mattdean
Aquarium Advice Regular
Hey everyone,
So, I had this gorgeous 46 Gallon bow front tank that I set up with the help of Big Al's teenage employees. No sump, crappy - yet expensive - HOB skimmer with no way to adjust, 2 mediocre lights, etc.....regardless, it was beautiful. Actually won tank of the month on one forum. Here’s a pic of the former tank.
I moved my office and studio – I’m a musician, that’s my job – downstairs and had to open up the whole lower level. This was NOT fun, but the finished product is pretty sweet. This is also my home theatre room. I wanted to upgrade my 46 gallon due to the lack of sump, etc. So, this was the opportunity. The room was set up perfectly for a tank in the middle of the room. I have ALWAYS wanted that. This will be my childhood dream manifested. ☺
The new tank is a 125 gallon Peninsula tank. 60 X 24 X 20 Starphyre glass with euro brace. A closed loop with 2 returns that I will have loctite split into 2 flared ends for each return. One short side is all overflow. I have a custom 55 gal acrylic sump. I will be using the middle section for a refugium. I’ll get into the hardware later. I worked with Tom at Oakville Reef Gallery for this set up. He was very helpful and accommodating. There were several problems and hiccups and he did everything he could to make things right. I am happy with the end result. I know I have quality equipment and anticipate a beautiful, enjoyable experience from here on. (Famous last words!) Tyler from BWI helped me with some of the plumbing – which had to be done twice. (More on that later)
Now, I ordered a 48 X 24 X 20 tank on November 3rd. It took over a month to get and it was not satisfactory – to say the least. One long panel was skewed and the euro brace was upside down, so the top edge was sharp and the bottom edge was smooth ☹. Since the long side was not square it made the euro brace uneven as well. Needless to say, I sent it back. Since I was ordering all over again, I decided to make the tank bigger. I went 60 inches long because I realized how much space the overflow took up and with a 48 inch light fixture, that would only leave a couple of inches on either end of the light, which the euro brace took most of that space. Took a while to get the new tank. Now, I am not the most patient person – not a good trait for this hobby, but I was severely tested on this project. It seemed like everything was wrong or delayed, and I mean everything. The Vertex skimmer was way overdue by weeks, the tank taking a long time, and more that I will get into later.
So……waiting, waiting….finally get the new tank. I had asked for INSIDE euro bracing. I don’t like the look of seeing the side of the euro brace sitting on top. Especially since the euro brace stops at the over flow. Well, it was on top! They claim they can’t, from an engineering point do it inside. The jury is still out on that one, but I took the tank and it will actually work out because I plan on putting a piece of acrylic over the overflow to match the euro brace. I am doing this a few reasons. To keep light out of it and stop algae from growing there, to keep my Firefish and Wrasses from jumping in the overflow – or out of the tank- and to make it that much quieter.
So, I had this gorgeous 46 Gallon bow front tank that I set up with the help of Big Al's teenage employees. No sump, crappy - yet expensive - HOB skimmer with no way to adjust, 2 mediocre lights, etc.....regardless, it was beautiful. Actually won tank of the month on one forum. Here’s a pic of the former tank.
I moved my office and studio – I’m a musician, that’s my job – downstairs and had to open up the whole lower level. This was NOT fun, but the finished product is pretty sweet. This is also my home theatre room. I wanted to upgrade my 46 gallon due to the lack of sump, etc. So, this was the opportunity. The room was set up perfectly for a tank in the middle of the room. I have ALWAYS wanted that. This will be my childhood dream manifested. ☺
The new tank is a 125 gallon Peninsula tank. 60 X 24 X 20 Starphyre glass with euro brace. A closed loop with 2 returns that I will have loctite split into 2 flared ends for each return. One short side is all overflow. I have a custom 55 gal acrylic sump. I will be using the middle section for a refugium. I’ll get into the hardware later. I worked with Tom at Oakville Reef Gallery for this set up. He was very helpful and accommodating. There were several problems and hiccups and he did everything he could to make things right. I am happy with the end result. I know I have quality equipment and anticipate a beautiful, enjoyable experience from here on. (Famous last words!) Tyler from BWI helped me with some of the plumbing – which had to be done twice. (More on that later)
Now, I ordered a 48 X 24 X 20 tank on November 3rd. It took over a month to get and it was not satisfactory – to say the least. One long panel was skewed and the euro brace was upside down, so the top edge was sharp and the bottom edge was smooth ☹. Since the long side was not square it made the euro brace uneven as well. Needless to say, I sent it back. Since I was ordering all over again, I decided to make the tank bigger. I went 60 inches long because I realized how much space the overflow took up and with a 48 inch light fixture, that would only leave a couple of inches on either end of the light, which the euro brace took most of that space. Took a while to get the new tank. Now, I am not the most patient person – not a good trait for this hobby, but I was severely tested on this project. It seemed like everything was wrong or delayed, and I mean everything. The Vertex skimmer was way overdue by weeks, the tank taking a long time, and more that I will get into later.
So……waiting, waiting….finally get the new tank. I had asked for INSIDE euro bracing. I don’t like the look of seeing the side of the euro brace sitting on top. Especially since the euro brace stops at the over flow. Well, it was on top! They claim they can’t, from an engineering point do it inside. The jury is still out on that one, but I took the tank and it will actually work out because I plan on putting a piece of acrylic over the overflow to match the euro brace. I am doing this a few reasons. To keep light out of it and stop algae from growing there, to keep my Firefish and Wrasses from jumping in the overflow – or out of the tank- and to make it that much quieter.