DIY Concrete Aquarium 5,000 gallon - Anderson Family Reef

Devaji · Mar 31, 2022

man I have a lot of catching up to do!
1st stop is YT then i'll come back here. I fricken love your builds. was telling the other half about your build and we have a unfinished basement....

dca22anderson · Mar 31, 2022

Devaji said:
man I have a lot of catching up to do!
1st stop is YT then i'll come back here. I fricken love your builds. was telling the other half about your build and we have a unfinished basement....

Thanks so much! Save a bedroom down there for a concrete tank!!

WisReef · Mar 31, 2022

I'm sure you've mentioned it before, but what kind of monthly "operating" cost do you budget for this kind of thing? Between just salt, media, water and electricity, this has to be $XXXX/mo.

dca22anderson · Apr 1, 2022

WisReef said:
I'm sure you've mentioned it before, but what kind of monthly "operating" cost do you budget for this kind of thing? Between just salt, media, water and electricity, this has to be $XXXX/mo.

It’s going to cost as much as a nice… nice car payment

I’m trying to upgrade to a more power friendly equipment line up… honestly I’ve had a big system for so long I’m hoping it will be just several hundred dollars more than what I had in the past… oh and nothing close to what Andrew Sandler is doing!! LOL!!

dca22anderson · Apr 1, 2022

made some great progress on the drain system for the sink, skimmer, floor drain and future hang on the wall hand sink under the catwalk…

dca22anderson · Apr 1, 2022

Next up catwalk top… and when I get the drain kit for the sink I’ll dial that in too

GBRsouth · Apr 1, 2022

WisReef said:
I'm sure you've mentioned it before, but what kind of monthly "operating" cost do you budget for this kind of thing? Between just salt, media, water and electricity, this has to be $XXXX/mo.

Shhhh! Don't get him thinking about this or he might not go ahead with it and his wife might read the answer!

Then who are we going to live this dream through?

Devaji · Apr 1, 2022

what a journey read form page 50 this am while I should have been working on my tanks.

all I can say is you sir got some big brass balls. I love every thing about this build. except the cost.
your holding tanks and sump look better than most reefs what is this vodoo magic you have going on.

I think we should start a R2R wife of the year/month type of thing. most ladied would say heck no to a project like that. you sure do have a keeper there.

I cant believe A.E has taken so long for the over flow? what a hold up to the project. have you thought about 3D printing one? I am sure there is someone out there with a large 3D printer that would like to take on the project. IDK shooting from the hip here. or make one out of acrylic/glass.
I know he makes great stuff but dang man.

dca22anderson · Apr 2, 2022

Devaji said:
what a journey read form page 50 this am while I should have been working on my tanks.

all I can say is you sir got some big brass balls. I love every thing about this build. except the cost.
your holding tanks and sump look better than most reefs what is this vodoo magic you have going on.

I think we should start a R2R wife of the year/month type of thing. most ladied would say heck no to a project like that. you sure do have a keeper there.

I cant believe A.E has taken so long for the over flow? what a hold up to the project. have you thought about 3D printing one? I am sure there is someone out there with a large 3D printer that would like to take on the project. IDK shooting from the hip here. or make one out of acrylic/glass.
I know he makes great stuff but dang man.

It’s been a super fun build!! Love this stuff!!

rying to keep up on the holding system hs proven to be a challenge for sure!! Fish are doing great but smooth skin acros are all gone by now!

Thanks! She is super cool and has her own hobbies to keep her busy too!!

It’s been super frustrating with AE. Hasn’t picked up a call in a few weeks now… it’s been over a year since I paid for the stuff.

On a bright note I got the sink installed!! LOL

Thanks for your kind words and for checking out the build!

dca22anderson · Apr 2, 2022

Floor drain in, floor bracing in, 1-1/2” CDX plywood, and drip tray boarder all done!!

dca22anderson · Apr 2, 2022

The Gapper RODI all plummed in, flushed ready for action, 400 GPD which will be plenty once I’m up and running…

Connected to the 210 gallon RODI holding barrel for now

In at 341 TDS and out at 0 TDS!!

Super stoked!!

dca22anderson · Apr 3, 2022

First round of primer done

Anemone_Fanatic · Apr 3, 2022

So when are we seeing that half ton of salt in this? There is a delay with getting equipment, right?

dca22anderson · Apr 4, 2022

Anemone_Fanatic said:
So when are we seeing that half ton of salt in this? There is a delay with getting equipment, right?

Working on getting the Koi out of there and swapping out the water with NSW.

Yeah the equipment is still the big delay. Spoke to Bill Wann a month ago now and he committed to getting me the overflow, skimmer and sump to start. He's not returning calls or picking up again so I'm not sure what the timeline is.

I will start the tank cycle and use some of the undersized gear I have until he responds.

Risk1994 · Apr 4, 2022

Just binged this whole thread....I have to ask as I didn't see it mentioned before...

Did you have to get any permits to do this? I don't know about Utah but here in the Northeast its a bear to do ANYTHING without the state sticking its nose in. Given how much trouble they give me for every little thing, they'd have a coronary if they saw me attempt this!

dca22anderson · Apr 4, 2022

Risk1994 said:
Just binged this whole thread....I have to ask as I didn't see it mentioned before...

Did you have to get any permits to do this? I don't know about Utah but here in the Northeast its a bear to do ANYTHING without the state sticking its nose in. Given how much trouble they give me for every little thing, they'd have a coronary if they saw me attempt this!

Thanks for checking it out!

We live in a little private rural community. I’m sure it would be more difficult to do in a big city.

If you ever make it to the sticks in Utah come visit!! Love to show you what we are doing.

Great job on your aquascape and your sump line up! Looks awesome!

Best, Dave