North Dakota Mini-Ocean

Man I love epic builds like this. Especially when the OP is good about posting awesome equipment room pics like you do! Can't wait!
 
Good news! Just hired Sam Slobusky from Wet Work. I think he will provide valuable experience in setting up large aquariums. He is in the final stages of a 6400 gallon monster. Very excited to get Sam aboard and start bringing this project to life.
 
Had an awesome talk via Skype with Sam this morning. His ideas are exactly in line with what we envision. The 4100 gallon monster is coming to life. The idea is to pour the concrete foundation in the next 45 days. Concept pictures to follow in the next few days.
 
1st revision layout by tomorrow night.

But a little sneak peek at the 1st site plan layout.
 

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Some sketch up drawings!!
 

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Couple thoughts;
1. Where is the heater/de-humidifier going to be? My assumption was this is not just a small box. Plus some type of furnace for the viewing room?

2. What is the plan for the front side? Will you have access to the tank from this side. Right now I only saw a platform from one end. And working over the overflow on the entire back would make me nervous.

3. With such large water changes I would want it all plumbed to so it is just opening a valve or two. With the tanks on the other side of the room this would be difficult to accomplish cause it appears there needs to be an open walk way down the middle?

Sent from my DROID RAZR using Tapatalk 2
 
I dont know if you are married or not but if the reef house comes out even close to the renderings, I would add a bed just to be safe. lololol But in all seriousness, those are some serious plans you have there.
 
1. Where is the heater/de-humidifier going to be? My assumption was this is not just a small box. Plus some type of furnace for the viewing room?

It will be a radiant hot water heating system based off an on-demand water heater buried in the slab throughout and in the walls. There is a specific brand of high-capacity dehumidifier I will recommend, both of which will be mounted above the main display on the wall. 1" drainage line will be in the wall and feed to the main floor drain/gutter. Radiant heat will provide heat for the viewing room as well. Mini-split ductless AC for cooling in the summer. The exterior units can be covered during the winter months. LG makes a really pretty, low-profile interior unit.

2. What is the plan for the front side? Will you have access to the tank from this side. Right now I only saw a platform from one end. And working over the overflow on the entire back would make me nervous.

Access from the front side can be made possible, but, personally, I see no reason for it since the display is 6' deep. You won't be able to accomplish anything in this system without getting into it, nor would you be "working" over the overflow. You'll need access to it to remove the occasional fish and to stir up detritus that will accumulate. Other than that, the sump/platform is so you can view the refugium at eye level and also get a top down view of your system.

3. With such large water changes I would want it all plumbed to so it is just opening a valve or two. With the tanks on the other side of the room this would be difficult to accomplish cause it appears there needs to be an open walk way down the middle?

The water change feed lines will be in the slab, so all you have to do is open a valve and the fresh seawater will gravity drain into the return section of the sump. Another valve will redirect water from the overflow into the drainage system and of course the valves will be right next to each other. Open one, close the other. Have a beer. Reverse the process. Done!
 
Trust me - The finished product will make the drawings look like child's play.

My wife and Sam are very detail oriented. Nothing will be left to chance.
 
Now were talking about my two most favorite things!

Now were talking about my two most favorite things!

"It will be a radiant hot water heating system based off an on-demand water heater buried in the slab throughout and in the walls. There is a specific brand of high-capacity dehumidifier I will recommend, both of which will be mounted above the main display on the wall. 1" drainage line will be in the wall and feed to the main floor drain/gutter. Radiant heat will provide heat for the viewing room as well. Mini-split ductless AC for cooling in the summer. The exterior units can be covered during the winter months. LG makes a really pretty, low-profile interior unit."


I want to give a big thumbs up to you and your on-going efforts with this incredible build.

Also I wanted to recommend a product to you for use in the heating and cooling of the viewing and maintenance areas of your tank. Check out this illustration of a product I work with, it is manufactured by Daikin AC and is an amazingly diverse product for applications such as this.

resizedimage600419-Altherma-SplitDiagLG2.jpg


As you can see (I hope) this system is able to do both the radient heating and also cooling with a single outdoor condensing heat pump unit. Also it is able to heat potable water. While I also do A LOT of work with the LG mini splits and absolutely love the ArtCool systems, http://www.lg-dfs.com/art-cool-gallery-inverter.aspx, I think you would have a better experience in the long run with a system like this.

Here is a link to the product page; http://www.daikinac.com/content/residential/whole-house/daikin-altherma/

Anyways, that is my two cents on that. Otherwise keep up the great progress, and I can't wait to see what you do next.
 
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