A ~19,000 Gallon Aquarium

[dave.m]

Wouldn't it be easier to use a crane and winch to hoist the large rocks into the tank?

Do you think I need more rocks in the crescents?

Too many of the new aquarium set-ups I'm seeing have the rocks piled nearly to the top, totally forgetting the need to leave room for the corals to grow over the years.

Dave.M

 

[Patrick F]

Nahham,

Do you have any theories as to why the hair algae is now dieing off in the system.....have you implemented any changes to improve water quality?

By the way I agree with Dave M, especially with an aquarium that large I would focus on doing mini reef atolls placed throughout the aquarium with lots of open sand space between and open water above them. Would be very interesting to watch the smaller fish stay closer to the reef structures where as the larger specimens will perhaps swim over top of the structures and cruise in the open water.

This is just a pure guess in regards to how the fish will react in the tank though as I have absolutely no experience with an aquarium of this grand of scale.

By the way I really enjoyed the dive pictures you have some very attractive fish, corals and inverts available to you.

Patrick

 

[nahham]

Wouldn't it be easier to use a crane and winch to hoist the large rocks into the tank?

Too many of the new aquarium set-ups I'm seeing have the rocks piled nearly to the top, totally forgetting the need to leave room for the corals to grow over the years.

Dave.M

I am worried about the glass. When we pick the rocks, we make sure we stay clear of the glass.

I totally agree. I was in the process of building a higher structure and then remembered reading something similar to what you wrote here and decided against it. When I mentioned adding to the crescent, I meant horizontally, and not vertically. Putting more rocks together will allow for some complex shapes for fish and corals to grow. The are doing something similar at the marine research centre, just on a much larger scale. They have concrete shapes similar to a Lambda that they dumped into the sea. If I remember correctly each one weighs 2 tons and they dumped 207 pieces of it.

Nahham,

Do you have any theories as to why the hair algae is now dieing off in the system.....have you implemented any changes to improve water quality?

I've added charcoal and aggregate limestones in the .5 x .5 meters. I've added 10 of these and hanged them in the first narrow chamber in the refugium.

By the way I agree with Dave M, especially with an aquarium that large I would focus on doing mini reef atolls placed throughout the aquarium with lots of open sand space between and open water above them. Would be very interesting to watch the smaller fish stay closer to the reef structures where as the larger specimens will perhaps swim over top of the structures and cruise in the open water.

This is just a pure guess in regards to how the fish will react in the tank though as I have absolutely no experience with an aquarium of this grand of scale.

As far as the open spaces go, there is still so much of that. It was actually sad to see this much open spaces after working for 3 hours in the sun.

By the way I really enjoyed the dive pictures you have some very attractive fish, corals and inverts available to you.

Patrick

Thanks. I've enjoyed diving so much. Hopefully next time I'll be able to bring some fish back for the tank. maybe a niger trigger or a sohal, just to test the aquarium

 

[megaspoot]

Nahham,

This is an incredible build. Have you ever considered putting in a fake ship wreck? You could fit a full sized ship practically!

 

[nahham]

Nahham,

This is an incredible build. Have you ever considered putting in a fake ship wreck? You could fit a full sized ship practically!

Thanks. The tank is shallow do I do not know how the wreck would fit. Do you have any photos for me?



For my last reply, I meant to say .5 x .5 meters bags. I've posted photos of them before I think, or was that at the local society?

 

[ls7corvete]

Do you have plans to add some grasses in there? It is just not right seeing all that empty sand.

 

[Beaun]

I would try to keep the rock work as open as possible to allow flow, there is going to be some serious dead spots in something that big. I would figure out a way to "storm" the tank on a monthly basis and get some serious flow in there to turn up and settled stuff.

 

[JillNairn]

Have you turned the pumps on yet?

 

[The]

Wow, you have a gigantic backyard..



You should build a carnival or two.

 

[nahham]

Do you have plans to add some grasses in there? It is just not right seeing all that empty sand.

I wouldn't mind seeing more clean white sand

I would try to keep the rock work as open as possible to allow flow, there is going to be some serious dead spots in something that big. I would figure out a way to "storm" the tank on a monthly basis and get some serious flow in there to turn up and settled stuff.

I'm planning to have my props in the back corners, each give around 72,000 GPH. The curve of the pile should not disturb the flow. I'm alternating between them every so much hours. You think I won't have enough flow? I'm getting worried now ..

Have you turned the pumps on yet?

The electrical company is giving me a hard time coming over to wire everything up. Hopefully by the end of next week I'll have the props in the tank as well as some mounted lights as a test.

Wow, you have a gigantic backyard..

You should build a carnival or two.

It's a carnival everyday in our backyard . It is still not done yet. More stuff coming soon to the backyard

 

[syedjilani]

Beautiful video.

 

[Beaun]

Joe at Atlantis Marine World uses a small boat prop to "storm" the tank every so often, there is bound to be dead spots. I think your flow looks ok, as long as both of the big pumps are on at the same time for short periods, just having other options for keeping detritus from settleing out too long is always a good idea.

 

[nahham]

Beautiful video.

Thanks Syed

Joe at Atlantis Marine World uses a small boat prop to "storm" the tank every so often, there is bound to be dead spots. I think your flow looks ok, as long as both of the big pumps are on at the same time for short periods, just having other options for keeping detritus from settleing out too long is always a good idea.

That is exactly what I had in mind: I would alternate between the 2 props (maybe 6 hrs each) and then while switching between them I will have a 15 mins or so where both are on.

 

[maroun.c]

You need some parrotfish to eat all that algae. Parrotfish have a well developed swim bladder so they can be brought to the surface quickly. You can even catch them on a fishing line without fear of them bloating as you bring them up.

Otherwise you need to get a large siphon hose and do it the old fashioned way.

Are parrotfish usually found deep in the water to worry about them bloating when brought to surface?
I remember seeing parrot fish while snorkling in khorfakan at 5-10 feet deapth which I believe is rather shallow to wrry about their swim bladder?

 

[nahham]

Wanted to check out the light penetration (a 150w MH). I'm only using the lights for night viewing. The water is a bit cloudy because I've just added some water from the sea. I also had some focus issues. (Watch in HD)

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[K.Sweeney]

Great idea, but if it is for night time you'll want an 20k bulb.

 

[Christoff247]

Great idea, but if it is for night time you'll want an 20k bulb.

Just curious, why?

Chris

 

[nahham]

Just curious, why?

Chris

I'm just guessing here but 20k bulbs is the bluest night like you get which gives you a deep-sea feeling.

 

[jerseyhokie]

The top view of the tank was very cool

 

[Acolin]

looks empty - needs large coral reef