Thinking about something new

[Greybeard]

Just thinking here...

I've got a big enclosed patio, concrete floor with carpet over it. There's a pool table, dart board, a TV, stereo, pop-a-shot basketball game.. You know, a party room. It's kinda temperature controlled, not quite as limited as a typical house... temps in there range from 60f to 80f, depending on season, but it never gets out of that range.

What if a guy were to take something like this:

That's 96" x 84" x 28", about 750 gallons. Set that on a cinder block foundation to get it up to a reasonable 'top down' viewing height, mount a 100g rubbermaid tote over the back of it, with a pump feeding up into the overhead sump, gravity draining back to the display.

Build a bar top surround, hang four or so Kessels way high overhead. Couple inches of sand, a few natural looking rock bommies. Fill it with angels, tangs, triggers, maybe a puffer, some fast growing, low light softies. Mushrooms, gsp, corky gorgonian... Xenia, even. Stuff that you wouldn't care much if the fishes were snacking on it. Some nice looking clams...

I'm thinking I could probably pull something like this off for a reasonable budget.

Opinions? Ideas? My current 150g peninsula isn't going anywhere... this idea may not either, just kinda thinking

 

[Jekyl]

My first thought was the material it's made out of. Can it withstand prolonged salt water without erosion or leeching into the water?

 

[Greybeard]

My first thought was the material it's made out of. Can it withstand prolonged salt water without erosion or leeching into the water?

According to the mfg site... FDA food-grade high density virgin polyethylene

Probably better than many of the PETG 3d printed parts or PVC plumbing parts that are in my tank now.

 

[jermzisurmom]

I wish I could help with this project!!

 

[Snoopy 67]

I believe with all that water support around the sides would be needed.

 

[Jekyl]

I believe with all that water support around the sides would be needed.

Agree here. Even to protect from something banging into it. Simple 2x6 framing.

 

[Greybeard]

I believe with all that water support around the sides would be needed.

From the mfg site again, "the most rugged poly tank on the market. It features a closed-lip design that is incredibly strong and won't buckle to crowding livestock"

I doubt it'd need additional support.

 

[PapaFishRocks]

From the mfg site again, "the most rugged poly tank on the market. It features a closed-lip design that is incredibly strong and won't buckle to crowding livestock"

I doubt it'd need additional support.

Agreed. It’s designed to be full of water. And anyone who has seen cows rushing a watering trough, knows it isn’t “gentle”

 

[TX_REEF]

100000% yes, do it!!!

What would you do for filtration? The bar top surround might be a problem for maintenance, maybe one section that swings up for access?

 

[Greybeard]

100000% yes, do it!!!

What would you do for filtration? The bar top surround might be a problem for maintenance, maybe one section that swings up for access?

Was planning on a 3 sided surround, free standing. Should be able to drag the entire thing out away from the tub for maintenance. I'm an old fat guy... access is important, and I'm unwilling to do much in the way of gymnastics to clean the tank.

Filtration: Planned on a 100g rubbermaid tote I already have, suspended on a platform behind and above the display as a reverse flow sump. Pump water up to the sump, let if overflow back via gravity. I'm a big believer in macro algae as filtration. Put a decent macro algae light over the tote, add Chaetomorpha, amphipods, copepods, let it age. My current reef runs that way, no skimmer, just chaeto, water changes, and the only additive I use is Kalkwasser.

A couple big Tunze powerheads to keep the water moving, should be simple and effective.

 

[jermzisurmom]

R u in FL by chance?

 

[Greybeard]

R u in FL by chance?

Only on holiday

South central MO.

 

[TokenReefer]

What about top off? How much does being outdoors affect evap?

 

[Greybeard]

What about top off? How much does being outdoors affect evap?

Not outdoors, just an enclosed patio. Basically a big room in the house that doesn't have it's own HVAC vents. If it's really cold outside, it'll be 60 or so on the patio, if it's 100f, the patio might hit 80. Just doesn't range outside of that.

Happily, my existing RO/DI system is about 10 feet from where I'm wanting to put this. I use a direct ATO system without a reservoir on my existing reef. I'd do something similar here. Don't worry, I'm an automation engineer... Fail Safe is a personal mantra

 

[Jekyl]

Was planning on a 3 sided surround, free standing. Should be able to drag the entire thing out away from the tub for maintenance. I'm an old fat guy... access is important, and I'm unwilling to do much in the way of gymnastics to clean the tank.

Filtration: Planned on a 100g rubbermaid tote I already have, suspended on a platform behind and above the display as a reverse flow sump. Pump water up to the sump, let if overflow back via gravity. I'm a big believer in macro algae as filtration. Put a decent macro algae light over the tote, add Chaetomorpha, amphipods, copepods, let it age. My current reef runs that way, no skimmer, just chaeto, water changes, and the only additive I use is Kalkwasser.

A couple big Tunze powerheads to keep the water moving, should be simple and effective.

Depending on placement of the tote you could run a pond pump into the tote and have it waterfall back in.

 

[Greybeard]

Depending on placement of the tote you could run a pond pump into the tote and have it waterfall back in.

My bedroom is a window away from this patio. It'd be cool, but the sound of running water while I'm sleeping? I'd have to sleep in the bathroom

 

[Jekyl]

My bedroom is a window away from this patio. It'd be cool, but the sound of running water while I'm sleeping? I'd have to sleep in the bathroom

Placement of rocks along the way and positioning of the light could reduce sound and create an algae scrubber.

Either way very cool idea. Make sure to create a build thread for the project.

 

[TX_REEF]

Placement of rocks along the way and positioning of the light could reduce sound and create an algae scrubber.

Either way very cool idea. Make sure to create a build thread for the project.

Definitely, we'll be very sad if you do this without a build thread!

 

[darrick001]

You will have to deal with the humidity to keep everything from molding. When the temp hits 60 your going to have fog in that room. I had a similar system running in my basement and it worked fine. You can hit those with a hammer and they won't break extremely sturdy.

 

[Greybeard]

You will have to deal with the humidity to keep everything from molding. When the temp hits 60 your going to have fog in that room. I had a similar system running in my basement and it worked fine. You can hit those with a hammer and they won't break extremely sturdy.

Used to be a hot tub in this room (it's outside now). The exhaust fan from that time is still in place. Don't run it anymore, but if it needs to be run a certain amount of time, or certain time of year, not a big deal.