kiwipete

Thanks "Spoon". I have some reading to do. :slfg:

Was chatting to the fella in Organisms today and he suggested I might like to think about a "Red Sea Max 130D" tank set-up as a first marine tank. I looked it up on the "Net" and it seems like a quite nice and compact system, no need to custom build anything for a beginner. What is/are your opinions on this tank?

What a great write up. Many thanks indeed. This has helped me immensely in my research on beginning my marine set up.

For sure Caryl, I just need to wait till later in the year before I commit, mid year holiday in Raro to get out of the way. Could I smuggle some fish/coral back. 8) PS I must say I was rather depressed with it all when I saw the devastation. Everything that is salvageable will be given away when I get it all sorted. Time to start afresh.

Thanks Spoon, I was thinking of going back to an octagonal tank, but this is now out of the question. Maybe a corner tank?

I have followed these forums for some time now, but only the tropical fresh water side. Since the Christchurch earthquake in February where I lost my entire 200L fresh water set-up, I am now thinking of starting a fresh with a marine set-up. I will slowly gather all required equipment over the next 4 or so months before I do any more, have mid year holidays to get out of the way first. I think I will stick with the similar size tank and custom build a cabinet to suit. This all depends where my wife will allow me to place it too. I have just read the entire 'beginners guide' at the start of this forum and found it so informative. Oh and I will also start a build thread as I go too. No doubt there will be millions of questions fired at you all as I start and get this project under way. Q1~Is the surface area of the marine tank as important as the likes of a tropical fresh water tank? I am asking this as I am unsure of the total size area I will have to build and place the set-up.

This is some fantastic information for a beginner wanting to get into a marine set-up. Thank you so much to those of you who have contributed. This has inspired me to try something different.

If you do not have a sharp chisel handy, use a sharp knife and quietly carve a slice off it. MDF is nice and soft to work with like that.

And well worth the money paid, there is no price on your life is there?

^^^^^^^ what he says, we have 5 RCD's protecting our place, indoors and out.

I would have a good close look at the joinery and dimensions of the main frame first. The panels will prevent the frame collapsing sideways. If the construction looks solid enough, and as I suspect the drawer frame is of 50 x 50mm timbers, I would go for it. Maybe as an extra precaution, place a sheet of 18mm ply over the top for added strength, and a sheet of polystyrene to sit the tank on. Oh, and remove the little feet from the bottom too so the frame sits nice and flat on the floor. My reasoning for all this advise, Im sitting at a similar desk as I type and would not hesitate to place a bigger tank on it. I have a 450 x 450 x 900 tank on a Criterion buffet unit that is not as well constructed with no problems. You will have great storage in the desk for all your fishes bits and under it for the filter.

Thanks but I think I will go for black glass, will look better from the other side of the window.

True, but I thought any water between the poly back and the glass will get green very quickly indeed and be visible from outside the window.

I have decided to scrap this idea because there is too greater chance of the panels separating with the water pressure. I am however going to look at a large corner tank with 3 faces to the front. A little hard to describe but imagine a triangle with the two back sides being equal in length. The front panel will be something like a bay window is with the centre panel being twice the length of the outer panels. Make scene? I think this will give a better surface area, will not be as high and be easier to brace. Dimensions I am thinking of are something along the lines of 600 x 600 at the back and 300 x 500 x 300 in the front and 600 high. I need to draw it out on a large sheet of cardboard to see if the dimensions are balanced looking. Glass will be 10mm thick and tinted at the back to prevent light entering through the corner windows it will be against. I also want to make a nice polystyrene rock wall for the back too. Possibly black substrate. Can anyone see any issues with this design?

Would 10mm glass be suitable for a tank of this size or should I look at a thinner glass? What bracing should I do around the top?