My 12x4x4 1400 gallon cichlid tank

  • We are currently upgrading MFK. thanks! -neo
Wow, looks amazing! Nice work!

The fact that that the window doesn't go all the way to the floor is smart...in case you ever have any issues with the window leaking, you won't have to remove fish to repair it.

Few questions for you:

1. How are you heating it?
2. How cold does it get in your basement in the winter?
3. Do you have a tankless hot water heater?

I run out of warm water when I do 50% water changes and my tank is about half the size of yours (~800G)...I'm having a tankless hot water heater installed next month to resolve that issue. Are you planning on just using cold water and relying on your heaters to bring the temps back up?
 
aldiaz33 said:
Wow, looks amazing! Nice work!

The fact that that the window doesn't go all the way to the floor is smart...in case you ever have any issues with the window leaking, you won't have to remove fish to repair it.

Few questions for you:

1. How are you heating it?
2. How cold does it get in your basement in the winter?
3. Do you have a tankless hot water heater?

I run out of warm water when I do 50% water changes and my tank is about half the size of yours (~800G)...I'm having a tankless hot water heater installed next month to resolve that issue. Are you planning on just using cold water and relying on your heaters to bring the temps back up?
Click to expand...
Thanks! Yes the fact I can fix a window leak without a complete drain was in fact another reason I went this route. As for your questions:

1. I am currently running 5 300w ehiem jäger heaters. I will eventually go titanium w/ heater controller.

2. I heat the basement with a very big wood fire place. I shot for maintaining at least 75 degrees and given I can get enough wood this fall, higher. With no heat at all temps drop to about 68 degrees typically. Colder during cold snaps by several degrees. I am going to insulate more soon though so that will help.

3. No I have a 55 gallon kenmore water heater. I do my first water change the other day and drained out about 40-45%. The water temp was 79.2 when I started and by time it was full I was down to 77.2. I turned my heat up at this time and it's now running about 81.5.



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trace said:
Thanks! Yes the fact I can fix a window leak without a complete drain was in fact another reason I went this route.
Click to expand...

That hadn't occurred to me. I was planning on building mine with the window to the floor, but this makes too much sense. Love it!

As for the water, once I get my monster up and running, I plan to set it up on a drip system.
 
Chicxulub said:
That hadn't occurred to me. I was planning on building mine with the window to the floor, but this makes too much sense. Love it!

As for the water, once I get my monster up and running, I plan to set it up on a drip system.
Click to expand...

Drip system would be easier, but I actually just like to do the water changes. I tested my water before the wc and still didn't read any nitrates so mostly it was just to remove hormones and solids. And out of curiosity.


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Rad video!
That is on my list when I own my own house.
How about some filtration pics or video?
And when you gonna add more cichla? That orino needs a few buddies ;)
 
I'd be interested to see how the house settles over time with this much weight on one side. I would guesstimate it's got to be a good 10,000 lbs of water there. Without pouring a thicker floor there has to be some give over time. Make sure you do regular inspections for stress cracks along the perimeter of the floor around the tank.
 
gangster said:
Rad video!
That is on my list when I own my own house.
How about some filtration pics or video?
And when you gonna add more cichla? That orino needs a few buddies ;)
Click to expand...

Ya I will work on something for the filtration so you guys can see it. It isn't the permanent sump setup, just cheap and obviously effective.


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sashimimaster said:
I'd be interested to see how the house settles over time with this much weight on one side. I would guesstimate it's got to be a good 10,000 lbs of water there. Without pouring a thicker floor there has to be some give over time. Make sure you do regular inspections for stress cracks along the perimeter of the floor around the tank.
Click to expand...

I plan to watch for cracks but it's a nearly 40 year old foundation and even figuring 13500 lbs it's still less than 290 lbs per square foot. Really not very straining. I highly doubt any stress cracks will occur.


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Sweet man! Congrats ... really looks amazing, and very cost efficient for building ... some great info for those of us without uber money to build monster tanks

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