1800 Gallon Reef .... Houston, Tx

[djze]

i guess it's true everything in texas is bigger that looks like it's going to one awesome house

 

[planedoc]

Its cool to build a fish tank, but its way cooler to build a house around a fish tank.

 

[Kipps]

this looks like an amazing build - tagging along....

Did you put in any special footings for support, or is placed direct on the slab-on-grade? if so, how thick is the slab?

I see the slab is heavily reinforced - why was this? Bad soils?

Thanks,

Rodd

 

[Canadian125]

wow.. subscribed!

 

[AQUA DAVE]

There has been long droughts the last couple of years and lots of foundation issues. This is actually a floating slab.. It has about 32 15ft Pillars supporting the slab. The house is 11,000 square feet so it is extra beefy.

 

[bag151]

Houston is blessed with high clay content soil and cyclical drought conditions which makes for a ruff life as a foundation. Constant soil swelling and contraction from variable moisture means that pretty much all new construction in town is carried out with post tension slabs. Custom homes like this will spring for the extra expense pillars.

Dave this is just a tease, you need to upload the pictures post aqua scapeing. He did an an incredible job on setting up the rock stack. The pictures don't even do it justice, I will let him chime in on how he pulled it together. Also upload a pic of that skimmer and sump on the pallet, that will make a few jaws drop.

 

[AQUA DAVE]

So we needed a room built to protect the aquarium from paint or plaster. Little did I know that I would show up only to find this fortress!

 

[AQUA DAVE]

 

[AQUA DAVE]

Filter room is coming together...

 

[AQUA DAVE]

Chiller just installed.. We had copper tubing ran to the AC pad area for the compressor. The heat exchange unit has a solenoid switch that is controlled by a temperature controller. When the temp is at the desired setting, the solenoid closes and a pressure sensor in the compressor let's it know to turn off.

 

[AQUA DAVE]

The entire floor of the filter room works as a drain pan as an extra measure for any spills or leaks... The liner is under a 3 inch floated cement floor with a floor drain in the center of the room. There are 6 coats of marine epoxy painted on each wall to make clean up very easy.

 

[AQUA DAVE]

Brett... Patience my friend ...

Here is a sneak peek of the filtration just after we moved it in.

 

[AQUA DAVE]

Phosban, carbon, and nitrate reactors

 

[AQUA DAVE]

Calcium reactor

 

[AQUA DAVE]

Another meeting with the cabinet guys for a final fit test before stain..

 

[AQUA DAVE]

The external overflow will be covered with access doors for a feeding tube, vortechs, and light ballast.

 

[Patricklong]

That skimmer tucked in the corner is MASSIVE.

 

[AliciaP]

I love this!

 

[Kipps]

Looks like an amazing house - looking forward to seeing this move along

 

[geaux xman]

maybe I missed it, but who built the tank?