NEW PROJECT. Concrete. 10x8x6

  • We are currently upgrading MFK. thanks! -neo
M

mcox3

Feeder Fish
MFK Member
May 25, 2007
774
1
0
Phoenix, AZ
I've started planning my next mess. I'm going to construct a block tank in my backyard for my big cats.

Hopefully next week I can start buying supplies.

Measurements are going to be 10x8x6. Block will be 16x12x8. So the inside measurement will be 8x6x6 which comes out to 2,154 gallons.

Two viewing windows. 1 is 84"x33" and the other 72"x27".

The tank will only sit about 4" above ground. The rest will be underground. This will help keep temps down in the summer. That is also why i've decided to go with thicker blocks.

The inside of the tank will be coated with drylok. I picked up a 5g bucket for 20 bucks a while back.

I've yet to decide what to do for filtration. I have a 100g tank that I recently resealed that I'll probably use. I picked it up for 35 bucks.

I'm open to all suggestions, advice and constructive criticism.

I'll most likely take pictures along the way, but will create a seperate thread once its completed.
 
I would go deeper in the ground. 4' high seems pretty high and I think it would get a lot warmer.
 
i've been planning a similar project for years. are you filling the block or leaving it hollow? poured concrete floor? how will you be sealing the glass to the drylok? good luck with it!
 
Why the 12" block? I have built in ground and above ground 8' deep water cisterns from both poured concrete and from block, both with 8" walls, and that worked fine. Just had to have enough rebar in them. Of course they had poured concrete floors and lids too.

You must have the glass already. What thickness?

This ought to be interesting, if I lived down there I think I would do something similar. I used to live down there, it gets STINKING HOT in the summer. Now I live in northern AZ and have a couple of feet of snow on the ground. Whatever I build needs to be indoors.

I know of an indoor koi pond that is partially in ground, and there is a round glass viewing window in the side.The thing is only about 36" inches above ground, but it is kind of cool because you can sit on the side and watch the fish.

What kind of cats are going in this thing? With part of this in the ground, it will be interesting to see what the water temps do at various times of the year.

With all that sunshine, I bet you could rig up a solar hot water heater for warming the water in the winter pretty easy. I know someone with a solar water heater on their roof that they want removed. I don't know what is wrong with it, but it might be worth looking into. It is down there in the valley, PM me if you are interested.

Take plenty of photos for us.
 
12" block becuase I know a place that will sell them to me at .50 per block. That and thicker blocks would insulate the tank better.

The blocks will be filled. The floor poured. I will be using GE Silicone I Window & Door to bond the glass to the drylok.

You think I should go deeper with the tank? I gathered some information on monthly average temperatures for Phoenix. It seems July and Aug are the hottest. With an average of 92 Degrees. Yes, I know it gets hotter than that, but I figure the tank will NOT fluctuate much since its so large. I will get a chiller if it comes down to it. I think for the most part the tank will need to be heated since our winters can get chilly.

Also, I've never kept tanks at 90 degrees, but I've heard of people doing it to cure ick. Aslong as i keep aeration high, it should be okay. Right? I keep my cichla tanks at 86ish.
 
Month/High/Low/Daily Avg/ Adjustment

*AVG Adjustment is to reach 80F.

Jan 66/41/53.5/+26.5
Feb 70/44/57/+23
Mar 75/49/62/+18
Apr 84/55/69.5/+10.5
May 93/64/78.5/+1.5
Jun 103/72/87.5/-7.5
Jul 105/80/92.5/-12.5
Aug 103/79/91/-11
Sep 99/72/85.5/-5.5
Oct 88/61/74.5/+5.5
Nov 75/48/61.5/18.5
Dec 66/42/54/+26
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
MonsterFishKeepers.com
Top Bottom