Reefing The Australian Way Forums

by **Dr DBW** » Thu 02 Feb, 2006 11:12 am

Well, I am in the process of shutting down my current tank. Had enough of it, time to do something different. Anyway, if you are intersted in some details of this sort of stuff, there is a journal entry on my site.

Anyway, thinking about the size of the tank. And by the way, this tank is going to be a coffee table tank.

Thing I am kicking around at the moment is the dimensions of the tank.

Height wise, thinking 45 cm tall, can't have it too high otherwise looks strange, remember there is lighting and glass top over this. And think that is more than enough depth. So that bit is set in stone pretty much.

Length wise, well it can't be too long as it has a certain space to fit into. Looking like that will be 120 cm. 30 cm of that will be sump, not sure if will go across the entire width yet or not. Was hoping to go the entire 150 cm, but that will stick way too far out into the room.

Original idea was to go for 60 cm wide. Then when I couldn't go that long and the recent threads about cube tanks, started to think that may be I should go for 90 cm wide. That gives a lot more space to work with, should look interesting. But the issue then is with lighting. Was hoping to get away with just two 250W MH, now not too sure I can do that safely with good coverage. However, it may be that I will have a section of the tank as a very deep sand bed (using a divider) to have a go at seagrasses. Then other section will be bare bottom with reef structure. So, in two minds about going the extra width.

So, someone convince me

by **ddr** » Thu 02 Feb, 2006 11:14 am

GO THE CUBE :thumbsup:

There convinced.

Also I saw on RC the other day of a Yoyo type arrangement for Lighting from Hydro shops. Eg you pull down on the fixture & it will roll the cable mounting & the lights up toward the ceeling. SOmething to keep in mind maybe?

Dan

by **Dr DBW** » Thu 02 Feb, 2006 11:20 am

Thanks Dan :poke:

That wont work with this, it will all be self contained, with a full sheet of glass over the top.

Don't worry, I am well aware of the challenges with this tank. I have been working on how it is going to work for probably 6 years now. As I work on it, details will be added to my journal on my site, plus posts here. So stay tuned.

by **Damo** » Thu 02 Feb, 2006 11:23 am

About time you got this project on the way :thumbsup:

by **Chris** » Thu 02 Feb, 2006 11:36 am

I think just the 2 lights would be fine if you get a bit of cast in the opposite orientation to the normal throw, the other thing is that you could just use low light corals in those sections, perhaps some well places mushies or bubble corals or even perhaps some catalaphyllia.

how will you have access tot he tank? and how will the sump/backdrop be hidden?

Christian

by **Dr DBW** » Thu 02 Feb, 2006 11:43 am

Top will be removable.

Black/tinted glass and cupboard.

by **roop** » Thu 02 Feb, 2006 11:47 am

Sounds like a great plan :thumbsup:

If this is going to be a lounge room coffee table display, your going to want the lights to look neat and tidy. Any plans on what lights/pendants you'll be using?

by **Dr DBW** » Thu 02 Feb, 2006 11:50 am

DIY.

Only stuff that wont be DIY is the pumps and tank.

by **glennb** » Thu 02 Feb, 2006 12:19 pm

Before I say anything just have to check ... did you want to be convinced to build it? Or not to build it?

by **Dr DBW** » Thu 02 Feb, 2006 12:23 pm

It shall be built. Question was the 60 versus 90 cm width.

by **nikki** » Thu 02 Feb, 2006 12:27 pm

go 90 dallas .. you know you want to :poke:

by **blags** » Thu 02 Feb, 2006 12:44 pm

Go the 90 as well and i cant wait to see what it looks like when it is finished.
Best of luck
Pete

by **JimmyA** » Thu 02 Feb, 2006 12:49 pm

Quick Q.

Wont the lights blind you as you're sat there having a cuppa and a slice of cake?

GO 90!!!

by **Dr DBW** » Thu 02 Feb, 2006 12:52 pm

They would if you built it incorrectly. But I don't plan to do that :poke:

by **JimmyA** » Thu 02 Feb, 2006 1:11 pm

Oooh I'm intrigued now. Hurry up and get some drawings onto OzReef so I can see what youre planning :thumbsup:

by **blags** » Thu 02 Feb, 2006 1:25 pm

Pete

by **Dr DBW** » Fri 14 Jul, 2006 5:59 pm

Finally got some diagrams thrown together ...

Top and bottom view of tank only, with bulkhead locations.

Side view, tank, glass top and cupboard visible only.

Top view, tank, glass top and cupboard visible only.

by **Butters** » Fri 14 Jul, 2006 6:12 pm

Just out of curiousity Dallas.....why even have a sump? What will be its function?

Cheers Andrew

by **Dr DBW** » Fri 14 Jul, 2006 6:16 pm

Place to house the heaters, act as surface skimmer and for automatic evaporation top up.

The sump will be the weir section at the left of the diagrams.

Within the cupboard will be the protein skimmer, calcium reactor, evaporation top up drum, ballasts, ventiation fans, and CO2 cylinder.

by **Jim_D** » Sat 15 Jul, 2006 9:40 am

Dr DBW wrote: And by the way, this tank is going to be a coffee table tank.

A Kramer reef

by **Dr DBW** » Wed 19 Jul, 2006 1:00 pm

FYI, have updated version of the plans up now, with some labels .... NEO REEF Plans.

by **Basenji** » Thu 18 Jan, 2007 1:56 pm

Hi Dallas,

Man, you've been talking about this tank for a long time.
When are we going to see some action with the actual thing? :poke:

Fabulous concept. I can't wait to see how it turns out.

Website · by **JonNyDexTeR** » Fri 19 Jan, 2007 12:21 am

acros from a top view would be a good site....

will be funny.

please invite for a cup of coffee---

seen or heard of these, but gold fish only styles...

good luck - you're the man!

by **Dr DBW** » Tue 30 Jan, 2007 3:33 pm

Tank is now ordered. So things are happening

It has only taken me about 6-7 years to get the project happening. Will be finished rather promptly though, as have a rather solid deadline of June that it all has to be done and operational. So have to get my butt into gear.

That is why I had the clean out of a skimmer and calcium reactor that was on my old tank. Now have the cash to get the tank, yay

I have a couple of ideas now how to do the lights for it. If my original idea doesn't work, then have another up my sleeve that I know will.

by **Dr DBW** » Tue 30 Jan, 2007 3:38 pm

Plan of the tank that I have ordered is as follows:

Getting it from Amazing Amazon. Not 100% sure if able to have the holes that close to the side of the panels, so will update that once hear back from them about it.

by **Dr DBW** » Wed 31 Jan, 2007 4:24 pm

Yeah, dimensions are all fine, bit missing from the diagram is weir height, which will be around 70mm from the top of the tank, allowing for the two braces which will be ~20mm in total, then 50mm space to the top of the weir. I will be placing an acrylic comb on top of the glass panel, to stop fish etc going over into the sump area.

Looking to be able to pick the tank up end of next week. Can't wait .....

by **CheezotheClown** » Thu 01 Feb, 2007 1:05 pm

Just checked out the plans Dallas - all very intriguing. What is the "Wier return" bulkhead for?

by **Dr DBW** » Thu 01 Feb, 2007 1:34 pm

There will be an external pump taking water from within the weir/sump compartment, then returning it to the display section of the tank.

by **Dr DBW** » Thu 22 Feb, 2007 7:51 am

Fingers crossed tank will be ready today and will have it in my hot little hands on the weekend. Yah

by **Dr DBW** » Mon 26 Feb, 2007 11:51 am

Got it now, so can start on the construction of the stand and cupboard. Starting to really look foward to getting this happening.

Tank builder put those plastic strips down the corners, which have to rip off. Was hoping it would be without those. And the bracing along the sides is not quite what I thought they would do, they stop short of the corners. Hadn't see a tank with euro done that way.

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120x90x45 Coffee Table (NEOZ REEF)

120x90x45 Coffee Table (NEOZ REEF)

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