6000 gallon reef tank

[zemuron114]

If you seal the tank from the rest of the house then it should be fine.

Lots of closed loops under the rockwork to keep the detritus suspended will be a HUGE factor in this. In order to keep the system functioning you will need a lot of flow. Talk about a lot of pumps!!!!

HUGE skimmer (or 2 or 3).

I know the urge to stock a tank with tons and tons of fish will be hard to resist, but i would seriously consider a low stock to keep the maintenance down.

good luck!

 

[spazz]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=10748771#post10748771 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by zemuron114
If you seal the tank from the rest of the house then it should be fine.

Lots of closed loops under the rockwork to keep the detritus suspended will be a HUGE factor in this. In order to keep the system functioning you will need a lot of flow. Talk about a lot of pumps!!!!

i agree with that and it might pay to look into a surge tank to fill the gaps here and there for large flow.

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=10748771#post10748771 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by zemuron114

HUGE skimmer (or 2 or 3).

I know the urge to stock a tank with tons and tons of fish will be hard to resist, but i would seriously consider a low stock to keep the maintenance down.

there is 2 ways to look at this. first its alot like a 200 gallon reef tank just alot bigger. so more live rock for biolagical filtration and bigger skimmers to handle the bio load. with the right skimmers he could stock the tank with 200-300 fish with no problems. if the skimmers are designed right they will be alot more maintence free that the small hobby grade skimmers we are use to. its easy to build washdown systems for huge skimmers because the components are small compared to the size of the skimmer itself. but if you look at a hobby skimmer you cant fit the equiptment necessary to make a wash down system on the skimmer with out it looking more like a reactor than a skimmer.
if his skimmers hold between 8% t 10% of his total system volume in the skimmers themselves there wont be a problem with filtration. but the power to run those skimmer will not be cheap.

 

[blueroof]

I consede that there may be a few tanks in private homes that are in the 6000 gallon size. I would be willing to be you could count them on one hand.

Who knows maybe our poster is Dubai Sultan with unlimited funds and the ability to buy all of the considerable expertise, energy, and commitment a project like that would require.

On the off chance he is just a new, obsessed hobbist (weve have all been there) with a 20 gallon reef and 8 months experience I thought he might want to know what lies ahead.

 

[frozenapple22]

I am not planning on keeping more then maybe 100 fish i don't want the fish to be everywhere i would like to leave some room.

my plan for the tank will be to take my time i am not in a rush.

thanks

 

[hahnmeister]

No, more than on one hand actually.... alot more. Like Spazz said, people with money like that arent looking to advertise it exactly. If you come from old money, its rather tacky to flaunt it. I know of a few in Chicago that keep it very private. The 1500g I helped construct down there (8x8x3) was in a CEO's home, and he asked to keep it confidential as far as pictures go. Look at Bill Wann... he likes his cars, so thats why he might show off a bit in that respect, but other than that, he's keeping it pretty low key. Most of the 'sick-rich' people I know dont talk about it, often dont spend their money in this way, and when they do... they dont talk about it. There are a couple members in WRS like that even. They are loaded... but they drive a KIA to work. Two of my best friends growing up wore ratty blue-jeans and drove beat up VW's even after college. Hey... when you are worth alot, how you dress is meaningless, and what you drive is merely to get you from point A to point B. The woman's folks are sorta like this. The dad wanted his Aston Martin when his company helped prototype it. The only way he could convince the Mrs. that he could get one was because he could get it at cost from Aston, and sell it at a profit after a few years, and, it he was a CEO in the auto industry at the time, so it was a write-off, and he should at least 'appear' to take an interest in his work...lol. Now the Vantage is a few years old, and the Mrs. is saying to the Mr. 'well, its about time to sell that thing and get something sensible, dont you think?'...lol. He took her to check out that new Mercedes CLS63 AMG... 'I wont be seen in that mafia car!' is what she said. I was on the floor holding my gut. So now he is trying to convince her that the BMW 6-series is a good idea. But she would rather have a Toyota. Funny thing is, before 'ruling' in the auto industry, he figured he would just get a VW Golf to run around town in. Just to paint the picture... they still have a Toyota Previa minivan in the garage that the Mrs. loves to use. Go figure.

 

[frozenapple22]

i am not trying to show off i need help i am very worried that something might go wrong i need all the help i can get sorry if i seem to show off that was not my intentions.

 

[dreaminmel]

I don't think that's what they were saying. I think they were trying to explain why we don't see many members on here with these size tanks. I am sure that with enough research in both the construction and in the dynamics of keeping a healthy reef you can make it work and if you have the funds to keep it running then you will have no worries. Hopefully some others with large reef tanks will chime in and give you some more feedback.

 

[john rochon]

FROZEN, 8 months in the hobby, 20g tank come on. be real here.
not trying to stop you from wanting a larger tank but you simply have NO idea what it would take to do this. you can count on spending at least $100 grand on design and build. not to mention that you might sell the house one day LOL. asking here for help on a public sized aquarium shows that your way over your head.
I can barely afford my 500g tank and you'd be spending ALOT more time maintaining a 6000g tank. don't plan on having children or being married, they won't have any of it.

 

[hahnmeister]

True... its not always about the money. Alot of it is about the time and aggrivation that goes with this hobby. A huge system like that could mean 1/2 hour every few days just scraping the glass. The other thing is when you go much over 300g... the scope of the project just changes. Equipment prices jump up alot, and some other considerations do as well. Heck... the basement floor may not even be strong enough for a tank that size.

 

[dreaminmel]

With over two years of experience by the time he gets to that point, the fact that he already mentioned in this thread plans for having the basement reinforced underneath and the assumption that he's already aware of the cost I do not think it's an unreal idea. It is obviously something in the works and I don't expect that to change.

The best thing to add to this thread is suggestions for the plans that will help ensure success. Failing that, I'm sure he'll get the info elsewhere.

 

[ReefingBuddha]

If there is a public aquarium near by it might be worth it to talk to them about how they have set up some of their displays. You might even be able to get behind the scenes to get a better idea of equipment size and orientation. I would love to give you some advice but 6000 gallons is way out of my league.

Also, have you found a manufactorer for this monster? They might be able to give you tips for a project this size. Also look around for companies that do hotel and restaurant aquarium care professionally in your area, they would be useful to use as far as project planning and management are concerned. They would also be able to point you in the right direction concerning equipment options and suppliers for a tank of that size.

Best of luck!

 

[spazz]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=10756797#post10756797 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by john rochon
FROZEN, 8 months in the hobby, 20g tank come on. be real here.
not trying to stop you from wanting a larger tank but you simply have NO idea what it would take to do this. you can count on spending at least $100 grand on design and build. not to mention that you might sell the house one day LOL. asking here for help on a public sized aquarium shows that your way over your head.
I can barely afford my 500g tank and you'd be spending ALOT more time maintaining a 6000g tank. don't plan on having children or being married, they won't have any of it.

wow what a negative additude towards a fellow reefer.
its funny, they did the exact same thing to bill wann when he built his first big tank. then he went to start the 10,000 g tank and people were starting it all up again about how he cant afford it and it will never work. well he is building it and it will be built better than any public aquarium because he knows alot more about building an aquarium than alot of engeneeres do.

so in the future please dont discourage people from there dreams. incourage them to build it and maybe it will be better than you think it will be.

my favorate saying....."where there is a will there is a way". in my mind America was founded on that principal.

also by the time he goes to start building this tank there might be a book out by mike palletta on building large reef tanks. the one big thing you have to remember is the bigger the system the less problems you have with keeping things alive. water vloume plays a huge part in the stability of a large reef tank.

 

[ReefingBuddha]

my .02 cents.... agreed with Spazz, let the man dream and do what he wants. It takes a leap for most people to upgrade into the large tanks, his leap is just greater then most people around here. Personally, I'm jealous...

Best of luck to you Frozen, I hope that your tank comes together like you have invisioned.

 

[erics3000]

I also agree with Spazz. This is the land of dreams. I have always fealt you can do anything you want. It will just take a lot of money and time.

This is going to be a very interesting build. I also agree with being able to view it from at least 2 or 3 sides. it really gives people an understanding of how wide a a tank is whne they can look at it from a different view. I am really growing found of a tank viewable from all sides. Good luck with your research.

 

[hahnmeister]

I forgot to mention before... there are more than a handful of 'large private aquaria'. Turner, co-founder of ORA, and 'el hefe' of RAD, makes a living installing these monsters for not only business, but many homes as well. The book that is on his site is pretty much a collection of photos of systems, most of which he created. FWIW, you might even consider hiring Turner on as a consultant at least. His experience is well worth his fee....
http://www.reefaquariadesign.com/

 

[erics3000]

Great link hahnmeister. I want to find a dvd like that book somewhere.

 

[blueroof]

I am even more impressed when someone follows thier dream when they have all the information and they know the sacrifices that are required- and they still do it.

Does your dream include:

1. Spending (easily) north of $250,000 for constuction and
stocking.
1.5 Countless (hundreds)hours researching and designing the
tank or paying for this. (Very expensive)
2. Dedicating essentially a year of your life to the tank
construction and set-up
3. Spending a couple thousand a month (at least) maintaining
the tank forever.
4. Getting no resale value/or a negative value if you sold your
home. Tear out of a concrete tank would cost thousands
5. Spending at least 20 hours a week to properly maintain the
tank (including slapping on the scuba gear every time a
frag falls off or when you have to scrape coraline at a depth
of 8 feet or paying a service to do it. ($40-50 an hour)
May get old if you have to do it three times a week for the
rest of your life.

If none of these realities are deal killers for you follow your dream.
These are the same questions I would ask a family member who wanted a 6000 gallon reef. If you move forward uninformed it you could spend a small fortune before you realize your dream does not fit you life or wallet. I am not trying to crush someones dreams. If frozen apple does do the tank I will be appluading and following his thread everyday.

 

[blueroof]

I have research many of the turn key services that provide a quality stocked tank. They all seem to charge about $100 per gallon. Prices can go much higher if your cabintry is very high end.
Carvings, marble, etc. And the list of these services that could tackle a 6000 gallon concrete tank is very small. Google concrete tanks and you will find them.

 

[john rochon]

sorry guys if you think I'm negative but lets get real here. I've been around long enough to know what I'm talking about. I've built my own 500g tank [yes the tank itself] and for someone one to post he wants a 6000g tank in a home! sorry but unless your a very rich lawyer and have been in the hobby for many many years this thread is just another pointless endeavor. can't believe how many reefers post these same type of posts either for attention or just plain old uninformed. if you had enough money and balls to build a tank that large you would not be on RC asking questions. that I know.
OH, and BLUEROOF is bang on

 

[hahnmeister]

Hey, he's not asking if he should do it or not... just how, and what advice people may give. I agree, its a huuuge project... but Im sure the scope of the project will require him to make a list of expenses, and he can determine if its right for him. Perhaps if he just posted a list of equipment, costs, etc of what he expects, and then we can take a look at the details rather than getting too far off topic.