Just plan it out. Changing concrete isn't a whole lot of fun, but with proper planning, you can minimize unforseen problems.
Concrete Aquarium Questions
- Thread starter SpmnE9zero
- Start date
I have taken others advice and have drawn it out with sketchup and I am pleased with how it turned out so far.Clay;4307484; said:
The breaking of the ground on our home will not be until this coming spring, so I have some time to research and make sure I have a perfect understanding of everything I need to do, for minimal error and waste of money.
I too have woundered about concrete Aquariums would the cost of building a 3000 to 5000 gallon aquarium in a basement out of concrete be cheaper then buying a alyrlic aquarium that is a 1000 or 1500 gallons? I know that no existing house I've seen can hold the load of both these giant beasts so eather way I would have to eather build a custom room on to a existing house for a tank larger then 300 gallons no mater what to be safe?
I kind of wondered about this in that there is no common house out there that is perfectly set up to hold up a 1500 gallon aquarium to get it in though the doors and to a stable area that could hold it up. Would it be easer to dig out a basement add on to a existing house's and then build a concrete wall across the with of the basement with viewing windows in it to look at the fish? And have the other three sides be sold pored concrete or cinder blocks filled with concrete and lined with epoxy?
Would a cement fish tank be taking on the construciton nature of a say a cement lined swimming pool only with fish swimming in it?
I kind of wondered about this in that there is no common house out there that is perfectly set up to hold up a 1500 gallon aquarium to get it in though the doors and to a stable area that could hold it up. Would it be easer to dig out a basement add on to a existing house's and then build a concrete wall across the with of the basement with viewing windows in it to look at the fish? And have the other three sides be sold pored concrete or cinder blocks filled with concrete and lined with epoxy?
Would a cement fish tank be taking on the construciton nature of a say a cement lined swimming pool only with fish swimming in it?
Clay;4307484; said:
I agree with Clay 100%. It's easier to change concrete on paper than it is to do once it's poured. Prior proper planning prevents piss poor problems and performance.
I have a few things I might add though, which came to mind when reading through your thread. With this being a new residential construction and as you mentioned in an earlier post, check with your developer. But most of all check with your architect who will be doing the drawing of the blue prints. He's the one which has the responsibility of getting your plans approved with the state, county or city engineer. I may be wrong here, but it could take an engineer's stamp of approval on the blue prints to begin this proposed tank build if it is to be attached to your house. Not just a county or city residential building inspector.
Ask your architect, what state, county and city building codes say about the structural requirements for your proposed tank construction. It may not be regulated so much by state building codes, but I'm quite certain there will either be county or city building codes, if not both. These building codes are established for not only the safety of your community and neighbors, but also the safety, bennefit, welfare, peace of mind and well being of you and your immediate family.
The code will speak of the type of concrete, the foundation footing size required, placement and size of steel reinforcement rods, placement of framing rough outs for plumbing, windows, deck drains, steps, doors, additional rooms, etc. There could be a minagery of things. Or it could be quite simplistic. But check with your architect and most of all, ASK HIM QUESTIONS YOU'RE UNSURE OF. This cannot be emphasized enough.
It might be good to read the building codes, so you, yourself have a better understanding of what is required. You'll have a better understanding when the architect explains things to you (limited confusion). Additionally, it will not be so shocking when it comes time to drawing the blue prints and the actual build, as to what is being done and needs to be done for completion on the job site itself.
Having this knowledge, as Clay states, will minimize unforseen problems, too.
I wish you much luck and happiness with this endeavor.
I wounder would it be possible to dig out a large hole in the back yard of a house with a lot of land and built the concrete tank outside away from the house to see if it would safely hold water. Then say a year later after it has been running well then buy a glass indoor pool conversion kit and then built it under the giant outdoor tank into a new room of the house by turning into a other room of the house. After turning it indoors you could then build a hallway up to the new indoor fish tank from the old house. The reason why I would try something like this so that if the fish tank windows give way like in the windows in the ballroom flooding scene in Posidon.
