Seriously building a new tank... need advice!

[Crap]

Hello Fellow Reefers,

This is my very first post... so I do hope I'm welcome here!

A little background... I have a 112G reef tank setup for about 2 years, its a very old tank but everything is pretty alright. I will post pix of it one day... but now I have an ambitious project to replace it.

It's currently sited in my living room and its against the wall of a spare room. As nice as it looks in my hall... I would prefer it being in the spare room to hide the lights and stand.... so I am gonna knock a hole in the wall and build a new tank into it, flushed into the wall!

It's gonna just a tad longer than my current tank which is 5.2ft L, 1.57ft W and 1.90ft tall (112) .... the new tank's dimensions should be around 5.5ft L, 2.5ft W and 2.5ft H.

It will be front-paneled with Starphire Glass with the rest of the glass panels being ordinary glass. I am really looking forward to the clarity and no colour distortion (I really hate to see my green clam look blue through the glass)

1st Question: What is the safest thickness of all the glass panels to get? (my current tank's glass is just 1 cm thick)

I will be having one built-in overflow to keep things simple.

2nd Question: What's the benefit of having two overflows?

Centre Bracing: I will be having two 150w MH with supplementary Actinics. Based on the length of the tank, it will not be over the centre brace.

3rd Question: Would I regret not having side bracing instead of a centre?

I will be installing a closed loop circulation system, so i will be drilling two circular holes for the drains, and output via two sea swirls.

4th Question: Is there a major difference in current if my drain inlets are not low but high up eg. 6 inches from the water surface instead of below mid-level? My concerns are if anything happens to my closed loop plumbing.. I will not lose my whole tank and flood my room.

5th Question: Is 2.5 ft height too high for maintenance even if I have a 6" DSB?

As I have to draw up the tank schematics to get a quote... I would appreciate if the reef gurus here could throw in their two cents worth... I would be very grateful!

Oh.. final question:

6th Question: How am I going to move my present tank (estimated 1.1 ton at least 2 feet away from the wall during the wall hacking without cracking it??????)

THANKS!!!!
;;

[Ltspd]

1) I have no idea, My starphire that is 60 in long is 12mm thick I believe

2) The only possible benifit is good surface agitation, or removing the film that tends to build up, IMO. I wish I only had 1, just to allow more area in the tank. What about 1 center overflow?

3) If at all possible do away with the center brace and go with perimeter bracing. It makes lighting it easier, and also allows easier access.

4) A true closed loop, or one that never is exposed to air (like a overflow box) will not do anything if the power is lost. Its closed and has no where to go.

5) My tank is 27" high, I am 6'1 and I have a heck of a time reaching the bottom of the tank even standing on a chair. If I had more access above the tank it might be easier, but I have my canopy overhead.

6) Lots of garbage cans and spare tanks, several 6 packs of beer and quite a few reefers.

[Crap]

Hi Ltspd!

Thanks for your speedy reply!

Refering to your answers:

1. Hmm... i need to get more opinions on this... safety first!

2. I would prefer to have my overflow sited in the corner so as I would probably do a lagoon-styled layout for my liverock/corals.

3. I guess that's a good very good point! Would prevent a lot of splashes over the side too!

4. I guess my plumbing better not give way then!

5. Hmm... another good point.. maybe I shouldn't be too ambitious!

6. I was thinking of getting in a hand-operated pallet forklift (you know, those jacks which you slide under a container pallet and then pump up and down to lift them up and of course it has wheels, you can drag the pallet around the floor)... and use that to move it away from the wall. My iron stand has a area underneath to slide the forks in.... ample clearance I hope.. haven't measured it yet!