David R Posted November 12, 2007 Report Share Posted November 12, 2007 Why do I get the felling that this thread is just wishful thinking? Have you actually thought about: How on earth you are going to clean it? Gravel syphon on a very long stick? You won't even be able to reach the bottom at the front of the tank, let alone in the middle if it's 5' wide. At around 5800L, even a 10% water change will be close to 600L, which will take up a heck of a long time just to fill back up with a hose. Why you actually need it that big? I can't think of many fish that would need a 4' deep tank. With that depth you will run into all sorts of problems, getting enough light to the bottom of the tank (especially if you want plants), reaching the bottom for maintenance, decorating etc. Are you going to be keeping huge fish that need the width of 5' to turn around? Have you researched the day-to-day running costs of a tank that big? How much power will the pumps/lights/heater use? What happens if the fish get sick and you need to medicate them? How much dechlorinator will you need to use during water changes? Even the cost of feeding such a large number of fish would be quite high. What about the logistics of building and housing the tank? Obviously it will have to be built on-site, but what about the stand? The water alone will weigh close to 6 tons, plus the tank, stand, gravel, etc. Are you 100% sure your floor will be able to take that kind of weight? Can you even get a 10'x5' sheet of glass through your house and into the room where you want to build the tank? This is not the kind of tank you can pack up and take with you when you move. Are you settled in that house, jobs etc? If you do move you will most likely have to pull the tank down as there's not many people who would want to take on such a large aquarium. Building a tank of this size is an absolutely massive undertaking, and should be very thoroughly thought thru before spending a cent. How big is the biggest tank you are keeping now (or have ever kept)? I remember reading an article written by someone who volunteered to look after a big tank in a mall, I think it was a hexagon about 4' deep and had a large pacu and a couple of other big fish. He went into great detail about all the problems of such a large tank, and said after looking after such a large tank his 'dream tank' went from 600g+ with massive fish to about 240g with fish that only grew to around 12". Sometimes bigger isn't always better.... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tHEcONCH Posted November 12, 2007 Report Share Posted November 12, 2007 Why do I get the felling that this thread is just wishful thinking? Have you actually thought about: How on earth you are going to clean it? Gravel syphon on a very long stick? You won't even be able to reach the bottom at the front of the tank, let alone in the middle if it's 5' wide. At around 5800L, even a 10% water change will be close to 600L, which will take up a heck of a long time just to fill back up with a hose. Why you actually need it that big? I can't think of many fish that would need a 4' deep tank. With that depth you will run into all sorts of problems, getting enough light to the bottom of the tank (especially if you want plants), reaching the bottom for maintenance, decorating etc. Are you going to be keeping huge fish that need the width of 5' to turn around? Have you researched the day-to-day running costs of a tank that big? How much power will the pumps/lights/heater use? What happens if the fish get sick and you need to medicate them? How much dechlorinator will you need to use during water changes? Even the cost of feeding such a large number of fish would be quite high. What about the logistics of building and housing the tank? Obviously it will have to be built on-site, but what about the stand? The water alone will weigh close to 6 tons, plus the tank, stand, gravel, etc. Are you 100% sure your floor will be able to take that kind of weight? Can you even get a 10'x5' sheet of glass through your house and into the room where you want to build the tank? This is not the kind of tank you can pack up and take with you when you move. Are you settled in that house, jobs etc? If you do move you will most likely have to pull the tank down as there's not many people who would want to take on such a large aquarium. Building a tank of this size is an absolutely massive undertaking, and should be very thoroughly thought thru before spending a cent. How big is the biggest tank you are keeping now (or have ever kept)? I remember reading an article written by someone who volunteered to look after a big tank in a mall, I think it was a hexagon about 4' deep and had a large pacu and a couple of other big fish. He went into great detail about all the problems of such a large tank, and said after looking after such a large tank his 'dream tank' went from 600g+ with massive fish to about 240g with fish that only grew to around 12". Sometimes bigger isn't always better.... You've left out the biggest impediment - THE WIFE! The main reason I want to do a big tank is to get depth / perspective. Pretty much all the marine tanks I've seen look like a row of corals and lack a 'third dimension'. But yes, they are all good points that you make, which is why I'm investigating a more 'modular' system built into a frame that can be partially disassembled / moved with a crane. Perhaps not suprisingly, most of the BIG tanks overseas are converted swimming pools and use equipment adapted from other applications. Luckily I work for a firm that specialise in costing out projects and building things, so it makes it a little easier and / or depressing, depending upon how you look at it. Even if I could get a viable project together, there is still her indoors to convince. A project this size would require a humungous anount of compensatory shoe shopping :lol: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
livingart Posted November 13, 2007 Report Share Posted November 13, 2007 A project this size would require a humungous anount of compensatory shoe shopping you would need a small warehouse to fit all the shoes needed for compensation for that tank :lol: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ryanjury Posted November 13, 2007 Report Share Posted November 13, 2007 Yeah I think this maybe dreaming too I doubt there would be many in nz with the time/money/determination to build something of this scale would be nice and id love to be wrong and see the original poster build and see some pics! Guess we will see.. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tHEcONCH Posted November 13, 2007 Report Share Posted November 13, 2007 And don't forget, there are a few big (10'+) tanks already out there... so you never know Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SilverBlade86 Posted November 13, 2007 Report Share Posted November 13, 2007 Why go for big fish? Just fill it up with guppies. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
livingart Posted November 13, 2007 Report Share Posted November 13, 2007 i can see the advert now 10,000, guppies needed Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
OscarBoy Posted November 13, 2007 Report Share Posted November 13, 2007 lol if u had 10,000 guppies you would have like 50,000 in a couple of weeks Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ctsniper86 Posted November 13, 2007 Report Share Posted November 13, 2007 Just think tho, if you could have the tank and get it planted and stocked. You could snorkel in it just like your in a far away country river/lake. All in the comfort of your old home. Now that would be cool. Pity I can only dream Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
livingart Posted November 13, 2007 Report Share Posted November 13, 2007 tsniper come and swim in my eel pool, nude swimming is not recommended Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
OscarBoy Posted November 13, 2007 Report Share Posted November 13, 2007 hahahaha good 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
David R Posted November 13, 2007 Report Share Posted November 13, 2007 And don't forget, there are a few big (10'+) tanks already out there... so you never know 10' is one thing, how many of them are 5' wide and 4' deep tho?! 10'x2'x2' is only (only?!) around 1150L, where as 10'x5'x4' is around 5800L, over 5 times the volume! There's probably plenty of people with tanks around 1000L, but I doubt there's many with tanks 5000L+ Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tHEcONCH Posted November 13, 2007 Report Share Posted November 13, 2007 10' is one thing, how many of them are 5' wide and 4' deep tho?! 10'x2'x2' is only (only?!) around 1150L, where as 10'x5'x4' is around 5800L, over 5 times the volume! There's probably plenty of people with tanks around 1000L, but I doubt there's many with tanks 5000L+ When all is said and done, I'm not sure a BIG tank would actually be any more enjoyable than a smaller one, and the cost would buy a lot of tickets to go diving and see the real thing Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
David R Posted November 14, 2007 Report Share Posted November 14, 2007 Exactly, I don't think I'd want a tank that big unless I could afford to have staff who maintain it and could charge people entry to see it.... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
livingart Posted November 14, 2007 Report Share Posted November 14, 2007 Exactly, I don't think I'd want a tank that big unless I could afford to have staff who maintain it and could charge people entry to see it.... exactly, imagine if a tank that size crashed 8) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
anthony law Posted November 14, 2007 Report Share Posted November 14, 2007 .exactly, imagine if a tank that size crashed.ouch may if i won lotto i like one. :bounce: my questin is why have 5000l tank when you could have 5X1000l tanks it whould probably cost less, :lol: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
markoshark Posted November 14, 2007 Report Share Posted November 14, 2007 Why is this thread in freshwater? It needs to be a marine tank. Close to 500k worth of stock alone to fill it? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
michael.qian Posted November 14, 2007 Report Share Posted November 14, 2007 Ok... 1. Lets assume it won't crash, the consequence will be absolutely disastrous if it does happen. 2. Montly heating power requirement will be astronomical. 3. Filtration, need about 10 Fluval FX5. 4. Livestock and plants, need lots and lots. 5. Lighting requirements will be extremely high. 6. Need its own plumbing system, a weekly manual water change will take all day. All these things will make it difficult to have such a big tank, but if you do manage it and set it up properly, regardless of the cost, it will be very enjoyable. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
OscarBoy Posted November 14, 2007 Report Share Posted November 14, 2007 you wonder how long would it take to do a 50% water change with a tank 5800l? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
yarimochi Posted November 17, 2007 Report Share Posted November 17, 2007 Im sorry everyone but this is obviously a fantasy. Who asks for the capacity to be calculated on a forum when it takes a 2 second google search?? Whoever it is quite obviously wants people to know they want a 6000L tank. Such a huge tank would be far from economical in NZ as we don't have the fish selection to justify the thousands of dollars in running costs alone. Go to Kelly Tarltons. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
snookie Posted November 17, 2007 Report Share Posted November 17, 2007 dreams are free 8) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
nemines Posted November 17, 2007 Report Share Posted November 17, 2007 The Dupla aquarium was in one of the founder's house. it was a 10,000L fully planted aquarium which did automatic 500L water changes every day. absolutely amazing tank, but i hate to think how costly it was to maintain and set up. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
yarimochi Posted November 18, 2007 Report Share Posted November 18, 2007 The Dupla aquarium was in one of the founder's house. it was a 10,000L fully planted aquarium which did automatic 500L water changes every day. absolutely amazing tank, but i hate to think how costly it was to maintain and set up. PICS??? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
yarimochi Posted November 18, 2007 Report Share Posted November 18, 2007 dreams are free 8) Mind you...Nothing is Impossible http://mattw.de/japan05/DSC01567a.jpg Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
shadowfax Posted November 18, 2007 Report Share Posted November 18, 2007 i think if i won lotto i would have a huge tank but i would employ someone to mantain it!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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