To cut a long story short I was given this tank by my cousin about 18 mouth ago, at that stage I was in two minds as to wether to take it or not … .
I couldn’t pass on such a great opportunity to own a tank this size . my dream tank... so I took the tank off his hands.

I had plan to keep it in storage until we move into our new house which was rented out at the time, but due to change of circumstance we moved into the new house earlier then we expected, so the dream tank venture was born .
The tank originally had two 400mm brace in the middle of the tank. and one corner weir.
As I’ll be running MH that would mean the brace would be in the way of the MH. Something had to gave… so I remove the 400mm bracing and cut one of them in half to make tow 200mm bracing.
I glue the bracing back then euro brace the whole tank in 10 and 12mm strips all around the tank.
I also enclosed a section of at the right hand side and made into a full over flow weir to replace the small corner weir.
The stand which i made out of 75x50mm RHS 4mm, it sits at a height of 1 meter, I like my stand high.
The plan would be to cover the stand and hood in MDF and paint over inside out, inside would be white enamel and outside would be painted in the same color as the adjoining walls.
As i don’t have any equipment or sump in the stand, I feel at easy about using MDF.
Lighting would consist of 3 luminarc bright and 2 X 2ft T5
Sump would be house in the ‘SUMP’ room downstairs so no issue with noise.. jus the way the missis wanted

Although its at a early stage and will take a good few more weekends work to get the tank wet .
Ok, enough talk lets get on with progress photos.
And to those who have bombarded me about starting up the 8ft TJ (U know who you are!!!) Happy now!!!!!!!! ……. although its at an early stage and would be a good few more weekends work to get the tank wet .
Excuse the poor Chinglish!!!....LOL
System Objectives: To have my own ocean in my living room.
System Type: Mixed Reef
Strike up Date: Humm ….. Dono

Display Tank: 8 X 2 X 2 Euro brace and cross brace
Display Lighting: 3 X 250W Lumenark reflector + 2 x 2’ft R/O HO T5 units
Stand: DIY steel frame made from 75x50mm 4mm RHS
Hood: DIY frame enclose with MDF
Sump: 5x1.8x8 DIY sump
Refugium: Refugium with Micro algae and DSB
Refugium Lighting: DIY Lumanarc reflector with energy saving bulb.
Support systems:
System Water: Natural salt water
Display Water circulation: 2 X Tunze 6080 and hoping Santa can bring me two MP40s :-P
Return Pump: Laguna 11000LPH
Skimmer: DIY Becket driven via a Lag 7000LPH
Evaporation Top Up: Auto top up -Gravity feed.
Calcium Addition: DIY calcium reactor
The Beast!!




The euro brace

The weir wich i made on one end of the tank.


Inlet/outlet and back-up

Now the 'SUMP' Room

The black hole you can see would be where the sump room is.

As u can see... i had to move a hell of a lot of dirt.. .



All hands on deck!! me!!!


Dug out all the clay and replace with blue metal and drainage pipe, then brick paving over and build retaining wall .
Also manage to house the IBC tank in the corner


Walla... the sump its in



So far thats where i am...Slow i know but i do have other priorities in life like fishing , snowboarding, two frag tanks .. ... oh and the family

Any advice or criticism always welcome...

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