Large tank design.

My dream tank is 500 to 1000 gallon tank.

Better start planning it.

I was thinking of have a small cube tank for each compartment of a normal fuge but dedicated to one thing each.

The top two tanks would be directly above each other. Tanks 3 and up will then run next to each other. I'll make a diagram tomorrow.

DT TANK

Tank 1
Filter sock

Tank 2
Filled up to the top with live rock

Tank 3
Skimmer

Tank 4
Reactors

Tank 5
Return pump and heater.

Do you think this is a fine setup or should I just go with a large single tank refugium?

 

2 things....

Exactly what is your decision process that lead you to doing multiple tanks like that?
I am not saying that it won't work, it is just not done that way very often.

What is your plumbing ideas for this. Are you going to gravity feed via overflows from tank to tank?

 

sketch something up on rough draft to completely understand what is wanted?

Seems like a lot of plumbing and cost to do it singly but sounds cool.

 

Have you priced this out?

 

It would be expensive for sure. But so would a 500 gallon build...

And how realistic is this...as in how are out in the future are we talking? Is this going to happen within the next several months/this year or are you just dreaming?

Come up with some sketches and show us your ideas. I don't think there's much need for multiple tanks for your sump, but if you wanted to display it, you could have a cascading sump. This would basically be a waterfall off of each filtration section, leading to the next. One long tank with sloped walls, lengthwise. One tall end, one short end. There is a store in Columbus, OH that sells plants/frags out of a tank like this. I think these tanks look particularly nice as refugiums. You could also include a frag tank at the "clean" end after the fuge, just before your return.

 

haha +1 for dreaming.

 

Right. I was reffering to the entire setup. A 500 gallon tank by itself is $2,500 and has dimensions of 8' x 4' x 2 feet. I can't imagine the cost of lighting to cover an 8' x 4' area and to penetrate 25" of water depth (Halides? Imagine the electrical charges). Not to mention the cost of rock and other necessities. Imagine if the system crashes....

The cost of salt and additives, plus the time to maintain them will become chore like. These questions become two-fold with a 1,000 gallon tank.

 

Ponder those thoughts and check out this 590g build thread. It's coming along great. I don't recall what he chose for lighting (or if he decided yet) but LEDs, while expensive at first, pay for themselves in a few years, especially over larger tanks.

There's also no problem at all for 24". The Ecotech Radion has been tested over 30" (I believe it was a 480g tank). Orphek has narrower optics and has been used on tanks some 40" deep.

 

+1 to seanos post and reefbruhs thread, that's how to do it, although, I'd strive to keep aiptasia out of this tank

 

alternatively you can buy and build a house underwater near the great barrier. no but jokes aside sketch this out on paper. in my wildest dreams have i seen 1000gallon tanks <3!! also you could get by with less deep tank than 25 inches no?