So I am a planner. I spent 4 years planning my reef tank and now I am about 5 years from starting my real dream a massive room sized tank with two windows one to my LR and one to my office for a reef tip or two and large Tang. One of the things I want to know I how you deal with salt water for a 10,000+ gal tank this will likely affect the size I try and go with. Do I mix 500+ tubes of instand ocean and 50+ plus for my weekly water changes. If so I am not sure this is the deam I want.
Costs of Salt Water for Massive Tank
- Thread starter EconPhd
- Start date
For a large pond (10,000 gallons+) I'm not sure that you need to do weekly water changes. Or that you going to want or need to change out 40% of the tanks volume per month.
You should just fine with about 10-15% water change per month provided that you have a great filtration system that can keep the water quality virtually perfect.
Still your looking at a lot of saltwater mix.
You should just fine with about 10-15% water change per month provided that you have a great filtration system that can keep the water quality virtually perfect.
Still your looking at a lot of saltwater mix.
If you are serious about your project hit me up on PM.
But for the sake of the thread, Instand Ocean sells salt by the pallet. It makes it much easier to mix in large volumes. I'd suggest about a 1,000 gallon vat with a cirulation pump pulling from the bottom and returning water to the top. Then a valved off line from that same pump right to your tank. That way you can mix up water and just have it moving, then when you need to top off the main tank, all you do it open the valve.
Like Ken said, with large scale tanks, actual water changes aren't done nearly as often as with small tanks. Instead, you need to worry about keeping the sandfilters clean. Removing old water and adding new only gets done once every other month - if even that much. And it's not nearly the volume small tanks get. A 10% change6 times a year would be a lot.
One thing I will suggest is a recovery system - which will use two additional large tanks besides the main display (if you have a 10,000 gallon tank, two 1000 gallon tanks would do the trick). It will cost more to set up, but you'll save a LOT of money in the first year alone. It takes tank water, backwashes the filters into a second tank. Then that water is super filtered while isolated, and moved to a third tank. Once it's clean, you can use it to top off the tank again after the next backwash into the second tank again.
But for the sake of the thread, Instand Ocean sells salt by the pallet. It makes it much easier to mix in large volumes. I'd suggest about a 1,000 gallon vat with a cirulation pump pulling from the bottom and returning water to the top. Then a valved off line from that same pump right to your tank. That way you can mix up water and just have it moving, then when you need to top off the main tank, all you do it open the valve.
Like Ken said, with large scale tanks, actual water changes aren't done nearly as often as with small tanks. Instead, you need to worry about keeping the sandfilters clean. Removing old water and adding new only gets done once every other month - if even that much. And it's not nearly the volume small tanks get. A 10% change6 times a year would be a lot.
One thing I will suggest is a recovery system - which will use two additional large tanks besides the main display (if you have a 10,000 gallon tank, two 1000 gallon tanks would do the trick). It will cost more to set up, but you'll save a LOT of money in the first year alone. It takes tank water, backwashes the filters into a second tank. Then that water is super filtered while isolated, and moved to a third tank. Once it's clean, you can use it to top off the tank again after the next backwash into the second tank again.
Thanks so much, like I said I am a long way from this but that is very helpful, when I get closer i will make sure to remember to look you up a few years down the road. I spend 3 days looking for that information you just provided.
Thanks
Thanks
If there is anything we can help with in the mean time, feel free to ask. Several of the people who post/read in this section have built very large scale tanks, or have worked with them for several years. We'd be more than happy to answer anything for you. There are several ideas rooted in "normal" home aquaria that can be tossed out when you make the jump to the large volume tanks.
Thanks for the offer and info zoodiver. It is amazing from want I can tell after a point the construction costs of the tank seems to vanish relative to everything else. I will be building my house and so I plan on building the entire downstairs and basement around the tank. I have not sold myself on the black tips yet, the idea of a school of tang seems really cool, but I have losts of time to decide. Anyways I am sure I will be asking alot of questions from you guys in the years to come.
Well the type and minimum size of tank will vary depending on what species.
Since you say Black tips - I kind fo assume that it's the swimming carcharhinids(requiem-type) sharks that you looking into building the tank or lagoon around.
So here's a couple of options.
For a Reef type setting - your looking at such species as Blacktip & whitetip reef sharks. These sharks seem to do well in a rocky reef style setting and require are tank or lagoon with at least a minimum footprint of 670-750 sq.ft. with minumum average depth at least 5ft - for a minimum volume of 25,000-28,000 gallons
Or a Marine estuary type setting - the main species on this list include the Bonnethead shark & Altantic Sharpnose shark. These species tend to prefer an open sandy flat with varies types of seagrass or macroalgae, and very little rock work or decor. Since these species tend to be smaller - only about 4-5 ft (max), the require less room and a slightly shallower depth. But both Bonnetheads and Atlantic Sharpnose sharks seem to do better when kept in small groups. Also these species are best suited for a lagoon style aquaria - instead of tank with a viewing window. The minimum recommended tank size for these species - is a minimum footprint of 490-550 sq.ft. with a minimum average depth of 4ft - for a minimum volume of 14,600-16,500 gallons.
Since you say Black tips - I kind fo assume that it's the swimming carcharhinids(requiem-type) sharks that you looking into building the tank or lagoon around.
So here's a couple of options.
For a Reef type setting - your looking at such species as Blacktip & whitetip reef sharks. These sharks seem to do well in a rocky reef style setting and require are tank or lagoon with at least a minimum footprint of 670-750 sq.ft. with minumum average depth at least 5ft - for a minimum volume of 25,000-28,000 gallons
Or a Marine estuary type setting - the main species on this list include the Bonnethead shark & Altantic Sharpnose shark. These species tend to prefer an open sandy flat with varies types of seagrass or macroalgae, and very little rock work or decor. Since these species tend to be smaller - only about 4-5 ft (max), the require less room and a slightly shallower depth. But both Bonnetheads and Atlantic Sharpnose sharks seem to do better when kept in small groups. Also these species are best suited for a lagoon style aquaria - instead of tank with a viewing window. The minimum recommended tank size for these species - is a minimum footprint of 490-550 sq.ft. with a minimum average depth of 4ft - for a minimum volume of 14,600-16,500 gallons.
Zoodiver;2772414; said:
Brilliant idea! I take it that standard filtration is used for this method of recycling and trace elements are added before the water is added back into the display?
I wonder if this system was created for regions where it is illegal to dump saltwater into public sewage or just cost effectiveness.