Do I keep the dream alive or let it go?

[Jack B]

Hello everyone newby here.

25 years ago, this beautiful custom 330g Tenecor arrived at our home in Alaska. I purchased 3 pumps, drilled it, and worked up the plumbing for the pumps. I filled it half way and ran the pumps and leak checked it. Our home was engineered with extra steel and the separate mechanical room was beautifully plumbed and wired so that nothing happened under the tank other than primary circulating pumps.

Anyway, that was it. Life got in the way and it's been parked under a sheet in our greatroom ever since. I'm retired now and my marriage of 42 years is ending. I'm moving to Florida to join some family down there.

Do I build a crate and have it loaded in a shipping container? It's not worth anything up here. We only have a couple of shops and they want nothing to do with it due to its age - even though it's never even been filled.

Is the way it's drilled still a good way to go for water movement or did I do my self a disservice by drilling it years ago? The giant super beefy and heavy hood got chopped up and taken to the dump as clearly the lighting scene (weight/heat) has changed drastically. AI says that I shouldn't risk the particle board stand because glue can degrade over decades. It's really well built and heavy but not sure if it's worth it to transport it and the tank all the way to Florida. Wouldn't it be cleaner to just have a steel stand fabricated for it if I decide to keep it?

It's out of the house now and in the garage and was handled well down two flights of stairs. If I shipped it to Florida would it have some resale value there despite it's age because it was never set up?

Really not sure whether to just be done with it or to keep after it. I was successful with a 55 g reef for several years before this tank showed up but that's as far as I got.

Any comments / thoughts are appreciated!

Jack

 

[revhtree Verified Admin]

Welcome to your new home for saltwater reef aquarium resources and fun! Welcome to the family! :D

 

[vetteguy53081]

Worth Pursuing !

 

[Fish Fan]

Welcome to Reef2Reef!

Agreed, worth pursuing!

I don't think it's correct at all to judge an acrylic tank by its age. The seams are chemically welded into one piece, this is not the same as a glass tank with silicon where the silicon can degrade over time.

I don't know what it would cost to crate this tank and have it shipped to Florida, but I'd look into it. I do believe the resale value would be stronger in Florida as there simply has to be more reef keepers in Florida.

I wouldn't move the stand, it's likely cheaper and easier to build a new one when you get to Florida, either from wood or aluminum or steel.

I like the center overflow columb, though I'm not sure what you're planning with all the holes in the bottom, but I'm sure you had a plan back when you drilled this tank. Flow is important, and if you had a plan, I would think that plan is still viable today.

Good luck with your move!

 

[Tikki]

Awesome tank I dig the stand too

 

[Jack B]

Welcome to Reef2Reef!

Agreed, worth pursuing!

I don't think it's correct at all to judge an acrylic tank by its age. The seams are chemically welded into one piece, this is not the same as a glass tank with silicon where the silicon can degrade over time.

I don't know what it would cost to create this tank and have it shipped to Florida, but I'd look into it. I do believe the resale value would be stronger in Florida as there simply has to be more reef keepers in Florida.

I wouldn't move the stand, it's likely cheaper and easier to build a new one when you get to Florida, either from wood or aluminum or steel.

I like the center overflow columb, though I'm not sure what you're planning with all the holes in the bottom, but I'm sure you had a plan back when you drilled this tank. Flow is important, and if you had a plan, I would think that plan is still viable today.

Good luck with your move!

I drilled it for 3 large recirculating pumps which would live under the tank and simply loop and exhaust to numerous locations for good water movement coverage.

 

[maroun.c]

Welcome to the forum.
Guess better late than never! Good luck with the build if u decide to finally go ahead and fill it up.

 

[FrugalReeferJon]

 

[Gumbies R Us]

 

[kevgib67]

Hi Jack ( never say that on an airplane), glad you are here!

 

[Gman83]

Welcome! I unfortunately dont have any good advice other than I believe Tenecore closed down, so if you like the tank, it’s worth looking into since you can’t get another like it.

 

[Tanks4theMemories]

Welcome! Just to add a different perspective here, that's a massive tank to venture into as your first build. I strongly suspect you'll have more long term success if you start with something more in the 75-100 gallon range, and use the tank as a way to build social connections down in FL. That tank also looks very tall, which presents some structural problems (that become a real concern at 330 gallons and ~3,000lbs of saltwater, without even including sump volume). I'm not sure where in FL you're moving, but I spent most of my life in SW Florida, and most houses are slab-on-grade foundations there. That means, practically, weight isn't really an issue. But just something to consider.

One other thing to consider is cost to maintain. This may or may not matter to you, but as you go larger the equipment gets larger too (and more expensive). A 330 gallon tank costs significantly more to set up than a 125.

 

[Reef Jedi]

Welcome to Reef2Reef, the greatest community out of water!

Personally I would look at the cost comparison between shipping it down to Florida and weighing that against a new build. That would be my deciding factor.

 

[NyteRyder1]

 

[Marco_99]

Welcome! Just to add a different perspective here, that's a massive tank to venture into as your first build. I strongly suspect you'll have more long term success if you start with something more in the 75-100 gallon range, and use the tank as a way to build social connections down in FL. That tank also looks very tall, which presents some structural problems (that become a real concern at 330 gallons and ~3,000lbs of saltwater, without even including sump volume). I'm not sure where in FL you're moving, but I spent most of my life in SW Florida, and most houses are slab-on-grade foundations there. That means, practically, weight isn't really an issue. But just something to consider.

One other thing to consider is cost to maintain. This may or may not matter to you, but as you go larger the equipment gets larger too (and more expensive). A 330 gallon tank costs significantly more to set up than a 125.

He previously had success with a 55 gal, that’s what brought on “the dream”

 

[fishface NJ]

Welcome Jack! Great tank. I'd keep it.

 

[ReefNutsThailand]

Welcome

 

[Reign1]

Nice to see some old reefers around. Your drilled tank speaks to what reefing was at that time. I used to be a Tenecor dealer locally and used drill and run CL for many tanks as there really was not any good propeller pumps back then except for Tunze. Tenecor's are build really well and unless you having crazing I would set that tank up. If you decide to unload it LMK. I have alot of nostalgia related to equipment from that time frame.
good luck.

 

[edsbeaker]

Hello and welcome!
If you are still wanting to “live the dream”, I wouldn’t let anything get in the way. It’s a beautiful tank! If not, then I don’t think there would be much money to gain after the cost of shipping it to Florida and the $ amount you may or may NOT get.

On a different note, How are you going to deal with the heat and humidity of Florida after living in Alaska for so long?

 

[CoralB]

Welcome !!