Large Tank Resouce Questions

[rreddick]

Hi All,
We are building a new addiiton to our home and I have gotten the other half to agree to a very large system, depending on estimated cost. I think I can handle with the forums help the lighting, filtration, water movement issues ok. The questions and needed resources are around the actual fabrication of the tank and sump system.

What I am thinking is as follows:

Display Tank on main floor with concrete foundation under tank area and concrete slap
dimensions 20' long, 5' depth, by 8' height. (5000 gals) . This will take up one complete wall of the addition (media room) with new master suite on second floor.

In the basement fish room below tank- 500G cement box sump lined with pond liner.
Also have room above the tank (room hieght is 12" ceilings and want to be able to have a working platform to feed from, also to get into the tank for maint, etc.

I have no idea around glass options, framing, etc. Also ventalation issues for the tank area itself as I can have about 3 feet of space behind the tank Our architect has no clue on what is needed, and all of the specs need to go on the plans for approval. So help needed from anyone that has done this, or direction on whom to speak with on this. My total budget granted to me by the powers to be for this is $30K, and this needs to cover the tank, plumbing, skimmers, lighting etc. is it enough or am I dreaming that it can be done for that. My 180G ran close to $7K all said and done but I am hoping that it is not a straight line scale in costs.

I was also thinking to use shotcrete for the main formations and then add real LR onto that foundation? This is a once in a lifetime thing, and if I can pull it off it would be awsome.

Thanks
Ron

 

[Bebo77]

lol.. you are dreaming if you think 30K will cover a tank that size.. it wont even cover the price of the tank as 20' acrylic has to be custom made....

if i were you with a budget of 30K for everything i would go 500-600 gallon display+ equipment...

 

[invincible569]

Whats the reason for going so big?

 

[reefboy1]

I agree with Gabriel. If you have a budget of $30k, I'd go with a smaller custom tank (400-500gal) and which should leave you with some money left over to stock.

I spent all of my budget on building my 375gal and didn't have enough left over to stock it (big mistake).

Good luck with it.

 

[rreddick]

Would a 2 Piece glass panel be less expensive? As this is new consturction I can do the side walls and back in coated concrete and have the glass craned in during the construction.

Ron

 

[rreddick]

The thinking was to make the back wall all aquarium. I guess I could scale it down or wait for bonus time in 5 months. The room is dimensions are 25' x 35' with the projection wall on the oppisite end from the tank location. As the building time frame here on the cape once I get plans approved will be about 5 months, that gives me around 8 months to save the core money. Would 60 or 70 then be even realistic. We just think that the full wall would be very interesting and as this is the house I will die in want not go for it.

Ron

 

[mflamb]

In all reality, 30K will get you a good 600 gallon reef. Cost is not linear with size.

 

[rreddick]

One other note, I see the Steve Weast built his 850G for 20K. So am I correct that my main cost factor here is the glass or acrylc for the tank?

Ron

 

[Bebo77]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=8896543#post8896543 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by rreddick
One other note, I see the Steve Weast built his 850G for 20K. So am I correct that my main cost factor here is the glass or acrylc for the tank?

Ron

lol not all of the tank.. or maybe JUST the tank... a 10x2x2 tank is around $8000 alone

 

[rreddick]

reefboy and mflamb,
In the 50 to 800 G range what are optimal dimensions? I would like to get good coverage on the wall, but do like the way Steve's tank looks with that depth. One other thing to consider, I am not taking the framing, concrete costs into the 30K as this is alreaady caluclated into the cost of the addition it self.

Ron

 

[rreddick]

Hi Gabriel,
Intersting, that was the number he gave on his website on the cost for his 850 system.

Ron

 

[Bebo77]

his protein skimmer costs $5000 reactor and he has a deltec Ca reactor Deltecc Kalk reactor and a Deltec phosphate reactor... that $10,000 in equipment...


ask James at http://www.envisionacrylics.com/ he is the one that made Steve's tank about costs for building a tank

 

[rreddick]

Gabriel,
Man the costs jump up, as my 180G which is 6x2x2 was less then a grand, I cannot understand how 4 more feet in length would multiply the cost by 8 times.

I may have to rethink this concept, that is why I am asking questions now, do not want to get in to far and then find out I cannot complete due to lack of nickles

Ron

 

[rreddick]

Bebo,
Thanks for the link, will get some cost estimates from him. I figured my biggest cost items where going to be
Skimmer
Lights
rock

Thought the tank would be the least of my worries
man was I wrong
Ron

 

[Bebo77]

oh yeah.. once you go passed 10' the acrylic has to be custom made now you are talking $30,000 just for acrylic alone...


a really nice tank 10' x 4' x 3'... thats would rock....

 

[Bebo77]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=8896697#post8896697 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by rreddick
Bebo,
Thanks for the link, will get some cost estimates from him. I figured my biggest cost items where going to be
Skimmer
Lights
rock

Thought the tank would be the least of my worries
man was I wrong
Ron

ya man... james made my tank.... awesome guy.. no one knows acrylic better than he does...

 

[rreddick]

So Bebo,
Thats 3' water depth and 4' front to Back?
What hieght from the floor would you suggest? 10' centered on that wall would look very nice. Also cuts down on the floor loading a bit, could then just go with engineered 2x12 on 12" centers between the concrete peir walls.

Ron

 

[rreddick]

Also Bebo,
I know Siler lake, we used to leave in Corona del Mar, my wife grew up near barstow

Ron

 

[Bebo77]

yeah.. you really dont want to go deeper than 3' deep as you would have to run nothing less than 1000 watt Mh's...

and at 4' deep or even @ Steve's 7.5' you can get some real nice aquascaping in....

 

[Bebo77]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=8896785#post8896785 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by rreddick
Also Bebo,
I know Siler lake, we used to leave in Corona del Mar, my wife grew up near barstow

Ron

yeah man... gotta love SoCal... sun, beaches, snow,women.. ahhh its beautiful out here....