Seeking advice on how to build outdoor aquarium

[DrewBrees713]

Howdy fellow Earthlings

I'm NOT in the process of building an outdoor aquarium at this point. This project will kick start in about 1-2 years from now. In the meantime I'd like to get all my questions asked before breaking ground. Below is a link similar to what I have in mind. It will be house in a covered backyard shield from the element with glass ceiling for natural light to come thru.

Here in Houston it doesn't get too cold in the winter but I suppose some type of a heating system is required. Should I go with natural gas? If so how much would it cost to heat up something in the area of 5-10,000 Gallons of water? Will solar panel be more cost effective? Does anyone know how much the whole project will set me back?

TIA


http://www.flickr.com/photos/octopusgallery/412067736/in/set-72157594572682539/

 

[andrzadr000]

If you go through the Tanks Of The Month archive there was one pretty sweet outdoor tank in South Africa. He had a pretty good write up about it.

 

[RA]

How are you going to cool it? Houston gets pretty hot.

 

[DrewBrees713]

Cooling is the least of my worries. It will be in an enclosed patio/yard kinda like a glass bio dome, if you will, only much smaller. Heating would be my biggest concern.

 

[leveldrummer]

Then it wont be outdoor, it will be indoor, and naturally lit by the sun, correct?

 

[DrewBrees713]

Then it wont be outdoor, it will be indoor, and naturally lit by the sun, correct?

Yes but the enclosed area may or may not have AC. I have yet to decide if I want to install climate control as it may pull too much power and thus will fry my electric bill :fun2:

 

[DrewBrees713]

If you go through the Tanks Of The Month archive there was one pretty sweet outdoor tank in South Africa. He had a pretty good write up about it.

Just went thru TOTM archive. Couldn't find it.

 

[andrzadr000]

Just went thru TOTM archive. Couldn't find it.

Ill take a look, try to link it here.

 

[jinks]

Cooling is the least of my worries. It will be in an enclosed patio/yard kinda like a glass bio dome, if you will, only much smaller. Heating would be my biggest concern.

This seems a lot like a green house. I don't see how this would not get really hot. In ohio I have seen a few thousand gallons get into to 90s in a green house. That is with huge industrial fans blowing fresh air over them. You guys get higher temp then we do so I can't see how it won't get warm. Even with ac in a house a tank in direct sun can over heat easy. I would look at geo thermal for cooling. Would be a fun build, what dimensions would you be doing?

 

[DrewBrees713]

Well I always thought a greenhouse is a separate structure from the main house. I guess you could call it that. Don't know the exact dimension at this moment but I'd like to have a large 5' X 3' viewing pane.

A local guy here in Houston said he could build me a miniature version which is about 2000G for about $1/gal with viewing pane included.

 

[leveldrummer]

Well I always thought a greenhouse is a separate structure from the main house. I guess you could call it that. Don't know the exact dimension at this moment but I'd like to have a large 5' X 3' viewing pane.

A local guy here in Houston said he could build me a miniature version which is about 2000G for about $1/gal with viewing pane included.

typically a green house is seperated, but your talking about it not having climate control, if it doesnt have AC and is naturally lit by the sun, its gonna get hot and humid.

no way around it. either a chiller to keep just the water cold, or an AC to keep the air cold which will in turn keep the water cold will be needed.

if the building is attached to your house, doesnt your house have AC? will it be sharing the air from your home? or will it be seperated by a wall or door ?

 

[jinks]

What are you guys going to build it out of? If I was going to build a large tank like that I would go plywood. Solar tubes might be a good option for natural light. Anything under direct sun light can overheat easy. Geo thermal is a good amount of work to put in but all it takes to run it is a pump on a controller.

 

[Eppy]

Outdoor tank, that sounds AWSOME!!!!
Can't wait to see pictures when the project starts

 

[DrewBrees713]

Forgot to add , it'll be a system with fish only so I don't know if cooling is a must? May add a few soft corals way later if all goes well. But regardless, I surmise, central air is probably needed. The building will be connected to the back end of my house. I have yet to work out the details on how to keep it within acceptable temp range in the winter/summer months.

Plywood most likely would not hold up with this large amount of water involved. I saw one in my area made by concrete so that is what I'd likely go with.

 

[DrewBrees713]

BTW what is the initial set up cost for geothermal? Is it feasible to run in just about any where in the states?

 

[DerekFF]

Geothermal cooling is available anywhere but not heating. The room as described sounds like a sun room/ solarium and you will 100% guaranteed need cooling, at minimum a humidistat and auto venting to control the humidity but it depends on set up. If you keep it separate from the house with a door at minimum you won't have to many issues with your housing temps leaking into the fish room. Be careful though with it being "attached" as the humidity may cause some serious havok on your houses siding. I would consider solar panels to offset the electricity costs because its going to be a lot of money just to run pumps and automated ventilation. What will you use for aquariums? Tubs? Glass aquariums? Troughs? I've read threads done with greenhouses like this but it's costs them a lot to run them. Add the solar costs and I'd estimate this project at $5,000-20,000 depending on if you make this a permanent structure up to code or not and if you go solar. Obviously doing things to code with permitting and solar panels makes the cost more in the $20,000 range but also long term and sustainable.

 

[krzyphsygy]

Waikki aquarium in Hawaii has a true outdoor sps tank with insane growth. Was their a few weeks ago. Also they have a clam tank outdoors. Water is constantly changing from what I understood every 20 min or so.

 

[DrewBrees713]

Waikki aquarium in Hawaii has a true outdoor sps tank with insane growth. Was their a few weeks ago. Also they have a clam tank outdoors. Water is constantly changing from what I understood every 20 min or so.

Would love to see some pics if you have any.

If the total cost is in the $20-30K then that's something quite feasible on my end. I was thinking with the solar panels and build out of the structure the total cost may be in the 50s. Still haven't decided on glass or acrylic for the viewing pane for I don't know what effect direct sunlight will do to either material.

 

[krzyphsygy]

Alright, gonna post a few here, I don't have any pics of filtration or anything as they were behind a secured fence.

The Angel fish was a resident in the outdoor sps tank

 

[krzyphsygy]

Some more shots
The outdoor sps tank is on the right. The acro colonies are more that 3 feet across. Filtration was very basic. A simple large biowheel was all I could see behind the fence and I got a good look. The water comes from the ocean. The Location is right on the beach and water changes automatically like every 15 minutes or something.