[sean_koekemoer]

Originally Posted by Bamaguy

Sean's tank looks incredible but I am curious. Is a cement tank cheaper than buying a regular tank? It looks like he works with cement but that for the average person it would be more costly and more work in the end to go that route?
It looked like he had tons of friends willing to put in some hard work. I know if I was wanting to move 1000 gallons of water that most of my "buddies" would suddenly have a "emergency" that kept them from being available.

Honestly, I really fell of my chair when I read this. Believe me, most of my friends would also run, but if you invite all of them over for a Beer, and when they there, you tell them they must join you for a nice drive to the beach- all Beers are sponsored- it is like hanging a carrot in front of a Mule's nose....LoL And once you on the beach, you politely ask them if they would be so kind as to give a hand- they cannot walk home- too far....LoL..

On a more serious note:
Your first and most important factor is the strenght of your "Floor/Slab"
Then you need to keep in mind as to how you going to fix the glass to the concrete- do you want it "Flush" with the front face of the wall or do you want it flush with the inside wall face.
3rdly- your Overflow- Is it going to be gravity fed overflow or a syphon overflow.

Once you figure out how to overcome thye above mentioned problems- 90% of your work is done

It really only took me (Myself and 04 Workers) about 09 days to Do the "Shutters, Steelfixing and Concrete work", as well as to build and plaster the walls around the tank to make it "Flush" with the front of the tank.

Also. Leave an opening on top for communication purposes- I put a Painting over that I remove if I want to clean the glass. Quite a Specticle (for the neighbours I suppose) if we need to put new Corals in the tank- me standing in the front, shouting to my wife (she has longer arms...LoL) left, up, down,NO RIGHT etc....

I covered the Inside of the tank with Fibreglass and then painted the whole inside with a black flowcoat(Same as epoxy paint)- they use it mainly on Sailyachts and boats- to make sure it is completely waterproof as well as the fact that I would not have any Cement Leaching.

Hope this helps you a bit more in understanding the way I did the tank. As a matter of interest, I could have gone for a thinner (12mm) piece of glass, but took the 20mm option- Reason-I do not trust my 03 boys (05,08 and 09 years old) with their toys as well as the fact that if ever I would like to extend the tank heigher- the glass would be thick enough.

Please feel free to ask me questions if You have any more answers.

And yes, the concrete way was definately way cheaper than the glass (all round) route of a tank this size... (We pay about $6.00 for a 50kg bag of cement)

[rlcline76]

Originally Posted by Amphibious

Michelle,

Your comment, in bold above, reminded me of the picture below.



Don't remember the story, or where the tank is located but takes reefing to a whole new level like stacef's tank will.

By the way, where are you in FL? I'm in Ft. Pierce.

Dick

That guy needs to do something about his jaundice. lol

[e_baer]

lol! I think that is his shirt....but your right haha.

[Lowej82]

The most costly part would be the glass/acrylic for the front, concrete & rebar is cheap!! its the labor that would cost the most on the concrete side of the builld making it a great DIY, lots of ppl do this with wood.

I may have overlooked this how thick are the side's, bottom, & you did use rebar didnt you? Also how thick is that glass?


Also just a thought.........You could use a thick rubber pond glued to the concrete somehow to prevent leaching.

[aquasalt]

You're really raising the bar here and I am drooling in anticipation! Even if funds weren't an issue, this is quite a daunting project. Can't wait to read more!

[Lowej82]

Originally Posted by Lowej82

I may have overlooked this how thick are the side's, bottom, & you did use rebar didnt you? Also how thick is that glass?

never mind reading the build now lol

[plecosword]

Woa how much did i Miss!! lol I guess we are going to see a pic of you diving in your tank too right? lol

[NATIVEVAMAN]

You know thats almost 5000$'s just in live rock.We are going to have to watch the bank camera's in your area very carefully lol.

[stacef]

Originally Posted by NATIVEVAMAN

You know thats almost 5000$'s just in live rock.We are going to have to watch the bank camera's in your area very carefully lol.

Hahaha, I know it! Add in sand too! Crazy huh? And we are still doing it, haha I think we are insane!!

[plecosword]

I always knew you were! I was expecting something around 500g, but this is just wow!

[michelle's ocean fantasy]

Originally Posted by Amphibious

Michelle,

Your comment, in bold above, reminded me of the picture below.



Don't remember the story, or where the tank is located but takes reefing to a whole new level like stacef's tank will.

By the way, where are you in FL? I'm in Ft. Pierce.

Dick

???????????????

[michelle's ocean fantasy]

Originally Posted by Amphibious

Michelle,

Your comment, in bold above, reminded me of the picture below.



Don't remember the story, or where the tank is located but takes reefing to a whole new level like stacef's tank will.

By the way, where are you in FL? I'm in Ft. Pierce.

Dick

That is so coooooool!!!! I am jealous of whoever that is!!!
I am in central Florida- Citrus county, not too far from Ocala or Tampa if that gives you an idea.
Found Aquatropics in Gainesville, and a (forget the name now) warehouse that I was told about in Tampa right here on RB. I will have to go back to my thread to get the info that was passed onto me! There are only 2 LFS in Ocala that sell saltwater.

[michelle's ocean fantasy]

Originally Posted by Saltyfish1!

There is a forum I think its called monster fish keepers.com, There is a thread or two about giant concrete tanks on there.these things are huge like 10"x10"x10" the thread goes from start to finish and tells everything step by step. Also there is a place in Fla. called Sealifeinc.net it is a diver direct place he has aquacultured liverock 3.49 per # out of the ocean right to you, tons of life. He has great prices on riccordia polyps and whatever he collects

(also: Live Rock - Tampa Bay Saltwater Aquacultured Live Rock)

[michelle's ocean fantasy]

Originally Posted by stacef

Hey Patrick,

I was not aware of cement leaking out Ph and what not. I need to make sure we are on the same page. Just from the way you stated below, it sounded like you thought I was making my rock work out of cement? I will be buying chunks of 200lbs of LR from all differents places. But...the tank will be made out of cement--the walls will. Let me know if you want pics.

What are other negatives of having a cement tank??

Hey Stace, how far are you into this? I can't find a link to any pics- and don't want to give a suggestion that might be stupid at this point...but what the heck:
Have you visited Geothermal Aquaculture Research Foundation Home Page ? I know that is what they do- create 'aquacrete' I think it is called. You could probably get a nice deal on the mix from them ordering in bulk instead of regular concrete and have a better peace of mind knowing it is made to be in water. - Just a thought- but if you are way past that- disregard this. still want to see pics though!!!! Really want to see pics of your feathers- I am looking to get a 'special' one- still googling to see what is what.... Nite!!

[plecosword]

Michelle, checkout liveaquaria and blue zoo and see the worms they have.
that reminds me, how is Coco doing? and his two kids? lol

[stacef]

Hey Michelle,
I will have to check out that site for sure!! I am very interested. Coco have grown soo much, his crown is getting much larger. Also-- Blue Zoo Aquatics-Live saltwater Fish, Corals, Invertebrates and Food is where I got my Coco keep chekcing back with them. I got mine for half off of $70! Thanks again for the link.

[stacef]

Originally Posted by plecosword

Michelle, checkout liveaquaria and blue zoo and see the worms they have.
that reminds me, how is Coco doing? and his two kids? lol

The two kids are growing like crazzy! They are building onto their tube everyday!! Coco. Sitll growing like a champ. Crown is growing like crazy too, and of course that tube, is still shooting to the sky more and more everyday!

[plecosword]

sweet nice to hear! but you owus some pics missy!

[sean_koekemoer]

Originally Posted by stacef

Hey Michelle,
I will have to check out that site for sure!! I am very interested. Coco have grown soo much, his crown is getting much larger. Also-- Blue Zoo Aquatics-Live saltwater Fish, Corals, Invertebrates and Food is where I got my Coco keep chekcing back with them. I got mine for half off of $70! Thanks again for the link.

Did you read post 26

[Bamaguy]

Maybe it's a good thing that my wife isn't into Saltwater yet. She wants spa treatments and expensive clothes so it balances out. We also will probably be moving when my son hits junior high. The school systems here are horrible. I could see trying to sell a fish room in Alabama as a bonus.

Sean; If I ever offered free beer, I think my buddies would know something was up. I had a buddy move to a new house and I believe that one friend caught the flu and another suddenly had to go out of town. Hmmm....

Stace; Also looking forward to some pictures. A cement tank sounds much more exciting than the porch I had done last summer.

[thelastmucci]

All I can say is where do I sign up for your job...seriously I need a job and I'm a hard worker and would love the opportunity to work at home....drawback...I don't have my AB yet.

[jasonrohde]

swimming pool paint (epoxy) warks just as good it has all the same contents as what icu-travis was tolking about that sea-world uses i biult a hot tub under a frinds living room had a miss haps with my shark aquarium ( first on i built my self and did not do my homework) we used it for my 3 sharks for 8 mounths and my sharks servived so the epoxy worked well over cement and price wise its alot cheaper 125 a gallon vrs 200+ a gallon

[michelle's ocean fantasy]

Hey Stace- saw this site and thought of you:
AtlantisAquarium.net
wait til you see the feathers!! Look under the clams/anenomes I believe is where they are- a whole colony of coco worms! Double cocos, etc. Nice pics!

[plecosword]

i dont see the colony michelle? But stace will probably have a whole family of them by next year! lol

[stacef]

Great Link Michelle! Thank you.

Mario--you know me toooo well. Yes I looove feathers! I will have lots in this tank...that's for sure