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#1 |
Registered Member
Join Date: Jan 2010
Location: United Arab Emirates
Posts: 435
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A ~19,000 Gallon Aquarium
Hello everyone,
I've started this somewhere else and just found about Reef Central so I thought I'll post here as well. I'll try to get you up to speed on where the tank is right now with a bit of history and images A little bit of context: We live next to a waterfront and currently have a small fish farm (~40,000 gallons) and wanted to expand on that. So we decided to build an aquarium next to that facing our houses (4 of them). There will be no filtration systems to speak of expect for live sand and live rock. The water circulation will be directly for the sea with a ~4,000 gallon refugium with live sand and live rock and some mangroves maybe? We successfully ran the fish farm with direct circulation from the sea without any problems until the side broke and we lost all the fish ![]() Enough with the chitchat. Here are some progress shots from the time we started building the aquarium, this will be on 3 posts: Here are how the design of the aquarium evolved: ![]() The dimensions of the aquarium. ![]() Design of the columns that will hold the 3 pieces of glass. ![]() This is the current plan we are working towards. A bridge connecting both sides of the aquarium and creating a seating area on top of the aquarium. This plays several roles: 1. Partially covering the water to protect from direct sunlight and heat. It gets really hot in summer here. 2. Connect the walkway around the garden. 3. Create an additional themed seating area. ![]() The fish farm next to the aquarium ![]() An overview of the aquarium, looking at it from my SOHO (more than 100 feet away, 1st floor). ![]() Aquarium Dimensions. Here is how it looked after the marine-grade concrete is done: ![]() An overview of the aquarium. The area in the front will be a sitting area measuring 11m (36ft) x 5m (16.5ft). ![]() This is the view of the front of the aquarium while sitting down. continued in the next post.. |
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#2 |
Registered Member
Join Date: Jan 2010
Location: United Arab Emirates
Posts: 435
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We decided to go with 3 pieces of glass for the front side, partially because we wanted to have lighting in those columns and partially because it would be prohibitively expensive otherwise
![]() ![]() The columns are up; now the size of the 3 pieces of glass are visible, around 3 m (~10 ft) each. The glass work is in the process of taking final measurements for the glass. ![]() A bit of detail on where the glass will fit. The holes inside the columns are for lighting. This is some shots of the aquarium after building the over-the-aquarium seating area and bridge. ![]() This is from far far away ![]() ![]() A grand shot of the aquarium. ![]() A view from the corner. ![]() The bridge over the fish farm. continued in the next post.. |
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#3 |
Registered Member
Join Date: Jan 2010
Location: United Arab Emirates
Posts: 435
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Here is some photos of the aquarium after the glass has been installed. The
glass specifications are as follows: * 3 pieces of glass * 12 mm + 12mm thickness * Laminated + Tempered + Polished ![]() A side shot of the the three pieces of glass. Each glass piece is a meter high by ~3.5 meters wide. ![]() One of the glass pieces. ![]() A shot from inside the tank. The glass guys first put fiberglass on top of the cement and then glue between the fiberglass and the glass pieces. ![]() Another shot from inside the tank. Here is the design of the refugium: ![]() After all this, I have some questions and I'd love if someone would help me with some answers cause this is my first time building something this big.
I hope you enjoy this and excuse any spelling or grammar mistakes, English is my second language after all ![]() Last edited by nahham; 01/27/2010 at 07:09 AM. |
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#4 |
“Goodnight, tiny humans.”
Join Date: Sep 2004
Location: Stockholm, Sweden
Posts: 1,008
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omg..
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If Pacman had affected us as kids, then we'd all be running around in a dark room, munching pills and listening to repetitive music //Bjarne |
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#5 |
Registered Member
Join Date: Sep 2007
Location: Charlotte, NC
Posts: 4,689
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Ryan |
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#6 |
Registered Member
Join Date: Jan 2010
Location: Akron,IN
Posts: 53
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holy crap this is awesome
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#7 |
Registered Member
Join Date: Feb 2009
Location: Australia, Melbourne
Posts: 92
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wow that is amazing! i cant really answer any questions but what is it that you would like to keep in there exactly because that could help with answers.
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#8 |
Registered Member
Join Date: Jan 2004
Location: Findlay, OH
Posts: 216
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This looks like a job for seaworld! I'm sorry, I can't offer any help. Way out of my league but I sure will tag along for the ride! WOW! What a system.
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Living vicariously via reefcentral! Current Tank Info: :( Had to tear down all my tanks due to a move... |
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#9 |
Registered Member
Join Date: Sep 2009
Location: Litchfield, CT
Posts: 277
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WOW! is right!!
I'm tagging along on this one for sure. I do have a concern when something this big is being built already and there are some very basic questions still unanswered. Excuse me if I'm out of line here but wouldn't you have things like water flow and skimming filtration figured out by now? Concrete is hard to add plumbing through or under later on. With the ability to change water completely, why not just circulate new all the time? You wouldn't need to skim, would you?
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Well Drilling is the only job where you always start at the top Current Tank Info: 90 gal reef, 30 gal sump/refugium |
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#10 | |
Registered Member
Join Date: Jan 2010
Location: United Arab Emirates
Posts: 435
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Quote:
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#11 |
Registered Member
Join Date: Sep 2007
Location: Kenwood, Ohio
Posts: 4,073
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Could you tell us more about your ultimate goals/visions of this aquarium? I am curious what you plan on keeping, fish, corals maybe?
Having the water constantly changing would be nice but it sounds like you will have little control over the environment. You will be at the will of the sea, the weather, and other elements. With sensitive fish and invertebrates, do you think pollution from all of those ships will be a problem? I would think a little diesel would make it into the aquarium at some point. Will you be drawing in water from under the surface? Will you add any extra lighting to supplement the area covered by the 'seating area'? |
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#12 | |
Registered Member
Join Date: Nov 2007
Location: Mt. Wolf, PA
Posts: 974
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Quote:
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"What?!? Haven't you ever seen someone work on an engine with an axe before?" Mythbusters Current Tank Info: Biocube 29, Aurora puck LED |
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#13 | |
Registered Member
Join Date: Jan 2010
Location: United Arab Emirates
Posts: 435
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Quote:
![]() The reason behind the questions is that we first had the water circulating 24hrs from the sea for the fish farm. We didn't have a problem with that but then i was worried about stuff like the red tide and keeping 2 horsepower pumps working 24/7 ![]() Since it is a big thing (and we have a construction company) it becomes a little easier changing plans. We are planning to do the plumbing from over the tank but still keep it mostly hidden. I still don't know about the skimming part though, but the refugium will be able to handle that if needed. |
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#14 | |
Registered Member
Join Date: Jan 2010
Location: United Arab Emirates
Posts: 435
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Quote:
![]() As for pollution, we get the water from around 2 - 3 meters under the surface so that helps with the water quality and temperature for that matter. We ran the fish farm through the summer here without any cover with temperatures reaching 48 degrees Celsius (118.4 degrees Fahrenheit) without any temperature increases in the fish farm (it was identical to that of the sea). There are lighting in the columns between the glass. We can also add lighting under the seating area if required. |
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#15 | |
Registered Member
Join Date: Jan 2010
Location: United Arab Emirates
Posts: 435
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Quote:
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#16 |
Registered Member
Join Date: Feb 2008
Posts: 146
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This is going to be awesome
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#17 |
Registered Member
Join Date: Oct 2007
Location: South East Michigan, USA
Posts: 190
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HOLY CRAP.....THIS IS AWESOME.
Running a Closed loop 24/7 or pulling from the Ocean 24/7 would be the same use of energy. Why not have 1 pump setup for both. A closed loop pump circulating the water from the tank itself, but then T off the intake to the pump and run it to the Ocean water. Add some valves and you could close it off if you needed too, and continue to circulate the tank water? |
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#18 |
Registered Member
Join Date: Apr 2009
Location: TX
Posts: 178
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OMG~~~~~~~~~
I really interesting~~!
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Hi I'm Sorry I can't speak english very well. |
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#19 |
Registered Member
Join Date: Dec 2006
Location: Kankabourbaley
Posts: 379
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Wow
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Mid-West Chalice Syndicate ---------------------------------------------------- Morgan Wood Current Tank Info: Way too many to list |
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#20 |
Registered Member
![]() Join Date: Jul 2008
Location: Riviera Beach, MD
Posts: 87
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This should be fun to watch come together!!!
Nice job so far. |
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#21 |
Reef Hugger
Join Date: Jul 2007
Location: Submerged
Posts: 3,253
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WOW, very cool project!
I can't help a lot with most of your questions, but maybe a little: 1. A LOT! I agree in that you won't need as much "turnover" (I hate that term) as we do in smaller tanks, but it would still be wise to keep as much detrius in suspension as possible. 2. Look into marine grade paints that are used for boats. 3. Assuming you can keep nutrients in line I wouldn't worry about doing 100% water changes every week. Honestly once your tank is well established with the refugium and all you won't need to do much water changing at all (look into other means of replenishing necessary nutrients). 4. For this size aquarium you'll want to look into large prop pumps that are commonly used in public aquaria - way out of our league ![]() 6. I would go with around 6". http://www.ronshimek.com/deep_sand_beds.html 7. In most aquaria (yours isn't most ![]() 8. Uh, a really, really big one! The three names that come to mind off hand for a "commercial sized" skimmer would be RK2 (USA), Sander Aquarientechnik (Germany, similar to RK2), and the "newer" styled MRC (My Reef Creations, USA). I'm sure ATB (Austria) or Royal Exclusiv (Germany) would be willing to build something but that would be big, big bucks. In my honest opinion you could probably get away with just your refugium and water changes, but a skimmer(s) could only help. I would contact people in the public aquarium industry for more information regarding pumps, filtration, water changes, etc. Joe Yaiullo is the curator of Atlantis Marine World (Long Island Aquarium) http://www.atlantismarineworld.com/a...ts-people.html that built and maintains a gorgeous 20,000 gallon reef there. He is also here on RC; I would try to get ahold of him somehow. GL, I'll be following this build for sure ![]()
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#22 | |
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![]() Join Date: Jul 2009
Location: Iowa
Posts: 9,671
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Quote:
BTW, can't wait to see this progress and see the final build!
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rebuild and recovery log: No more red house, you'll have to click on my name and visit my homepage! You can check out my parameters at reeftronics dot net website and look for my username. Current Tank Info: 180g mixed reef w/ a beananimal overflow to a dolomite RRUGF. | 20g long G. Smithii Mantis Tank |
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#23 | |
Registered Member
Join Date: Jan 2010
Location: United Arab Emirates
Posts: 435
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Quote:
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#24 |
It's pronounced Bone
Join Date: Jan 2009
Location: East Hampton, NY
Posts: 1,967
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I agree that contacting the curator from Atlantis Marine World would be beneficial, his username is JustJoe, he may be able to answer questions not many can.
Instead of running huge amounts of water in from the sea everyone once in a while, why not run a much smaller motor all the time? It's an idea to think about at least. A surge device of some sort would also be very beneficial to the system, being able to "storm" an aquarium of that size will be important to keep detritus suspended.
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-Tyler "The only legitimate use of a computer is to play games." -Eugene Jarvis Current Tank Info: None |
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#25 |
Premium Member
![]() Join Date: Mar 2001
Location: Wyoming
Posts: 2,152
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OH MY GAWSH!!!! And with pictures too! That saves about 16 pages worth of "this is a hoax" posts! Super nice! keep up the good work!
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"If there's nothing wrong with me... then there must be something wrong with the universe!" Current Tank Info: 10 gallon nano with ATS |
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