265 - 300 gallon build

bullit67 · #1 05-06-2009, 08:37 PM

Well this has to be the fastest upgrade I have seen. It all started about a week ago on the 26th when I found a leak on our 265 looked like the seam on the right front was leaking. So we went about weighing out our options. I realy didnt like the idea of tring to reseal a tank this big so we decided to replace it. Now we had more options to weigh out stock tank or custom same size or upgrade build a stand or buy a stand.What to do What to do. So we decided after much deliberation we decided on a marineland deep dimension 300 Gallon tank and a Marineland Monterey deep dimension stand and cap. Two reasons for this number one was speed we could get a Marineland tank right away a custom tank would be 3-6 weeks away and with a leaking tank that was not a very attractive option plus I would have to build a stand. The second was cost a custom tank and stand would not be cheap. So we ordered our tank and stand. Dan at Aquatic Addictions went the extra mile for us to make sure we had it for this week as we are on holidays so we would have time to do the swap. The tank showed up at the store on fri May 1st. Sat. 8 am we put the ball in motion did some running around to pick up plumbing parts and paint (for the back of tank) and so on we then started to haul the the new tank home with the help of some good people we got it home we then set to work painting the back of the tank and pulling apart the 265 14 hours and 16 min later the 265 was down and the 300 had 4 coats of fresh black paint. it was now 7:16 am on Sun. and we have a crew of fellow reefers showing up at 9:00 am to help swap the tanks ( they are both in the 500 lbs. range) so at that point we had been going for 25 hours once the tanks were swapped we headed back to Aquatic addictions with the 265 and stand. We headed home with plans of some lunch and back to work on the tank I wanted to get it running as all my rock and water were in 44 gallon brute containers and fish and corals were in the sump. We took a lunch brake. after which I crawled under the new stand to start planning my plumbing and promptly fell asleep when I came too the wife was sleeping in her chair so I decided I didnt fell like cutting any fingers of with my chop saw when cutting pipe so we called it a day all in all it was 34 hours. And this is what we ended up with.
New tank in place

End shot of new tank

Love this feature makes maintainance much easier

bullit67 · #2 05-06-2009, 08:47 PM

So when we were pulling the 265 apart we made a good/bad discovery the tank was not leaking, well not at a seam any way it turns out it was a bulk head on the back of the tank for the closed loop. It was running down the back of the tank and following the bottom trim ring around to the front where it was leaking out of the stand. So this was not so much a leaky tank swap as it was an upgrade. At least now the 265 is not just a big reptile tank and we can sell it and recoupe some of our money. Bad part is it was alot of money and time to do this. So much for a week off just kickin back and relaxing.

BC564 · #3 05-06-2009, 08:48 PM

tagging along to watch this one.....

christyf5 · #4 05-06-2009, 08:52 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bullit67

So when we were pulling the 265 apart we made a good/bad discovery the tank was not leaking, well not at a seam any way it turns out it was a bulk head on the back of the tank for the closed loop. It was running down the back of the tank and following the bottom trim ring around to the front where it was leaking out of the stand. So this was not so much a leaky tank swap as it was an upgrade. At least now the 265 is not just a big reptile tank and we can sell it and recoupe some of our money. Bad part is it was alot of money and time to do this. So much for a week off just kickin back and relaxing.

Oh man what a kick in the pants

At least you got a bigger tank out of the deal and the chance to reaquascape. Relaxing is overrated anyways

Mrfish55 · #5 05-06-2009, 09:16 PM

Same tank I have, your gonna love it! did you get the starfire glass? Heavy beast ain't it

Leah · #6 05-06-2009, 09:33 PM

Looks really deep is that a kitty to the right of the picture? Hope the transfer goes well!

bullit67 · #7 05-07-2009, 12:48 AM

Yes it is supposed to be Starfire glass but no way of knowing for sure. They are heavy about the same as the 265 was some where is the 500lbs range but after moving the 265 down the stairs then the 300 up the stairs they were both to dam heavy.

Yes that is a Kitty to the right of the tank The tank is 72wide 36thick 27deep that 36 thick realy adds a third dimension to the reef

bullit67 · #8 05-07-2009, 01:34 AM

Well since Sunday was a wright off after moving the tank I got to work on it on Monday morning. Got a good early start on it but was moving slow due to the 36 hour day on Sat. spent the time and got it plumbed all neat and tidy. Tied everything up to keep it out of the way. and support it so it is not pulling on the bulkheads like the last system was.

plumbing in progress

over flow and return stand pipes

finished plumbing

TheRealBigAL · #9 05-07-2009, 04:06 AM

Wow very nice. Cant wait to see it full of life.

mseepman · #10 05-07-2009, 03:20 PM

Looking good. I dread to imagine a leak in any tank, but this looks like it ended up being a blessing in disguise for you. These are really nice tanks!