1000 Us Gal Project

[T1KARMANN]

small fish dont intrest me so i dont need another tank for them

i keep my ph at 7 so can keep most fish above 6-7inch

even with multi small tanks i dont think you could keep most of the fish i own so i think my options are just as great as someone with 10-20 small tanks

i just dont see the point in having to look after 10 small tanks with multi water changes multi feeds

everyone has their own idears about what fishkeeping is all about but for me one big tank is far more intresting than 10 small tanks lets face it you can hardly call a cory or guppy a water puppy which my rays and big tiger fish are

i just feel its best to find the types of fish you want to keep and focus on them the types of fish i keep i have been keeping for close to 15 years with no change in direction aros rays tiger fish tigrinus i have added a few other fish into the mix mow i have more tank space but still stuck to my original fish list for years

im not the sort of person who goes into a fish shop and looks in all the tanks or at fish that dont intrest me and thinks right im going to set up another tank for that type of fish i look in the big tanks the shop has and think is that fish compatible with the stock i have

its easy to set up a new tank for a type of fish it harded to get diffrent types of fish to live in harmony dont you think

 

[chrisbassist]

yep, definately.

having said that, there are a few different types of fish i want, and they won't go together, so I think i'll end up with a minimum of 3 tanks. one for my wifes betta, one discus tank, and a marine tank.

theres no way i could get bamboo shark and a discus to live together. not even in a massive tank, since one is marine and the other is freshwater, not to mention the risks involved if it were possible. and yet they are the 2 main things i want to keep. so i guess if all the fish that you are especially interested in having can all live together then fantastic. if not, what would you do? would you just pick one? or would you end up with another tank? since you don't have that problem, i guess you haven't thought much about it, but in theory what would you do?

 

[MadMan-JaMeS]

You would just have to choose.

Most people are only ever interested in one species of fish, i have alot of different fish in my tank but ultimately i wanna narroe it down

 

[T1KARMANN]

yep, definately.

having said that, there are a few different types of fish i want, and they won't go together, so I think i'll end up with a minimum of 3 tanks. one for my wifes betta, one discus tank, and a marine tank.

theres no way i could get bamboo shark and a discus to live together. not even in a massive tank, since one is marine and the other is freshwater, not to mention the risks involved if it were possible. and yet they are the 2 main things i want to keep. so i guess if all the fish that you are especially interested in having can all live together then fantastic. if not, what would you do? would you just pick one? or would you end up with another tank? since you don't have that problem, i guess you haven't thought much about it, but in theory what would you do?

if i wanted a salt tank i would convert my tank to salt and sell my fish i have now you cant always have your cake and eat it

if i didnt have a aro and rays i wouldnt have a tank its as simple as that they are my passion

 

[chrisbassist]

cool.

my plan (down the line) is to have a smaller tank (60G) in the living room as a discus tank, and then do something similar to you for my shark tank, make myself a fish house in the garden, but wire it with full internet access and use it as my office too. been looking around for possible structures and what sizes I'd need. however i'm tempted to go the DIY plywood route (but using fibreglass as extra security).

either way, this tank has been an inspiration. even if i don't go quite as big (but it'll be at least 550G prob a bit more)

 

[chrisbassist]

did you ever consider DIY plywood tanks? if so what were the deciding factors on getting an acrylic tank made? especially since 3 sides of the tank are not viewable.

 

[markandhisfish]

that turtle is seriously cool how big do they get?

 

[T1KARMANN]

cool.

my plan (down the line) is to have a smaller tank (60G) in the living room as a discus tank, and then do something similar to you for my shark tank, make myself a fish house in the garden, but wire it with full internet access and use it as my office too. been looking around for possible structures and what sizes I'd need. however i'm tempted to go the DIY plywood route (but using fibreglass as extra security).

either way, this tank has been an inspiration. even if i don't go quite as big (but it'll be at least 550G prob a bit more)

i have full internet and TV in the hut thats were i am right now

did you ever consider DIY plywood tanks? if so what were the deciding factors on getting an acrylic tank made? especially since 3 sides of the tank are not viewable.

ply wood is a option but millions of people have glass tank that last for 10 years + so they cant all be wrong not sure how long a ply wood tank would last

acrylic tank was my last tank and i loved it and would have got acrylic again if i could have fit a 3ft tall tank throw the door and its hard to find someone who will builde a acrylic tank on site
so glass was the option for me

 

[chrisbassist]

so basically it is down to there just not being enough information out there regarding the long term suitability of a plywood tank?

I've read stuff about them lasting at least 10 years, and even longer if done properly. esp if the frame is made strong enough, and a suitable thickness of waterproofing is used. I have also read about one large one (a bit bigger than yours I think) which used a VERY strong frame, plywood lining, then fibreglass as a strengthener/waterproofer, then adding 3 layers of epoxy as further waterproofing which had lasted 10/12 years at the time the article was written (or updated whatever) and still showed no signs of breaking.

hence me thinking about it because I could prob build it myself and save quite a lot of money.

were there any other major decisions to be made in the construction where you had several options available?

BTW, sorry if it seems like i'm hounding you for knowledge, but thats exactly what i'm doing...

you're someone who has done what i plan on doing when i move house, who is actually an active member of a forum, instead of just signing up to show off your massive tank.

so anything i can learn from what you've done would be great, and might help others make the jump to a BIG tank.

 

[steelhealr]

T1...loved the Youtube video of your tank. I don't want to dismiss the efforts of other members here with wonderful tanks but I've been following along now and very impressed with your work and dedication. I hope this link inspires other members to start up large tanks and stay as contributing members here.

I agree with your staying with just a few species and simply expanding the living space. Large tanks with large species can keep you staring at them for hours. We all read how challenging it is to keep unique species such as freshwater rays so, for me, in SW right now, it is fascinating to see the FW variant.

SH

 

[T1KARMANN]

so basically it is down to there just not being enough information out there regarding the long term suitability of a plywood tank?

I've read stuff about them lasting at least 10 years, and even longer if done properly. esp if the frame is made strong enough, and a suitable thickness of waterproofing is used. I have also read about one large one (a bit bigger than yours I think) which used a VERY strong frame, plywood lining, then fibreglass as a strengthener/waterproofer, then adding 3 layers of epoxy as further waterproofing which had lasted 10/12 years at the time the article was written (or updated whatever) and still showed no signs of breaking.

hence me thinking about it because I could prob build it myself and save quite a lot of money.

were there any other major decisions to be made in the construction where you had several options available?

BTW, sorry if it seems like i'm hounding you for knowledge, but thats exactly what i'm doing...

you're someone who has done what i plan on doing when i move house, who is actually an active member of a forum, instead of just signing up to show off your massive tank.

so anything i can learn from what you've done would be great, and might help others make the jump to a BIG tank.

the only thing that needed to be worked out was how to build the base giving it plenty or surport in the middle with plenty of room for the sump

 

[chrisbassist]

were there many thoughts about the building?

e.g.
door placement, obviously size,

since from the look of the pics, your door makes you kinda squeeze through the gap past the tank, it may not actually be like that, might just be how i'm looking at the pic, but did you figure out where you'd need the door?

I ask because i'm looking at a few garden office/shed/studio designs and the door placement on most will restrict either the tank size, or if placed on the short end, then furniture placement etc...

I'll probably end up doing something custom (my brother in law is a carpenter, uncle is an electrician, and im sure theres a plumber somewhere in the family).

ok, next question...

electrical control. you have pics of your control panel. what systems did ou use, what did you decide against? what is actually controllable through the panel?

(and if i'm asking too many questions just tell me to shut up, i won't be offended)

 

[T1KARMANN]

my shed has 2 doors both are standard door size 30inch each

if you look back on the pics you will see that one door takes up some of the tank but that was how i wanted it so the 2nd door is only opened to get access to the UVs and HMA water change so i still have a standard 30inch door to walk in and out

my shed size is 13x9 with a extra board added for extra height on to and a 9inch concrete base with metal bars to add strength

 

[chrisbassist]

thanks.

when i think of more that i want to know i'll just post again.

it really is helpful having someone who has done this. means when i get to do it i'll have already learnt a lot of what is involved.

 

[T1KARMANN]

mine went to plan very easy to tell the truth if it wasnt for the bad pipework by ND i think it would have all gone very well

you need to get a plan in your head and on paper of were everything needs to go and how you want it to look finished and stick to it