850 gallon monster tank build
- Thread starter Abyssalisk
- Start date
Good to know. I just did some quick searches since it never really crossed my mind. Thanks for the heads up!
Sorry guys, long time no update. I went through deciding to move, changing my mind, moving anyways and all sorts of stuff that set me back but the tank is running! I went with an Alpine Pal6550 pump that goes into my two 1.5" returns. As far as heating, it's the summer currently and the tank is in my garage so it's staying at a constant 78 degrees. I'm open to recommendations as my best idea was a few aqueon pro's in the brutes on a temperature controller. Here's some pics 'n' such. 
I let the tank sit filled with the grout exposed to detox for a few months.
The paints I decided to go with to imitate the background style I wanted.
Blocking in the base coat and darker cracks.
Final paint coat!
Applied two coats of clear pond armor to significantly increase durability.
Filled and plumbed in the 6 brutes underneath. I have two 2" overflows that go down to two separate brutes which are each in a chain of three. The overflows spill into filter socks and through sponges into the second brutes which are filled with 130 lbs of lava rock each. The water is forced through the rock because the bulkhead pouring in is at the bottom and the out is at the top. Then the water flows into a trickle tower with carbon and eventually heaters at the end. The pump then returns the water through the 1.5" returns and 3/4" locline Y fittings.
I installed RGB lighting across the top of the tank. Yes I know it's still on the polystyrene lol. I'll only be in this living situation for around 18 months so I just used what I had. It will be fixed
Currently I have 3 Kelbs, 1 mono, 2 silver aros, 1 RB pacu, 2 motoro rays, 1 ID shark, 1 ornate bichir, and 1 senegal bichir. I've been having a nightmare with trying to get more stock for this tank though... I had my growouts die from a chomped heater and have received 2 shipments of dead on arrival bass from members on here with no refund. Eventually I'd like to get 2 intermedia, 2 orino, 1 xingu, 1 azul, and 1 brokopondo in here. I'm also thinking about a tig, some more bichirs, replacing my clown knife that my fish decided to rip to shreds, and a pearl ray. Let me know what you guys think! Pics don't do justice at all lol. The triforce will light up as well, just haven't installed the panel (And they keep knocking it out xD Gotta glue that sucker).
I let the tank sit filled with the grout exposed to detox for a few months.
The paints I decided to go with to imitate the background style I wanted.
Blocking in the base coat and darker cracks.
Final paint coat!
Applied two coats of clear pond armor to significantly increase durability.
Filled and plumbed in the 6 brutes underneath. I have two 2" overflows that go down to two separate brutes which are each in a chain of three. The overflows spill into filter socks and through sponges into the second brutes which are filled with 130 lbs of lava rock each. The water is forced through the rock because the bulkhead pouring in is at the bottom and the out is at the top. Then the water flows into a trickle tower with carbon and eventually heaters at the end. The pump then returns the water through the 1.5" returns and 3/4" locline Y fittings.
I installed RGB lighting across the top of the tank. Yes I know it's still on the polystyrene lol. I'll only be in this living situation for around 18 months so I just used what I had. It will be fixed
Currently I have 3 Kelbs, 1 mono, 2 silver aros, 1 RB pacu, 2 motoro rays, 1 ID shark, 1 ornate bichir, and 1 senegal bichir. I've been having a nightmare with trying to get more stock for this tank though... I had my growouts die from a chomped heater and have received 2 shipments of dead on arrival bass from members on here with no refund. Eventually I'd like to get 2 intermedia, 2 orino, 1 xingu, 1 azul, and 1 brokopondo in here. I'm also thinking about a tig, some more bichirs, replacing my clown knife that my fish decided to rip to shreds, and a pearl ray. Let me know what you guys think! Pics don't do justice at all lol. The triforce will light up as well, just haven't installed the panel (And they keep knocking it out xD Gotta glue that sucker).
I'll be honest, I got a little worried when I scrolled down and saw the blue and green paint. The finished background looks amazing though.
I still can't get over the size of that tank. Great job.
I still can't get over the size of that tank. Great job.
Thanks! Yeah I had some naysayers on my end. Thankfully I have some artistic ability and they've all drastically changed to my side
Yeah I just figured that I'd have this tank for a chunk of my life so I made the decision to make it exactly how I wanted it. Once I go bigger I'm going to convert this tank to a reef. I wanted the background to look great in both circumstances and be a little more permanent. Plus, Aquadecor quoted me like 2.5k to make a background for the tank not including shipping, import fees, and taxes 
ouch, that is quite a lot and a bit exessive if you think about it.Yeah I just figured that I'd have this tank for a chunk of my life so I made the decision to make it exactly how I wanted it. Once I go bigger I'm going to convert this tank to a reef. I wanted the background to look great in both circumstances and be a little more permanent. Plus, Aquadecor quoted me like 2.5k to make a background for the tank not including shipping, import fees, and taxes
