So, I'm not new to the forum but this will be my first actual build thread.
A little background...
A buddy of mine had a 220 freshwater tank with arowana's. I decided I wanted into the aquarium hobby but I knew I was going to go saltwater. I had never had any real aquarium so I started with a 75 gallon tank. I had moved out of my parents and into my own house. This was around 20 years ago at this point. I was so proud of my "skilter filter". I learned alot with this tank and the hobby has changed so much along the way. My 75 didn't take long before it was a 220, then I got a second tank and it was 120 gallons. I started off with power compacts for lighting, moved to halide/VHO Combo, powermodule T5's and got into LEDS with Gen 1 Radion's. When Vortech's first came out and they were like $400 for one mp40 I told myself there is no way, at the time I couldn't afford it and as time progressed and so did my income level I realized the value of you pay for what you get most of the time. That way of thinking has guided me with my current tank and is also helping with the new build.
My two tanks eventually turned into an acrylic 300 gallon, which I ended up selling when I sold my town house and we built a new house, had 2 kids along the way and I picked up a rimless 150 gallon. I had convinced myself this would be my forever tank. Great looking tank, good equipment, thought out design and build, this was the last tank. That was all well and good until my freshwater buddy bought a 600 gallon tank. He enlisted me to plumb it for him and get it going. Everytime I was there working on it my "big tank envy" grew and grew, so I was on the hunt. I had gotten quotes from different tank manufacturer's, been planning and planning and planning, I think I changed the dimensions 40 times. This tank was going in my office and I had decent space that backs up the to 3rd car garage. I currently have my 150 on that wall and it is partially plumbed into the garage where some of the filtration work is done.
I'm on the for sale forum one day and I stumble across a thread by @fishguy242 , hes got a tank listed for a friend, its still crated and ready for a new home. It was built by Custom Aquariums, they were one of my top choices to get a tank from. I originally wanted 10x3x30, I almost bought a 10x4x30 acrylic tank but ultimately decided not too. The tank he had listed was 7x4x30, 3 sides low iron glass. I was on the fence about another rimless tank at this size, my current 150 is rimless and has a red sea screen top for it, my concern was having a cover for it, I like wrasses and I have lost all sorts of expensive ones with no top. I wasn't against a frame but logistically it made since to have the frame. I work out a deal for the tank, put a listing on USHIP, and it shows up from Wisconsin to Charlotte NC in less than a week ( and it shows up in perfect shape)
So some original plans changed slightly with the new tank dimensions. It was a great deal on the tank and close enough to what I wanted and thought I could make a great setup out of it.
The tank arrived in September 2020 and is still in the crate currently. Because of the dimensions, the tank will have to come through the door to my office on its 30" side, which also means I have to take my door and door frame out of the opening. I also usually build my own stands and this time I knew I was going to go T-Slot so I could assemble it in the room. I reached out to Framing Tech and went over the design I wanted and a few weeks later I had it delivered.
A few pictures, the framing tech delivery, The tank in my driveway and the tank at the old owners house prior to being picked up and shipped.
A little background...
A buddy of mine had a 220 freshwater tank with arowana's. I decided I wanted into the aquarium hobby but I knew I was going to go saltwater. I had never had any real aquarium so I started with a 75 gallon tank. I had moved out of my parents and into my own house. This was around 20 years ago at this point. I was so proud of my "skilter filter". I learned alot with this tank and the hobby has changed so much along the way. My 75 didn't take long before it was a 220, then I got a second tank and it was 120 gallons. I started off with power compacts for lighting, moved to halide/VHO Combo, powermodule T5's and got into LEDS with Gen 1 Radion's. When Vortech's first came out and they were like $400 for one mp40 I told myself there is no way, at the time I couldn't afford it and as time progressed and so did my income level I realized the value of you pay for what you get most of the time. That way of thinking has guided me with my current tank and is also helping with the new build.
My two tanks eventually turned into an acrylic 300 gallon, which I ended up selling when I sold my town house and we built a new house, had 2 kids along the way and I picked up a rimless 150 gallon. I had convinced myself this would be my forever tank. Great looking tank, good equipment, thought out design and build, this was the last tank. That was all well and good until my freshwater buddy bought a 600 gallon tank. He enlisted me to plumb it for him and get it going. Everytime I was there working on it my "big tank envy" grew and grew, so I was on the hunt. I had gotten quotes from different tank manufacturer's, been planning and planning and planning, I think I changed the dimensions 40 times. This tank was going in my office and I had decent space that backs up the to 3rd car garage. I currently have my 150 on that wall and it is partially plumbed into the garage where some of the filtration work is done.
I'm on the for sale forum one day and I stumble across a thread by @fishguy242 , hes got a tank listed for a friend, its still crated and ready for a new home. It was built by Custom Aquariums, they were one of my top choices to get a tank from. I originally wanted 10x3x30, I almost bought a 10x4x30 acrylic tank but ultimately decided not too. The tank he had listed was 7x4x30, 3 sides low iron glass. I was on the fence about another rimless tank at this size, my current 150 is rimless and has a red sea screen top for it, my concern was having a cover for it, I like wrasses and I have lost all sorts of expensive ones with no top. I wasn't against a frame but logistically it made since to have the frame. I work out a deal for the tank, put a listing on USHIP, and it shows up from Wisconsin to Charlotte NC in less than a week ( and it shows up in perfect shape)
So some original plans changed slightly with the new tank dimensions. It was a great deal on the tank and close enough to what I wanted and thought I could make a great setup out of it.
The tank arrived in September 2020 and is still in the crate currently. Because of the dimensions, the tank will have to come through the door to my office on its 30" side, which also means I have to take my door and door frame out of the opening. I also usually build my own stands and this time I knew I was going to go T-Slot so I could assemble it in the room. I reached out to Framing Tech and went over the design I wanted and a few weeks later I had it delivered.
A few pictures, the framing tech delivery, The tank in my driveway and the tank at the old owners house prior to being picked up and shipped.