500g recap of build

[500G]

I was asked to do a build tread for our already built 500G saltwater tank. It was all built by hand by Todd (the goofy guy on the left ;-)): Planning, Woodwork, Filtration System, fish, live rock, coral…..the only thing NOT made by Todd was the glass tank! Vinette came AFTER the initial build (if i had come sooner, he wouldn't have finished!) I will do my best to recap what all Todd did. He isn't one to sit at a computer and type so I will be getting information from him and typing it all up and posting all the pics (hopefully not all upside down!). Please feel free to ask questions. I am so proud of him and his work on this tank. It is truly amazing and deserves tons of credit for creating this monster from scratch! I hope u enjoy the recap and continued project….one that is always changing and will never end. Pictures just don't do this tank justice.

Here is it from the beginning. Here is a pic of Todd and his dad building the canopy. It was built to hold the 11ft long x 2.5 ft high x 31 inch deep glass tank.

 

[500G]

After the woodwork was finished, including stain, here comes the glass…. now I'm sure the filtration system was done at this time because all hookups were in place before adding the glass. It took 18 guys to get it in the house. It would have been deeper than 31" but he didn't want to tear out the door and mess with the siding of the house. THAT would have been a major undertaking in itself. He does wish he would have gone with 700+, it wouldn't have cost much more….

 

[500G]

Im skipping ahead to the end product so u can see the end result. Most of these pics were within the last few months. I will be getting more unclose pics of corals, fish and filtration system this week.

 

[500G]

lol>>>>> sorry that one is upside down and my stinky son is in the second pic, they were not suppose to be downloaded…. ur just gonna have to suffer and look at them i guess. I don't know how to delete them! Or u could b creative and turn ur head around to view the first one!

 

[500G]

Here are a few pics of our coral. I think I downloaded... Silver Zena, frog spawn, toadstool and can't remember the pink guys name.....

 

[500G]

Here are a few more....

I wish I could get better pics... At night seems to b the best time to get pics, during the day the glass tends to reflect... Then all the fish get in the way!!!

 

[500G]

Now for fish..... Not sure I can name them all but ill try!

3 clownfish, 1 of which is a naked Nemo(my favorite)

2 powder blue tangs

2 yellow tangs

1 clownfish

2 sailfin tangs

1 big nose unicorn

1 blue jaw trigger

1 kol tang

5 pajama cardinals

5 various blue damsels

2 naso tangs

1 cleaner shrimp

1 starfish (cannot remember the type) ill get that info....

About 6 sea urchins that hitched a ride on the live rock

Tons of turbo snails and crabs....

Here are some pics, it was feeding time, they were very active so hard to get pics!

 

[500G]

Keeping up?

I forgot about the 2 Dories!

 

[DomC]

Nice build. The wood work came out nice.

 

[revhtree Verified Admin]

That's a crazy build!

 

[500G]

Here are pics of the QT tank. In there now is a puffer, 3 dominos and 2 sweet lips.

 

[500G]

And here is a pic of the filtration system. Everything is run into the basement right below the tank. I tried to get pics o the calcium reactor, biopellet reactor, RODI unit and filters (we make our own RODI water) protein skimmer, and automated pumps. Let me know if u have questions or want a close up of anything.

 

[500G]

Here are a few more....

 

[bairdimusprime]

very nice!

 

[iReef86]

Looking good! Very impressive dimensions and plumbing! Cant wait to see it all grown in!

Thumb UP!

 

[Newmariner]

Thats a beautiful tank.

18 guys to move though is why I choose to do my 480g tank in acrylic. I think I can get mine built with less guys. At least so I hope. Im not that popular, and don't know anyone who would find it "fun" to move a fish tank.

Congrats though again on the great looking tank. I hope mine turns out just amazing like yours.

 

[menotakoala]

Awesome tank build!

I see a bottle of Vladmir Vodka on top of the sump. lol

 

[500G]

Thanks all! @Newmariner - I don't even HAVE 18 friends! He said if he did another it would b acrylic due to weight issues. The suction cups to carry it were a fortune to only be used once then stored in the attic. It was a very big expense... Also something to think about.

As for the Vodka... Todd doesn't drink.... Although due to the tank, he is thinking of starting! We actually dose 14 ml of Vodka daily. We do it in the 500G, QT and our 150 fish only tank.

 

[Blue Reefer]

Awesome build. I think most of us dream of having a setup of this size. Looking good.

 

[YHSublime]

Looking good! Thanks for documenting your story!