My New Tank

[TroyPham]

I’ve been working on this tank for about 3 months from design to having it built. It is an edgeless tank with water flowing around all 4 sides. The top (main) tank is 24x24 x 10, and the bottom (over flow) tank is 29x29x3. The top tank has one ¾ inch bulkhead for the return and the bottom has two-¾ inch for the return. The tank was over built out of ½ inch acrylic routed and polished on the top edge so the water would flow over with out any resistance. The top tank is elevated off the bottom tank 1 inch and is supported by the bracing u see in the pictures. The bottom tank is also routed and polished of all sharp edges to give it a smooth look. Currently the return pump is a mag-drive 5 with a ball valve to control flow. Even with the valve open all the way, the return flow still handles the output of the return pump. It is a tad bit loud so I run it at about 60% flow. It is plumbed into my main display tank fuge and should help with filtration. The stand is a cabinet I picked up from Lowe’s made from oak. I had to cut the draw part to compensate for the return and drain lines. But I still wanted to use the draw so I shorted it about half the length of the original. The tank was design to be viewed top down or from side in just by adjusting the return ball valve. I currently have not set up the lights but will have them up after the first of the year. Lighting plans are a 250-watt MH 14k and 2 75 watt VHO hung from the ceiling. Comments welcomed.


http://www.dubspeedracing.com/photopost/data/500/50tank1.jpg
http://www.dubspeedracing.com/photopost/data/500/50tank2.jpg
http://www.dubspeedracing.com/photopost/data/500/50tank3.jpg
http://www.dubspeedracing.com/photopost/data/500/50tank4.jpg
http://www.dubspeedracing.com/photopost/data/500/50tank5.jpg[/img]

[TroyPham]

http://www.dubspeedracing.com/photopost/data/500/50tank6.jpg
http://www.dubspeedracing.com/photopost/data/500/50tank7.jpg
http://www.dubspeedracing.com/photopost/data/500/50tank8.jpg
http://www.dubspeedracing.com/photopost/data/500/50tank9.jpg

http://www.dubspeedracing.com/photopost/data/500/50tank10.jpg

[TroyPham]

http://www.dubspeedracing.com/photopost/data/500/50tank11.jpg
http://www.dubspeedracing.com/photopost/data/500/50tank12.jpg
http://www.dubspeedracing.com/photopost/data/500/50tank13.jpg
http://www.dubspeedracing.com/photopost/data/500/50tank14.jpg
http://www.dubspeedracing.com/photopost/data/500/50tank15.jpg

[TroyPham]

http://www.dubspeedracing.com/photopost/data/500/50tank16.jpg
http://www.dubspeedracing.com/photopost/data/500/50tank17.jpg
http://www.dubspeedracing.com/photopost/data/500/50tank18.jpg
http://www.dubspeedracing.com/photopost/data/500/50tank19.jpg
http://www.dubspeedracing.com/photopost/data/500/50tank20.jpg

[TroyPham]

http://www.dubspeedracing.com/photopost/data/500/50tank21.jpg
http://www.dubspeedracing.com/photopost/data/500/50tank22.jpg
http://www.dubspeedracing.com/photopost/data/500/50tank23.jpg
http://www.dubspeedracing.com/photopost/data/500/50tank25.jpg
http://www.dubspeedracing.com/photopost/data/500/50tank26.jpg
http://www.dubspeedracing.com/photopost/data/500/50tank27.jpg

[GaryP]

Wow, that's wild.... Is you overflow big enough?

Gary

[Tim Marvin]

Very interesting.... Are you going to house Clams?

[TroyPham]

clams, some sps, and maybe a fish or two. but mainly clams

[::pete::]

That is interesting .... Keep us posted.

[AlexKilpatrick]

That's wild....

I don't get it, though. Will you be able to see anything with all that water movement?

[dan]

looks really cool but what's it's purpose? just don't understand the working part of the project. i'm sure your evaporation will be high. is water coming from the main tank?

[GaryP]

You won't have to worry about salt creep.

Gary

[::pete::]

Is it a raceway for frags ?

[dan]

You won't have to worry about salt creep

i don't know about that. the edge of the water fall that is coming over the edge of the tank will start a salt creep, unless the water fall is all around the intire tank. 360 degree BTW those are nice pics

[TroyPham]

the tank is design to house clams. clams are best viewed top down to see their full color. it's hard to do that in a traditional reef tank. so i built this tank for that purpose. water movement is high to get the circulation needed for the clams. but when viewing and feeding. i intend to shut the valve on the return. giving u a crystal clear view of the clams and what ever else is in the tank. the water cycles from my sump/fuge. and will work as a clam filter when fully setup and stocked.

salt creep will be an issue. i thought about it when i design it but if i can keep the water flowing on all sides it should be fine. i'll just have to go in with a turkey baister every few days and squirt it down.

on evaporation, it shouldn't be that much more than a regular tank. the sides work like your overflow box does. ( at least i hope so. :lol: )

[dan]

thank you for the explanation. now i understand what your trying to accomplish.

[NaCl_H2O]

Great pictures of a very unique design! Let us know how things progress and post pics as you go!

Neat tank!!

[mathias]

WHat about sound? and splash off?

[oceancube]

very cool, how much does it cost to build something like the tank on top only?

[TroyPham]

the sound is not bad. the only thing that is loud right now is the drain. the water flowing over trails the acrylic so it produces very minimal sound and no splash off.

on cost. the setup complete, with out live stock will be under a $1k, way under.

[GaryP]

Install an air siphon tube made from a piece of air tubing and that should help the sound coming from the train.

Just wrap a piece if cable tie around the tubing to keep it from falling in. I had the same problem on a 75 gal. and it worked like a charm. Its sort of a poor boy Dorsai retro.

Gary

[TroyPham]

thanks for the tip. i thought about that but where the drain is makes it difficult to get to. i'm gonna drain the tank this afternoon to put the sand in and will fix the problem. i will also install a check valve on the return pump side to keep from over flowing my sump/fug in case of power outage.

[reefer]

awesome! that is an interesting design for a clam tank! what happens if you lose power or a pump fails? does the tank completely drain, or is there a check valve installed?
8)

[Jenn]

That is really cool! I would love to see that when completed.

[TroyPham]

i'll keep everyone posted on the progress. i can't wait to make my clam order.

[Marc]

I hope you can make this work successfully. As I posted on RC, there are problems with this setup.

Here's one I saw at MACNA this year.

http://www.melevsreef.com/video/macna_tank.wmv 5 meg video

[TroyPham]

thanks marc. i'm work'n on it. i post a response on RC.