Apartment Reef in Munich (large) RC plans, builds and operates it

[nandor]

First and most important:

Many thanks to the whole RC community to which I owe all of the (yet way too little) knowledge about reef keeping that I accumulated so far. If it was not this forum I would never have pursued in planning my first ever reef tank. It is the whole community that leads to the success of this forum which makes it hard for me to point out any specific threat. However Chingchai's and Nineball's (Peter's) building threats where especially inspiring, fun to read and an unlimited source of reef keeping wisdom. I am really looking forward to it when Mr. Wilson, Peter and Chingchai will find the time to sit together and compile all the wisdom and experience in a book or even better in an internet site. This site for sure will be a great success and a big contribution to our common goal to keep animals in their natural healthy environment placed in our homes.

For myself I never had a reef tank. The only fish keeping experience lies more than 20 year back having a small freshwater tank as a teen. I am a passionate diver (PADI Instructor) and have been lucky enough to dive some of the best sites in the world. The marine biology - especially corals, inverts and small fish is what interests me most about it. I did not think of having my own reef tank so far for my goal with it is to set up a naturally functioning reef with as little technical help as possible which requires some space which I did not have so far. Only when I started planning to build a new apartment which allows me to install a rather big tank I started reading and talking to numerous people in different countries here in Europe about reefing. Since I travel quite frequently and also to the Americas I am trying to distillate the best of "œboth worlds" "“ sorry not meant offensive and of course most of the Asian tanks I have seen are much nicer than anything we have in Europe.

I would like to share my experience with this forum and will post all information that I find out in the planning, building and operation of my tank. Thank you very much to anybody that contributes to this process being it supportive or criticism. I appreciate your comments and promise to keep everybody informed about this endeavor. Yes: and with a lot of pictures.

Please be aware that this project is still in the planning phase so it will take some patience until we see the first animal to move in. It won't be before years end. However I decided to start this threat at this early stage for two reasons: 1) Share the knowledge I get while planning including the challenging task of integrating the tank in a top floor apartment of a multi-story residential building (statics, insurance, fights with my architect ..) and "“ more important "“ 2) To incorporate RC also in planning to make sure that this really will be a RC tank.

Even a journey of 1000 miles starts with the first step. So let's start

 

[ace_92101]

I'm looking forward to seeing your build. As a PADI Divemaster who has dove all over the world, I know that feeling of "I wish I could put that in my tank". It sounds like you've done a lot of planning. Just remember that mistakes and setbacks are going to happen. Best of luck.

 

[nandor]

thank you ace; indeed I saw some things I wished to take in my BCD for my (not yet existing) tank. Setbacks are one thing everybody tries to avoid. I agree all best efforts in planing can not completely rule them out.

 

[nandor]

The first issue in planning I would like to do is the placement of the tank within the apartment for this leads to other fundamentals like tank size, statics, plumbing, stand, pp. My planning so far places the tank on one side of the living room separating the open kitchen from the living area itself. This setup also has short ways to the adjacent tech room next to it.

Any comments / alternatives?

 

[Lynnmw1208]

wow this is going to look great! I can't wait to see it being built!!

 

[plyr58]

Tagging along

 

[nandor]

wow this is going to look great! I can't wait to see it being built!!

thank you Lynn. Same is true for me

 

[nandor]

Tagging along

welcome to this thread

 

[JanVelazquez]

Hey

It looks like you are off to a good start. I am also imstalling a large tank in my apt (500 gal) and it is a challenge.

A couple of questions:

1. What type of tank (reef, fish only)?
2. Do you know the load bearing of the floor?
3. I see you have the space beneath the stairs for the equipment, will it fit?
4. Do you have drainage for water changes?
5. Make sure you insulate the space where the pumps will go, i had to modify my plans because of the noise.
6. What type of filter will you be using?
7. Make sure everything fits in the elevator. I had to use a crane to lift mine 15 floors up

Best of luck to you and keep posting on your progress

Regards

Jan

 

[nandor]

Hola Jan,

excellent advice. Thank you. Do you have a threat for your tank or some pictures? Please let me answer your questions below:


A couple of questions:

1. What type of tank (reef, fish only)?

Reef. Mostly SPS and LPS corals with minimalistic aquascaping. Fish for movement only and no hard to keep ones. However I am looking into some rare ones as well but nothing decided yet.

2. Do you know the load bearing of the floor?

Depending on the size of the tank, which is not determined fully yet around 6 metric tons, 13,227 lb.

3. I see you have the space beneath the stairs for the equipment, will it fit?

All the equipment running has to fit into the adjacent room. The room next to the stairs will be a toilet. Storage for tank stuff not needed for running is plenty one floor below. The measurements of the equipment room is one point I am looking to get advice for. Any comments?

4. Do you have drainage for water changes?

The equipment room will be water insulated as bathrooms do with a sink and drainage in the floor (base sloped).

5. Make sure you insulate the space where the pumps will go, i had to modify my plans because of the noise.

Good point. Any suggestions for insulating means? The tank should be as noise free as possible.

6. What type of filter will you be using?

To be determined yet. I will rely on skimmer, algae in refugium, life rock and (r)DSB

7. Make sure everything fits in the elevator. I had to use a crane to lift mine 15 floors up

Since this apartment is a new build we will have a crane for construction that will also be used for tank lift.

Best of luck to you and keep posting on your progress

Thanks again - as promised I will.

Saludos a Puerto Rico

 

[prop-frags]

Peninsula looks like a great way to maximize your viewing for the small space you have. Since the apartment will be in construction at the same time, can you have the skylights lined up with tank, or perhaps have solar tubes installed? Natural sunlight will be excellent for keeping costs and heat down.

 

[nandor]

Peninsula looks like a great way to maximize your viewing for the small space you have. Since the apartment will be in construction at the same time, can you have the skylights lined up with tank, or perhaps have solar tubes installed? Natural sunlight will be excellent for keeping costs and heat down.

I was looking into natural sunlight for I agree it is the best. Solartubes are maybe not the best choice for they would limit the "open look" above the tank?:

Rooftop skylight windows are an option. I am not sure whether they are of much use since the ceiling height above tank is around 4 m (157 inch).

I agree on peninsula design is best to allow maximum viewing from living room and kitchen. Thank you for your comment

 

[JanVelazquez]

Grüße aus Puerto Rico

I have a thread I started as well a couple of weeks ago for the same purpose as you. To get help from the RC community.

http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?t=2032111

As far as your build...

Just make sure you have sufficient support under the tank and try to distribute the weight as much as possible with the frame.

Since you are doing a new build... If your apartment has two floors like mine you can try and run the filtration from the other floor. You just need to figure out how you will do the plumbing. This way you can even have it in the center of the room without the neet to go into the stairs. You could watch it from all four sides.

I am setting up two 500gal tanks although I will do one this year and the seccond ASAP. One will be in one seccond floor of the apt and the other one in the firts floor but basically in the same general location. Both will be connected as a I mentioned.

I mentioned the drainage because in my construction I asked the contractor to include plumbing in the walls so that I could do water changes and maintenance without haveing any hoses or basically creating a mess of water. This is just for automation.

As far as the room for the equipment it depends on the tank size and your budget. Will you be using the space below the tank for anything? Try to create as much room as possible. I just have a 3'x12' space behind the aquarium and outside of the room I will have the pumps and generator in two 3'x5' closet.

This brings me to the point.... get a generator!!! with an automatic transfer switch.

For the noise insulation.. I recommend getting the most quiet pump you can get or housing it in a sound proof enclosure but with some ventilation.

I'll post later on some more pictures and drawings of what I plant to do as far as equipment so you can get some ideas.

I am now at the point of purchasing the filtration systems so I can start the plumbing.

Saludos

Jan

 

[nineball]

Food for Thought

Food for Thought

First, welcome to the build community and thank you for the undeserved recognition. Chingchai deserves it as he is the grand master and my mentor.

When I set up to do my build, before I even talked to the architect I set up some design principles that were important to me and independent of cost. In other words these principles were more important to me than cost.

First, if someone comes to my home and enters the foyer I do not want them to know that I have an aquarium because of noise (water, machine or plumbing), or heat, or humidity, or smell (any smell whatsoever). These issues I would not compromise. I have been successful and I am glad I made sure that all of my build decisions were measured against these principles.

If your reef is what you hoped for in the beginning then your fish room or supporting environment will be on display. Most of the folks who have seen my aquarium in the flesh have told me that the most interesting part of the whole display experience has been the fish room. I learned just how important that fact is from Chingchai and I am glad that I set enough priority to the 'back room' as the display tank.

People build reef aquariums and it is people that make a significant difference in the outcomes.....not just money. Find yourself a Mr. Wilson to oversee the project. The risks are too great for a catastrophe on a build such as this for you to try and learn everything from scratch. This is a project worth doing so you need to consider what it will take to make it successful.

The setting is fabulous but there are some obvious issues you need to take into account from the outset. With all the light hitting the sides of the tank, maintenance will be a nightmare. When you hope to have a showcase like this you do not want to be constantly apologizing and making excuses for how dirty the glass or acrylic looks. Keeping the glass clean all the time for impromptu tours is a big enough job on top of all the other things you will want to do to maintain the site in pristine condition.

I have been at my build for almost two years and I honestly believe that I am only half way through my build. I have thrown out almost ALL the equipment that I started with and replaced it due to the learning curve and the poor skill set of my original advisor. I do not regret the learning process but I do have the advantage at this point to strongly suggest that you find the best demonstrated oversight from a professional that you can find. They don't necessarily have to be full time if you are willing to put in the time and energy but they have knowledge that will save you thousands of euros and pain in the long run. Find yourself a local Mr.Wilson.

And for sure continue to use and support this community because they will give you the confidence to do what you have to do to be successful.

Great project and I will be checking in from time to time to see how you are doing. I am sure Chingchai will be too.

Peter

 

[nandor]

Peter,

I am honored by your presence in my threat.

Please allow me to start with dissenting just once in one point in your post: the recognition for you at the beginning of my threat is more than deserved. I do understand that the success of your build is largely based on your mentor (or friend as he would like to call it) Chingchai, the whole building team and last but not least RC. However it is your dedication to the project that made it possible not to speak of financial resources and more important time. Your way of describing the tank is both eloquent and fun to read while you always emphasize other person's role in it. In three words: a true gentleman.

Your contribution to the knowledge base of reefing should not be underestimated. Whenever I talked to reefers or LFS-Owners in Belgium, The Netherlands or Germany, most of them knew about Chingchai's and your projects. For me it was then easy to refer to some of the findings of your threat Also your ruling out some approaches by testing, changing and retesting equipment is of high value for all of us.

Thank you very much for your advice on my project. I will take everything into account.

The planning will focus on the equipment room. Unfortunately I am a little bit limited in space for this since the tank will be in a downtown apartment. Even more therefore has the planning and build of it to be perfect. I wish I had the 3d skills as Chingchai's friend has with 3dmax.

Could you please clone Mr. Wilson for me and send him over? I will arrange a perfect factory tour of Lamborghinis plant and car test driving with wine tasting week in Tuscany as a reward.

I am currently in the process of selecting the right LFS to help me with the build as well as to find a local "œreefing veteran" that can support us in building and operation for the first years. Any recommendation from local reefers reading this would be highly appreciated.

The maintenance work, especially algae keeps me worried. This is truer since my wife and I are not constantly living in this apartment. Since full automating does not work we will have to rely on somebody trustworthy in doing this. It could be a LFS service twice a week supported by a local guy doing daily cleaning, feeding and checks.

RC will be used heavily as advised.

Thank you again for your presence and comments.

Hannes

 

[440-six-pack]

Hi Nandor!

Nice Build Thread! Try to make a filter sump for this big tank. The natural sunlight is not enough for corals. I´m using LED Moduls for my 3000L Azoo
tank. With LED you can save a lot of money end of the year.

Greetings from Munich

Boris

 

[nandor]

Hallo Boris,

thank you. LED are definitely my first choice since heat development pretty much rules out MH.

If you want pls PM me for direct phone contact.

 

[440-six-pack]

Hi Nandor!

You´ve got a pm!

Boris