520 Gallon lockdown build

MBinNY · May 22, 2020

So the recent apocalypse finally gave me time to build the tank I had churning in my head for all these years. We all have that tank, the if I had the time I’d do this. Well here is the thread of my “IF I had the time”
I had originally planned on a 750 (120x48x30) display tank. But due to reality and my saintly wife finally drawing a line in the sand we dropped to a 600 gallon display tank at 96x48x30”. And finally after drooling on the monster threads it was time to get going.
The tanks on here and as amazing as they are I look at the depth of 30” at mockup got me thinking about maintenance and I wound up cutting down the height another 3” and finished up at 96x48x27”. As it sits in my garage now waiting for some helping hands to get if down the hill in the back yard and through the sliders into my game room I hope this gets some more people going down the DIY aquarium route. I normally travel extensively for work and that will explain the level of automation I plan on adding. the woodworking and is another hobby/problem lol but I can’t say how rewarding this journey has been as I have shared the building process with my 4 kids.

Spare time · May 22, 2020

I would just flood the basement with saltwater and call it a tank. That way its even bigger. But in all seriousness I would love a tank that big and get some fish like a sohal tang.

Smarkow · May 23, 2020

Congrats!!! Who did you use for the acrylic? Sounds like you assembled the tank yourself, any advice on finishing the edges? Looks like pro equipment was used there

Happy you’re finding the positive in COVID and letting the rest of us live vicariously through you

pdxmonkeyboy · May 23, 2020

I just built my 600 acrylic this winter. Looking to get water in it maybe later this week. People say "hey thats not set up yet?" And i am alsways like.. dude.. you have NO idea the amount of work it takes.

Figure out lights yet? I am running three 400 mh, 8 t5ho and reef brites.

MBinNY · May 23, 2020

pdxmonkeyboy said:
I just built my 600 acrylic this winter. Looking to get water in it maybe later this week. People say "hey thats not set up yet?" And i am alsways like.. dude.. you have NO idea the amount of work it takes.

Figure out lights yet? I am running three 400 mh, 8 t5ho and reef brites.

I’ve been following your thread myself and used your advice on solvent so thank you. For lighting I’m going T5 and Kesill with Orphek LED strips to accent.

MBinNY · May 23, 2020

Smarkow said:
Congrats!!! Who did you use for the acrylic? Sounds like you assembled the tank yourself, any advice on finishing the edges? Looks like pro equipment was used there

Happy you’re finding the positive in COVID and letting the rest of us live vicariously through you

I went through piedmont plastics they have locations up and down the east coast. The tough part was they don’t carry a lot above 1/2” thick sheets. But they do have have some really cool sizes I had to talk myself out of going wider than 48” cause they go up to 96x72. On the edges I used a router and then flame polished them. It seems a lot scarier than it actually is. If it’s your first time you can get “drops” or scrap acrylic from places like that usually for free to practice your bonding cutting drilling and finishing on.

MBinNY · May 23, 2020

Mock ups of the scape. The wood is the same footprint as the tank. it started as a peninsula but then the saint (wife) saw how far it went in to the room. So now it’s on the back wall like a standard aquarium but the scape will remain as it is........for now. But I’m sure every person on this site has been here.

jeffrey750750 · May 23, 2020

The tank itself looks great, your skills are amazing. For sure watching this one along

MBinNY · May 23, 2020

jeffrey750750 said:
The tank itself looks great, your skills are amazing. For sure watching this one along

Thank you the tank came out better than I hoped and, honestly I’ve had a few people ask if I could build them one. It’s not going to replace my career but I am chomping at the bit to build the 96x72x24” lagoon.

Smarkow · May 23, 2020

MBinNY said:
Mock ups of the scape. The wood is the same footprint as the tank. it started as a peninsula but then the saint (wife) saw how far it went in to the room. So now it’s on the back wall like a standard aquarium but the scape will remain as it is........for now. But I’m sure every person on this site has been here.

Haha Been there x3!!

1) peninsula -> along wall
2) Le wife veto power
3) the never ending re-aquascape

pdxmonkeyboy · May 24, 2020

Looks great, but for future people.. do NOT flame polish. It can cause crazing in the future.

MBinNY · May 24, 2020

pdxmonkeyboy said:
Looks great, but for future people.. do NOT flame polish. It can cause crazing in the future.

noted. future tanks will be hand polished. I wanted this to be the last tank I’m just not sure it will be. The idea of the 96x72x27” corner lagoon is calling my name.

vetteguy53081 · May 24, 2020

Very good work.

Justin Thibodeaux · May 25, 2020

This is the same dimensions that I'm planning for when I start building my house next year! I'm still on the fence on if I want 96x48x27 or 96x48x30 though. So excited to see yours come together. Mine will be a peninsula between living room and kitchen, but I had the luxury of designing my house around it.

MBinNY · May 31, 2020

We had some family over today to help get the tank into the family room. I took the sliders off so it was easy to get it in. The saint (wife) helped get the paper off with the help of our 11 year old. Then our nephew used it as a play pen. The saint made me stand next to it for scale I’m 6’4 the tank with canopy on will be 76” tall so it’ll be tall as I am. The canopy and stand cover will be accessible from all sides. I’m using poplar for the stand and canopy skins.