300 Gallon Dream Build Planning

[Elgringodiablo]

So, my wife has her eye on a new house. It will be a challenge, especially if we want to keep our existing house as a rental. I’ve agreed to stop spending and start saving like crazy to make it possible in the next 3-5 years. My incentive... I can replace my 4 medium sized tanks (21, 40, 50 & 92) with one big one.

As part of my motivation, I am planning this system out, even if I don’t get it until I can pay off all my debts and come up with a huge down payment.

Realistically, how much will a 96x30x24, 3/4” starfire, eurobraced, HDPE base display run me from a top quality builder? Thinking like $4k??

What about a welded metal stand?? $1k?

Lightning rack? $500?

Might do in-wall depending on the house design and size of adjoining fish room.

All the equipment is pretty easy to scope, but the tank itself is more of a question. No one I’d buy from really offers price list for these sized display tanks. I’ve requested quotes from Reef Savvy and Crystal Reef Aquatics.

What do you guys think?

 

[Diesel]

I like your thinking but it’s what your wife is thinking

 

[Elgringodiablo]

I like your thinking but it’s what your wife is thinking

Oh she knows that if I am going to the key financier of her dream house, that I get a bigger aquarium out of the deal

 

[Blue Spot Octopus]

Check out Crystal Dynamic Aquariums they are in Oceanside Ca and they have a good web site and face book. They do ship.

 

[Elgringodiablo]

Check out Crystal Dynamic Aquariums they are in Oceanside Ca and they have a good web site and face book. They do ship.

Yeah, familiar with them. They seem to be on the better side of the spectrum. Really more interested in ballpark price at this point.

 

[Swoody]

I would add $1k to the tank price and about the same for a welded tube steel powder coated stand.

 

[Blue Spot Octopus]

I would contact them, once a tank passes the 5 foot mark the price goes way up. I would do a 5 footer if I could, my friend did a 5' x 3' x 20 something from SCA. He had it delivered.

 

[Elgringodiablo]

Good to know, so maybe more like $5k for the tank and $2k for the stand?

I’ve seen tanks that size advertised online for about $2400, but not from places I’d trust to buy from. I guess $5k for the tank and stand was wishful thinking.

 

[Fishfinder]

A tank that size will be ballpark $10K from Reefsavvy. I just quoted them

You should expect ~5K for the tank. Check out Tankme USA. I just got a 90x30x26. Basically your same tank

Stand ~2K

Lighting rack super easy to build for $100, if you want professional made ~$500

 

[Elgringodiablo]

So far I am hearing a little over $7k from the top builders and about $1800 for a welded metal stand. Price goes down if I take the thickness down to 5/8 or 1/2 inch, but not sure it’s worth the risk.

 

[Elgringodiablo]

I’ve received quotes from Reef Savvy and Crystal Dynamic Aquariums. CDA is about the same price delivered to my door as Reef Savvy pre-shipping (which I can only imagine is a lot from FL to CA).

 

[Fishfinder]

Did you ever give tank me a call? You won't be disappointed with his quality

 

[Elgringodiablo]

Did you ever give tank me a call? You won't be disappointed with his quality

I will be sure to add them to my consideration set.

 

[Paul Bradford]

Any update on your findings? I'm looking for a similar size tank.

 

[Elgringodiablo]

So, I talked to Reef Savvy, Crystal Dynamics and Crystal Reef Aquatics. Reef Savvy was the most expensive, but not by a ton, maybe 10-15% more. Biggest factor I need to work into that is shipping cross country, probably run me another $1000. Crystal Dynamics came in right in the middle and could deliver since I am in SoCal. Crystal Reef Aquatics came in cheapest with very competitive rate and shipping, more or less adding the sump, ato and dosing containers free. Pretty much everyone was right around the $5-6k mark and another $1500-2k for aluminum or steel stand (guessing the material costs are going way up). End of the day, I won't be ready to buy for 2-3 years, so kind of a pointless exercise. Crystal Dynamics was the most responsive, local and has a pretty long track record, so I will probably go with them, but the Crystal Reef Aquatics pricing was pretty amazing and their work looks nice. Reef Savvy would be my choice if money were no object, but they are definitely more expensive than the other options.

 

[Ocelaris]

Also look at miracle aquarium in Canada, they just built me a 3/4" 60x36x27 tank and metal welded stand. I wouldn't underestimate the other things, the tank and stand are probably only 60% of the cost. It's been a doozy getting here. So build it like a 10-20 year tank.

 

[Bob Loblaw]

My 96x24x30 standard glass, eurobraced, rimless from Planet Aquariums with wood stand was a little over 5K. Didn't get a quote on Starphire; had it once and it scratched too easy for my liking.

 

[Ocelaris]

Not to detract from the OPs post, but it's debatable whether low iron glass is more susceptible to scratching. Ask your tank manufacturer for information as it varies widely depending on the manufacturer. If anyone is interested in bean animal's opinion on the matter:

http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?t=1862858

I opted for low iron all around as this is the 10+ year tank. Does it make a difference? It's like buying a TV, sure in the store looking at them next to each other you can tell, but once you get it home, nobody will know any difference except the size.