480 Gallon Predatory Tank Build

[LouisianaReef]

Some of y’all might be familiar with my other build, which was a 125G built after Hurricane Laura put a tree on my house. Well that 125 got swapped for a 210 that blew a seam, which in turn was replaced with an 8’ 300.

After many years my wife finally approved me ordering a 480 gallon. It’s 8’x4’x2’. I should mention that it’s also acrylic! It’s going to house our gray bamboo shark, yellow stingray and spotted moray eel. We had many other fish that was going to occupy it as well but we recently lost all of them while in temporary holding to unknown reasons. Even the experts here on R2R couldn’t figure out the root cause. We are trying to look at this as a fresh start and the bad luck being over.

Just started on the stand, still a lot left to do!

 

[BairCorals]

That thing is going to be intense!

 

[19Mateo83]

That tank is going to be a beast! I assume/hope you are planning more load bearing supports on that stand? Looking forward to seeing it come together.

 

[Gumbies R Us]

Following along!

 

[LouisianaReef]

That tank is going to be a beast! I assume/hope you are planning more load bearing supports on that stand? Looking forward to seeing it come together.

Of course! How’s this looking?

 

[LouisianaReef]

Think I might need to find something shorter to use as sump. That’s a 150 gallon Rubbermaid stock tank. Doesn’t leave much room to work once the stand the topped with plywood. Couldn’t build the stock taller due to space for the tv above it.

Anyone have any ideas for a shorter sump that won’t break the bank?

 

[BairCorals]

I'd get a 125g standard fish tank, don't know how you're gonna see your TV when it's 2ft tall on top of the stand, maybe it's just the angle of the pictures

 

[LouisianaReef]

I'd get a 125g standard fish tank, don't know how you're gonna see your TV when it's 2ft tall on top of the stand, maybe it's just the angle of the pictures

Yeah it’s just the angle. Going to move the tv up about 15” to clear the tank and lighting. We have vaulted ceilings above the tank so lots of room above it

 

[19Mateo83]

Of course! How’s this looking?

That’s more like it! Had me worried there for a second :beaming-face-with-smiling-eyes: looking awesome!

 

[BairCorals]

Yeah it’s just the angle. Going to move the tv up about 15” to clear the tank and lighting. We have vaulted ceilings above the tank so lots of room above it

That makes more sense now!

 

[LouisianaReef]

Just a quick update. I believe that I got the sump situation figured out. The Rubbermaid 150 gallon stock tank is 25” tall, leaving me with 6.5” between the stock tank and stand. I found this stock tank that’s 110 gallons, but only 21” tall so that will allow me a little bit more space to work with. It comes with a brass bulkhead, which was easy to remove. I ordered a 1/2” plastic bulkhead to replace the brass one. Just got to wait for it to come in to finish the sump setup.

 

[LouisianaReef]

A teaser of some livestock that will be going in the new tank. There’s a gray bamboo shark and spotted moray hiding inside the PVC pipe as well. Unfortunately once the new tank is setup it’s going to look bare for a bit. I have about 300 pounds of rock to go in it, but it’s going though a 76 day fallow period. We had some unknown outbreak in our old tank and would rather be safe than sorry with new incoming livestock. So no rock until January in the new setup.

 

[LouisianaReef]

Shorter stock tank fits much better. I leave Thursday morning to make the drive from Central Louisiana to Southern Florida to pickup the new tank. It’s about 12 hours each way.

 

[BairCorals]

Safe travels and good luck! Slow is smooth and smooth is fast. Don't forget your self defense, I hear Florida folk get weirder this time of year lol

 

[LouisianaReef]

Tank is in the house! Couldn’t seem to get it level, but then I noticed that the plywood that I uses as the sheeting on the top of the stand has a manufacturer defect. An extra layer somewhere made it in the plywood in one corner. Going to try to figure it how to correct it so it’s level and plumbing can begin.

 

[BairCorals]

I'd definitely suggest putting down a mat between the tank and stand. Small imperfections can cause stress points on the tank and cause it to fail.
https://www.bulkreefsupply.com/neop...qhGQwaOzjnaNBgBvNt_tmgM0WpJGPz9AaAi5cEALw_wcB

 

[Fish con carne]

Safe travels and good luck! Slow is smooth and smooth is fast. Don't forget your self defense, I hear Florida folk get weirder this time of year lol

Just the 100's of thousands of illegals and the usual terrorists

 

[LouisianaReef]

Late update. Tank is currently running with just sand and the shark, eel and stingray in it. I’ll update with pictures later. Apex was delivered today so I should be able to get a lot more running soon. Here’s a picture of pickup for size reference.