DIY Concrete Aquarium 5,000 gallon - Anderson Family Reef

[dca22anderson]

Three biggest wins on this build so far:
1-Heat Exchanger (swapped 6000 watts for 100 watts)
2-LED Cannons (swapped 9 - 400watt MH for 9 - 165watt LEDs
3-Gravity fed skimmer!! (Eliminated a hammerhead pump to feed the skimmer)

 

[dca22anderson]

Skimmer is in and rocking! Also moved the 300 gallon RODI barrel in place of the 220 in the holding system room.

 

[Sltloser]

Have you decided what material you're going to build your sump out of? Plywood? Concrete?

 

[dca22anderson]

Have you decided what material you're going to build your sump out of? Plywood? Concrete?

I’m thinking about using these

4-in W x 8-in H x 16-in L Standard Cored Concrete Block​

Build it 6’x6’x40” or so

That’s up next!

 

[Sltloser]

I’m thinking about using these

4-in W x 8-in H x 16-in L Standard Cored Concrete Block​

Build it 6’x6’x40” or so

That’s up next!

Ooooo, that'll be interesting to see! Are you going to use a pond liner or seal it with epoxy like the aquarium?

 

[dca22anderson]

Ooooo, that'll be interesting to see! Are you going to use a pond liner or seal it with epoxy like the aquarium?

I’d use epoxy or fiberglass

 

[Bpp124987]

Gonna be kind of hard to service the central half of a sump that big? Ever considered like ganged together toughs?

 

[dca22anderson]

Gonna be kind of hard to service the central half of a sump that big? Ever considered like ganged together toughs?

It would be a full walk around less a few feet up next to the tank.

Also looking at doing it out of 1” acrylic, I’ve built many tanks and sumps out of acrylic. Price is super high right now on that material.

I’ll have to build it on site. I will move the current sump, shut down the pumps, overflow, skimmer and heat exchanger for a season while I build it out. (It needs to be built quickly)

I also have the 500 gallon holding bin that can be repurposed into a big sump it measures 8’x4’x2’ (not the ideal size for the space but would work)

Lots of options…

 

[mikeytrw]

This is awesome, what is you heat exchanger exchanging with? Do you have a heat pump providing heat?

 

[dca22anderson]

This is awesome, what is you heat exchanger exchanging with? Do you have a heat pump providing heat?

I run it through the water heater for the house on its own closed loop with a circulation pump controlled by a commercial temperature controller. AlexG’s the example I followed and it’s working great!

 

[dca22anderson]

Skimmer is working like a dream… (knock on wood)

 

[Bpp124987]

I run it through the water heater for the house on its own closed loop with a circulation pump controlled by a commercial temperature controller. AlexG’s the example I followed and it’s working great!

Gas home heater? Otherwise I’d wonder why bother?

 

[dca22anderson]

Gas home heater? Otherwise I’d wonder why bother?

Yes we have two gas water heaters that are providing the heating.


Followed Alex G's set up and it's working great! Thanks Alex!!

 

[AlexG]

Yes we have two gas water heaters that are providing the heating.


Followed Alex G's set up and it's working great! Thanks Alex!!

Sharing knowledge is what this hobby is all about. Glad this heating system is working out well for your system.

 

[dca22anderson]

Fish feeding time…

 

[blaxsun]

Fish feeding time…

So what was on the menu today?

 

[dca22anderson]

So what was on the menu today?

LRS fish frenzy and some uncooked, diced, shrimp…

 

[Devion55]

What part of Utah are you in? I'm in St. George so if you aren't too far off I'd love to come check it out! Checked out your youtube and I am in awe.

 

[New&no clue]

I forgot you were in Utah. I just spent 5 days there’s visiting family.

 

[dca22anderson]

What part of Utah are you in? I'm in St. George so if you aren't too far off I'd love to come check it out! Checked out your youtube and I am in awe.

I forgot you were in Utah. I just spent 5 days there’s visiting family.

Love to show it to you fine folks. PM me when you are here in town and we can set up a time!

It looks way cooler in person.

I live in Utah county west of Utah Lake!