15' X 10' X 8' Tank

[backtotropical]

Hi FHM,

That tank will be amazing. What do you plan to stock it with? Have you started the foundations yet? Any pics?

I have moved this to the 'Hardware and DIY' section as it is about building a DIY tank.

Cheers

BTT

 

[-SPB-]

might be worth contacting Jonathan at monster fish rescue and see what he used to attach the sides of his tank, I know his is only 1500 gallons but it may help you get an idea. He put the thread on here about increasing his 800 to 1500 gallons.

From what I've read about this guy in the past, I might be hesitant to give this advise. Sure, he could provide helpful info, but he might see this as a challenge ("OMG, someone else has a tank bigger than mine!") and he'd start up another construction mess to build his tank even bigger. Let his bank account rest in piece, if just for a little while, lol

I don't know if he's got the space, one his vids it shows all of the tanks, I don't think there is any more room to increase the size lol!!

 

[degsod]

Hi,

Have a look at monster fishkeepers there are loads of people on ther with massive tanks, one I have seen is 2 storeys high.

Also Zoostock on ebay they had a tank similar in size to what you require for about £8,000 including delivery and them putting it together on site. Their is nothing on their ebay shop at the moment as they are re doing the listings etc but you can contact them via email.

Regards

Derek

 

[saltynay]

On the cement front you will need to give it a layer of pond sealant to stom the lime from leaking into the water and making your ph burn your fish. You could also fibre glass it and make a background out of wireframe then plexi glassed over would look very nice.

For something that size I would think acrylic or plexiglass would be more cost effective. I would also give the viewing sides a metal frame externally to add to the support and stop bowing over time.

 

[fatheadminnow]

WOW!

Thanks guys for all of the positive support and advice!

I haven't started to build it yet, it won't be for a while, but the plans are coming across nicely.

From all of you guys, I was able to put together some nice plans, and plans about the filtration system.

Of course I am going to run a sump.

I am also going to have a "rain collector system" Where I can collect rain water, and have it run right into the tank.

Than I will have a run off (Over flow) for the tank when the water level gets too high form the rain water.

This way it will help on water changes and keeping the nitrAte down.

I am also going to heat the room, not the water with water heaters. This way it will mimic the wild as much as possible.

For the return from the sump, I am going to have a PVC pipe run across the top of the water level, about a foot up, and have holes in there so the water can return back to the tank. But when the water comes form the PVC pipe, it is going to fall around a foot, and splash on the water surface. This will create water surface agitation, and mimic a water fall.

Also, the lights and temp are all going to be controlled on a computer. This way I can set when the lights comes on at different times throughout the year, to mimic the natural suns movement across the sky over all four seasons. And also have the temp rise and fall across all four season based on the average temp for that particular time.

I am thinking of doing a Cichlid setup, in which all the lights and temp are going to be controlled and mimic the African environment.

If you are all on here in a couple of years, you will be able to see the build thread that I will be putting together.

I just want to start the plans now, so that way I can get everything figured out.

Thanks BTT for moving the thread, I thought it would get moved...lol.

-FHM

 

[ellena]

Sounds an amazing project!
Might be worth contacting public aquariums in your area-they must have contacts who are experts at this kind of thing?

 

[fatheadminnow]

Thanks!

I was also thinking about utilizing the water flow form the bulk head to sump, since the water flow has kinetic energy, I thought why not use it to create energy, as illustrated in the picture below.

The water in will be the water from the bulk head, and then the water will be able to leave the turbine and continue to the sump.

The water will spin a turbine, which is connected to a shaft.

The rotating shaft will be connected to alternator, and from there I will be able able to induce a voltage.

Of course there are going to be gears to spin the alternator fast enough to induce a significant amount of voltage.

But I could use this "extra" power to power little accessories in the tank.

What do you guys think about this idea?

-FHM

 

[fatheadminnow]

Here are some basic ideas about the tank, and how I want it to look.

As you can see, the top of the tank i going to be able to be viewed from the next floor up.

Sorry, I made these on paint, so they are not the best.

But now you got a basic idea how I want it to look.

What do you guys think?

-FHM

 

[P&J]

I am also going to heat the room, not the water with water heaters.

In your earlier post, I think I remember you saying that this would be in a basement, but visible from the floor above? Do you mean visible through glass, or more like looking down from behind a railing? I ask just because with the latter option, you won't just be heating the fish room, but also all the open floors above. I'll bet you've considered that already, but just thought I'd throw it out there.

-P

 

[fatheadminnow]

I am thinking about making a room on the upper level, with glass walls, so that you can look in, and it will retain all the heat.

-FHM

 

[P&J]

I am thinking about making a room on the upper level, with glass walls, so that you can look in, and it will retain all the heat.

-FHM

A glass floor in the room above would be sweet! But it would really add to your complications/cost

-P

 

[fatheadminnow]

I am thinking about making a room on the upper level, with glass walls, so that you can look in, and it will retain all the heat.

-FHM

A glass floor in the room above would be sweet! But it would really add to your complications/cost

-P

That would be way cool!

-FHM

 

[rewlyn]

wow if you can pull it off ill personaly come to visit your setup, after i save the airfair

with the glass roof/next level floor you could always set up a trap door for access to clean and so i can go for a swim

 

[fatheadminnow]

HAHA! I would pay half for you to come over and visit!

For sure, I would have to go in it to clean it!

It will be so awesome!

And IT WILL happen, the only thing that is between me and that tank is time, not money!

Well, a little money, but mostly time.

-FHM

 

[rewlyn]

wow if you can pull it off ill personaly come to visit your setup, after i save the airfair

with the glass roof/next level floor you could always set up a trap door for access to clean and so i can go for a swim

appart from that cant wait to see it