My 380 gal tank build!!

[Leslie Tabor]

I don't have one yet but I am FINALLY in the works to upgrading this...
To a 300 gal custom made tank!!! My 120 gal is just about 2.5 years old and due to "poor" design on my part, we are quickly out growing It! I am super pumped! I LOVE reefing!!

 

[dbl]

Sounds like a great upgrade...signing up to follow this one. The 120 looks great by the way.

 

[Leslie Tabor]

Sounds like a great upgrade...signing up to follow this one. The 120 looks great by the way.

Thank you! It is my baby...I can't wait to get started! The official decision is to do a Custom Aquarium tank and then build a good solid stand.

 

[xaflatoonx]

Current tank looks stunning. Excited to see what you will do with the 300.

 

[Leslie Tabor]

Just a quick update...
The tank is OFFICIALLY ordered!! ;Greedy

We are going with 3 returns and 2 - 16" Shadow overflows. It will have Starfire glass front and sides, with a black enamel back!!

Lights will be 4 Radion Gen 3 with the Aquatic Life 2 - 3' Hybrid T5 fixtures.

We started the stand today...my Dad is building it to withstand a nuclear disaster!!

This is just the top! Lol it will gave a 3/4" Red Oak wood sheet on top of this. With 2 attached cupboards at each end for the controllers, ATO reservoir. With my current 36" acrylic sump in the middle. That is all I have...
for now...

 

[Leslie Tabor]

Super quick update...STILL waiting on my custom tank...this is so HARD! The stand is at least ready to put the tank on it

We went and got the wood for the doors and I found the best little knobs
I have my new T5 fixtures, the additional return pump, 2 more Radions...just waiting on the tank!;Dead

 

[Leslie Tabor]

Well, still waiting on my tank...BUT the stand is done.
Sigh...someday there will be a tank up there.

 

[dbl]

Wow...that stand turned out beautiful. Really nice work.

 

[Leslie Tabor]

Wow...that stand turned out beautiful. Really nice work.

Thanks you, I am very happy with it! My dad did a lot of it, I supervise (as does one of my dogs) and do the sanding/staining lol living next door to your "carpenter" has its advantages!!

 

[Leslie Tabor]

My tank is coming! My tank is coming! My tank is coming!! Finally after months of waiting the new tank is crated up and on it's way! Guess I will start the new build thread...this could get interesting! ;Greedy

 

[Leslie Tabor]

It is finally here!!!

 

[Leslie Tabor]

And...it is in the house!!

 

[KJ]

I don't have one yet but I am FINALLY in the works to upgrading this...
To a 300 gal custom made tank!!! My 120 gal is just about 2.5 years old and due to "poor" design on my part, we are quickly out growing It! I am super pumped! I LOVE reefing!!

Nice looking aquarium.

 

[dbl]

You know you have it bad when the tank is delivered in a semi and takes a forklift to get it to the house. Looks great in place.

 

[Leslie Tabor]

You know you have it bad when the tank is delivered in a semi and takes a forklift to get it to the house. Looks great in place.

It was kind of a happy coincidence...my neighbor owns a lumber yard so he was able to put it the garage first, then yesterday he used the fork lift with 10ft extension fork to maneuver it through my basement window to the stand.. it was fricken slick!

 

[Leslie Tabor]

Nice looking aquarium.

Thank you! It truly is a labor of love. Lot of blood, sweat, and many tears!

 

[Leslie Tabor]

Well...still waiting on getting her set up BUT got to spend a little $$$$$ on new stuff!
Upgrading the sump was a surprise, the new skimmer would not fit. The current sump skimmer chamber is ridiculously small! Live and learn on that one! New Shadow overflows - no more fish in the overflows!! AND....
The Apex! Finally going to do it...wahoo!

 

[Leslie Tabor]

@Diesel here is an update WITH pics...it DID happen!

So to sum up the big tank is up and running...few things occurred during set up.
1.) Tank is ACTUALLY 380-400 gal. Discovered as we filled it...200 gal in we only had her half full and no water in the sump.
2.) I made the decision to add an Apex system
3.) Randomly decided to use a "junk" storage closet to create an equipment room. Poor Doug (LFS guy) had everything in the tank stand and THEN his wife and I made the executive decision...oops.
And now...the pics...
Sump/Equipment Room:



It is not pristine and white BUT it is way better than crawling under the stand!
This is Jen, from my FS...look at all the beautiful storage space I have now!


Some of the plumbing, tank set up etc...

This is me aquascaping, gives some scale to the tank!


When the lights come on I will add a pic with the nice clear water, it is still a bit hazy. I have a ton more sand to yet!

 

[Leslie Tabor]

I do not know why the last pic is on here lol...that is poor Doug trying to figure out how to arrange the Apex.

 

[Diesel]

@Diesel here is an update WITH pics...it DID happen!

So to sum up the big tank is up and running...few things occurred during set up.
1.) Tank is ACTUALLY 380-400 gal. Discovered as we filled it...200 gal in we only had her half full and no water in the sump.
2.) I made the decision to add an Apex system
3.) Randomly decided to use a "junk" storage closet to create an equipment room. Poor Doug (LFS guy) had everything in the tank stand and THEN his wife and I made the executive decision...oops.
And now...the pics...
Sump/Equipment Room:



It is not pristine and white BUT it is way better than crawling under the stand!
This is Jen, from my FS...look at all the beautiful storage space I have now!


Some of the plumbing, tank set up etc...

This is me aquascaping, gives some scale to the tank!


When the lights come on I will add a pic with the nice clear water, it is still a bit hazy. I have a ton more sand to yet!

Well Leslie. It did happen.
That is a beauty of a tank.
Moving in tank like that is always a challenge.
Keep replacing the filter socks as much as possible that will help clear the dust up a lot.
Will be following this from now on.
Btw, don’t worry about you angels they will be just fine in their little tank/ocean