DIY Concrete Aquarium 5,000 gallon - Anderson Family Reef

[dca22anderson]

Thread tape is meant for metal fittings. Use the liquid version of thread tape for plastic fittings (It allows excess to squeeze out and not overstress the plastic fittings.) Then you shoudn't have this problem again.

Great idea! Thanks!

Hulked it didn't you...lol

I gave it a snug… but I have been lifting some weights lately LOL!!

 

[dca22anderson]

Few fish pictures from an old GoPro video…

 

[djf91]

Any budge in nutrients? I’m considering a sulfur denitrator for my system.

 

[dca22anderson]

Any budge in nutrients? I’m considering a sulfur denitrator for my system.

Still hanging strong on nitrates… I need to dial it in better…

 

[Fishgeek88]

Still hanging strong on nitrates… I need to dial it in better…

I've found that it can take a decent amount of time before they really start crankin.

 

[dca22anderson]

I've found that it can take a decent amount of time before they really start crankin.

I’ll be patient… I may need to strain the feed water better so no fish food gets into it !!

 

[AlexR9364]

I have finally made it through the thread!

As someone who lives across the pond, I am very jealous. Sometimes just trying to get a bog standard 40 Gal breeder is hard work here!
Never mind, will just have to admire your incredible workmanship, care and dedication.

A couple of thoughts crossed my mind while making my way through the backlog: insurance. Have you had to declare your tank on your house insurance or do you have insured independently? Or not at all?

Also what is the climate like where you live? It is so wet, cold and miserable here in the UK that you would need to be a millionaire just to heat a tank that size!

 

[bradreef]

I have finally made it through the thread!

As someone who lives across the pond, I am very jealous. Sometimes just trying to get a bog standard 40 Gal breeder is hard work here!
Never mind, will just have to admire your incredible workmanship, care and dedication.

A couple of thoughts crossed my mind while making my way through the backlog: insurance. Have you had to declare your tank on your house insurance or do you have insured independently? Or not at all?

Also what is the climate like where you live? It is so wet, cold and miserable here in the UK that you would need to be a millionaire just to heat a tank that size!

I can answer to the climate, we live in a very dry climate in the mountains. We get snow from mid Nov- march typically and highs around 90's in the summer. Our climate is so dry that most new houses have humidifiers added to their hvac systems. Moisture is rarely an issue here as it would be in other parts of the US.

 

[dca22anderson]

I have finally made it through the thread!

As someone who lives across the pond, I am very jealous. Sometimes just trying to get a bog standard 40 Gal breeder is hard work here!
Never mind, will just have to admire your incredible workmanship, care and dedication.

A couple of thoughts crossed my mind while making my way through the backlog: insurance. Have you had to declare your tank on your house insurance or do you have insured independently? Or not at all?

Also what is the climate like where you live? It is so wet, cold and miserable here in the UK that you would need to be a millionaire just to heat a tank that size!

Thanks for checking it out! Love the feedback.

Good question... So far the system is incognito ... We have insurance on the house but no specific riders for the aquarium. I built it freestanding, independent of the house, in the middle of the room. I figure if it all goes down I will just fix it. (I realize that may not be the best solution)

I can answer to the climate, we live in a very dry climate in the mountains. We get snow from mid Nov- march typically and highs around 90's in the summer. Our climate is so dry that most new houses have humidifiers added to their hvac systems. Moisture is rarely an issue here as it would be in other parts of the US.

Thanks Brad! You are a good man!!

Yes, we live in a dry, semi-arid desert climate. One of the driest states in the country with one of the lowest relative humidities at 74.3% in December and 35.9% in July.

I'm far from a millionaire so I had to come up with a better solution for heating the tank. Heating the tank with running water from the house water heater through the heater coil in the sump has saved me tons of $$$$!! (Thanks AlexG!!) It stays at a consistent 77 degrees.

The tank I want:

The tank I “should” afford:

(300DD)

LOL!!

Thanks again for checking out the thread... ReefOn friend!!

 

[dca22anderson]

Have a few new fish in our acclimation tanks…

 

[dca22anderson]

Dussimuri tang

Old Yellow
Blue Spine Unicorn
White Margin Unicorn

Also got a pair of hawkfish and a pair of scopas tangs…

 

[Daniel@R2R]

Love this tank! I'd love to see a front shot of how it's looking now!

 

[dca22anderson]

Love this tank! I'd love to see a front shot of how it's looking now!

Thanks Daniel!

Here are a few from this weekend with full lights:

 

[AlexR9364]

Thanks Daniel!

Here are a few from this weekend with full lights:

I can't get over how big some of those tangs are! Truly stunning!

 

[dca22anderson]

Here are my results after no real significant water changes since set up... (airing out my dirty laundry )

 

[dca22anderson]

I will work to get things back in order...This may be easier to see the values:

 

[Gumbies R Us]

Thanks Daniel!

Here are a few from this weekend with full lights:

Tank is looking amazing! Love seeing the front tank shots like that!

 

[Bpp124987]

Added the following fish to the show:
-Niger trigger
-Flame Angel
-1 Chromis
-3 4 striped damsels
-6 line wrasse

Thank goodness you got one chromis in there

 

[dca22anderson]

Thank goodness you got one chromis in there

I bought 15 but just one made it through QT! Kind of weird but that order was terrible

 

[Bpp124987]

I bought 15 but just one made it through QT! Kind of weird but that order was terrible

Hah. Ya I know the feeling, have had that happen

What qt procedure are you doing?