1000 gallon tank for a beginner!

[TheRealDmorty217]

I see your garage door is insulated, is the attic above the garage insulated as well? You said you were in the south, I’m in SW Florida and my garage would have RO and premixed saltwater near 90 degrees in the summer is why I ask. I wouldn’t trust that drain line/condensate line or whatever it is, just run the waste water to plants you want watered or just outside the garage and let it drain down the driveway. Amazing that you bought the house with the tank already there and you’re diving into saltwater head first. Hope you have deep pockets, nothing is cheap in this hobby as you’re finding out but I commend you for going all in.

 

[SlowAndStupid]

The garage is insulated with heating and air and there are regular rooms above it as part of the house. I did run a freshwater tank for 6 years before deciding to convert to saltwater so I do at least have experience in keeping a large aquarium, just not saltwater.

 

[Solo McReefer]

It is now a clean slate.

Probably should pull the system out

 

[Solo McReefer]

I do at least have experience in keeping a large aquarium, just not saltwater.

Is your plan a marine fish tank

Or a coral reef tank?

Your tank depth provides complex challenges for coral. Unique challenges for marine

I think it would be cool to have a dark marine fish system. With high UV spotlights punching down through dark water in light columns. Black sand on the bottom(black sand is magnetic, you can't use magnetic glass cleaners they will scratch your glass)

Maybe a kelp forest towards the back wall. You could use your existing lights to grow the algae, say during the day, maybe

Glass=acrylic in this post

 

[SlowAndStupid]

Plan is for a mixed reef tank. I ran black sand for the past 6 years with my frontosas so will be switching to white sand for something new.

 

[TheRealDmorty217]

The garage is insulated with heating and air and there are regular rooms above it as part of the house. I did run a freshwater tank for 6 years before deciding to convert to saltwater so I do at least have experience in keeping a large aquarium, just not saltwater.

Gotcha, then you will have no problems with the water temp. the lights with a tank that depth will be a challenge to get enough par past 3ft of depth. If you plan on doing SPS I would take out that slate rock that used on exteriors of homes. It will leach phosphate and NO3 forever and make it difficult to keep SPS. If softies and some easier LPS is what you’re looking to do most of the high quality lights available will accomplish enough par to grow them, maybe a struggle on the sand bed but higher up should be no problem

 

[Solo McReefer]

Plan is for a

tank. I ran black sand for the past 6 years with my frontosas so will be switching to white sand for something new.

You need to know what the Inverse Square Law is, in order to light that tank

Just referencing off that chair back, that looks like a 40 inch depth

To get down that deep without murdering the top corals with the power of the Sun, you will want to move the lights up high, think feet not inches. Inverse Square Law and all

And narrow lenses on the lights

You're a smart person, I'm sure you don't need me telling you something so basic

[Well that is weird, I B'ed "mixed reef" and the page deleted those words]

 

[SlowAndStupid]

Yea I plan on doing an ICP test once it's filled again to see where we are to begin with which will dictate what I can and can't consider. As much as I would prefer to remove the rock it is solidly installed. There's no removing it without damaging the tank itself. I have to work with what I have.

 

[Solo McReefer]

There's no removing it without damaging

Maybe you can cover it in dead rock before you put water in it

Then again
I have no idea what elements the slate will bake off in saltwater, or what chemicals were used to attach it

The builder could have used Liquid Nails or some other toxic adhesive to secure it, who knows what that will leach out

Even something like Mold and Mildew Free Silicone will kill corals

I am not a gambling man, when I go to the casino, the biggest gamble I make is a double Dewars cost at the bar, "How much is this going to be this time?"

Others, on the other hand, love to live life in the fast lane

I do love slate. Filled my living room with it. Makes a tank leak less of a worry, I always worry about tank leaks even in my sleep

 

[Devaji]

Dude this is going to be epic!

great job on the DIY sump. is that a ATS on top of the sump? maybe I missed it.

what was your recipe on the DIY rocks? I build some years ago... used all the classics
so its has taken 2 months to drop the PH?

you could always cover the slate is a DIY rock mix? IDK just a crazy idea from some rando on the internet...

if that was my tank i would just to a FOWLR . and have a smaller mixed reef next to it. with that depth and fish snails knocking things off your better keep you trunks and snorkel ready.

but dont let me stop you. i'll be fallowing the journey!

 

[SlowAndStupid]

The smaller tank above the larger is more sump, just building upwards to maximize space and volume. I have a 30 gallon vertical storage tank for ATO that will go in the room as well though.

The DIY rock is Portland cement mixed with crushed oyster shell and salt for creating porosity. The pH has been fine for some time but I haven't been ready to start aquascaping. So I have been continuing water changes to the barrels in the meantime.

 

[jayden kolonne]

The smaller tank above the larger is more sump, just building upwards to maximize space and volume. I have a 30 gallon vertical storage tank for ATO that will go in the room as well though.

The DIY rock is Portland cement mixed with crushed oyster shell and salt for creating porosity. The pH has been fine for some time but I haven't been ready to start aquascaping. So I have been continuing water changes to the barrels in the meantime.

Any updates? Really intrested in this journey. Just read the whole thread. Please keep us updating.

 

[SlowAndStupid]

Any updates? Really intrested in this journey. Just read the whole thread. Please keep us updating.

Sure. I was planning to post an update once I finish my current project, but here is where I am today:

Progress seems slow but continues. I only get an hour or two to work on stuff during the week with several hours at once on the weekends. It never seems enough and whatever time I think I can do something in should be quadrupled.

With my sumps now in place I have been able to successfully plumb the display tank to the top sump and the bottom sump back to the display tank. This includes plumbing in a 120W Lifegard UV sterilizer.

I ran Jebao pumps for the last 6 years on my freshwater tank and plan to begin with the newer MDP models. If there are any issues I figure I can upgrade to something better in the future when I am not bulk purchasing multiple expensive items. The pumps sit below this stand that I have currently removed the cover for. I can then walk over and it remains protected otherwise.

Speaking of bulk purchases I have purchased 4 maxspect gyres and 2 octo pulse 4's to go into the tank. They are awaiting their turn for installation. I plan to connect them to Hydros wave engines for control. I have ordered a Lifereef vs3-72 as my protein skimmer which should be shipped out tomorrow as well. They seem to be well-made with excellent longevity. I would much rather replace the pump on it then to have to replace an entire expensive skimmer should the pump go out in a year or two.

I got sidetracked with the purchase of a new 3D printer as well. I have printed some supports for my return pumps and various other support bits during this installation. Although I like the jebao pumps I do not like this new purple color scheme. I have 3D modeled the controller bracket and plan to print it out in what appears to be my color motif for the fish room: white, blue, and black.

My current project is my water station in the garage. I am in the process of plumbing it together and then connecting the RO/DI system to it which I purchased from Buckeye Hydro.

With that complete I think I will then work on plumbing the skimmer and ATO to the sumps. I still need to silicone in baffles to the sumps and design a filter sock holder. I plan to buy and break down some old aquariums for their glass. I have some Momentive RTV silicone on hand for when I am ready for that part as well.

Slow progress is progress!

 

[JAS927]

Still following along!

 

[jayden kolonne]

nice work, really see progress in your knowledge from the first post. If you don't mind could you tell us how much a revision to a tank like this cost. If you don't want to say it outloud you can PM me or just not say. Im just really intrested. Thank you for your post.

 

[SlowAndStupid]

Oh, man. I have no intention of doing that depressing math! That's another reason it is taking so long, I'm spreading out my purchases.

 

[jayden kolonne]

Oh, man. I have no intention of doing that depressing math! That's another reason it is taking so long, I'm spreading out my purchases.

Would you say close to 10k sorry to make you think about it.

 

[Rhetoric]

Great build thread. A lot of hard work already kuddos for the DYI. A lot of jealous "Salty keepers" dreaming of a 1000 gallons.

Cheers to your future success.

I came back and edited this post: Your build deserves a better title imo. You might be new too salt, but this build doesn't say beginner to me.

 

[SlowAndStupid]

Would you say close to 10k sorry to make you think about it.

If it hasn't yet it will once I purchase lighting.

I came back and edited this post: Your build deserves a better title imo. You might be new too salt, but this build doesn't say beginner to me.

Maybe once the tank is filled again and cycling we can edit the title to celebrate that milestone!

 

[SlowAndStupid]

Finished modeling out the Jebao MDP pump model's controller bracket. If you'd like to print out the bracket in something else other than that horrible fuchsia color here it is: Jebao MDP Pump Controller Bracket