A ~19,000 Gallon Aquarium

[salali]

This will be amazing at the end

 

[HawkinsStu]

loving the improvments to the tank and im glade from the last set of the pictures the seating area is coming along nicly, its going to look and feel fantastic.

 

[nahham]

The Big Bang of 2012 Update

The Big Bang of 2012 Update

It has been a bit slow because of all the minor details that needs to be done (and usually redone). We managed to (kinda) install the lights on the walls:

A demo on one of the walls

Another demo

I think it looks good and gives just about the right amount of light around the aquarium.

I also started experimenting with making DIY rock. We dug what is to be called 'the pit':

We already started trying different mixes of oyster shells/sand/rock salt/cement. I hope it will be a success. Wish me luck.

 

[dave.m]

If that is silica sand you are using you are in for some fabulous diatom growth.

Dave.M

 

[nahham]

If that is silica sand you are using you are in for some fabulous diatom growth.

Dave.M

Did use it the first time around, but it is out of the tank right now and replacing it with what I hope is a better choice.

 

[Spectre2006]

look up aragocrete recipe...

http://www.garf.org/class.html

 

[nahham]

The Big Bang of 2012 Update

The Big Bang of 2012 Update

Well I took out some of the DIY live rock I made. The first rock did not come out as I planned; it was supposed to have a plate on top but it crumbled when I took it out. In the second batch I changed the mix a bit and made two: a mountain type rock and a rock with a hole.

The 3 rocks. Apologies for the green hue, I don't know why that happened.

The hole in the rock. I made with with rock salt and you can see the remaining rock salt inside. The hole is a good 3 - 4 inches in diameter.

Another shot of the rock-with-a-hole.

I am guessing I am getting close to getting the mix right. The mountain-like rock is quite heavy as is the first rock I've made. They are all quite porous though which is a relief and I didn't use rock salt in the second batch and it didn't seem to affect how porous the rock is.

In the first batch I used:

• 1 part cement
• 1 part sand
• 3 parts crushed shells

In the second batch I used:

• 1 part cement
• 1 part sand
• 2 parts crushed shells

I'm thinking of removing the sand completely or using a much smaller ratio because I still think it will need more strength. What do you think?

 

[Twistedpro]

interesting idea with the man made rock, the pieces in the pictures look very uniform are you going to try and get some more ragged branching pieces to give a more natural look? could you build in in situ? and then flush after the refill

 

[mr.wilson]

I'm thinking of removing the sand completely or using a much smaller ratio because I still think it will need more strength. What do you think?

The aggregate (sand) is the strength, the portland is the "sticky". The rocks you have made will be difficult to stack and arrange to look like a reef. Try to keep them asymmetrical and remember, fine detail will be lost, so focus on the "large brush strokes".

I know it's a desert, but surely there is a limestone quarry somewhere close?

The sand looks like marble chips which are calcareous and suitable. The only question is the granule size. You may want to mix in some larger peanut-size coral branches or marble gravel.

The substrate can also be simulated with an aragocrete treatment of the bottom. If you don't have access to a unite machine, you can pour a few inches of wet aragocrete then add texture with an air compressor or by hand. a pebbledash method similar to stucco finishes will also work.

 

[leonet]

nice build. cant wait to see some waters in there! goodluck.

 

[MxReEfEr92]

Tagging.

What kind of controller would be used for such a big system?

 

[dnLEDman]

any updates?

 

[APC]

Any updates?

 

[rwyatt4424]

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this is awesome

 

[Mussin]

Wow.... My dream "tank"..

 

[mschmero]

What kind of fish are you planning to keep in here. It is certainly big enough.

 

[SoLiD]

Such dedication though out this whole thread. :thumbsup:

 

[JayGatsby]

SeaWorld UAE.

 

[mpierce]

What's the current state of this tank? Is it running again?

 

[ShaBear]

Are there any updates for "SeaWorld UAE"?