This tank is just perfect !!! WOW !!! It is hard to say how beautiful tank is ! This is not only what we can find IN, but how Calvin made everything... tank, sump, filter, RO/DI, lights, walls, just everything... Amazing work !
I'm jealous ! My dream tank...

LOL! Thanks, I had to build the shed to get all my tools out of the garage so I could get my cars back in there.



Wow, not sure what else I can say other than thank you. I have tried a vortech in the past and was able to get a small wave going down the tank, but since fully scaping the tank, I was not able to get a wave before the sand started getting stirred up. Doing it over I would build a wavebox into the end of the tank, but alas, it's too late now. Acrylic is 1/2" thick on all sides, including top and bottom, it's overbuilt, but that's how I roll.

I think I've made the folder public so those videos should work again. If there is one that doesn't let me know and I'll research it. BTW, tank is still too small for such an active fish IMO.



Thanks for the kind words!

I understand. I have 1 car in my very full 2 car garage. The rest is work bench, garden tools, and my extra wheels and tires.

I agree, that's a big round fish to go into a 15"x15" space, regardless of length. An adult dwarf angel, or even a genicanthus angel would be a better fit than a tang. That or an active shoal of chromis or anthias to not risk the reef safe aspect of things.

A wave box would've been cool. Damn you hindsight, and your 20/20 vision.

ONLY 1/2"?????? OVERBUILT???? hows that?
does the tank bow at all?? surley it does....right?
whats the smallest thickness you can go with a 12ft tank like yours? 3/8s?

LOL! I've tried the chromies, they keep killing each other. Stupid fish. Anthias can be a pain, and at 20-25 a pop even more painful. I love tangs and hope to maybe try some again, but need less active swimmers. Yeah, darn hindsight. LOL



Yeah, way overbuilt... If properly braced (like this one) the only thing that determines the thickness of acrylic needed is the height of the tank. At 16" 3/8" would have been more than enough, and could have been done out of 1/4" but that is way too thin for my taste. Especially when trying to join the materials like I did. No the tank doesn't bow at all, why would you think it's underbuilt? What is your basis for this?

lol im just saying becuase of the length of the tank and the amount of water in it! i thought the water would just let gravity take over and boom!! or does that depend on how wide the tank is built? lol owell i dont know much bout acrylic. it was just a brainfart question i had:) dont mind lol

Water pressure is directly proportional to depth and nothing else. The tank could be 1' deep and 3 gallons or 1' deep and 1000 gallons, either way it would have the same pressure on the sides. Now a wide tank had to have bracing around the top because the acrylic will flex over longer spans.

We definitely need a huge update on this thread with lots and lots of pics please

^^ +1

Sorry guys, only update I have right now, is Sale is Pending.

Oh no....do you mean sale of the tank?

Yes...

What?? Say it ain't so.

Sorry, but yes the tank sold today, now to try to get it out of the basement in one piece... I have one week to get it to the garage for pick up. I'll post a link to my next idea when the time is right.

Thanks everyone for all your posts and support.

I read all 71 pages.. pleaseeee give us more info?? why the change in plans?

I have to say one of the coolest tanks I have seen in a long time...LOVE the length...can't wait for my next build:)

just caught the last post...what LED lighting were you using...couldn't seem to dig it up

Sorry but the tank is officially gone... She left this morning. I'm current working on rebuilding the stand into a bar and will incorporate a nano once I have everything planned out. For now I'm looking for tiles for the bar top and trying to sell off the rest if my equipment.

SaltySupply the lights are the same Chinese ones everyone else is using...

Kweli with my screen and projector upgrade it made it difficult to watch movies and have the lights high enough to not cook my corals... In short the light pendant blocked my projector when the lights were high enough and cooked the corals when they were low. The LEDs are really intense and it came down to one or the other. This move will also allow me to open up the room for more seating for watching sports and or movies/video games.

Again I'll post up when I have something going again but it will likely not be anything custom as I just don't have the time to build anything.

-Eric

What a cool tank. I'm sure it was such an inspiration to many reefers, I'm sad to hear it had to go, but thanks for sharing the adventure of building it with us

sad to see it go, not sure if it was mentioned, but what made you sell the tank?

was it the time needed to keep the tank running? or maintenance cost?

WE WANT A 20-FOOTER!
WE WANT A 20-FOOTER!
WE WANT A 20-FOOTER!
HOO HOO HOO!

It was a combination of things, but ultimately I was getting conflicting equipment in the same room. I couldn't watch movies without my lights blocking my projector, and the lights were too bright when they were down low enough. Rather than doing yet another lighting change I felt it was time to just go smaller. I won't lie, 1hr glass cleaning did help in the decision making...



Yeah, what sucks about a tank that long is lighting it. Already considered a 16 footer, but just too much work. Time to go back to my passion and that's a smaller tank.

Hate to see it go but it sounds like it was time for a change. Hopefully the new owner will post its new progress on the internet somewhere.

Good luck with your next one, Eric!

Gutted its gone Eric. As you know, it was the main inspiration for my build. Acrylic has finally arrived by the way!

Hey Calvin, great thread...lots of cool stuff in here. I got through about page 24, and I didn't see it...what are you running for water movement? I saw the 4 reeflo pumps, but no plumbing. Is it a closed loops? I don't see any pipes. The only noticeable poowerheads are on the overflow.

I ask because I thought about doing a much smaller version of this build before I came across this. I want to have good water flow/surface agitation, but I'm not sure how to do it without ruining aesthetics of the tank. It would be 42" L x 8" (or 12, haven't decided yet), by 6" H (actual water volume).

Thanks in advanced.

Have a look at my thread mate. Inspired by Calvins tank and may give you some ideas.

Thanks.

This is the tank I want when I grow up!