Need thoughts on cylinder tank

[VegasMike]

OK, call me insane, but I might have a deal on a cylinder tank that I can not refuse. I already have a 450 reef and the new tank would be "in addition to" and not a "replacement". The new tank supposedly would come with everything needed as it has been on public display in the past at one of the casinos here, stand, canopy, pumps, filtration(don't know what kind), lighting, etc. The tank would have to be fish only or FOWLR due to it's size. It looks to be about 5' in diameter and 6' tall with the overall height being about 12'. Everytime I look at it, it seems to be daunting. I haven't figured out the cleaning yet either. It will make more sense when I actually go to look at it in person. I am considering having it cut in half and then doing a reef, but the wife doesn't want me to do that. She actually embraces the idea of a tank of this size in our living room in place of the fake tree that is currently sitting where this tank would have to go, I couldn't believe it. It has a 12"-18" column in the middle that all of the electrical and plumbing go through, but that is about all I know. The tank's net volume taking the center overflow into consideration is around 800 gallons.

What type of flow would be needed for a tank of this size, fish only or FOWLR? What kind of lighting would you use? Would you do live rock and, if so, how would you stack it around the center column given it's height? If one of those fake inserts was created, do those need cleaning? Would you put substrate in here or go bare?

What is the temp control situation going to be with a fish only tank without the intense lighting requirements? The room stays pretty much between 69 and 74 year round. The filtration set-up will be the most intigueing and telling once I know what is actually coming with it. Ideally, I would do minimal flow through a sump with a closed loop to keep particulates suspended. But what is "minimal flow" on an 850 gallon tank? My initial idea is to have a closed loop that hugs the overflow and blasts water straight down at the bottom to sweep matter out from the bottom and into the water column (assumes a BB). The other idea is to create a swirling current at the bottom by putting 90 degree elbows at the bottom. Would eductors/penductors be a good consideration? Might even put the CL outputs 2' above the bottom with 45 degree fittings to blast the bottom and create a swirling current.

Knowing the company that installed this, it probably has a small sand filter (like a pool) and a mechanical filtration (cannister type) and UV. It will be interesting to see if they did a skimmer or not...

Oh well, any input is greatly appreciated and will give me ideas on what to look for and what to have in mind when I go look at the tank.

 

[jsmkmavity]

if you had enough air movement in the center column you could put some of your lighting in there, and the rest i would aim directional lites from various points around the tank. youre gonna need some large pumps. i prefer several pumps so you still have flow if one quits. you might look at the new vortechpumps and mount on the bottom if you go bare. IMO 10000 gpm would be the minimum total including what is going thru the sump and filters. load would determine how much flow you could get away with.

 

[jsmkmavity]

if you re-routed the stuff in the center column that could be turned into a very tall skimmer section! if you have some friends you dont want to keep you could ask them to help you move it! LOL

 

[VegasMike]

Yea, speculating on this with no real details is tough, but fun to think about. The biggest question I have is how to service the thing from the top. I am hoping the canopy has some sort of access so I don't have to go over the top. Getting on top of a 12' ladder everyday just to feed the fish does not sound like fun. I wonder if I can just hold a handful of flake or pellet in front of the pump intake and let it take it through......? As far as weight, it is made out of 3/4" acrylic and doesn't really weigh as much as you think.

Being fish only means that lighting is not that big a deal either. The canopy already has lighting, but I do not know what type. I have four 250 watt setups sitting on the shelf along with two 440 watt VHO ballasts (including two four bulb harnesses) so I should be set with whatever. I will probably choose lighting based on heat required to keep the water warm enough. As far as pumps, I will be curious to see what they used. This tank had a couple hundered sardines in it previously. I have a Sequence 5800 sitting here that I would probably use on a closed loop and would probably use something smaller for the sump.

I won't touch the Vortech pump until all of the promised peripherals are for sale and time tested, including the pumps. I am also not sure what the bottom acrylic thickness is and my understanding is that the Vortech pumps won't handle 1" thick. I just know that the Cylinder walls are 3/4". I use Tunzes on my reef and love them so I can see using those for additional circulation. The Sequence 5800 is from the 1000 series so it is pressure rated and should do OK with eductors/penductors. The eductors/penductors make a 1000gph pump act like a 5000gph pump as far as in-tank flow goes (from what I read). I may fool around with those if I see that the pumps that are coming with this tank are too energy inefficient.

Looks like this might be fun to at least consider and fool around with..... OR, maybe I should just be committed

 

[bc_slc]

If you are setting this up as fish only, i would focus on a closed loop for your flow +/- penductors. The vortech would look very odd on a cylinder. The biggest challenge will be getting good flow at the bottom as I am sure you know.

 

[mungus]

You might want to pm John / ldrhawke and have him check out the thread. I know he has a beautiful cylinder reef tank. He would probably have some good suggestions for you.

Brian

 

[mojoreef]

Cut it down???? If its acrylic you could just lop off a couple feet and make it a little more resonable?? On the big recirc pump thier nice but your going to find they put way to much heat into the tank.
It sound like a great tank to me but you need to make it managable or you will be fighting it all the time, that can lead to not really enjoying the thing like you should.


just a thought


Mike

 

[VegasMike]

I use two of the 1000 series Sequence pumps on my reef and they don't add much heat. The room is at 75 degrees and the reef is at 77 in the morning (goes up to 79 after the lights have been on all day). Based on this water volume and the much-reduced lighting, I don't think heat will be that big a factor, but I do hear you.

I would much rather cut it in half and sell the half I don't need. That will still be a tank that is 60" in diameter and 3' tall, around 400 gallons. I might cut down the canopy as well to make it look more proportioned. It's the wife who wants to leave it as-is.

If the deal is right, I might just tell the wife that something is wrong with the tank that requires it to be cut in half. Then, I'll sell the other half.

In any event the tank will be fish-only.

 

[mojoreef]

Mike I was repling to the 10000 gph pump idea. I have a 8800 gph on my system I use to flush the bottom of the tank and if left on it will add 15 degrees to the tank, and according to the manufacturer (Sequence) that is normal operating temp. But it sure blows nice, lol



MIke

 

[wrightme43]

If you know Mitch Gibbs on R.C. he has built quite a few very large cyl. tanks as reefs, that even rotate around on a platter. Its really neat to see. His have 4 400 mh bulbs. He makes a center colum of plastic that hides the return and overflow plumbing. Since it rotates, he built a small cleaning machine that goes up and down on a threaded rod as the tank rotates past it. He has the patent on the rotating design. He has one in the lfs. I will try to find some photos for you. It may give you some ideas anyway.

 

[wrightme43]

here you go, these are crappy pictures. I didnt move the tank did. These were taken a few days after a employee turned the wrong breaker off at closing, and left the tank with out power for 14 hours. It was still recovering. Lost quite a few nice fish, and corals. He has experince with those kind of tanks anyway.

 

[jsmkmavity]

have you thought about it any more? it sure would look cool! keep us updated please!

 

[VegasMike]

We're still trying to track the tank down. My friend is in Sales and Marketing so he isn't directly involved and has to go through a few people to find out anything and they have moved it since last Thursday. I'll let you know, but I am leaning towards cutting the tank in half or more. If I get a deal.

 

[JasonD]

You will need:
Mask
Fins
Snorkel
Regulator
2mm Suit (for protection and warmth)
Boots
Tank
BC so you can control you depth

Wow! That tank sounds amazing!

 

[VegasMike]

I am pretty much set on cutting the tank down to make it more manageable, but that is provided they can actually locate the tank and it is not already at the Liquidators. Right now, my contact says the tank is gone (already at the Liquidators) and the Liquidators say they don't have it......:doubt:

My hope is just that they have lost it for the moment and find it before it is on a truck to the Liquidators as they will probably want an arm and a leg for the thing.

It's looking more and more like this won't happen. I am starting to think that some maintenance guy or valet guy now has a very nice tank.