DIY Concrete Aquarium 5,000 gallon - Anderson Family Reef

[VanDalsenReef]

Why not pour all at once?

It can take a whole lot longer if it's too thick. (Weeks maybe months)

 

[dca22anderson]

Why not pour all at once?

I will pour all the walls at once. The floor supports the walls. I’m really just following those that have gone before me. Good question!

 

[dca22anderson]

I know it’s overkill on the rebar spacing but I only want to do this once!

 

[VanDalsenReef]

I know it’s overkill on the rebar spacing but I only want to do this once!

I'd do the same. Better safe than sorry.

 

[dca22anderson]

Window openings in... getting closer

 

[Sandersonville]

Window openings in... getting closer

Looks amazing! Very exciting to follow along!

 

[monkeyCmonkeyDo]

What am i looking at? The 1st page i thought u installed that tank? Adopt me?
D

 

[dca22anderson]

What am i looking at? The 1st page i thought u installed that tank? Adopt me?
D

I did install the 720, ran it for a season, now I’m building my new concrete tank! Super fun, tons of work, but should be good sized Thanks for checking it out

 

[dca22anderson]

Next up is the forms!

 

[VanDalsenReef]

What do you plan on lighting for something that deep?

 

[dca22anderson]

What do you plan on lighting for something that deep?

I have 9 large reflectors, Galaxy Ballasts with 400watt MH lights but I may turn to those big Cannon style LEDs. Plan on running it with fish and live rock for a while to season it a bit before I crank up the lights for the reef...

 

[dca22anderson]

I will also bring the reef to the lights placing the high light corals up top and work my way down to low light style corals lower in the reefscape... It's going to be a challenge for sure but I know I can have success with the top 4' of the tank...

 

[VanDalsenReef]

you might like the orphek ones or I believe maxspect makes one. I've helped build with a couple public aquariums using orpheks and they're great just incredibly heavy and have to be mounted 2+ feet above

 

[dca22anderson]

you might like the orphek ones or I believe maxspect makes one. I've helped build with a couple public aquariums using orpheks and they're great just incredibly heavy and have to be mounted 2+ feet above

That’s a great idea!! Thanks for sharing! I’ll check into those...

Here is what the top 4’ will look like

 

[VanDalsenReef]

It just comes to a point of how much punch can you get and not have thousands of watts sitting above

 

[VanDalsenReef]

I think theres a guy on here that has like a 10,000 or something like that reef and he uses some type of Led I believe

 

[VanDalsenReef]

you'll be fine with 50 par on the bottom if you can get it

 

[djf91]

Metal halide all the way. Will look great

 

[dca22anderson]

Metal halide all the way. Will look great

They have worked well so far!!

 

[dca22anderson]

Final Rebar structure...