Ordering New 440/480 any advice?

DN328

Goliath Tigerfish
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Aug 14, 2014
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Progress! I’ll be going to his shop Monday to help manipulate the tank... and check to make sure things are correct....

been a long journey, ordered and paid 10/19....

guess his build time is 6 months... did not know this upfront, it has given me perspective and patience....

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You may have covered and what did you end up deciding on for overflow, drain, sump? What was the acrylic thickness difference between the manufacturers. Thanks.
 
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dr exum

Goliath Tigerfish
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You may have covered and what did you end up deciding on for overflow, drain, sump? What was the acrylic thickness difference between the manufacturers. Thanks.
over flow has 4 - 1.5 “ drains - in the center/back - requested 2” - think he does mainly saltwater and lower flow rates

sump is currently - 72”x24”x20” - not 180 that I paid for... not splitting hairs at this point... just need it in my house... before we get the “shelter in place” order...

it’s all 3/4” except bottom is 1/2”

FTD - is 1/2” everywhere
American Aquarium’s - not the guy in the Midwest that sells on ebay.... was 3/4” everywhere and cheapest but members gave bad feedback...

midwest custom is the other- did not contact them...

Hopefully will have it in my home Saturday... gonna be hard to get folks to help bring it in as we are “social distancing” here...

my panels may not be done and automated plumbing not completed, I just want him to finish at this point, I thought it would be done back in January....
 
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DN328

Goliath Tigerfish
MFK Member
Aug 14, 2014
2,418
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over flow has 4 - 1.5 “ drains - in the center/back - requested 2” - think he does mainly saltwater and lower flow rates

sump is currently - 72”x24”x20” - not 180 that I paid for... not splitting hairs at this point... just need it in my house... before we get the “shelter in place” order...

it’s all 3/4” except bottom is 1/2”

FTD - is 1/2” everywhere
American Aquarium’s - not the guy in the Midwest that sells on ebay.... was 3/4” everywhere and cheapest but members gave bad feedback...

midwest custom is the other- did not contact them...

Hopefully will have it in my home Saturday... gonna be hard to get folks to help bring it in as we are “social distancing” here...


my panels may not be done and automated plumbing not completed, I just want him to finish at this point, I thought it would be done back in January....
Sounds good. Yes, with the health crisis and directions in place and what may be to come I understand you wanting to get what you paid for home. You can then work at your own speed.

I ordered my tank from Midwest Customs, and was just curious of the few that I didnt contact. I'm happy with their product, but good to know about others as well. With 4 1.5" are you planning on dual Herbies?

Edit: saw previous post about Herbie. This is a long thread lol.
 
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dr exum

Goliath Tigerfish
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Got 3 dudes from task rabbit / 2 guys from the shop coming Saturday 10am...

I told the builder we could wait if needed due to the climate...

I think it’s clogging his workflow as he does one tank at a time....

ill have to redo the plumbing at some point as he’s not planning on rigid...

The overflow box is “proofed” water tight so I should be able to safely disconnect plumbing at later date...

he tells me it’s a 627g or something instead of a 600 (exterior dimensions) Apparently, tank size “is determined by exterior dimensions” his words... could be the case...

almost been 6 months at least since I started looking... until it’s in here I won’t fully grasp it as reality...

BEEDBF08-BB86-44DD-A1CE-DCC2D0838164.jpeg
 

Tj203

Dovii
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Sep 11, 2019
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Got 3 dudes from task rabbit / 2 guys from the shop coming Saturday 10am...

I told the builder we could wait if needed due to the climate...

I think it’s clogging his workflow as he does one tank at a time....

ill have to redo the plumbing at some point as he’s not planning on rigid...

The overflow box is “proofed” water tight so I should be able to safely disconnect plumbing at later date...

he tells me it’s a 627g or something instead of a 600 (exterior dimensions) Apparently, tank size “is determined by exterior dimensions” his words... could be the case...

almost been 6 months at least since I started looking... until it’s in here I won’t fully grasp it as reality...

View attachment 1410323
Is the Opening on the top of that tank too big? I wanted mine like that and was told the top would sag so they cut four holes.
 
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dr exum

Goliath Tigerfish
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Sep 29, 2007
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Is the Opening on the top of that tank too big? I wanted mine like that and was told the top would sag so they cut four holes.
they are quite big....

it’s my understanding his technique is different than what the other tank makers do.

He cuts the opening using his technique (which I promised I would not divulge) which is much more labor intensive and time consuming but has no crazing and is stronger.

3 days ?
 

Tj203

Dovii
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I can understand the crazing part but Think about what you're saying that if you cut acrylic in a certain way it will get stronger. If you believe that I've got a bridge and some magic beans to sell you. The worse it's gonna do is just sag over time Won't hurt the tank
 
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Tj203

Dovii
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Sep 11, 2019
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I can understand the crazing part but Think about what you're saying that if you cut acrylic in a certain way it will get stronger. If you believe that I've got a bridge and some magic beans to sell you. The worse it's gonna do is just sag over time Won't hurt the tank
Especially if it's only half inch mines 3/4 all the way around
 

DN328

Goliath Tigerfish
MFK Member
Aug 14, 2014
2,418
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How thick is the top it's hard to tell? Similarly to why heat polishing isn't good and creates crazing, I see maybe tanking an approach to create less heat when cutting to minimize crazing?

Perhaps less crazing equates to holding up better and "stronger"? Its hard to tell since most dont polish the routed edge the lids fit on. My tank is 72" x 30"w and I still went with 3 holes/lids. It was big enough to work in and better for the "locking" swivel I had added for the jumpers.

The large openings are nice too just depends what we like.
 
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Tj203

Dovii
MFK Member
Sep 11, 2019
707
546
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How thick is the top it's hard to tell? Similarly to why heat polishing isn't good and creates crazing, I see maybe tanking an approach to create less heat when cutting to minimize crazing?

Perhaps less crazing equates to holding up better and "stronger"? Its hard to tell since most dont polish the routed edge the lids fit on. My tank is 72" x 30"w and I still went with 3 holes/lids. It was big enough to work in and better for the "locking" swivel I had added for the jumpers.

The large openings are nice too just depends what we like.
I could only imagine how heavy those lids are I have 4 on mine 48 inch wide and they are heavy really heavy
 
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