Hi... just stumbled onto this discussion. I am in the process of planning a similar project but cold-water marine and more like 10,000 litres, but a lot of what you are churning over would be similar to my own journey. I have given myself 3 years planning phase. There are so many issues and each one is a subject in itself. I am actually very keen to stay in contact, not as an expert, but as a fellow traveller.
You talk about the issue of concrete. I have a 20 metre swimming pool a.. and yes it initiall developed hairline cracks.. but the cracks rapidly seal themselves as promised by my pool biuilder.
I recently discussed the issue of concrete and sealing with one of my patients who is a professional concreter and has been involved in building cement aquaculture vessels.. we have a huge local salmon aquaculture industry.
Here are some of his words of advice to me:
65 mm RULE
Her says the rule they follow with any cement structure anywhere near salt water is to keep REO a minimum of 65 mm from the surface.
You can buy 65 mm bar clips to ensure this distance
Type of REO
Says steel is OK if keeping to 65 mm RULE
He says you can use galvanised reo (costs more)
Also can get the reo-mesh hot dipped if want to.
He says can get stainless steel REO but that is going too far.
He says other products (plastic/carbon fibre) are a bit new and experimental
XYPEX
Xypex Admix can be added to cement to improve water-resistance. Says it makes the cement a bit gelatenous at first and he is not sure if that would be OK with shotcrete application. (I am thinking of shotcrete to apply cement as per swimming pools)
Xypex website has references to large aquarium projects using their products.
QUOTE
In June of 2012, the Saint Louis Zoo opened its new Sea Lion Sound exhibit – an
$18 million, 1.5 acre habitat which houses 11 California Sea Lions and a harbour
seal. The exhibit includes a series of streams and waterfalls, as well as a deep
saltwater pool with an underwater viewing area and 35 foot long viewing tunnel –
the only one of its kind in North America.
Xypex Admix C-500 was chosen to waterproof and protect concrete throughout
the exhibit. A total of 4,800 lbs (2200 kg) of the admixture was used in both the
shotcrete for the rockwork (about 1200 cubic yards/920 cubic meters) as well as
several cast-in-place concrete walls. The largest component, the pool, now holds
258,000 gallons of salt water.
One Pour or Two
He says aquaculture has specified single pour (floor and sides) at some times.
Other times they pour base, then add a black, sticky seal then pour sides.
He says you can grout the edges.. fits my idea is of a curved edge like our swimming pool.
My own project: I plan the inside of my aquarium like an arch on its side with the flat "base" of the arch as the viewing window to an adjoining room. The aquarium will be in another space and I will build a wooden jetty across the aquarium with wooden piles into the aquarium to aquascape it to resemble a real jetty. The jetty will allow you to walk across/sit/fish/clean aquarium etc.. and leads to another room. I won't labour on about my plans but they also include a sunken jacuzzi with a sliding glass cover.
You talk about the issue of concrete. I have a 20 metre swimming pool a.. and yes it initiall developed hairline cracks.. but the cracks rapidly seal themselves as promised by my pool biuilder.
I recently discussed the issue of concrete and sealing with one of my patients who is a professional concreter and has been involved in building cement aquaculture vessels.. we have a huge local salmon aquaculture industry.
Here are some of his words of advice to me:
65 mm RULE
Her says the rule they follow with any cement structure anywhere near salt water is to keep REO a minimum of 65 mm from the surface.
You can buy 65 mm bar clips to ensure this distance
Type of REO
Says steel is OK if keeping to 65 mm RULE
He says you can use galvanised reo (costs more)
Also can get the reo-mesh hot dipped if want to.
He says can get stainless steel REO but that is going too far.
He says other products (plastic/carbon fibre) are a bit new and experimental
XYPEX
Xypex Admix can be added to cement to improve water-resistance. Says it makes the cement a bit gelatenous at first and he is not sure if that would be OK with shotcrete application. (I am thinking of shotcrete to apply cement as per swimming pools)
Xypex website has references to large aquarium projects using their products.
QUOTE
In June of 2012, the Saint Louis Zoo opened its new Sea Lion Sound exhibit – an
$18 million, 1.5 acre habitat which houses 11 California Sea Lions and a harbour
seal. The exhibit includes a series of streams and waterfalls, as well as a deep
saltwater pool with an underwater viewing area and 35 foot long viewing tunnel –
the only one of its kind in North America.
Xypex Admix C-500 was chosen to waterproof and protect concrete throughout
the exhibit. A total of 4,800 lbs (2200 kg) of the admixture was used in both the
shotcrete for the rockwork (about 1200 cubic yards/920 cubic meters) as well as
several cast-in-place concrete walls. The largest component, the pool, now holds
258,000 gallons of salt water.
One Pour or Two
He says aquaculture has specified single pour (floor and sides) at some times.
Other times they pour base, then add a black, sticky seal then pour sides.
He says you can grout the edges.. fits my idea is of a curved edge like our swimming pool.
My own project: I plan the inside of my aquarium like an arch on its side with the flat "base" of the arch as the viewing window to an adjoining room. The aquarium will be in another space and I will build a wooden jetty across the aquarium with wooden piles into the aquarium to aquascape it to resemble a real jetty. The jetty will allow you to walk across/sit/fish/clean aquarium etc.. and leads to another room. I won't labour on about my plans but they also include a sunken jacuzzi with a sliding glass cover.