Junior's Monster Tank Build
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- Thread starter JuniorMC8704
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Junior can I ask how much this tank is going to run you? I have wanted one since they were announced. I want to do a pennisula style tank with they same size. You might want to watch craigslist I have seen a lot of 150-180 tanks on there as of late.
Ron
Ron
OP
OP
The 72 x 30 x 26 was going to run 1350 with 4 extra holes. That was 1/2" glass and one overflow and starphire imitation front.
The perfecto, pending Jeff can hook me up, should run me $1499 for a 73 x 36 x 27, with 2 corner overflows, Starphire front, and 3/4" glass. Only bummer is it weights a half ton, and no option of having them drill the extra holes. That being said, i likely wont do a closed loop. To scary drilling an expensive new tank.
The perfecto, pending Jeff can hook me up, should run me $1499 for a 73 x 36 x 27, with 2 corner overflows, Starphire front, and 3/4" glass. Only bummer is it weights a half ton, and no option of having them drill the extra holes. That being said, i likely wont do a closed loop. To scary drilling an expensive new tank.
OP
OP
They wont even do euro bracing...they dont even cut the glass there or anything, they order the glass to size, and slap it together. Kinda lame...they have all the tools to cut large pieces of glass and they have dust covering all of them.
That stinks!
However, for that difference in price, the Perfecto tank sounds like the better deal. 3/4" glass is VERY heavy though like you said, will the Vortech even mount on 3/4"?
However, for that difference in price, the Perfecto tank sounds like the better deal. 3/4" glass is VERY heavy though like you said, will the Vortech even mount on 3/4"?
OP
OP
Salt Water Crazy
Community Member
Jr. all I can say is you now what I went threw with my tank. I now you have been thinking abought this set up for years.
The best advice I can give you is to do it once and do it right. So it does not cost you more monny, and grief in the long run.
The best advice I can give you is to do it once and do it right. So it does not cost you more monny, and grief in the long run.
Salt Water Crazy
Community Member
You could always go over top with a closed loop with the intake and returns.
Though it would be nice to have at least the intake drilled.
Over the top returns. (this was a real down and dirty way to do it I could have made it look a lot better with hard pluming.)
I am not a real fan of posting pic in other peoples build threads so once you see it JR. edit it or I will later when I now that you saw it.
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OP
OP
no worries on posting pics. The whole point is to give me the best options for my setup.
OP
OP
Pulled the official trigger today. It will arrive in 3 weeks from yesterday.
Perfecto Deep Dimension Series
72 x 36 x 27, 300 gallon, starphire front glass.
Should get the stand built in the next couple weeks.
Perfecto Deep Dimension Series
72 x 36 x 27, 300 gallon, starphire front glass.
Should get the stand built in the next couple weeks.
OP
OP
sweet, ill be sure to have a ton of pictures.
OP
OP
Had a thought...
Still not entirely decided what im going to do with lighting, but something occurred to me...
Everyone always runs their t5's the length of the tank.
What if I were to run them perpendicular to the tank...
could you imagine how many T5's i could fit that way?!?
Not to mention eliminating any issues with shadows from the braces...
36" front to back....36" T5's....interesting concept i think...
Perhaps a combo running some both ways....
I really really like what my smaller tank looks like with the new aqua science bulbs from fauna
I think i could crank out some serious watts...
not to mention not feeling ill if i need to work in the tank for a while with the lights on...never liked working under those halides....
Still not entirely decided what im going to do with lighting, but something occurred to me...
Everyone always runs their t5's the length of the tank.
What if I were to run them perpendicular to the tank...
could you imagine how many T5's i could fit that way?!?
Not to mention eliminating any issues with shadows from the braces...
36" front to back....36" T5's....interesting concept i think...
Perhaps a combo running some both ways....
I really really like what my smaller tank looks like with the new aqua science bulbs from fauna
I think i could crank out some serious watts...
not to mention not feeling ill if i need to work in the tank for a while with the lights on...never liked working under those halides....
DUDE!!!!
If you put a bulb every 3" that would mean 24 BULBS!!! @ 39W each... 936W! For a 72" tank that is actually not all that bad. I am sure there are tanks with higher wattage, but think of the dawn to dusk effect you could get by triggering 4 bulbs at a time, you could really ramp up and down the intensity. You would have to think of a nifty light rack that you could raise and lower, but since the tank is going to be built in, it would not have to be super pretty.
Allowing room for the wall may cause the bulbs to hang over the back a bit, but again that would not be all bad.
I think a workhorse 7 can run 4 36" bulbs, and those are only $30 or $40 dollars each right? Then the cost of endcaps and reflectors, and bulbs... I think it would be really something though.
If you put a bulb every 3" that would mean 24 BULBS!!! @ 39W each... 936W! For a 72" tank that is actually not all that bad. I am sure there are tanks with higher wattage, but think of the dawn to dusk effect you could get by triggering 4 bulbs at a time, you could really ramp up and down the intensity. You would have to think of a nifty light rack that you could raise and lower, but since the tank is going to be built in, it would not have to be super pretty.
Allowing room for the wall may cause the bulbs to hang over the back a bit, but again that would not be all bad.
I think a workhorse 7 can run 4 36" bulbs, and those are only $30 or $40 dollars each right? Then the cost of endcaps and reflectors, and bulbs... I think it would be really something though.
ConcreteReefer
Active Member
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Junior-
I know putting a bunch of 36" T5 retros sounds like a good idea *but*
Cooling is going to be a big issue, killing bulb life/par & replacing 24 bulbs every 5-6 months doesn't sound fun to me. You can install fans to cool them but unless you have an acrylic cover and can duct the flow over the endcaps this cooling method is really inefficient and can be more of a hassle than its worth. Also- The added cost of an effective cooling setup plus the noise from the fans (you can get quiet fans) but the added cost is another negative
My suggestion is this-
2x 36" 10 bulb ATI powermodules
Initial cost may be a little more *but*
* The PM uses spec ballast so your bulbs will last at least 12 months
* Ducted Cooling with 1 super silent variable speed temperature controlled fan per 2 bulbs (fans are inaudible)-Unlike other mfgs that just blow air in from the sides ATI pulls air through the sides & over the endcaps, There are holes in the reflectors (right above the endcaps) that pull air up over the bulb & through the fixture (cooling the bulbs will hinder your par/bulb life). ATI is the only mfg to do this and that is why this is the best fixture on the market.
* Silver coated reflectors
* Warranty on the fixture
* Sleek & low profile, easy to move
Tbone over at RC has a similar setup except he's got the 8 bulb units
Sorry about posting pics in your build thread just trying to give you some ideas-
I know putting a bunch of 36" T5 retros sounds like a good idea *but*
Cooling is going to be a big issue, killing bulb life/par & replacing 24 bulbs every 5-6 months doesn't sound fun to me. You can install fans to cool them but unless you have an acrylic cover and can duct the flow over the endcaps this cooling method is really inefficient and can be more of a hassle than its worth. Also- The added cost of an effective cooling setup plus the noise from the fans (you can get quiet fans) but the added cost is another negative
My suggestion is this-
2x 36" 10 bulb ATI powermodules
Initial cost may be a little more *but*
* The PM uses spec ballast so your bulbs will last at least 12 months
* Ducted Cooling with 1 super silent variable speed temperature controlled fan per 2 bulbs (fans are inaudible)-Unlike other mfgs that just blow air in from the sides ATI pulls air through the sides & over the endcaps, There are holes in the reflectors (right above the endcaps) that pull air up over the bulb & through the fixture (cooling the bulbs will hinder your par/bulb life). ATI is the only mfg to do this and that is why this is the best fixture on the market.
* Silver coated reflectors
* Warranty on the fixture
* Sleek & low profile, easy to move
Tbone over at RC has a similar setup except he's got the 8 bulb units
Sorry about posting pics in your build thread just trying to give you some ideas-
ConcreteReefer
Active Member
- Joined
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Watt's per gallon is not a good way to calculate T5's.
A buddy of mine staggered a 16 bulb retro 48" IceCap retro over his 265g and his corals are getting sunburned..
A buddy of mine staggered a 16 bulb retro 48" IceCap retro over his 265g and his corals are getting sunburned..
