Made the LEAP

[Justin0123]

Ok well after much much thought I've decided that if I'm going to build a salt water environment I'm going to do it my way. I've decided on glass don't mind the weight. It'll be 64" long 30" wide and 24" tall not sure on gallons and don't need too. I'll be reinforcing this with over kill on the mind. Stand will be steel square tubing skeleton with a wood skin and one huge door for piping. I'll run 11/2" pvc into my basement were I'll have my DIY sump which I'm hoping to make it out of a 55 gallon may use two. But the main thing is while Im doing that I'll have plenty of time to buy each piece of equipment I need. Like Sump, live cured rock, my DIY 60-20 3watt led lighting system. 30 blue, 30 Royal blue, 10 violet, and 15 white or approximately in that order. I build everything and anything I have construction exp, plumb exp, hvac exp, and electrical exp. thing is do you thin I'm overdoing it for my first salty. I'm a go big or go home kinda man.

 

[Lenny_S]

Hu-ra!!! I think in a lot of ways a larger volume system is easier than small (< 50 gallons) though be it much more expensive. The flip side is they are bigger disasters if they have a catastrophic failure.
My main advice is lots of research and planning. Learn as much as you can about every aspect of an aquarium system before you dive in both feet.
This is my build thread for a similar sized system. There are many others out there that can give you insight and ideas.
https://www.reef2reef.com/threads/lens-160-gallon-build.217038/

This is also a great post and definitely worth a read...
https://www.reef2reef.com/threads/t...ater-reef-aquarium.138750/page-3#post-2527723
http://www.reefedition.com/291/

Best wishes.