235gal build for under $600!

As the title says, this is my goal for this monstrosity of a tank.
It all started at Aquarium Paradise, where I frequent often both getting supplies and hanging out BS'ing. A 235 room divider had been in there for a couple weeks in pretty used and abused shape being it was previously a reef tank. Dominic offered me the tank for a stupid good deal so I checked the integrity of the tank up and down meticulously. Having checked out I brought it home for a whopping $200! Once I got it home I was admiring the beautiful beast in the garage and decided to challenge myself and see if I couldn't set it up for under $600. A day later I picked up the two sump/wet drys for $160 total which is ridiculous as well!

Now the plan is to either build a steel frame with free steel, or just redo the current stand that is already insulated which is important since this will be a garage tank with the 160, and thanks to Madness and a few others for the garage tank-keeping advice this may work! The wood trim is not in horrible shape and should be an easy fix. For paint I am thinking of going with a navy blue type color, but not sure. I am open to suggestions! As of now I am slowly cleaning it up and getting rid of the traces of reef which are everywhere! I will certainly keep this thread updated, possibly helping others to set up monster tanks on the cheap.

Now the big question, What would YOU stock this with?!

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CONGRATS on the good deal..
This will be an awesome looking tank.

Thanks for stealing it from me. Only 1 day late.

thanks cichlidlover, looking forward to the progression!

I had no idea someone else was even looking at it Naso! It had been in there for a decent amount of time when dom offered it to me. He was just too happy to get the eye sore out from being surrounded by nice, new tanks.

Ya, that's just the way it goes you win some you lose some. Lanzo originally offered it to me for $250. Any way good luck. I guess my current 220 is enough OR IS IT.

Man it was there awhile if Lonzo offered it to you, I know he's been gone for awhile now. I'm with you in that they are never big enough for us addicts!

nice pickup. that tank would look really nice with a wc male umbee

Very cool tank, cant wait to see more pics!

Bit of an update here, not too much done more aesthetics than anything. Been busy starring at the new Viejas in the 160 from madness, such cool fish. Anyway heres some pics:
Curious to see if anyone has had any good/bad/indifferent experiences with silica sand?
Thanks for looking!
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for me if its getting too much light silica sand will grow this weird surface algae on it kinda like a green slime. its easy to clean and thats the only real draw back ive had with the stuff. that and washed out photos but youll have big enough fish that this wont matter much. the white color tends to change how well the pics turn out. anyways love the build so far keep up the good work.

Looks much better black! Heard some things on silica sand causing diatoms (brown algae) I don't know, I get it anyway no matter what I do. Some say it goes away with time, for some maybe, not for me.

Please tell me you are going to put more than 2 fish in there?

Thanks for the insight guys. I too have read that it "causes massive diatom outbreaks" but I don't believe thats always the case. Wanted to make a departure from the natural or darker sands for this one, I'm always switching things up! Yeah I get the brown stuff all the time aswell. I have learned to live with it and actually enjoy it as it lightly covers rocks and plants to look more natural. This is the first tank I'm somewhat "designing" the aesthetics on. I'd like it so you see almost no equipment, tank, or stand to where the water/sand/fish grab your attention first thing. Haha there will certainly be more than two fish in there! Going for some type of central predator group, my mind isnt set on anything tho.

That looks awesome in black!

Not a big fan of the silica either, but the tank/stand does look nice. Now lets get it up and running. Come on, chop chop......

Well hopefully the silica works out! Not quite like swapping substrate in a 10gal. That white was far to bright, so hopefully the white sand with black goes well with all the colors from madness's fish that it will certainly be stocked with!

I just sucked out all of the white sand that I had in my tank that is in my living room. Replaced it with the Lapis Luster that I have in all of my tanks. (well 80% of them)

Finally got the funds and some time to get this beast finished, which I'm stoked about. After seeing the lapis luster at madness place again I decided to change it. Was not all that expensive, $46 for 200lb and its looks awesome! I went with the #20 and #30 mixed so its fairly fine.

I also got all the plumbing ordered so I should have that done next weekend. Anyway, heres some shots of the lapis luster.
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I also made up some GFCI gang boxes with switches, one each for the two monster pumps and the two heaters. Did this to keep it very clean underneath and have the ease of maintenance, just flip the switch and do a water change instead of hunting for the cords on a power strip! These will be mounted on the bottom side of the top piece of plywood that the tank sits on, so you wont even see them really.
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I also have a newcomer that needs to be added to this thread, a 125gal with definite show tank dimensions. It measures 53"x18"x28", odd dimensions but looks pretty cool. I also got this for dirt cheap, $15 and about 3 hours of my time. Not much of a build for this one, save for the angle iron stand I am going to weld up for it but I will keep updates in this thread. Since my obsession for Vieja has grown, I am thinking the stocking will go like this: Vieja: Regani, Bifasciatus "Candeleria,"Guttulatus.Let me know what you guys think!
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Man its been awhile! Life gets in the way and soon months feel like minutes! Anyhow the beast is and has been setup for quite some time now, cycle has been over for awhile and it is quite aged. No regrets on the Lapis Luster that madness recommended either. It is not too dark nor too white like silica sand its perfectly in the middle for my tastes.

Here is a good video showing the plumbing, tank, stock and whatnot. The argentea is not in there anymore, it is now the five Vieja/paratheraps call them what you will and a red isletas with a WC salvini. thanks to madness and jeun for the salv!

Also a shot of my terrarium in there.



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Damn, that tank turned out SWEEEEEEEET. I saw what it looked like when it was at Aq. Paradise, and thats not the same tank. LOL That looks awesome, nice job.

nice pimps

thanks pimps lol! Thats what Dom said when he saw it. All I ended up doing was painstakingly scraping the saltwater algae thats tough as steel off and putting a coat of black on it. Fun project and I'd like to do it again!

Overall cost was just south of $650, NOT bad!

Beautiful remake on that divider tank...very very nice job!