big plans-need big tank advice

[framerguy]

I won't bore you with details of how it happened, and the bank still has to OK it, but our son is buying our house and Gail and I are going to build another one. I haven't seen her this excited in a long time.. maybe ever. Anyway, we're planning on building this house around a big aquarium. I've designed the house and as a room divider between the living room and kitchen I want to have an aquarium that's 8'Lx 36"Wx 30"Tall. With a 6"overflow taking up one end that leaves about a 420g tank. I've never really considered tackling anything that big and was wondering if some of you big tank owners could give me some insight as to what I'm in for here. The tank will be viewable from three sides with the overflow end going through a wall into the laundry/tank room, where the equipment will be stored. I guess what I'm needing to know is will a 25g/day RODI system produce enough water for an aquarium that size? How much will I need to budget in the loan to make it happen? How often will I need to do waterchanges, is it the same frequency and % as for the 75g (120g total system volume) tank? I'm really not sure what to ask, what's involved in a tank this size? What am I in for, have I lost my mind? Thanks in advance to anyone who responds!

[AQTCJAK]

Greg,

Take a look @ this & let me now what you think:

http://www.aquaticaggression.com/ima...aggression.pdf

[cracker]

Gotta Love it! There are soo many options. Tagging along to hear what the experts have to say.

[prow]

cool, you are living my dream i think first we need to know what you are planning on keeping in it? predators, type corals, DSB or not, ect....also are you planning on a sump/refugium? if so will it be plumbed to the garage or somewhere.

[Dentoid]

[boozeman]

in a system that size you have to consider evaporation/humidity issues and plan accordingly. the best part is that since you are having the house built you can plan ahead instead of having to compromise. Think of proper floor suport for the weight. by having the fish room downstairs think about drains and waterproof finishes. consider a dedicated electrical subpanel. outlets in the room and above near the tank for lights ect. hummidity mediation via an HVAC unit. water storage and automated replacement for topoff and changes using 40-60 gal. drums. just a few things

[tbittner]

Please visit my chronicle for some ideas. 25g a day isn't going to be enough imo. Think about it for a minute, a 10% water change just for the tank is 42g. What happens if something happens and you need to do a 50% wc and you need to do that a couple times?

150g per day RO/DI units aren't much more than 25g units. Especially considering the price tag on a 420g tank.

[tbittner]

For cooling, I've read about people putting in thermal systems to help maintain the temp. They dig trenches in the yard about 8 feet deep, lay down pipes, cover them back up and then circulate the water through them. This uses WAY less energy then a huge chiller would use. MUCH cheaper in the long run for sure.

I have a large volume of water in my basement which stays on the cool side and it equals out the heat generated by my lights.

[boozeman]

by having a fish room to house the sump ect. you could just get by with a window airconditioning unit instead of a dedicated chiller

[prow]

i like the trench idea. you can also put in a skylight for light but depends on whats in the tank.

[boozeman]

seen that one done prow, another good idea.
you can look into sola-tubes or a skylight lined with high reflection aluminum

[cioutlaw]

If Your Going To Have A Fish Room You Can Use The 24gpd Ro & Just Have A Large Storage That Doubles As An Ato So That It Gets Circulated, When You Need To Do A Water Change It Will Be There. As For Cooling I Would Seriously Consider Geothermal For Your Home & Tap Into It To Cool Your Tank Since You Are Building A New Home. A Window Ac Unit Would Not Be As Efficient As A Chiller Or Geothermal.

[framerguy]

It's going to be a single story house. The tank room is immediately adjacent to the tank, in fact 1 foot of the tank will be "in" the tank room so the overflow won't be seen. The tank room will be 10ft wide and 15 ft long but I'll have to share it with a washer, dryer and freezer :^(
I think I'd like to keep a mixed reef leaning towards LPS, and "community" fish. Not really an aggressive fish guy.
I've given thought to the weight issue and will have the foundation fitted accordingly, as well as electrical, I'll have a subpanel in the tank room. I have the 25gpd RODI is why I was asking about it, I was afraid it wouldn't be enough. I've aloted room for two 55g containers, one for RODI and one for mixed.
I've toyed with the trench idea for cooling my 75g, so with new construction it'll be a snap to do it.
No skylights, but we're looking at the solaris, more up front cost but cheaper operation.
Sump under the tank along with skimmer and calc reactor. Refugium in tank room.
Gotta get back to work, wifes growling!! Later.

[prow]

is there anyway you can relocate the washer and drier? lint filled with fabric softeners and stuff could easily get into the tank.

[boozeman]

hmmm...tank and sump in the living room in GA may make things a bit soupy.