Help with 400+ gallon build list

[10000]

I’m wanting to custom order an acrylic tank with a size of 96x36wX30H or 96x30wX30H but I’m new to the saltwater game. I’m wanting it to be mostly a sps or lps reef tank with around 10-25 fish but mostly tangs. What sump, skimmer, and other items would I need for this entire build. I’m trying to get a build list going so I can account for the entire set up cost. I’d like for it to be as minimalistic as possible but I know that’s sort of hard when reaching this size

The tank would be on the main floor of the house, no basement, large wide tile flooring, no crawl space. House built in 2008. Will be against a 159in wall that has a bathroom behind it

 

[10000]

I've already seen a pretty good round of suggestions, but I would like to offer one that may be controversial. Weight aside glass is a much better choice than acrylic IMO. Not as clear as low iron glass and scratches very easy. I've had this glass tank 9yrs and even glass sometimes scratches. Like mine your tank will be sitting on a concrete slab foundation and weight not really a consideration other than maybe shipping and installation. I believe my 200g tank and stand were ~850 pounds on the palette so a 400g glass would probably be close to triple that with the thicker glass of a tank that size.

I know glass is everyone’s go to choice but for something 96/120 long, I would prefer to stick with acrylic just to have a piece of mind.

 

[Sump Crab]

Is there a specific seller or brand you’d suggest? Also what sand would you recommend?

If it were me I would probably try to source most from KP aquatics and then buy a couple of choice WYSIWYG Australian rock pieces from someone who is currently importing it. There is always Tampa Bay saltwater as well. Both KP and TBS can ship via airfreight to save you some serious $$!

As far as sand goes I always use the carib sea reef flakes.

ocean liverock is expensive but it’s totally worth it!!! Trust me!

 

[C_AWOL]

I've already seen a pretty good round of suggestions, but I would like to offer one that may be controversial. Weight aside glass is a much better choice than acrylic IMO. Not as clear as low iron glass and scratches very easy. I've had this glass tank 9yrs and even glass sometimes scratches. Like mine your tank will be sitting on a concrete slab foundation and weight not really a consideration other than maybe shipping and installation. I believe my 200g tank and stand were ~850 pounds on the palette so a 400g glass would probably be close to triple that with the thicker glass of a tank that size.

No animosity intended but I would have to greatly disagree for such a large tank. Weight is a very huge factor when moving an aquarium since it makes making mistakes all the more easy which results in disastrous expensess and massive losses. Finding adequate help also becomes much more difficult if 8+ people are needed vs 4-6 along with even more suction cups needed to handle the weight increase.

Secondary to that, the cost typically is cheaper for an acrylic tank (factoring starphire glass, eurobracing,edge guards, bottom bracing) at that size and despite both definitely being capable of failure of any sort I can sleep a lot more peacefully knowing that it's way less likely to happen in an acrylic tank and the tank will hold up better to unexpected accidents that mostly/entirely can be buffed out.

Ime with scratching acrylic, as long as you go with thick enough material to minimize/eliminate the bow + use good magnets + avoid the sand bed with said magnets and don't leave them in the tank to grow stuff on them, you'll be fine and hardly scratch the thing. If you do scratch it, mighty magnets (which I fully recommend) has an in-tank buff kit that can be done while the tank is filled and running.
It's unfortunate that too many people buy acrylic tanks made out of too thin material and then complain about crazing/extreme bowing and how easy it is to scratch when thet only need to be mindful of how they clean it + pay more for the properly built acquarium.

 

[ReefEco]

Sounds like a killer build! You can take a look at my 900g system/fishroom build videos in my sig, but I wouldn't have done my system without installing solar and also having a standby house generator - depending on if you get power outages or not, and if you are in your forever home. Your tank is going to be tens of thousands of dollars by the time you are done and stocked, so build in redundancy wherever you can. Plus 1 on AWOL's suggestion for redundant heater controllers - an absolute must. I run dual Ranco's - same one mentioned. I'd also add weight to the suggestion of multiple circuits (add two more than you think you will ever need and that might be enough!), and for a system like you will be running take special care of the amp load on your apex powerbars, you'll need to spread out heaters, chillers and lights across several most likely. I had to do a spreadsheet and plan everything out to make sure I wasn't popping an EB832. And right now, before you do anything else, get whatever rock you are using into a vat or QT system with a heater and flow - seed your dry rock, or start to pick off pests, glue over aptaisa, get out crabs, etc. from live rock now - will save you that much of a headache later. Have it cooking while you set up your system. I did dry rock cooked for two months with bacteria, and about 15 lbs of maricultured live rock I QT'd for a month and picked off the pests. You are in for an adventure and definitely jumping in feet first with such a huge system as your first! Go slow - stocking order on a tank like that can make or break your first year...

 

[WhyMe?]

GREAT advice here. You are going to go down many "rabbit holes" and have hundreds of different opinions. Research as much as you can on this forum, look at the forum "Monster Tank" builds. BRS TV on youtube (bulk reef supply), has s 52 week build from beginning to end. Also have videos on just plumbing, sump, refugiums, lights, pumps, etc. SPS could be your end goal but don't need to spend a lot of money on lighting, calcium reactors, etc. at this point. STABILITY is key. Some say don't start so big but I say start with what your budget allows. At least larger tanks can handle larger fluctuations. Try to find a member's tank or mentor and get the basics from them. Do not just buy equipment because one person said so, look at the research, reviews, etc. Good Luck.