conf_t Posted December 28, 2003 Report Share Posted December 28, 2003 Hi all. I'm going to embark on a bit of a crazy project.. I want to build a large ( around 3000L ) cold-water marine tank to be installed in our work foyer.. I'm thinking about 800mm x 1000mm x 4000mm I've been running a 300L tank for quite some time, but a 10x scale might require a different approach. I've convinced my work to spend some $$$ on the project, which makes things quite nice.. I suspect i will find a few enthuastists at work who will be keen to help as well!I'm fortuanate that our work has a great chilled water source, ( we run a very large computer installation ) that is used for airconditioning, so in theory, i might be able to connect into that for some cooling.. I was thinking of building fibreglass on ply back and sides, with a glass front, and using a couple of big plastic drums for filtration.. I dive around the welly coast, so finding critters to live in the tank should'nt be too hard.. Does anyone have any ideas about what else i might contemplate putting in a large tank like this? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chris.L Posted December 28, 2003 Report Share Posted December 28, 2003 Gets lots of live rock and find anemones (sp) in rockpools. I don't recommend crayfish as I think it's illegal. You could put shrimps, hermit crabs etc in it. Hope you enjoy the project - I wish I could do the same! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
conf_t Posted December 28, 2003 Author Report Share Posted December 28, 2003 I was pretty much planning, to build the whole back wall of the tank as rock, from top to bottom.. thats an interesting challenge with using Live Rock, as I would need to collect it, and build it in bits! But its doable, i think.. The other thing that woud be great to keep going would be some seaweed but that might be quite a challenge.. Anemonoes and Inverts are probably obvious choices for residents.. but at 3000l i was hoping to put some other fish in the tank that normally woud'nt be contenders for a small tank.. Perhaps some small blue cod? or even a small snapper? I think it is possible to get a permit to have undersized aquarium specinums ( including Paua and crays ). Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lduncan Posted December 28, 2003 Report Share Posted December 28, 2003 How much cash have you got to play with? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
conf_t Posted December 28, 2003 Author Report Share Posted December 28, 2003 Millions. seriously.. I'm hoping i can contain this project within $10k. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lduncan Posted December 28, 2003 Report Share Posted December 28, 2003 Why not go tropical marine, rather than cold water? Much more interesting to look at. Here are some pics of a 850gal (around 3400L) tropical marine system:http://www.reefcentral.co.nz/index.php?module=photoalbum&PHPWS_AlbumManager_op=view&PHPWS_MAN_ITEMS[]=7&MMN_position=14:4 Layton Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Alan Posted December 28, 2003 Report Share Posted December 28, 2003 If you are contemplating having animals that are legally undersize, I am pretty sure, you have to get a permit for them. Tell them that it is for educational purposes, which of course it is. Alan Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
reef Posted December 28, 2003 Report Share Posted December 28, 2003 tropical marine is the way to go. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
conf_t Posted December 28, 2003 Author Report Share Posted December 28, 2003 Thanks for the suggestion of building a tropical marine tank.. ] Have been there and done that, ( keep percula/osilaris (sp?) clowns , and chromis, and various gobies and other misc stuff. Its interesting that you say its 'Much more interesting'. I'm not so sure of that.. I've dived on some of the best reefs in the world in both tropical and temperate locations, and i can tell you there is a lot of interesting things in the first 10meters of water around most NZ coastline. I want to capture a little of the NZ seascape, so people who don't dive, can see a little peice of live natural history. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lduncan Posted December 28, 2003 Report Share Posted December 28, 2003 Yeah, I can see where your coming from. But i would still prefer tropical. Each to their own I suppose. Layton Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ira Posted December 28, 2003 Report Share Posted December 28, 2003 Cold water would definitely be more unusual than tropical. Not that even tropicals are common*Mutter* But there are probably even fewer cold water marine tanks around. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
count_sexy_tart Posted December 29, 2003 Report Share Posted December 29, 2003 conf t pop into welly airport and check out there reef,head to gates 17 to 19 and its on the left as you go to those gates, as i think thats what your intending to do ,they have crays an octopus etc,see if you can get a look at there set up as it may help alot Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pies Posted December 29, 2003 Report Share Posted December 29, 2003 conf t. I guess your nickname suggests what you do for a living Sounds good. I too have dived on some fairly awesome reefs around the world. And although NZ has some 'good' diving, I don't think it has anything on any of the temprate/tropical locations. Ultimatly this is why tropical marine is more popular than cold/temprate marine. Something to keep in mind is going to be circulation too. You are going to need a larger number of cirulation pumps to get water churning. There are some nice big coldwater setups in Picton, and in Chrischurch (town square in the information centre), and Wellington (over the road from the 'pump house' dive spot Island Bay) if you wanted to visit them. Also Napier. All of these (with the exception of Christchurch) ciruclate ocean water, so if you are not on the ocean then you will need protien skimming etc et al. Seaweed is possilbe, but with strong current and high nutrient levels. For advice, check out www.reefcentral.com. They have a forum for 'large tanks', 3000L I think is the minumium size too so well worth a look for plumbing ideas etc. As for stock. Crayfish are fairly nasty, but look quite good. I wouldn't worry about having 2-3 of them. As you dive, get a big whitebait net or something and a team of guys (i'll come out and help). Butter fish, big schools of harings or yellow tailed koheru would look awesome. Scroppian fish too, if you wanted to road trip up north. Leather jackets, brittle stars etc. Not sure what was ment by 'live rock' as the rock in NZ is not very pourus, and has no similarity to live coral rock used with Marines. I do think that Tropical Marines would look much better, espeically and invert tank. Although your 10K probably would only cover the lighting Good luck. Pies Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Caryl Posted December 29, 2003 Report Share Posted December 29, 2003 As I have said before, the most interesting tank we ever had was a cold water rockpool marine. Watching the inhabitants was fascinating. Of course, it was nowhere near the size you are contemplating Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
briank Posted January 3, 2004 Report Share Posted January 3, 2004 Hi cont_f, I agree with caryl, cold water marine has its own beauty. Have you been to Kelly Tarlton, Auckland? I went there over the weekend and saw their setup for local rock pool aquarium. The fishes looks incredible. Good luck with your endevour! I only have a small rock-pool aquarium and I am very satisfied with it, even though tts tough keeping it cool during summer. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Join the conversation
You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.