Any of you make a fish tank bigger than 500 gal

[AWD]

I think bigger is better.
I would like (one day) build a fish tank somewhere in the ballpark of 8'X 10' and about 6' deep. I am serious. I would want it to be as close to a natural mini reef as possible. I mean I don't want to spend a fortune on lighting bills and additives every month.

 

[esmithiii]

AWD,

There are several individuals on this board who have large tanks. The one you describe is close to 3500 gallons, and one individual on this board has a 4000gal w/ over $20,000 invested and the $ are still going.

The dimensions you give sound more like a swimming pool. Think about a couple of things: most tanks are longer than they are wide for viewing reasons, and for asthetic reasons. Very wide tanks are not as functional. A tank the is 2' deep should have 400W metal halides for clams and SPS. A tank that is 6' deep would require serious lighting.

Also, acrylic to support that size tank would cost more than a new car. I talked with some guys at the Gatlinburg aquarium that told me that pieces close to that size (10x6x4") cost thousands each.

Do a search for mr4000 to get the guy's website.

BTW- I lived in Provo as a kid when my dad when to the Y. Every now and then I miss happy valley

E

 

[jmeader]

The main tank on my system is 900 gal. I built it 4' x 8' and 4' deep. My plexi is 3/4 inch thick and costed about $400. I should have used 1 inch, got some bow.

 

[AWD]

Thanks for the responses. I wasn't sure if I was going to get any because of everthing going on.

My desire has been feed by three sources. One was 5'x5'x5' (app). It was a originally a fireplace that separated two rooms. He lined the cement with something and put two panes(pains, peices)of glass at each end. It looked good.
The other was a potatoe cellar(only that happens in Utah and Idaho). I decided you could line the cement and use the sun to light the big boy.

My dimensions were arbitrary.

Thanks again ya'll

esmithiii, You must be a good person, you have to be if you lived in Provo.

 

[esmithiii]

AWD: I, too lived in Argentina for "a couple of years." When were you there, and in what part? I was in BA south.

E

 

[AWD]

Che esmitiii,
Estuve en Buenos Aires Oeste 1998-2000. Creo que ya te entiendo bastante. Hace poquito volvi tambiem. Que Tal!

 

[davelin315]

I was going to build a 10x18x3 pond in my basement, until I was told not to do it by an engineer. Don't forget that the weight of saltwater is around 8.5 lbs per gallon. When you're talking about, let's say, 2000 gallons, for example, that's 17,000 lbs. You're average car weighs a couple of tons, you're average garage floor eventually cracks under the stress of that car. Think now about putting 17,000 tons into your house. No matter where you put it, you'll destroy your house, cause it to settle towards that weight, and basically, destroy your house. Unless you've planned ahead, don't do it. My next house, I'll build, and when I build it, I'll build a swimming pool in a greenhouse to house my reef. That'll be the day (I won't finish Buddy Holly's lyrics because I hope to have it one day...).

 

[esmithiii]

AWD:

Yo volví en 92, cuando la misión se dividió, y terminé tambien en la oeste. En marzo la esposa y yo tenemos planeado ir a BA, pero la situación se ve muy mal ahora. Mandame un email si querés charlar. Quiero saber mas de la situación antes que vayamos.

Cíao (Chau en Argentino),

E

 

[jjamesrb]

www.Mr4000.com

 

[suckair]

The system you described is exactly my dream system.

This is what I have decided.

First >> I would need to live near the ocean so I could get natural sea water to fill it! The cost of all the salt mixes would suck.

Second >> I would have to use natural sunlight as much as possible to offset super expensive lighting. This would also require the use of some additional reflectors so I get angle lighting into the system during the morning and evening hours.

Third >> For cooling I would use geo thermal cooling by pumping a separate water or other solution thru pipes in the ground and then thru a heat exchanger as needed to control temperature. There would be no other realistic way to control heat in a sun lit system of that size. The geothermal system would have to be engineered for tremendous overkill incase of house AC failure. A system of that size would be fairly temperature stable due to the amount of heat or cold required to move it's temp. That is allot of water volume calculate the BTU's

Fourth >> I would have a huge mud and refugium systems thru out the house connected to complement the system. I would run a skimmer less system, as I can't imagine the skimmer/pump requirements for a system that large. This would take quite a bit of self-management for careful nutrient control. I would also have a sponge squirt zero light system as part of my filtration.

Fifth >> I would go on a collecting expedition with permits as part of a vacation to get rocks and corals to stock the system. Can you imagine the cost of rock! You would have to build fake shelves to put the rock on otherwise. I would need allot of custom pieces that would be quite large and require some zip tie assembly onto pipes to create aquascape.

Sixth >> You would need to use efficient pumps like Ampmaster 3000's to help control heat transfer from pumps. It is also a great way to reduce power consumption.



I am thinking in regards to my current income and cash flow. If I had more money than I knew what to do with I would do what MR4000 did and spend a small fortune on lighting and electric bills.

That is just a little dream of mine to create a system of this size. I was thinking of 10ftx10ft and 8ft high.


Thanks for letting me share my dream system with all of you.

Randall
aka suckair

 

[kevjtomy]

....And my girlfriend gets upset at me for spending too much time "with my tank.." I could only imagine the reaction I would get running those plans by her...Ha-ha.

 

[AWD]

Thank ya'll for the responses and comments.
Just a few more thoughts. Davelin315, I did think about think about that problem. I was originally thinking like you are about a greenhouse style of thing until I saw a pond type of thing in a study styled room. The house is in New York and for sale. I think it is next to Seinfeld's. If I remember correctly the price is $34,000,000. Suckair, I can see you've put more thought into this than I have. Those tunicats you say don't need light. I have some thriving in my sump with all those sponge things. I don't know how or why they are, but it sure is cool.