What kind of budget should I be looking at?

[Oompa Loompa]

Here's the deal - I visited my old school recently, and they want an aquarium. More specifically a wall of tanks. He (the headmaster) wants to go relatively big too. Here's what I came up with:

-A 600 gallon DIY plywood tank, housing a few of your "basic" monsters
-A 360 gallon DIY plywood tank, housing a mbu pufferfish
-A 75 gallon tank housing an octopus
-A 75 gallon tank housing "mini-monsters" (smaller bichirs, datnoid growout, small cichlids, etc)
-A custom 8 foot (equivalent of 600 gallon) cage, housing a tegu
-Simple 20 gallon reef tank (basic LPS and soft corals)
-29 gallon planted tank
-20 gallon housing a tokay gecko
-Custom 2x2x4 cage housing a veiled chameleon
-Something housing a ball python
In addition to all this, he has told me he wants an "interactive" animal, that's not "scaly". Even though mbu puffers don't technically have scales, I still think he would count it as scaly So I am going to end up building a large perch structure and rescue/rehome a blue and gold macaw.

My question is what kind of budget should I look at. I was thinking 10-12 thousand and tell him that's enough with extra in case I go over. A few things to know:
-Blue and gold macaws are around $400 in my area (as rescues/rehomes)
-For the reef tank, I know a wholesaler who can get me saltwater stuff for very cheap (applies to octo tank too)
-I know a collector of native species, said I can get the octo for free if I decide to do it
-I know a local reptile rescue to get the reptiles from, so maybe $10-$30 cheaper each
-Preferably, I will be building as much as I can
-I don't know if they get discounts from Lowes/Home Depot, so let's assume they don't (however they've got plenty of tools)
-I want to buy the FW fish as cheap as possible, whether that's on the MFK marketplace or at Aquascape Online or somewhere else (I want to do it online though)
-My old bio teacher is going to be doing maintenance, he's got a large reef, a NC native tank, and breeds clownfish and oscars for fun
-I would be 100% willing to rehome fish IF they were the fish that I have selected for the tanks
-I think that's it

Does 10 grand seem good? Thanks, and happy 4/20

 

[Niners4952]

wow that is some plan and quite a project sounds like you have a good idea about the cost but always quote high, that sure is alot and did are you counting in filtration?

 

[Oompa Loompa]

wow that is some plan and quite a project sounds like you have a good idea about the cost but always quote high, that sure is alot and did are you counting in filtration?

Well, I'm not making a profit off of this, just a fun little (or big) project I'm doing to give back to the school that gave me so much. So do you think the 10 grand is a good place to start? That does include filtration. Filtering the 360 and 600 gallons will be FW, so just simple brute trash can sumps. The other ones will have 29 gallon sumps, and the 29 and 20 gallons will have... IDK maybe HOB filters/protein skimmers or something. I don't feel like drilling a 20 gallon, and especially not a 29 gallon freshwater tank.

I was thinking of actually taking in two macaws - a B&G and a greenwing. Only one though, getting a second is at the bottom of my priority list. Greendings are a bit more than blue and golds, even rehomes.

 

[Niners4952]

Honestly no one can give you advice on this that you don't already know, you have a great plan in place and good luck you and the school. Where is the school I would love to see the finished product

 

[Oompa Loompa]

Honestly no one can give you advice on this that you don't already know, you have a great plan in place and good luck you and the school. Where is the school I would love to see the finished product

It's a private school, I doubt you'll ever see it in person. I'll be sure to post a build thread though. I meet with him to discuss a final plan in a week from today. I'll be sure to post a final plan after I meet with him.
I know all about the aquarium set=up and such, no problems there. Stock lists are finalized and definitely OK too. Thanks for your help

 

[wannadivesteve]

Wow. Big project. Is a school a great place for such a noisy bird? Macaws can really belt it out when they get going.

 

[Thekid]

How about a plaudarium?

 

[Drstrangelove]

First, the rule of thumb that I've seen is that it's not cost effective to build tanks that size. This has many reasons that I will defer to others who have done the construction.

Second, and this is totally not an "aquarium" issue, but it's never ever a great idea for you or the school to have custom made DIY item in a facility. If the tanks cause any damage, and worse still, if someone gets hurt from glass, water, a loose animal, etc, and they find out the tank was DIY, you and the school will be in court facing lawsuits.

And this assumes that the school's legal department approves the project, which I would doubt.

If I'm getting my own tank for my own house and I want to experience the joy of building a tank. You bet, I love the idea. But, for a school, I'd only select commercially manufactured equipment.

Having said that, the purchase cost would likely be higher, but the downside risk is significantly reduced because there is very little "negligence" from some one using popular and professional equipment because a "reasonable man" would expect that these types of items were well built and safe. Not the same with home built stuff.

 

[Oompa Loompa]

Wow. Big project. Is a school a great place for such a noisy bird? Macaws can really belt it out when they get going.

They actually used to have a cockatoo as the "school pet", he died a while back though (10 years?). He said he wants another "interactive" animal that's not "scaly", and if they could handle a cockatoo there's no way they can't handle a macaw

How about a plaudarium?

There's an idea, however the tanks are for a school, and based more around the animals inside - there's not too many interesting animals (that come to mind) when I think of a paludarium. Especially because it would have to be small (so nothing like energy's, with stingrays )

First, the rule of thumb that I've seen is that it's not cost effective to build tanks that size. This has many reasons that I will defer to others who have done the construction.

Second, and this is totally not an "aquarium" issue, but it's never ever a great idea for you or the school to have custom made DIY item in a facility. If the tanks cause any damage, and worse still, if someone gets hurt from glass, water, a loose animal, etc, and they find out the tank was DIY, you and the school will be in court facing lawsuits.

And this assumes that the school's legal department approves the project, which I would doubt.

If I'm getting my own tank for my own house and I want to experience the joy of building a tank. You bet, I love the idea. But, for a school, I'd only select commercially manufactured equipment.

Having said that, the purchase cost would likely be higher, but the downside risk is significantly reduced because there is very little "negligence" from some one using popular and professional equipment because a "reasonable man" would expect that these types of items were well built and safe. Not the same with home built stuff.

I agree with the DIY part of it, but how is it not cost effective to build a 360 and a 600 gallon tank (the 360 being in the area of a foot thinner)? Or maybe you were talking about the 75's - those will be standard AGAs. But I agree about that, getting a glass tank built might be a better idea. I wish I knew someone who builds tanks like this, although maybe if I tell a tank builder it's for a school they could build it free, would look great for their tax return. Obviously for the cost of materials.

 

[Drstrangelove]

I agree with the DIY part of it, but how is it not cost effective to build a 360 and a 600 gallon tank (the 360 being in the area of a foot thinner)?

You're right, I think it's as it gets smaller, the cost benefit shrinks. In addition, if you need any tools that you don't have (sanders, drills, specialty saws), those costs are sunk costs and make it less attractive.

I can't tell you where people said it was much less attractive to build versus buy. I recall it was in the 100-300 gallon range, but don't quote me.

Also, it depends on whether or not you value your time. I don't know many people who would give up their weekends or vacation time to build a tank for someone else for free. If it's treated as "free" (because it's a hobby), then it's a lot easier to make it look like a cost savings. OTOH, if you think your spare time is worth something ($10 / hour, $25 / hour, etc.) then it can change the results.