[stacef]

You guys are going to call me crazy,
but go big or go home right? Ok so we have figured out what we are going to do.. Depends on how long glass will come in. and the Glass of the thickness we need!

These are out tank dimensions that we want--

20 ft (yes feet) by 24" wide by 30" tall
With a 220 gallon sump.

It would be a cement tank, the sides, bottom, and back cement, and have the front glass proffesionally installed.

(this project would replace my 220 build in july..it would be a whole new thing, and we are already trying to find equipment for it.)

Tank volume--748 gallons
Total system volume--968 gallons!!

We are making this happen guys!! Lighting, rock, sand is going to KILL my wallet, but it's all good

Let me know what you all think, suggestions, everything! Let me know why you think if not, or why to do it. Thanks guys!

[e_baer]

Suggestion- get me one too!

[patrick1234]

dosent cement leach out ph and phospahtes for like 6 months in to water?

[patrick1234]

frome what i have been told when you make rock work outa concret you have to cure it for 6 months in water

[patrick1234]

When all of your rocks are complete then it is time for them to be cured. Leroy Headlee recommends putting the rocks into a kiddy pool or another container that will hold all of your rock and enough water to cover them. In the kiddy pool you can run a garden hose to the pool and poke an exit hole to water any thing else in your yard. We recommend water change daily or as much as possible (the more the better) for six to eight weeks. If you do not cure the rock it will mess-up the pH levels in your tank, which can be detrimental to the life in your reef.

[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??

[stacef]

Originally Posted by e_baer

Suggestion- get me one too!

Well, come and buy a warehouse off of me in our hometown and you can have one too! We can do it at the same time! haha.

[patrick1234]

it was more if a little rock work can put alot of ph in to the water what can a big wall of cement do

[stacef]

I have been looking into these tanks ,They are more common over seas. But do want to know the worries of what some people would have.

[patrick1234]

whats that?

[stacef]

What's what?

[patrick1234]

(But do want to know the worries of what some people would have.)
I was asking you in regards to this also my little rat has nothing to do with this at all

[michelle's ocean fantasy]

Ok- question: I do believe you are the "feather lover" and we talked about feather dusters in the previous msgs.......can I ask- What do you do for a living? You have that much time and resources on your hands to create another exquisite build like you are planning? The first thing I thought of: put on a scuba suit and go snorkeling in your reef tank! That would be so cool it's incredible to even imagine such a thing! Good luck- and yes, pictures are ALWAYS wanted !!! I can't wait to follow your thread here! Wish this was taking place in Florida- it would make for an awesome roadtrip! haha

[stacef]

Originally Posted by patrick1234

(But do want to know the worries of what some people would have.)
I was asking you in regards to this also my little rat has nothing to do with this at all

I am just curious to as what people would have to say about it... the good, the bad..everything in between, I mean. I do realize the equipment is pricey and such..but am willing to take that plunge. But, what would be the negatives of having a cement tank.. like you mentioned. Ph increase for 6 months. Is that basically the only thing I will have to worry about? I guess, I have 4 months to research and am going to like crazy!!

[stacef]

Originally Posted by michelle's ocean fantasy

Ok- question: I do believe you are the "feather lover" and we talked about feather dusters in the previous msgs.......can I ask- What do you do for a living? You have that much time and resources on your hands to create another exquisite build like you are planning? The first thing I thought of: put on a scuba suit and go snorkeling in your reef tank! That would be so cool it's incredible to even imagine such a thing! Good luck- and yes, pictures are ALWAYS wanted !!! I can't wait to follow your thread here! Wish this was taking place in Florida- it would make for an awesome roadtrip! haha

Indeed--good memory, I am the feather lover! Hahah how many feathers can I cram in my new tank plans!? Anyways, yes I am a (this is the technical term by the way) Transportation Logistics Specialist. I am in sales, for logistics brokerage. I work out of my house/plan my own hours/control basically how much money I want by how hard I work.

Of course pictures will be taken from the first point! I will have a whole photo album (physically) by the time I am done. I know that for sure!

Of course too--Even though you are in Florida you could always stop by if ever near Michigan (That's where the big build will be happening)

[stacef]

Ok I found it!!
Here is the link I got the idea from...

Sean`s Concrete Reeftank - Reef Builders Forums

Click on the link from the first post that Sean posted... It's amazing

[Lowej82]

for a tank that size I would check out this build......... BNARC - Bloomington/Normal Area Reef Club Forums-viewtopic-Tank Info & Pictures & yes it is in a culvers!!!!! its a little smaller than your plan but may give you ideals. This tank has 12" pvc overflows!!!!!

[e_baer]

Great link John!

[Lowej82]

thats a reef club about a hour north of me, SDIRB will be working with this club. heres a BNARC - Bloomington/Normal Area Reef Club Forums-viewtopic-Livestock Listlink for the livestock list

[stacef]

That is great resource, Thanks!!

By the way, I LOOVVEE his rock work, definately something I will consider.

[Amphibious]

Originally Posted by michelle's ocean fantasy

Ok- question: I do believe you are the "feather lover" and we talked about feather dusters in the previous msgs.......can I ask- What do you do for a living? You have that much time and resources on your hands to create another exquisite build like you are planning? The first thing I thought of: put on a scuba suit and go snorkeling in your reef tank! That would be so cool it's incredible to even imagine such a thing! Good luck- and yes, pictures are ALWAYS wanted !!! I can't wait to follow your thread here! Wish this was taking place in Florida- it would make for an awesome roadtrip! haha

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

[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

[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.

[icu-travis]

ok i am no cement expert by any means but i do have a 24,000 gallon swimming pool that is cement and gunite. (trying to talk the wife into letting me enclose it and making a new reef tank, she keeps saying NO!)
anyway from what i have learned over the years with pool chemistry and aquarium chemistry.

1. cement will leach, no matter what and no matter how long you cure it.
2. the level at which it leaches is minimal after 6 months of total immersion of all sides. it does help to use a magnesium salt mix solution during emmersion to help reduce the amount of acid the cement leaches.
3. cement will absorb calcium from the water when it is at a higher level than the cement. however if the water is low on calcium the cement will release calcium into the water. traveling from area of high concentration to lower concentration. the problem with this is that if the water levels are not always maintained then the traveling of the calcium back and forth causes stress on the cement and it WILLCrack over time.

4. i have also entertained the idea on a smaller scale and i donot see why you could not fiberglass over the cement. i mean they fiberglass the wooden sump boxes, so is this maybe more feasable and less to worry about chemical wise?

5. i know i have seen a website for a company that sells a coating mixture for cement. not sure how much it cost but i remember that they did advertise that they were the ones that sealed tanks for sea world and several zoos. you may be able to call sea world and ask them what they use or if they have a name for who they call to fix it when they have a leak or something?

any way sorry im so long winded but just knew i could shed light on things from the pool side of chemistry as well.

GOOD LUCK!!

[e_baer]

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

My favorite site! I have ordered from there many times and love it!