Karim's 1500gal dream reef

[karimwassef]

Ok. This is still in the planning stages, but it's coming together









It's a dropoff tank, but built inside of a full-size tank to create a large cave region under the reef. More to come.

[sfsuphysics]

Thought you already had a "dream reef"

Either way I like the potential lay out, the center overflow if done right with rockwork could make it look very natural.

That said in a sun room? Be prepared to keep an ultra-low nutrient system or something to fight the algae... oh and you will probably be responsible for Texas power companies giving out huge bonuses as I'd imaging that'd cost a fortune to keep cool.

[karimwassef]

I have a "dream reef"? I consider it a practice reef - a learning tank with training wheels

The tank has a multimodal circulating flow that I'll post in a bit.

The sunroom is intentional. I've been working on algae management already on my current tank and I have a massive nutrient inflow with very high light and long photoperiod and no algae in the DT.

The temperature is an important variable too and I've been working on that. I'll link the threads that have been working together to get here.

Here's my

Monster ATS thread - http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/sh....php?t=2587684

Greenhouse/Sunroom thread - http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/sh...2537919&page=3

Current tank build threads - http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/sh...229274&page=25 & http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/sh...2217933&page=6

Current tank coral thread - http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/sh...2545088&page=6

Multi-modal circulating flow thread - http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/sh...519480&page=28

Supplemental Blue/UV LED lighting & power thread - http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/sh...553733&page=13

Concrete Live Rock thread - http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/sh...391044&page=14

Drop-off tank design thread - http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/sh...2552164&page=6

Multi-pump over-tank refugium thread - http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/sh...2505148&page=2

Mechanical flow diverter thread - http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/sh...2249020&page=3

Actuated Valve for surge thread - http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/sh...ctuator&page=2

so ... it's been a couple of years of design now.. getting closer.

Still need to add alternating sump and a settling tank...

[karimwassef]

Originally Posted by karimwassef

I've been working on a drop-off tank design in another thread and stitching the circulating flow concept into it. The outcome is a pretty cool! It's a multi-modal flow machine with multiple circulation patterns ranging from gentle to stormy...

It has a removable acrylic flow tank with powerheads (removable for maintenance). I've added eggcrate walls and flow directors to the model too.



This design has 14 modes of flow in and out of the dropoff and main display. There are 6 circulating modes + 4 gentle flows + 4 storm flows.













Since the pumps are DC powerheads with adjustable flow, the flow pattern can also be adjusted with the outside perimeter faster or slower than the center, etc... Each grouping acts like an array adding the option for flow shaping with different flow rates and adjustable flow profiles in location and time.

The big leap was using the bottom of the tank under the main DT floor to create a return circulation chamber (and dark cavern). The far end naturally converts to a drop-off region.

I've also added a 3 directional flow box and integrated the overflow and return lines from a high tank. It can act like a surge or a normal flow return. The returns exit inside the concrete rockscape.

[sfsuphysics]

Very ambitious plan, I don't think I can quite wrap my head completely around it but I do look forward to see if you get any physical process done with it

[karimwassef]

what part?

If you're asking about the arrows of flow, the color coding is

DARK RED = VERY HIGH FLOW
RED = HIGH FLOW
GREEN = HIGH FLOW (OPPOSITE TO RED)
BLUE = VERY LOW FLOW

[reefmutt]

Whoa... Following.
I will live vicariously.
Good luck with this one!!

[JonezNReef]

Subscribed! This is going to be fun to see what all you come up with!!

[Joel_155]

Wow Karim an even bigger tank? Your current tank is my dream reef!

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[karimwassef]

Thanks guys. I'm going to continue designing until we find a house that faces the right way. Wife's idea to move - my idea to have a sunroom/den for me to keep my "junk" in.

[FloformAustria]

yeah it´s going forward!!

can´t wait till you set the tank up!!!

Following!

[karimwassef]

pretty things to incorporate:

[L8Braker]

That looks amazing! I def hope you make this happen!!!

[dave.m]

I would have gone bigger.

(just kidding )

Dave.M

[Chibils]

Karim - I think we have the same dream. Beautiful concept.

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[karimwassef]

Thanks guys. Please make any suggestions or ideas. Many of the cool elements in this design are really inspired by the community.

[ace_92101]

That looks like a great way to get natural light in. I'm looking forward to hearing more about how you'll control temperatures in summer. The flow system looks interesting as well.

[karimwassef]

It's all about the glass used

http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/sh...2537919&page=3

[Reel North]

Holy. I gave up trying to follow your plan. I just daydreamed about how awesome it looks.

[kolakao155]

subscibed, wonderful plan

[karimwassef]

Thanks!

[karimwassef]

So, given the scale of this endeavor and the finite resources available, I need to be creative.

One idea is to only use 3 sheets of expensive 3/4" starphire glass: side, side and front - in the shape of the U

The back and bottom are probably viable in another medium- plywood, concrete, plastics...

So - question to all the massive tank owners with experience doing multi-modal builds : what do you recommend?

I have experience with plywood and epoxy. I've also done cinder block and epoxy. In both cases, I used plastic windows with silicone that acted as a gasket only. The frame for the acrylic was made of the construction medium covered with epoxy.

I've never used glass and another medium.

Also- the two ends (bottoms of the U) should clear silicone without metal or wood bracing.

Thoughts?

[JonezNReef]

This stuff might work for adhering glass to concrete.

http://eclecticproducts.com/products...-adhesive.html

[karimwassef]

That's GOOP rebranded and I use it all the time.

It's great stuff

I'm really asking if anyone else with a large tank has done this or something like this

[mr9iron]

Karim , amazing plan.


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