Nahham, I have been following this thread since the beginning and most say it is one of the most informative threads I have seen and it helps out or at least inform all us beginners about the possibilities laying in this hobby, you just take it to the point where I would like to go, but not likely can go. I will be looking forward to see the tank up running and hope to be able to see it IRL when I am comming to UAE.
A ~19,000 Gallon Aquarium
- Thread starter nahham
- Start date
nahham
New member
That's funny :lolspin:
Great looking project ... I look forward to seeing it complete.
Tone
Thanks for stopping by.
A pair of clownfish and a blue tang
. Welcome aboard .It's ~19,000, just to be truthful..
I'm happy that you like the thread and learning from it, I'm sure I am. There is a bunch of really great people on this forum willing to help anyway they can, and I'm truly grateful for each and every contribution to this thread by each and everyone of you
. You are welcome whenever you are in the UAE to come and see the tank. I just hope it will be ready and that the weather isn't that bad to sit outside.
miztic
Premium Member
Absolutely fantastic project! I can't wait to see it up and running!
I have a bit of a question, some people earlier in the thread already touched on this, but I didn't really see a reply, are you planning to introduce any non-native species to your tank? if so, I don't think you can pump the tank water back into the ocean, or you'll risk introducing an invasive species (a la http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Caulerpa_taxifolia ), the US has strict laws against doing that I believe.
I have a bit of a question, some people earlier in the thread already touched on this, but I didn't really see a reply, are you planning to introduce any non-native species to your tank? if so, I don't think you can pump the tank water back into the ocean, or you'll risk introducing an invasive species (a la http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Caulerpa_taxifolia ), the US has strict laws against doing that I believe.
mr.wilson
.Registered Member
The effluent water from the tank can be drained into the sand away from the shore or you can dump it into super salinated shallow tanks that evaporate most of it. Whatever doesn't evaporate will be sterilized by the resulting high salinity. If you really want to be thorough, you can throw some slow release sodium hypochlorite (bleach) pucks and let them kill off znything living. Just make sure the bleach off-gasses before you return that water to the sea. A pool chlorine test kit is all you need. You can use sodium thiosulfate to dechlorinate instantly.
One thing to watch is elevated salinity in the tank due to evaporation. You may need a slow drip of pure freshwater to keep salinity in check.
One thing to watch is elevated salinity in the tank due to evaporation. You may need a slow drip of pure freshwater to keep salinity in check.
Uhoh now you've done it. I would expect a visit from the Tang police :lol:Thanks for stopping by.
A pair of clownfish and a blue tang
You might be slightly confused between USA and UAE. Two out of three letters are the same, but they're different countries. Also, the strictest Caulerpa-related laws in the US are state laws in Florida and California; the federal law is less restrictive.
As far as non-natives in the tank are concerned, I don't think Nahham has made a formal declaration either way. If I recall correctly, I believe the plan is to start with natives, because they'll require less acclimation to local conditions. After that, we'll see what Nahham decides to do. One thing he's mentioned as a barrier to some invasive species is the farm-load of hungry fish between the aquarium and the sea. The fish farm won't stop everything, but it should be pretty effective quarantine for some things.
miztic
Premium Member
Altho I didn't explicitly state it, it was part of my question to see if the UAE has similar laws as the US.. and not just related to caulerpa but any kind of more general law that says you can't flush aquarium water into the environment, I was under the impression there is such a thing in the US.
I did see he mentioned wanting to start with local species first. I'm not sure if the farm fish will do anything to stop weird algea spores or anything else that's not "food size". I rather liked the other suggestion of just flushing stuff onto the sand and let it go back into the ground water.
I don't know about the UAE, but I can check on the US side.
I agree. Spores could get through the fish farm. As for the flushing idea, I suppose Nahham could build an infiltration pond. It might have to be dredged periodically, to maintain a good percolation rate, but it should work.
About an hour later, here's the best quote I've found, from this US Fish and Wildlife Service/US Geological Survey publication:
As the quote says, it's only illegal in some places (mostly in California and Florida, but releases in Texas and the Great Lakes states may also fall under some state and federal laws). If anyone can find a national law that makes it illegal to introduce any and all non-native organisms to any and all US waters, I'd be glad to hear about it.
I agree with the ozone being a great tool for a semi closed system like this. It will help clarify the water, as well as help the overall health of the system.
If the ozone generator is large enough, some of its output could be put to use for the above mentioned de-con settling tank before being flushed out. Keep in mind that this would be a much larger dosage for sterilization than the prophylactic dosage that would be given to the aquarium. This then raises the question of controls and prevention of overdose to the aquarium.
I have not studied them for seawater use, but a salt based chlorine generator (from a swimming pool) may be easier to setup for an application like that.
The project is looking amazing!
Oh, and your link to the article is bad. I'd like to have a look
If the ozone generator is large enough, some of its output could be put to use for the above mentioned de-con settling tank before being flushed out. Keep in mind that this would be a much larger dosage for sterilization than the prophylactic dosage that would be given to the aquarium. This then raises the question of controls and prevention of overdose to the aquarium.
I have not studied them for seawater use, but a salt based chlorine generator (from a swimming pool) may be easier to setup for an application like that.
The project is looking amazing!
Oh, and your link to the article is bad. I'd like to have a look
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PLEASE put some plywood over the glass panels until the construction is completed! We will all have a huge heartache for you if one gets scratched or broken!
:hammer:
I have to also ask about the electrical boxes in the columns on what looks to be the inside of the tank?? How will these be waterproofed? Or do mine eyes deceive me? Fiber optic?
Keep up the good work Nahham
:hammer:I have to also ask about the electrical boxes in the columns on what looks to be the inside of the tank?? How will these be waterproofed? Or do mine eyes deceive me? Fiber optic?
Keep up the good work Nahham
koralkrab125
New member
WOW i am amazed. personally for livestock for a tank this size i think a sea tortoise would be sweet, it would be the coolest
nahham
New member
OK a little bit of clarification regarding the livestock:
I will definitely start with local species. When I am sure everything is going well (if it ever does) I might introduce something else. As it stands now though, there will be no 'foreign' species in the aquarium. And when I decide to add anything from outside the local habitat, I'll sure take all your consideration into account, even if we don't have laws to make dumping the aquarium water back to the sea (I'm not sure if we do). I will like to be environmentally cautious/safe/considerate.
It would be hard to see anything 'exotic' living in the sea by me though; the salinity is very high for anything other than hardy local fish (I think it's somewhere around 40PPM). Open waters here are closer to 30PPM.
Thank you all for caring about my local environment as well.
I will definitely start with local species. When I am sure everything is going well (if it ever does) I might introduce something else. As it stands now though, there will be no 'foreign' species in the aquarium. And when I decide to add anything from outside the local habitat, I'll sure take all your consideration into account, even if we don't have laws to make dumping the aquarium water back to the sea (I'm not sure if we do). I will like to be environmentally cautious/safe/considerate.
It would be hard to see anything 'exotic' living in the sea by me though; the salinity is very high for anything other than hardy local fish (I think it's somewhere around 40PPM). Open waters here are closer to 30PPM.
Thank you all for caring about my local environment as well
.
nahham
New member
R U KIDDING ME?
Great job. Can't wait to see it finished. Reserve me a ticket in the front row!!
Thanks for stopping by. Seat reserved, are you going to pay by credit card or cash?
I have some updates coming up soon, stay tuned..
nahham
New member
Unfortunately it is still not filled with water. I've been busy with other pressing matters. I've also been struggling with the well; need to drill deeper but don't have the time to manage that. However, I have a couple of minor updates:
- Bought new pumps. Smaller but more suited to the task at hand (hopefully). Each one should be able to do .5x per hour. I am planning to alternate between them. Still trying to get everything to work properly.
- In the process of ordering some 2 awesome pumps (0.5hp version) for general circulation. I think they use the same ones at Monterey Bay Aquarium, they just use the 1hp ones .
- In the process of buying a controller (ProfiLux 3 EX Elite Pack).
Sorry that I don't have any fancier updates this time. Hopefully I'll get the pumps running this week and fill the tank up just for show
PauChi
New member
Hi nahham,
I thought after reading both Chingchai and nineballs build threads ... oh ok that was a lot of reading and today I accidentally stumbled on yours and ya allah .... another monster thread :hmm5: !!
Just where in the world did you guys come from ... are you sure you're not "Aliens" :hmm6: ??? Trying to capture our attentions and conqeur us thereafter???
Speechless .... :fun5:
Paul
I thought after reading both Chingchai and nineballs build threads ... oh ok that was a lot of reading and today I accidentally stumbled on yours and ya allah .... another monster thread :hmm5: !!
Just where in the world did you guys come from ... are you sure you're not "Aliens" :hmm6: ??? Trying to capture our attentions and conqeur us thereafter???
Speechless .... :fun5:
Paul
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