Big tank owners/dreamers I need your help

[Minnreefer]

My friend that is probably to quiet to post, is going to set up a 460+ oceanic tank in his house. He says that he has been saving and wanting this tank for 18 years. The Oceanic tank is going to be 8' long X 36" front to back and 30" tall. It will cost him $80 for oceanic to drill a hole. The tank is also double pain so there will be no braces.

He is going to build a big ventri skimmer and refugium and sump for the sump room. He has 2 Iwaki 100 pumps, should he use those for circulation? or should he get 1 or 2 bigger pumps? What size holes would you recomend? and how many and where? Should he buy the oceanic stand for the gurantee for 6 years? He is pretty good with the lighting for now. Any ideas would be great

Thanks

Jon

[galleon]

He is going to build a big ventri skimmer and refugium and sump for the sump room. He has 2 Iwaki 100 pumps, should he use those for circulation? or should he get 1 or 2 bigger pumps?

Drive one skimmer with each of those Iwaki's. Have them return to the sump only. Always include a bypass directly to the sump. I would use a Hayward pool/Jacuzzi pump for circulation.

What size holes would you recomend?

2"; At least two, on the back/near the top (top of the hole ~8" from the top.) Do not drain a tank that big low. If you have a plumbing problem with a low hole, that much pressure can make it unsolvable, that and a bad fitting coming loose is a potential projectile.

Plan to chill off of a bypass from the Hayward. Keep your flowplan as simple as possible.

Go for the Oceanic stand.

[Minnreefer]

2 2" holes for overflows? and no closed loop.

K, I follow you


Jon

[Doug1]

Jon, I gotta tell ya , something that size I would be looking at other than glass,
Cost, Weight, ease of plumbing

[big t]

I have to agree w/ Doug. I would not consider anything but acrylic for a tank that large imo. A glass tank that large is going to be seriously heavy, maybe over 1500lbs empty. I don't know tho, the benifits of glass vs acrylic will always be a debate. Good luck to him whatever he does

[tdwyatt]

glass front, maybe sides, and gunnite sides/back...

[Spanky]

Our tanks glass and 10 feet. I don't like plastic!

Jon I'd do the 2" holes at least. Main thing is to have them lower the tops of the overflows. That's what really decides how much flow you can have.

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