About to order a custom tank...

[Leyth]

Hey guys, I am about to order a custom tank and I was hoping to get your thoughts on this build. My previous tank was a reefer 625 and a reefer 350 so dimensions and details were pretty much already decided for me. For this tank it will be a little bigger and I just wanted to get your opinions on anything in the specs that you would change or disagree with.

Here they are:

72x30x30 - 280 Gallons

- 1/2" glass except for bottom and rear glass is 3/4"
- Armored seams
- Vinyl frame with perimeter and cross euro bracing
- 16" external overflow with 3 drains 1.75" each
- 4 return holes drilled into the back glass at 1.5" each
- The stand will be steel

Coming from the rimless world, the glass thickness is throwing me off. 1/2" seems small for what I'm used to, but then again I understand rimless tanks need much thicker glass. Any thoughts?

 

[Doctorgori]

Stuck in the Aqueon world of ugly overflows and just following.... day one day...

 

[YankeeTankee]

Best advice I can give is to go wider, allows for so much more with the scape, 36 deep (wide) and 28 high for maintenance ease is what I'd say.

 

[Lightspeed]

i would have gone with 3/4 all round for your dimensions and ditched the bracing but that's my personal preference but as you are braced 1/2 may be enough, plenty of older style tanks were built that way. If you are doubtful you could always up the glass to 15mm from 1/2 inch.

I gotta ask though why are you going back to braced if you come from rimless?

If i could do my custom build over again i would go with a full length rear panel overflow, there's plenty you can pack into a full length overflow to up bio, and nutrient export if you were going to go with a minimalist scape, with the advantage of pulling the surface from across the entire rear dimension instead of limiting to a smaller area.
Sounds like a nice build anyway, congrats on a bigger system and best wishes for the future.

 

[dreamcatcherr9]

Hey guys, I am about to order a custom tank and I was hoping to get your thoughts on this build. My previous tank was a reefer 625 and a reefer 350 so dimensions and details were pretty much already decided for me. For this tank it will be a little bigger and I just wanted to get your opinions on anything in the specs that you would change or disagree with.

Here they are:

72x30x30 - 280 Gallons

- 1/2" glass except for bottom and rear glass is 3/4"
- Armored seams
- Vinyl frame with perimeter and cross euro bracing
- 16" external overflow with 3 drains 1.75" each
- 4 return holes drilled into the back glass at 1.5" each
- The stand will be steel

Coming from the rimless world, the glass thickness is throwing me off. 1/2" seems small for what I'm used to, but then again I understand rimless tanks need much thicker glass. Any thoughts?

Have you decided on a builder? When I was getting quotes, at that size, is was 3/4” or bigger. For rimless, some manufacturers said 1”. The prices was outrageous from some of the “premium” builders.

So that’s my advice, be careful if they say 1/2” is ok, I got lots of quotes and none suggested 1/2”. Well, expect one. Anyways, You’ll have a great tank! Have fun!

 

[Dbichler]

+1^ wish I went wider

 

[dreamcatcherr9]

Make a cardboard cut out. Helps to really visualize. My tank is 30” wide, against a wall, cleaning the back wall with a ladder is still troublesome. How tall will the stand be?

 

[mrpizzaface]

I’m having a 72x36x27 eurobraced and crossbraced tank built. It will have a double top euro brace and an internal eurobrace on the bottom. 1/2” glass all around, and being built by a very conservative builder. I think you will be fine.

 

[YankeeTankee]

I’m having a 72x36x27 eurobraced and crossbraced tank built. It will have a double top euro brace and an internal eurobrace on the bottom. 1/2” glass all around, and being built by a very conservative builder. I think you will be fine.

Those are some nice dimensions!

 

[dreamcatcherr9]

I’m having a 72x36x27 eurobraced and crossbraced tank built. It will have a double top euro brace and an internal eurobrace on the bottom. 1/2” glass all around, and being built by a very conservative builder. I think you will be fine.

Eurobraced and Crossbraced at 1/2” would be fine. Truly rimless, I don’t think a manufacturer would. At least I couldn’t find one.

 

[Leyth]

Best advice I can give is to go wider, allows for so much more with the scape, 36 deep (wide) and 28 high for maintenance ease is what I'd say.

I wish I could but 30 is the widest I can go due to my office layout. My wife wanted 24 so I had to fight for 30.

i would have gone with 3/4 all round for your dimensions and ditched the bracing but that's my personal preference but as you are braced 1/2 may be enough, plenty of older style tanks were built that way. If you are doubtful you could always up the glass to 15mm from 1/2 inch.

I gotta ask though why are you going back to braced if you come from rimless?

If i could do my custom build over again i would go with a full length rear panel overflow, there's plenty you can pack into a full length overflow to up bio, and nutrient export if you were going to go with a minimalist scape, with the advantage of pulling the surface from across the entire rear dimension instead of limiting to a smaller area.
Sounds like a nice build anyway, congrats on a bigger system and best wishes for the future.

It’s personal preference, but I always end up putting a lid on my tank making rimless not as pretty as it can be. So I figured it wouldn’t be worth going rimless this time.

Have you decided on a builder? When I was getting quotes, at that size, is was 3/4” or bigger. For rimless, some manufacturers said 1”. The prices was outrageous from some of the “premium” builders.

So that’s my advice, be careful if they say 1/2” is ok, I got lots of quotes and none suggested 1/2”. Well, expect one. Anyways, You’ll have a great tank! Have fun!

I have, and we share the same experience. 3/4” was always the thinnest mentioned for this size tank.

Make a cardboard cut out. Helps to really visualize. My tank is 30” wide, against a wall, cleaning the back wall with a ladder is still troublesome. How tall will the stand be?

42” high stand. I stacked some moving boxes to visualize it. I’m 6 foot tall and I hate having to bend down to see the tank. I know it’ll be harder to work on but I’m alright with it.

I’m having a 72x36x27 eurobraced and crossbraced tank built. It will have a double top euro brace and an internal eurobrace on the bottom. 1/2” glass all around, and being built by a very conservative builder. I think you will be fine.

Cool that is very reassuring! Thank you

Eurobraced and Crossbraced at 1/2” would be fine. Truly rimless, I don’t think a manufacturer would. At least I couldn’t find one.

That is reassuring! Thank you


Thanks everyone for all the feedback.

 

[DaneGer21]

My current tank is 36”, it’s amazing!

 

[Gablami]

Agree with many posters above. For tanks with perimeter bracing and crossbracing, I think 1/2” is common. For a rimless 3/4” is used, BUT most builders will not go 30” tall rimless. Most cap it at 24” tall for large rimless tanks.