Large Tank Resouce Questions

[rreddick]

Hi HTH,
very good input. Based on your data and some other info I have dug up. Such as running the power usage numbers for the lights, pumps, heaters, etc. I have to agree with you. I am going to go with the suggested plan and down scale to the 10x4x3 tank which comes in just under 1000G. it think this is much more realistic on the budget, build, and maint of the systems as you said. One of the reason I asked the question was to get all of your input/ideas.

For the sump was thinking 500G concrete unit in the baasement fish room. I have a 100G industrial barrel I currently use to make RO/DI water from my unit which pushes out 90G per day and I only need this for top off. I can get filtered Sea Water localy at no cost and have a 250G Tank I use for that on a flat bed trailer. I was then thinking to place a 500G bladder tank in the basement I could pump this into.

Plus I am with you, I think the equipment size and cost difference is huge one you step up to a 5K gallon or larger tank.

For flow I was thinking of having 20K per hour, using 4 2" drains from two side overflows. 2 of the overflows tubes feeding the sump, the other two feeding the closed loop system, I have built an acrylic port sequencer for my 180 that works very well in creating random flow ( similiar to a OM but not hard stops as it moves)
Return via 4 Sequence 6000 GPH pumps. Two on each system. THinking either a DIY Skimmer or Deltec, Bubble King. I will DIY the Calc, Phos, and thinking maybe a Zeo reactor also, still researching that topic/system.

As to lighting, if I would have gone with the original plan the 400W MH's I have would have not worked at depth. I think with 3' depth those should be OK.

You mentioned wave makers, how many of the larger systems are running that kind of system?

Thanks for the help once again.

Ron

 

[ccloveraz]

The cost of this setup is going to depend on who is doing the work, and how many connections you can tap.

I am looking at a 1200 gallon in wall for much less than 20K; I am doing most of the work and dont have too many connections that I can utilize.

If you caontract everything out then of coarse you will spend 100K on that system.

 

[rreddick]

HTH,
Thanks for the input. BTW - The Four Seasons Bali is 490 a night, stayed there a few times. And I do not think maint is going to run $88K a year, but I do get your point.

Ron

 

[AQUA DAVE]

check out the solotube thread, they are a great option for natural lighting. Also go to www.reefvideos.com and check out anthony calfos coral farming seminar. It has great tips and input on natural lighting. It would save you thousands in the long run. Also stimulate spawning because of the direct moon cycle being projected into the tank at night(natural moonlight).

 

[AQUA DAVE]

Also i would get the water tested after it is filtered by a chemist to make sure you aren't starting out with anything harmful. It is natural sea water but you never know. You don't want to have somthing that small come back to haunt you in the middle of the process on such a large system.

 

[uztaryn]

10x4x3 should be 901 gallons and a much more managable tank. Good luck on the system and build out. I think you are going to really enjoy a tank of that size.

 

[shutiny]

Ron,

I think 1000g is a good size's tank, and a wave box may work well. May be you could check with Roger at the Tunze USA if you are interesting in going that route. My tank was built with Wave Box in mind, however, I do not have any in my tank. I decided to use close loop and am now waiting for 6300.
Good luck and looking forward to see you tank up soon. I am sure it will be beautiful

 

[Avast Marine]

PM sent

 

[cokemanmark]

ok i am planing on doing a big tank in the next 6 mounths and i had tenocor price me a 20x5x5 and the tank alone was 100000 because you have to us 2.5 to 3 inch acylic and the price is going up

 

[JoeyK@OCMD]

I think sometimes we as hobbyist are so consumed with getting the tanks of our dreams, that we forget about the bigger picture. when you decide to permantly install a 500+ gallon tank in your home budgets should be thrown out the window. If you believe your project is going to cost x amount of dollars, then you should figure adding 40% of that original number right on top of it. Building a fish tank is one thing, but when you try to make it an integral part of a house, you are entering an entirely different realm, in which most people should'nt DIYS.

Secondly you need to look at the home in question, and determine if a large tank is going to look right in that space. A 1000 gallon tank should be sitting in a great room of a large home. I certainly wouldn't want to give my living room the appearence of a public aquarium. Ultimately, a day will come when the house will be put on the market. The last thing a potential buyer would want to see, is a fish room containing a jumble of hoses and wires.

I work In construction and Did almost everything myself. My tank and fish room still exceeded costs of over 30K, but in the end the tank aestheticely matches the house. The added on fish room is meticulously tidy as far as plumbing and wires go, and can easily be converted to a shower/ changing room later if needed. (I live at the beach, so these kind of rooms are common here).

I am certainly not trying to talk anyone out of going extremely large but if you don't have the money to properly set up a tank of that size to begin with how will you stock it.
Ultimatly the monthly bills to maintain mount up quickly. My wife complains every month, but I just tell her to get back in the kitchen, while I go to work. No seriously, Our area just underwent a rate hike from the electric company. I pay between 400 - 700 dollars a month.

If you decide to go big, good luck, and save some money for a good camera so we can see your tank.

 

[Bono]

Have you checked out Mr4000? I beleive he had to take his basement tank down as the humidity was rotting his floors.

I had a fairly large tank in Mass a few years ago and I never needed a chiller given the temp of the concrete in the basement. A good heater is a must.

 

[clekchau]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=8896585#post8896585 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by Bebo77
lol not all of the tank.. or maybe JUST the tank... a 10x2x2 tank is around $8000 alone

you can get a 10x2x2 acrylic aquarium shipped for far less from midwest custom aquarium, tenecor, socalcreations and probably even envision, when i was getting quotes for a tank that size it was far less than 8k

 

[clekchau]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=8925608#post8925608 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by JoeyK@OCMD
I think sometimes we as hobbyist are so consumed with getting the tanks of our dreams, that we forget about the bigger picture. when you decide to permantly install a 500+ gallon tank in your home budgets should be thrown out the window. If you believe your project is going to cost x amount of dollars, then you should figure adding 40% of that original number right on top of it. Building a fish tank is one thing, but when you try to make it an integral part of a house, you are entering an entirely different realm, in which most people should'nt DIYS.

Secondly you need to look at the home in question, and determine if a large tank is going to look right in that space. A 1000 gallon tank should be sitting in a great room of a large home. I certainly wouldn't want to give my living room the appearence of a public aquarium. Ultimately, a day will come when the house will be put on the market. The last thing a potential buyer would want to see, is a fish room containing a jumble of hoses and wires.

I work In construction and Did almost everything myself. My tank and fish room still exceeded costs of over 30K, but in the end the tank aestheticely matches the house. The added on fish room is meticulously tidy as far as plumbing and wires go, and can easily be converted to a shower/ changing room later if needed. (I live at the beach, so these kind of rooms are common here).

I am certainly not trying to talk anyone out of going extremely large but if you don't have the money to properly set up a tank of that size to begin with how will you stock it.
Ultimatly the monthly bills to maintain mount up quickly. My wife complains every month, but I just tell her to get back in the kitchen, while I go to work. No seriously, Our area just underwent a rate hike from the electric company. I pay between 400 - 700 dollars a month.

If you decide to go big, good luck, and save some money for a good camera so we can see your tank.

LOL @ wife in the kitchen

do you have any pics of your setup?

 

[JoeyK@OCMD]

Clekchau,

Here is an early pic of my set up while it was under construction. I will be getting more recent shots soon. It takes a really wide angle lens to get a shot of everything. the lower 75 gallon tank is a permanant QT setup, and the 56 gallon tank up top is for holding new corals and growing out my frags. the fish system and the main tanks both have quick connects for drip acclimation.

When I get the time, I will probably start a thread on the construction of everything and explain it more thuroughly.