Do I keep the dream alive or let it go?

[ChrisfromBrick]

Welcome thats an awesome tank. I say go with it.

I don't love acrylic tanks myself but that's a really nice one.

 

[Zyfreef]

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

Keep on, following through.

 

[Jack B]

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

Yes I'm a retired pilot so I used to get that all the time LOL. Thanks for the welcome!

 

[kevgib67]

Yes I'm a retired pilot so I used to get that all the time LOL. Thanks for the welcome!

My stepfather was a pilot for United and my best friend flew C-130’s for the Air Force before retiring and now flies for Delta.

 

[Jack B]

Welcome thats an awesome tank. I say go with it.

I don't love acrylic tanks myself but that's a really nice one.

Hi Chris are acrylic tanks still competitive in the marketplace or has their presence lost strength over the years. If so, please share why? This could help my decision to press on with it with the Florida move thanks!

 

[Jack B]

My stepfather was a pilot for United and my best friend flew C-130’s for the Air Force before retiring and now flies for Delta.

Sweet! I retired after 33 years with Alaska and also flew helicopters in the guard for many years.

 

[Jack B]

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.

Yes it's certainly a very unique tank.

 

[me & my baby]

Welcome
I would say go for it . You had a vision for it back then ,no you can bring it to life

 

[Jack B]

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.

Thanks for your insights. I did maintain a successful 55 for several years along with a 120 fresh when I was younger while following reef central and learned quite a bit. I suppose the truth of the matter is I'm looking at age 70 and if it's gonna happen, now's the time I'd say . I've never been healthier and I know I could do it, especially with communities like this running in the background with support. My plan is to rent until I find a home which would be suitable for a remodel addition. In theory, I'll be able to plan it all out (like I did 25+ years ago LOL, so that everything can be well thought out. It feels right. It's just the logistics of it all from Alaska to Florida on top of divorce and all is a lot to navigate.

Indeed it's a tall tank. But I'm 6'2" and have long arms, and believe me there was much contemplation that went into this before I had it built. My thinking was that an incline terrace which climbs around the center overflow would be the plan. This would keep the majority within workable reach for me.

I appreciate your insights, and please offer up anything else you might want to add.

I've decided the stand is gonna go in the next dump run as I'm pretty sure the future install will be better served with a custom metal stand of some sort. And one large crate is gonna be plenty ($) to move as it is.

Jack

 

[Jack B]

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.

I'll be using shipping containers so it should be able to go right in one of those without driving up a big separate shipping cost. What roughly would a conventionally sized comparable volume new glass tank cost? I've invested and have 3 new pumps which were sized for the recirc job and the plumbing to go with them. That's pretty much all I have besides the tank.

 

[Jack B]

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

Yes I think that decision is gaining amplitude every day now!

 

[Jack B]

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.

So in your opinion there's really no downside all things considered? That's helpful thank you. The center overflow is still a good option? At the time, the 3 large pumps recirculating through a major and endlessly adjustable distribution system which hides well in the rock work was the way to go. How have things shifted? Obviously I can't un-drill the tank but u suppose that the 9 holes could be plugged. But why would I want to do that. Of course my analytical interest turned off over two decades ago and I really am not up to date. I guess I thought most of the real change centered around lighting.

Thanks agajn
Jack

 

[Jack B]

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?

Yes indeed 50 years in Alaska is a lot of acclimation. But honestly im really looking forward to it. My tentative plan, is to return for a big chunk of the summer each year in my Cessna 180 to spend time at the remote Alaska gulf coast cabin.

I have a niece who just inherited her sister's 3 kids after we lost her to cancer. She has 3 of her own. 6 kids aged 13 and under. They need help so that's the reason it's become a destination for me. Perhaps some of the older kids will become expert reef keepers while I travel.

Yes I agree completely the decision to move it shouldn't be based on possible resale value.

Thanks
Jack

 

[Jack B]

Welcome
I would say go for it . You had a vision for it back then ,no you can bring it to life

Yes I agree at this point. Go for it indeed. Now to educate myself on how best to pack it in the crate so I do t cause any damage during shipping.

 

[edsbeaker]

Yes indeed 50 years in Alaska is a lot of acclimation. But honestly im really looking forward to it. My tentative plan, is to return for a big chunk of the summer each year in my Cessna 180 to spend time at the remote Alaska gulf coast cabin.

I have a niece who just inherited her sister's 3 kids after we lost her to cancer. She has 3 of her own. 6 kids aged 13 and under. They need help so that's the reason it's become a destination for me. Perhaps some of the older kids will become expert reef keepers while I travel.

Yes I agree completely the decision to move it shouldn't be based on possible resale value.

Thanks
Jack

That’s a great reason to go! Very kind of you to be there for them.
Going back to Alaska in the summer sounds perfect. I have thought to do that at times. I live only as south as Indianapolis, but can’t even stand the heat and humidity this far south. Florida certainly wouldn’t be fun in summer.

 

[XSidsReef]

Welcome!! Beauty of a tank! I’ll second the evaluation of whether it would be cheaper to ship/move it or get a new setup once there. Might even be a situation of sell online with buyer paying shipping, and use that to fund or feed into a new setup in Florida.

 

[Ridgeback1]

Welcome, and that is a sweet tank. I have a particular bias which not everyone will share: From my experience I would not do a tank with bottom-drilled holes ever again--and you have a lot of holes on the bottom. Reasons: It is difficult to service a bottom bulkhead that might fail--you might be looking at having to drain the whole tank; they inevitably leak and you have salt-creep (which can happen with side panel holes but they are easier to manage); you are limited with what you can do with rock placement; you have to worry about rocks falling on lines; you have potentially plumbing lines in view; you have a lot of space in the sump area taken up with plumbing lines blocking (especially with your tank which has many holes in the center of the tank). Again...others will legitimately disagree, but I have been FAR happier with my current 327 gallon which has one side panel with an overflow weir to an outside box and two holes for the return lines than I was with my old 375 which had bottom holes. Zero plumbing visible or having to be serviced inside the tank. I am also personally not a fan of center overflow towers--servicing would be more difficult. For me, much depends on how much money you have :). If money is tight and the math as others note works to ship it, then go for it. But if money is more available, I would consider leaving it behind and getting another design tank. For under $5K or less depending on bells and whistles (not counting stand) you could order a similar size acrylic tank in whatever configuration you want (there are great builders in Florida, in fact). Compared to everything else you would need in any case (live rock, lighting, pumps, fish, etc.) the tank cost is likely under 30% (made that number up!) of your total...so unless you've not got that kind of budget to begin with, what you're saving by reusing this tank is likely not going to be the make or break point. (Again, I realize all of this may be controversial...and, yes, you actually could pretty easily and inexpensively glue acrylic plates over the holes and be good to go...but you've still got that overflow with holes going down the bottom and they would have some of the issues I noted. I concur with others that structurally the tank is likely perfect--my only leaking tanks over time have been (cheap) glass tanks that I use in my fish room for quarantine--my acrylic tanks have never leaked for decades).

 

[kingranch2003]

 

[Jack B]

Welcome, and that is a sweet tank. I have a particular bias which not everyone will share: From my experience I would not do a tank with bottom-drilled holes ever again--and you have a lot of holes on the bottom. Reasons: It is difficult to service a bottom bulkhead that might fail--you might be looking at having to drain the whole tank; they inevitably leak and you have salt-creep (which can happen with side panel holes but they are easier to manage); you are limited with what you can do with rock placement; you have to worry about rocks falling on lines; you have potentially plumbing lines in view; you have a lot of space in the sump area taken up with plumbing lines blocking (especially with your tank which has many holes in the center of the tank). Again...others will legitimately disagree, but I have been FAR happier with my current 327 gallon which has one side panel with an overflow weir to an outside box and two holes for the return lines than I was with my old 375 which had bottom holes. Zero plumbing visible or having to be serviced inside the tank. I am also personally not a fan of center overflow towers--servicing would be more difficult. For me, much depends on how much money you have :). If money is tight and the math as others note works to ship it, then go for it. But if money is more available, I would consider leaving it behind and getting another design tank. For under $5K or less depending on bells and whistles (not counting stand) you could order a similar size acrylic tank in whatever configuration you want (there are great builders in Florida, in fact). Compared to everything else you would need in any case (live rock, lighting, pumps, fish, etc.) the tank cost is likely under 30% (made that number up!) of your total...so unless you've not got that kind of budget to begin with, what you're saving by reusing this tank is likely not going to be the make or break point. (Again, I realize all of this may be controversial...and, yes, you actually could pretty easily and inexpensively glue acrylic plates over the holes and be good to go...but you've still got that overflow with holes going down the bottom and they would have some of the issues I noted. I concur with others that structurally the tank is likely perfect--my only leaking tanks over time have been (cheap) glass tanks that I use in my fish room for quarantine--my acrylic tanks have never leaked for decades).

This is a really helpful response and thanks for talking straight with me. It's pretty clear at this point that I'm acting emotionally. I realize important decision making is risky during divorce, and I'm afraid that's exactly what's happening. So turning 70 and with some neck issues, the last thing I need during a golden year hobby is that type of challenge. More importantly, it's. 36" deep, presenting an additional logistical challenge to build up and maintenance. So yes, the idea of a bottom with no penetrations and a side or back overflow makes perfect sense. Yes I'd be giving up the uniqueness of an amazing tank which offers all kinds of possibilities because of the very design I'm now walking away from. It needs a younger hobbyist. I can afford whatever within reason so it's really not about the $ for a new more sensical setup for me. Clearly an old emotional tiger.

So now I could really use some advice on how to move forward with it. I made the mistake of posting it on FB Marketplace. Omg I had a ridiculous number of people wanting to come take it away now, but without the first clue of what they were contemplating. So I took down the listing. I don't want to give it away as I want it to go to someone who would appreciate its beauty and uniqueness, and be able to navigate the challenges of such a tank.

I have 3 big pumps (they were top of the line but they're packed now and don't remember the brand) all unused. And all of the pvc fittings and tubing for the 3 recirc loops. This would all go with the tank.

How should I market this? I'd be happy with perhaps a $500 price and buyer assumes all shipping costs. Pickup/crating/shipping. I believe this could be a very comfortable deal for someone in the hobby.

Thoughts? Should I create a new post for this content?

Thanks again for the great response.

Jack

 

[Jack B]

Welcome!! Beauty of a tank! I’ll second the evaluation of whether it would be cheaper to ship/move it or get a new setup once there. Might even be a situation of sell online with buyer paying shipping, and use that to fund or feed into a new setup in Florida.

Thanks. Because of the great insight here in this forum, I've decided to try and sell it. It's just not the tank for a 70 year old just starting the build. Can you offer any insights on how best to do that? I thought $500 would be enough to insure it goes to someone who knows what they're getting into. Buyer would have to assume all costs from this end to final destination. Seems it could be an acceptable deal for someone?
Thanks
Jack.