DIY Concrete Aquarium 5,000 gallon - Anderson Family Reef

[GBRsouth]

Thank you! Yes my friends were hunting Red Stag and I was hauling them out…

Hauling out the Red Stag or your friends?

 

[dca22anderson]

Hauling out the Red Stag or your friends?

Luckily just the Red Stags… LOL

 

[dca22anderson]

Took some quick pictures through the dirty viewing panels of the new acros after a 16 day absence from the tank… got some new growth tips coming on strong!! Super stoked!!

My sons fed the tank while I was traveling and the automated systems worked well!

I’ll clean the glass, skimmers, test the water and do a more detailed inspection of the system tonight!!

 

[dca22anderson]

Here are some better top down pics of the acros, whites turned out right during the pictures LOL

Last one is hard to see but it’s right next to the finger leather…

 

[dca22anderson]

Got the 80 gallon (48”x24”x16”) frag tank in place today… just going to be a coral utility tank really for frags the big fish create or QT’d corals waiting for placement on the next dive…

 

[dca22anderson]

Here is a video of the tank under blues after two weeks running the Hydro Wizard ECM 75 at 25% and just having my sons feed the fish 14 diced up big frozen shrimp & 5 sheets of nori once a day (I have the pellet auto feeder dumping twice a day).

I was a little worried about the system since it was going to be the longest I have been away from it since I set it up. I asked my sons to keep an eye on the tank and refill the RODI auto top off while I was gone. Everything else is automated to handle a few weeks of travel.

Two things I did right before I left (I know I shouldn't make changes before a trip ) was add 4 colonies of acros to test the water/system from my friend Neil C and I added the Panta Rhei Hydro Wizard ECM 75 on at 25%. I crossed my fingers and jumped on the plane!

Well when I returned I was STOKED to see that the acro colonies had some new growth tips on them and were thriving. It's a big tank and flow was a challenge but the new acros that I spaced out across the tank did AMAZING!! This is a direct result of the flow provided by the ECM 75!! I am still feeling the stoke as a result of how well the system did with the new pump while I was gone!! That ECM 75 is a beast!!

I'm excited to start loading up the tank with some SPS and I feel way more confident with the ECM 75 in there to provide ample amounts of flow even as they grow and fill up the reef!!

I love this stuff!!

 

[Cthulukelele]

This tank is bordering on public aquarium levels. Truly a herculean job and fantastic to read through

 

[Cthulukelele]

Got the 80 gallon (48”x24”x16”) frag tank in place today… just going to be a coral utility tank really for frags the big fish create or QT’d corals waiting for placement on the next dive…

That reactor is so big that it's comical. Is that a Sulphur reactor, calcium reactor, biopellet reactor, or something else on the left?

 

[Blue Tang Clan]

Where do you get those great white tubs? Tons of capacity!

 

[dca22anderson]

That reactor is so big that it's comical. Is that a Sulphur reactor, calcium reactor, biopellet reactor, or something else on the left?

That’s a large CaRx next to the sulfur de nitrator LOL!! Ca media up top and Mg media down low…

 

[Cthulukelele]

That’s a large CaRx next to the sulfur de nitrator LOL!! Ca media up top and Mg media down low…

Lol so your answer to my multiple choice question was essentially "yes"

 

[dca22anderson]

Where do you get those great white tubs? Tons of capacity!

Buckhorn® Plastic Agricultural Bulk Container, 48"L x 44"W x 29"H, 700 lb. Capacity, Light Gray

Buckhorn® Plastic Agricultural Bulk Container, 48"L x 44"W x 29"H, 700 lb. Capacity, Light Gray. Ships in One Business Day. Buy it and Save at GlobalIndustrial.com

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Buckhorn Bins, they are great!

 

[Dcal]

do you have an acanthurus leucocheilus? I somehow just found about them and they are super cool looking but no one seems to have them

 

[Fish Styx]

Here is a video of the tank under blues after two weeks running the Hydro Wizard ECM 75 at 25% and just having my sons feed the fish 14 diced up big frozen shrimp & 5 sheets of nori once a day (I have the pellet auto feeder dumping twice a day).

I was a little worried about the system since it was going to be the longest I have been away from it since I set it up. I asked my sons to keep an eye on the tank and refill the RODI auto top off while I was gone. Everything else is automated to handle a few weeks of travel.

Two things I did right before I left (I know I shouldn't make changes before a trip ) was add 4 colonies of acros to test the water/system from my friend Neil C and I added the Panta Rhei Hydro Wizard ECM 75 on at 25%. I crossed my fingers and jumped on the plane!

Well when I returned I was STOKED to see that the acro colonies had some new growth tips on them and were thriving. It's a big tank and flow was a challenge but the new acros that I spaced out across the tank did AMAZING!! This is a direct result of the flow provided by the ECM 75!! I am still feeling the stoke as a result of how well the system did with the new pump while I was gone!! That ECM 75 is a beast!!

I'm excited to start loading up the tank with some SPS and I feel way more confident with the ECM 75 in there to provide ample amounts of flow even as they grow and fill up the reef!!

I love this stuff!!

Nothing short of amazing!

 

[dca22anderson]

do you have an acanthurus leucocheilus? I somehow just found about them and they are super cool looking but no one seems to have them

I don't but they are cool for sure!!

 

[jhensperger1]

Read the whole thread, what a journey. Sorry you got shafted on all the equipment but unbelievable perseverance to keep going anyway.

I can't believe you can do all of that on your own in your spare time. Incredible build, amazing to see coals in there. You could fit 250 of my tank in there

 

[dca22anderson]

Read the whole thread, what a journey. Sorry you got shafted on all the equipment but unbelievable perseverance to keep going anyway.

I can't believe you can do all of that on your own in your spare time. Incredible build, amazing to see coals in there. You could fit 250 of my tank in there

Thanks for checking it out! I love this stuff!!

 

[dca22anderson]

Today I removed the total eye sore “Tower of Power (heads)” because the Hydro Wizard is more than enough flow for this tank!

The corner is now clear. The top of the tank is also nice and free from mounts/wires. I will no longer get my diving gear caught on the powerheads getting in and out of the tank during servicing.

One pump tucked away is moving so much more water. Love that it replaced all (5) those Sicce 4000’s!! Looks way cleaner!!

For the record I am running the ECM at 40% and it’s amazing!!

 

[dca22anderson]

Just one little pump, tucked away moving so much water!!

Bonus, the critics that live under my roof love not seeing all those pumps, mounts and wires in the tank!!

This view is now the fish super highway!! They can’t stop playing in the flow… so rad!!

 

[Dcal]

I don't but they are cool for sure!!

No one seems to have them and I’m wondering why