes
Acrylic is $7500 1 inch plexiglass
With overflow and 3 holes
Coral reef:
60-30-36 euro glass 3000
60-30-36 acrylic 3800
Both with colored backs and overflow
(Not exactly what I want but I'm sure it's negotiable for that price...)


Leemarpet: only deals with approved businesses that have applied for membership with their company.
 

Toomnymods

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i just noticed that your wanting a 36" depth this is the main reason your estimates have been sky high.. could you settle for a 6' long tank and drop the depth to 28-30?? this would drop the price considerably probably down to 1,200-1,500 range forthis tank. also if your dead set on a 36" tall tank no way in hell would I feel safe with only 1/2" glass I'd want 3/4" minimum.. taller tanks tend to have a lot more pressure on the front and back panes of glass
 
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MarsRover

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I think i'm willing to go to something like a 70x30x30? i'm still unclear on what constitutes standard sizes but looking at peoples build threads, it looks like the 30 deep by 30 tall is more standard?
 

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I think i'm willing to go to something like a 70x30x30? i'm still unclear on what constitutes standard sizes but looking at peoples build threads, it looks like the 30 deep by 30 tall is more standard?

You have to have really long arms....I'm happy at 24 deep
 
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MarsRover

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yeah, so my current tank is at about 24" deep and its nice, and definitely a pain sometimes to get to the bottom of... but i feel like if i'm putting this thing in the wall, i really want it to be like you are INSIDE it. Or am i being too ridiculous in thinking 24" isn't deep enough.... i think i'm going to have to bust out the masking tape and start marking my walls
 
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MarsRover

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From A.G.E.:

1" PVC bottom, Stainless steel wrapped top and bottom.
1 Year warranty if i build the stand (and they verify it when they come out to deliver)
3 year warranty if i buy one of their stands
$290 crate/packaging
$1170 Steel stand, 3yr warranty, leveling feet, wood cap/base
No center leg brace +$250 (thicker steel)
Racking corner braces +$35
Black vinyl tank back +$35



60x30x30 (LWH): (~230gal)
1/2" regular glass $2141 ($9.3/gal)
1/2 Front Starfire $2525 ($10.9/gal)
1/2" front/back Starfire $2685 ($11.67/gal)
1/2" 4x sides Starfire $2845 ($12.37/gal)
3/4" Front Starfire $3085 ($13.41/gal)


60x32x36: (~300gal)
3/4” Front Starfire $3514 ($11.71/gal)
3/4" Front/back Starfire $3787 ($12.62/gal)
3/4" 4x sides Starfire $4085 ($13.62/gal)



Also, they apparently are delivering a tank near by me in the next couple months. They could do a hand delivery, put it in my location in my house, for $1275... Normally this would run $2.5k but since they are going to be in the area....


I don't know what to do. I kind of want to jump on this but... realistically, as much as i want a 300gal that is insanely deep, everyone says they are happy at 24" and 30" on the wall looks BIG. Plus the cost bump is a bit too much for me to go bigger. Plus the earthquakes, a taller tank, not so keen on the idea any more.


Okay so 60x30x30 is the size then!

All sides starfire,1/2" $2845 + stand $1170 + special delivery $1275 ≈ $5300..... yikes
 
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MarsRover

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From Coast2Coast:

*Option #1)
*60x30x30"H; 230 gallon Precision style aquarium: $3825.00.

*Option #2)
*60x30x30"H; 230 gallon Euro-Braced style aquarium: $3854.00.
*Option: (2) Rectangular end-panel overflow-boxes: $500.00.
*Option: (1) XL Rectangular end-panel overflow-box: $450.00.
*Option: Starphire glass front & back panels: $455.00 {$910.00 value}.
*Option: Starphire glass front & (2) end-panels: $700.00 {$1400.00 value}.
*Crating fee: $275.00.
*Delivery Option #1: $880.00 {aquarium only}.

*Option: 36"H Powder-coated steel support stand: $1590.00.
*Delivery Option #1: $1015.00 {aquarium & stand}.



so that means for the Option #2 $3854 + full starphire $700 + Overflow box (i'll have to have them put it offset from all walls....) $500 + crating fee $275 + stand $1590 + delivery $1015 comes to.... $7934....

thats wayy over my budget just for the tank... Guess i'm going with AGE!
 
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MarsRover

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Okay so here is the 60x30x30 tank CAD'd up. My idea for overflows is 2 circular overflows. Right now i have schedule 80, 8" pipe (OD 8.625", ID 7.565") modeled here.

I'm thinking something like two towers that i can build rockwork up onto to hide.

The first images are of the pipe-overflows on 1/5th nodes:

Screen Shot 2017-03-30 at 10.26.16 PM.png


Screen Shot 2017-03-30 at 10.23.06 PM.png


Screen Shot 2017-03-30 at 10.17.53 PM.png


Screen Shot 2017-03-30 at 10.18.34 PM.png
 
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MarsRover

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Okay, so i think i've decided on the "on fifths" version. What do you all think?

Do you think i need both columns? Or just one? do you think i'm going to go crazy having only 7" between the column and their closest glass walls?
Attached are the dimensions
Screen Shot 2017-03-30 at 11.33.53 PM.png
Screen Shot 2017-03-30 at 11.34.55 PM.png
Screen Shot 2017-03-30 at 11.36.14 PM.png
Screen Shot 2017-03-30 at 11.37.34 PM.png
Screen Shot 2017-03-30 at 11.38.11 PM.png
Screen Shot 2017-03-30 at 11.40.50 PM.png
 
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MarsRover

MarsRover

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hrmm... not much interest yet huh?

So moving on!

I've decided to go with NO over flow built in. I am just going to have them drill for bulkheads and i will likely put standpipes in and use rockwork/cement to build structure to/around the pipes to support the standpipes and prevent torquing out of plane on the bulkheads.

What i am going to show you below is just a single bulkhead cluster. I'm going to have two incase i decide i actually want to do two towers or w.e. the idea is to leave as much versatility in the build so i have options when it gets here.

heres some ideas:
straight Standpipes:
Screen Shot 2017-04-01 at 10.30.52 AM.png


Same bulkhead locations but standpipes are jogged so the diameter in the center of the stack is smaller:
Screen Shot 2017-04-01 at 5.29.35 PM.png


Screen Shot 2017-04-01 at 5.29.52 PM.png


Screen Shot 2017-04-01 at 5.30.03 PM.png




this is a bean animal design,
1) Emergency standpipe
2) Siphon standpipe
3) Open channel standpipe (air line not shown)

the controlling gate valves will be located UNDER the tank, above the sump.


thoughts? Will the emergency standpipe serve it's purpose even though the elbow is pitched open side down? or do i have to invert it so it is open side up? (see image below)

front-wide.jpg



thanks folks
 
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MarsRover

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What do you all think about the dual? is it really necessary? Should i even bother with the second hole cluster being built??

Screen Shot 2017-04-01 at 6.34.20 PM.png
Screen Shot 2017-04-01 at 6.34.54 PM.png
 
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MarsRover

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Bump! I'd really like some input from some folks on this idea of having a second cluster of holes drilled. Do i really need it? If i don't use it, is it just a big risk to have(having 4 holes drilled but that will need to be "plugged"..... probably by having gate values coming off of the bulkheads underneath that never go to anything....)?

Should i just have 4 (1 return and 3 for the beanAnimal overflow) holes drilled in just one site? split it up 2 and 2 (1 site has 1 return/1 emergency standpipe and the 2nd site has the other 2 standpipes for the full beanAnimal setup)???

My concern is that if i have two locations, and force myself into having two locations of standpipes then i am forcing myself to having a two tower setup (which is what i think i want...) BUT if i have only one cluster location, then i can always build a second tower out of rocks (with no overflow inside) BUT this means the single cluster location of pipes is larger in overall diameter!!!

Please, input please!!
 
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