BUILD A 4000GALLON TANK

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willsfishtank

Feeder Fish
MFK Member
Jan 20, 2008
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illinois
4000GALLON TANK ON A 2 THOSAND DOLLAR BUDGET? INCLUDING BUILDING FILTRATION COST OF SALT EXC.... EVERYTHING THINK IT CAN BE DONE WITH ONLY 1 ACRYLIC WINDOW AND WOOD TANK TO HOUSE A BLACK TIP CORAL, THAT SHOULD BE ENOUGH GALLONAGE TO NOT HAVE TO REBUILD FOR HIM RIGHT?

WHATS UR THOUGHTS ON THIS AND ONLY THIS NO SIDE TOPIC ABOUT SOMETHING STUPI I DONT NEED HELP WITH LOL OR ASKING ME QUESTIONS LIKE DO YOU KNOW HOW TO SAW WOOD LOL. THERE ARE SOME WEIRDOS WHO GO TO EVERY FORUM I READ AN CHANGE THE SUBJECT PLEASE DONT BE A WEIRDO
 
Get a bigger budget methinks.
 
cvermeulen;1451900; said:
Get a bigger budget methinks.
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i would have to agree with you, unless he makes a cinderblock frame with pond liner. Although I don't know if salt water would wear down the liner
 
I think the cinder block way would be the way with the budget. I dont know if the methods that are being used with cinderblock can stand up to the salt do your research. With a 2G budget prepare to also do all the work by yourself and with a few buddies
 
deacon;1451938; said:
just my opinion but a tank that size you could pay up to 2g on that single piece of acrylic .
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That's what I was thinking. you could maybe make a pond that large for 2k. Everyone seems to stop thinking after figuring out how to hold water too. Keep in mind you have to filter, maintain, heat (?) etc. the tank as well. A tank that large will probably continuously consume well over 1000 watts, probably much more if you're thinking salt. Just the salt alone to salinate that much water would be a lot of money. To do it in a way you'll be happy with so you'd never have to build another tank, think of the plumbing, the pumps, the sump or other filtration. If it's salt, the skimmers, water changer apparatus, R/O infrastructure. 2k does not go very far. I spent about 1500 on my plywood 200 once all was said and done. It can be done cheaper, but not $0.50/gal cheap for something much more than a hole with a liner in it.
 
well i have found acrylic peice 8x4x4 that is 1" thick and have seen it used on bigger tanks then what i want the peice i found is only 190.00 after tax !!!! so i was thinking just building the 1 window and i would do all the work

does anyone built filtration themselfs?
 
willsfishtank;1452462; said:
well i have found acrylic peice 8x4x4 that is 1" thick and have seen it used on bigger tanks then what i want the peice i found is only 190.00 after tax !!!! so i was thinking just building the 1 window and i would do all the work

does anyone built filtration themselfs?
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8x4x4???

if you mean 4x8, OK... but I would bank on more like 1.5" for a tank that deep. Also I would bank on cell cast acrylic - most acrylic sheet is extruded which is not as strong, or as clear.

Often people make a mistake of thinking once you have the glass, the tank expenses are as good as done.... a 4000gal tank will weigh 20 tons. :eek: That means it will likely sink into anything you put it on, crack concrete pads not rated for it, etc. Your walls will use a large amount of material, be it concrete o rlumber, and your liner will not be cheap.

After you've got it holding water, you will need 12,000-40,000gph worth of pumps, and 3-4" piping to route it all. You will need over a thousand pounds of substrate, maybe a couple hundred gallons of bio media (min). 5kw worth of heat, over 1000lbs of salt (at around $1/lb from drs foster and smith.) Filter bags, inlet and outlet fittings, the list is not a short one.

$2k won't do it, even if you go el cheapo.
 
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