The 200,000 gallon tank build thread.

[Anonymous]

Neat.

 

[Anonymous]

Thanks Matt. What did they use to make the rock work? It looks like a project in its self.

It's piles of cinder blocks and cinder block chunks, a plastic material similar to gutter guard is bolted on to give it shape and curves, and then sprayed with concrete. Then molds are attached, and more concrete is sprayed on. It took them about 6 months to build it.

Matt, can you be more specific on what material was used? Concrete evokes in the normal reader the though of Portland cement and I highly doubt that ws used. Most likely some form of gunite or shotcrete was used, or even mayby some kind of hydrolic cement.

FWIW Asphalt (AC) is a type of concrete (asphalt concrete)

I wasn't highly specific because I wasn't completely sure when I posted it.

The forms are made with a plastic mesh and FRP rods, and then gunnite is sprayed on.

 

[Anonymous]

The forms are made with a plastic mesh and FRP rods, and then gunnite is sprayed on.

Ahhhh. Fond memories.

 

[Anonymous]

The forms are made with a plastic mesh and FRP rods, and then gunnite is sprayed on.

Ahhhh. Fond memories.

I'm jealous. I wish I got to participate in doing it so I could have the experience under my belt. I'd like to sculpt stuff on a smaller scale.

 

[Anonymous]

Mateo,

It still blows my mind that you guys are totally hands off. Like a carbomb blows it. I spent a good 50-75% of my time doing system and exhibit work.

 

[Anonymous]

Mateo,

It still blows my mind that you guys are totally hands off. Like a carbomb blows it. I spent a good 50-75% of my time doing system and exhibit work.

What was the total volume at Mote? How many fish, more or less? You guys had sharks, right? Any mammals, birds, herps? Just trying to get a sense of the size of the place.

 

[Anonymous]

Mateo,

It still blows my mind that you guys are totally hands off. Like a carbomb blows it. I spent a good 50-75% of my time doing system and exhibit work.

What was the total volume at Mote? How many fish, more or less? You guys had sharks, right? Any mammals, birds, herps? Just trying to get a sense of the size of the place.

I have no idea what the total volume was at Mote. At least in the millions of gallons, but the total display system volume was probably only about 300-400 k gallons. Pretty small place compared to Georgia or Florida Aquariums, but big at the same time.

 

[Anonymous]

Snapped some shots today during some down time. A few weeks ago we hosed down the tank and sucked out all the muck, then filled it with saltwater for the first time. Skimmers got turned on a couple days ago. 5k lbs of artificial live rock goes in next week.

Today we added 5 pallets of sand to the top of the main viewing window.

Below is a sort of 360 degree view from the center of the water surface. In case it's not obvious, I'm standing on top of the catwalk that holds the bulk of the MH lights. It's just a few feet above the water.

 

[brandonberry]

Just curious how many kilowatts it takes to run that tank.

 

[Anonymous]

Awsome!

 

[trido]

Just the light rack alone is impressive. It puts a big grin on my face. I cant wait to come down on vacation to see it when its up and running.

 

[Anonymous]

Glad things are going well with my tank Mateo. It will be ready for me to enjoy by this Dec, yes?

 

[Anonymous]

Looks great Matt I can hardly wait

While I'm sure she is working hard, the pic sure makes it look like she hardly working :lol: lemme guess, she's putting the sand in the dry areas of the rocks?

 

[Anonymous]

You've started the relocate by now, yes Matt? When do you move your own official digs, the cube and stuff?

 

[stubbsz]

How much heat are those lamps going to generate? Photo-3 is ridiculous.

 

[Anonymous]

Looks great Matt I can hardly wait

While I'm sure she is working hard, the pic sure makes it look like she hardly working :lol: lemme guess, she's putting the sand in the dry areas of the rocks?

She was doing about as much work as the guy taking pictures!

We were taking a little breather. Unloading 5 pallets, one 5 gallon bucket at a time bucket brigade style, was tough work.

 

[Anonymous]

I can imagine. Having slaved for my dad moving mountains of gravel with a spoon all around the jobsites like a prison worker, I feel for you all

 

[pcardone]

yay! how about a front shot

 

[Anonymous]

Just curious how many kilowatts it takes to run that tank.

The lighting is somewhere around 110 kW. I can't say with any certainty what the rest of the tank would be.

 

[Anonymous]

Glad things are going well with my tank Mateo. It will be ready for me to enjoy by this Dec, yes?

Yes, LTB. We open September 27th.