Building a 3000 Gallon DIY plywood / epoxy Planted Amazon Big Cichlid Aquarium. Over 20 Feet Long!
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- เผยแพร่เมื่อ 22 ธ.ค. 2020
- Episode 8 of the fish basement series shows the birth of my 3000 gallon DIY wood / epoxy aquarium. The video covers all aspects of building the aquarium; as well as, showing the mistakes that I made along the way and the solutions. By the end of the video the tank is built, filled and the ecosystem of fish and plants is started.
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Thank you for including your errors. Often problems encountered, insight into how to fix them, and the associated thought processes are the most valuable portion of content like this.
Also, that tank is beautiful
Hey Dusk! Oh yeah, I just share the evolution of my fish basement good and the bad. I am an experienced fishkeeper 35 years (yes I am old) and while I make less mistakes than before I still make them. Plus I try new things and different things that I think will work out, but don't always.
I like that you raised the tanks off the ground. All the other monster tank builds I've seen have been built on the floor and you need to bend down to see them. Great build!
Thanks Johno! I feel exactly the same way, building it at normal viewing height was one of my first priorities for the build.
In the 70's I wanted to save money but have a huge tank. I used 1/2 inch plywood, 2x4's, a pool paint that was safe for fish, and a ton of fish safe silicon. I did use a ton of wood glue and screws but no fiber glass at all. Just the paint to seal the wood. Then installed a 7 foot by 2 foot by 1/2 inch piece of glass that was sealed in place with silicone. I relied on the weight of water pressing against the glass and the plywood it fronted against to prevent any leaks. It worked great for me. And I was confident enough in what I built that I filled it with water without a worry.
Very cool! 😎
That is really an amazing tank.. even more amazing work... WOW.
Thank you! Lot's of work, but the tank brings me enjoyment every day :-)
“I didn’t make a tank this big to put guppies in” - my dream tank wouldn’t quite be guppies, but I’d love a tank like this with a couple of thousand tetras, corydoras etc in
Hey Audigex! That would be an amazing sight for sure, but it really would take thousands of little fish to populate this beast...would be pricey lol :-p
@@AquariumDomain. Start breeding now..
I 'm gonna make me a huge tank like this one day and I'm going to put just one betta in it.
He should have gone with one million neon tetras
Wow.... Great job... Fantastic looking 👏👏👏👏
Thank you!!! :-)
I did same years ago. what an obsession it becomes. Sit for hours staring into the tanks. One benefit for the fish that cannot be beat I found is some naturel light. Sunlight indirect is really best for the fish
Good for the fish, but it does kick up the algae growth on the glass 🙂
What ever fish you buy to put in this tank has hit the jackpot!
Hey Terry! Haha that is true..plenty of room...no predators...plenty of food...not half bad :-)
You put a lot of effort into this video and the tank. Thank you, I for sure learned from this.
Thanks Slique Nick! 3000 gallon is definitely my baby :-) I have a big update coming on this tank in a few weeks!
Amazing tank. Love that you built it off the ground. Really feels like it needs WAY more filter flow. Larger pipes and pumps.
Thanks Jason! Yeah, you are right it does, I am in the process of adding two more overflows right now. The return pump is actually really strong, it is just running on a very low setting with the single overflow. Also giving the lighting some upgrades as well....always a work in progress...but a fun one :-)
To be an awesome tank for cichlids
This tank is literally built like a tank. It looks so big on the video but it must look massive in person. Thanks for sharing the build.
Yeah, it is definitely on a different scale from my other tanks. :-) It is funny in person how tiny the 220 gallon looks sitting next to the 3000.
An incredible set up. Your time and energy that went into this build is a testament to other hobbyists that might be considering such an endeavor. Great job.
Thanks Rogue! Building the 3000 gallon was a huge job for sure, but I have been enjoying the heck out of for close to 2 years now....with many more years of enjoyment to come. :-)
@@AquariumDomain. yup. You've nailed yourself to that house pretty well, now if you decide to move the only way you'll get anywhere close to the real value is if you sell to a fellow aquarist. That's the main thing I would worry about building something like that.
Great Build, I love it. Thanks
Thanks Patrick! Working on a bunch of updates on this aquarium right now! :-)
Looks great. So ready to start building something like that.
Thanks! Lot's of upfront work, but it is worth it...gazing over at the 3000 gallon as I type this :-)
WOW Fantastic ,, Best construction ive seen , thank you and Merry Christmas from the UK
Regards Roland ... Stay safe
Thanks Roland! UK, cool :-) Merry Christmas to you as well!
Great video. Cant wait to see the new tanks up and running.
John from Australia..
Thanks John!
Absolutely amazing job. I am really impressed. I want to build something like this for my Betta fish. He would love it.
lol, who knows maybe even multiple Betta :-)
That is a awesome tank you got! You got some skills and it turned out super great.
Thanks Steven! I appreciate the kind words.
Wow!!! Awesome build👌🏻👌🏻
Thanks Brian!!
AWSOME.... This is a great video... Keep making more videos like this...
Thanks Tim! Working on a basement annex right now, so at least 3 more builds similar to this coming in the near future! :-)
Insane, so cool!!!
Thanks! :-)
Great in depth videos won't be long till your channel blows up. Keep up the great content
Thanks Cameron! I am working on a bunch of aquarium projects as we speak and I think I get a little better at editing with each video. :-)
Awesome!!! Great project!!!
Thank you Роберт Тима!
The driftwood that drifted 😆
Awesome build! I would love to do something like this one day
Lol :-)
Definitely one of the best tank builds I've ever seen. I would LOVE to take a task like that on, but unfortunately my house is way too small and the expense would be too much anyway. That's why we watch videos like this....we can dream! Well done on a fabulous tank.
Thanks William! Appreciate the kind words. I understand the feeling, took me 20 years of dreaming about the tank before I was in the right house/situation to actually build it. :-)
@@AquariumDomain. Was the 2400 gallon tank 'take down...' your previous house...??
Saw some big cats (sharks) being saved on Ohio Fish Rescue channel. Couple years ago..?
Looked much like your 3000... in a basement. 🌞
Was sad they took it down...
Almost the same build method.. 👍👍🏁
@@bubblerings I know the tank you are talking about :-), no that wasn't me...I have never lived in Ohio. But I did watch all of his build videos when he was making that tank and actually he had a square shaped DIY tank before that one...something like 1000 or 1500 gallon.
@@AquariumDomain. Wondered... Because Ohio Fish Rescue goes interstate to save huge fish.
Cichlids. Tiger fish Arowanas.. Anything big.
They often give fish away to new homes. They have some big Peacock Bass, etc. In case you need some big fish. Cheers!
Seeing that tank was like Deja Vu. 😎🍻
This is incredible man! I cannot wait till I can one day build something like this!
I am looking forward to seeing the video when you do!
Excellent!!
Thanks Mikeel!
Bro, you are awesome!!!💪🏽🙏🏽
Thanks Ducati :-)
amazing tank
Thanks Kevin!
That look awesome. Its my goal to build a massiv tank too. Great video
Thanks Jason! Big tanks are lot's of work, but also lot's of enjoyment when done. :-)
Fantastic, thanks for all the details about everything you dealt with and all your solutions to the problems you faced. I can’t believe it’s just fish though, get some snails and shrimps too!!!
Thanks Angel! I am working on adding some snails, but I think shrimp might be too temping of a meal for my big Cichlids! :-)
@@AquariumDomain. probably, the tank is so big they could hide for a little while and be some kind of hunting sport. Sick Fisk kills, head shots! But for either they would be small so adjusting the filters to have sponge like material in front would maybe be enough to keep snails and shrimp from climbing out. Might affect the speed of the filtration and might require more cleaning, but I’m sure the fish would love it and you could always switch it back if you wanna take a break from cleaning it too much.
@@angelsalcido9526 I could give it a try, I don't think I would have a problem with the shrimp getting out, I just worry about the Cichlids chasing them too much and uprooting plants. I might add a few and see how they do.
Great job,
Thank you! :-)
I'm a newbie to having a profile on TH-cam but not new to tropical fish and aquariums and all my life I've wanted to build a tank like your 3000 gal and plan to watch this vid with full attention towards doing this myself soon. Thanks for this vid and keep it going.
Thanks! I would recommend checking out Episode 17...shows a mistake I made and the fix for it. Episode 25 shows the upgrades on the filter and water flow and also I am upgrading the tops right now and a future video will show that...shows the deficiency in the old top design and the improve design. Good luck with your future build! :-)
@@AquariumDomain. Thanks.. I binge watched your vids yesterday and have to say " great job on all vids and I'm 10 shades of green". Keep it going .
Really recommend a water alarm for anyone with this size tank! An alarm that either sends the alarm to your phone or one that is so loud that it will alert you even in your deepest sleep if you are in another room.
That is a solid recommendation! I have leak sensors that are tied into my home alarm system...so I would get the alarm straight to my phone....knock on would that I never get that alarm! LOL :-P
Love it!
Thanks!!
Wow, that must weigh about ten metric tons...! That's the part that would make ME nervous...lol
Yes it does, but it is well supported. 😊
Beautiful set up, I've been wanting to build a tank but never thought of going 22' long and 6' deep. That must of cost a fortune from start to finish but worth every penny, keep up the great work and I've just found a new channel to look forward to new videos in the future. I myself have a S.American tank and have to say I do like that set up more than my African cichlid tank.
Hey Scott! Fortunately I built this tank before wood prices went crazy, but still probably an 8k ish build...so not cheap, but way cheaper than any other alternative. I don't what it is about SA Cichlids but I have loved them since day one. :-)
This is awesome. The one thing I'll change, if it was mine. I would have drilled overflows other than that, this is crazy and amazing. 👍
Thanks Bradley! I think the 3000 gallon is going to be the tank I never stop tinkering with to try and make it better. I am working on lighting, plant and filtration upgrade projects on this tank right now. :-)
ONE WORD MY FRIEND AMAZING💪💪💯
Thank you!!
This is one of a kind aquarium😱
Hand made on site :-)
Solid build. Thanks for sharing. I just wanted to mention that you would have a very safe, and reliable overflow system if you drill the tank. You could still easily drill the tank for bulkheads if you ever changed your mind. A Bean Animal would be your best bet on a system this size. A Herbie would also work fine. I run the Herbie style. You need to invest into a good "gate valve" for your overflow as well to fine tune your flow so the system stays quiet.
Check out some of the more recent videos on this tank, it has been drilled and upgraded filtration for a year or so now. :-)
Amazing build mate 👍
Thanks!! :-)
This was very relaxing. I actually enjoyed the video. You gave a new subscriber sir.
Hey Fish Mafia! Great to have you aboard!
Hi, what an impressive tank/project and thank you for sharing this!
I would have few comments or questions, but first of all, keep in mind I have no experience in building such big setup so it is relevant as you may take it.
1. silicon. Your colleague start well with the blue sticker but after that, you can use it bit more: put not just one layer on the glass, but a second layer on wood as well, closed to each other. When you put pressure on the glass, extra silicon go out between both sticker layers. Use finger or simple angular tool to constraint nice regularity over complet length of the join, then when it is still fresh, put away all sticker and ugly silicon on them. This way you get a perfect look ;-)
2. scaping. It is excellent that you're planning a natural look instead of naked tanks as so many do just to maintain monster fishes. But you use only small drift woods and stones. Why not using long tree logs? Rocks have weight issue, why not fake background? E.g. AquaDecor ones, can see 2000G from King of DIY here th-cam.com/video/fQPq42KbXnI/w-d-xo.html
3. tubings and overflow. You avoid to drill your tank, but that would nevertheless be simpler (maybe safer). In term of water flow, I would definitely use your center column (dividing glass) to hide an intake at the bottom of the tank. It is really advisable in order to take all waste that streaming pump won't bring back to surface. And you surely know that you can take water from bottom but without risking to empty your tank: simply setup an overflow (hidden in your central box) with a grid at bottom. With return tubing from back to front glass, and adding to side pump from left/right to center, you'll get nice water circulation grabbing all debris to the filter ;-)
4. filter. Here we come to the part I'd love to setup on such tank, so challenging and same time, plenty of room! All this aren't new idea, simply best practices from koi pond area.
You use only half of your tank surface, already big volume of sure but you could have built same removable panels as you have on top to give front access to tank.
The pond liner is not best idea, folds will accumulate waste. Why not simply use same coating as for the tank? You'll then get nice long sump where you can setup sealed dividers.
So mechanical filtration / polishing water -> I would definitely go for roll paper filters, and I mean filter_s_ because you can optimize with 2 or even 3 rolls on the row, changing paper retention to trap big particules then thinner ones. Put the paper perpendicular to sump length. This video gives you the idea: th-cam.com/video/grdrvThsW9I/w-d-xo.html
To chain this way (with security pass-by always) would be really original and is possible in such long sump! For automation, a budget friendly option can be Mi Home smart home system ;-)
After that, biological filtration -> moving bed with Kaldnes Helix (micro) evolutionaqua.com/k1-media and air pump.
Such moving filtration brings many advantages: boost aerobic bacteria process, auto clean, aeration and no way to clog a rotating pump.
Finally, denitrification: you talked in another video about anaerobic bacteria. It is interesting on paper. But 1. it is hard to setup and control properly, 2. all fish breeders I know in my area (south Germany) testing this technic gave as feedback that performance is not here with heavy loaded water system. Keep in mind your tank is currently not loaded at all... Instead, I would take profit one more time of your long sump (maybe even use the second half surface, accessing from front with removable panel) and start aquaponic system: emerged plants take better CO2 from air, and immerged roots extract nitrates ;-)
You can even give a try to vertical garden at the front of the tank, covering each side wood panels. That could lead to even more immersive Amazonien atmosphere with some Monstera Deliciosa (Mexican Breadfruit) framing the tanks, hanging from tubing with sump water circulating slowly (silently) in it!
Well, that's it. Sorry for long comment, but in case it can some how contribute a bit to nice project worth it.
If you wonder, here are
- My both ("nano") tanks: www.charleslales.com/hobbies/fishkeeping/my-tanks
- A DIY filter all-in-one roll paper + moving bed (but for "conventional" sized tank) www.diyaquariumfilters.com
- How Mi Home smart home system can be implemented nicely for aquarium (DIY filter) www.miaquarium.com
Thanks for the detailed comment Charles! You have lot's of good ideas, I am sure people checking out this DIY build will find them useful!
@@AquariumDomain. Cool, feel free to ask more detail regarding filtration if you're interested in upgrading your sump, that would be awesome.
Don't forget to answer the few questions as well if you have time..
I would add:
- why glass over acryl?
- why wood structure over aluminium profil?
Wood panel with coat resin internal ok, but for the skeleton that would be waterproof and timeproof... or?
Hey Charles, here are some more detailed responses to each of your points below. In general I would say that there are many right ways to build a DIY tank, for example glass or acrylic, wood frame or concrete or metal, etc. they all work and it mostly depends on cost, build location and which materials you have the tools and proficiency to work with.
Point 1. I only really needed to trim silicone on the front. On the inside of the tank the silicone was smoothed out using finger and then a separate bead of silicone was used on all edges of the glass to give water tight bead.
Point 2. I only wanted to use real plants, rock, wood, sand etc. for my scape. The wood / rock I used is more in scale with my tank and allows for more intricate scape and more room for smaller scape items in between larger ones and more area for bacteria growth.
Point 3. Did not want to drill install bulkhead on the bottom of the tank, bulkheads can fail and the vertical drain tube can be knocked into by large fish. My fx6's pull from the bottom of the tank and are used for removal of any waste that is not removed via the top overflow.
Point 4. Certainly there are a number of ways to handle filtration, especially with a sump as large as mine. To your main points: no issue with folds in liner as the water entry into sump and first main settlement chamber does not allow for physical solids to pass into the rest of the sump. I have about a 8 foot section of sump that is currently empty and may one day be used as a vegetable filter (plants eating nitrates) but for now I want the nitrate I have to go to feeding the plants in the display. I have yet to even reach 20ppm nitrate with current plant load and denitrification techniques.
Amazing build, good job 👏
Thank you! 😁
@@AquariumDomain. do you think if I wanted to do a corner curved tank and I got two very thin pieces of acrylic and curved with a two inch gap between them and filled the gap with clear epoxy that it would be strong enough to hold the water in?
@@trexeater101 I don't think so. I am only familiar with connecting acrylic together using solvents which melt the acrylic together. I am not aware of any epoxy that can be used with acrylic in this way.
I just built a 522 plywood tank, and on the day I came out to drain it, I found a trickle of a leak, I was thinking of putting another layer on pond shield on it to fix it. I'm going to be doing a similar thing as you with amazon biotope but i plan to do a DIY 3D background as well.Thank you for sharing this build its an inspiration to those of us that would go bigger if we could.
The leak happened after the water test forgot to mention that.
Hey Multi-Tank Addition! I am pretty sure I saw your video where you were test filling the tank in the garage and found the leak. I will be checking back to see the progress on the tank!
I will be posting a new video tomorrow if you want to check it out.
@@MultiTankAddiction Nice! I will definitely check it out.
nice indoor swimming pool!
Lol :-p
Great build video to watch on Christmas eve morning👍🏻
What to do you do for a living? If you say 'guppy breeder' then I'll eat my hat 🤣
Thanks Luke! For a living I am a Zebra Danio breeder :-0 JK, I work in technology/cybersecurity.
Nice dude
Thanks!! :-)
Awesome setup. New subscriber here🤙
Thanks! Great to have you on board!
You did a fantastic job building the tank and you've got so much room in the sump. One thing you might want to look into to make it easy on yourself since it's so long. Is to set up that first tank as a sediment filter that just allows the muck to settle and then flow into another tank or section that has filter floss. I do that with my koi system and it has drastically cut down on the amount of cleaning filter media. One other thing how much flow are you able to get out of that 1-in pipe? I thought the maximum flow for 1-in gravity was about 900 gallons an hour which seems really slow for that tank. Maybe you could rebuild it with a couple of one and a half inch overflows and then you could use a three to four thousand gallon an hour pump. However if you're having success maybe you don't need it. I have just always liked to filter the entire volume of water in the tank 5 to 10 times an hour.
Hey Shawn! Essentially the first chamber of the sump is a settlement chamber I just have the container with the floss sitting in it, basically can function either way. Right after that is 3 feet of matala mat filter which keeps any solids in the first chamber. As far as water flow it is meant to be a slow flow denitrification system, but not as slow flow as it is. :-) I am working on a project to address this already. Next video on this tank will have the upgraded drain/overflow system.
Was waiting for this
I hope it lives up to expectations :-)
100% better than Joey's 2000. Did you have any problems with the severums and the plants?
Some, they munched on some dwarf sag I put it, but left the Anubias & Water sprite alone.
This build is impressive. There are powertool caulk guns which could make a installation like this go faster.
Hey Skyman! I know the tool you are talking about and it would for sure make it a lot easier...but then I wouldn't get to experience what it feels like when your hand feels like it is gonna fall off from dispensing a dozen tubes of acrylic lol :-)
That would make a sick reef tank!
Hey Richard! It would, but I don't think I even want to calculate the cost to light and dose a reef tank that big...lol
@@AquariumDomain. haha yeah let alone stock it with coral.
@@richardportelli1983 Yeah, especially with coral prices these days.
That's a nice heavy build
Hey JJ! Yeah its a bit of a beast lol :-p
This was probably the best fish video I’ve ever watched. Really cool to see such a huge build from start to finish in one video. Beautiful tank sir.
Thanks Tim, I appreciate the kind words!
If you happen to have an alarm system, you could likely install a simple float switch that ties into it. Really nice to have low water alarms on big units like this.
If you don’t have an alarm system. You could probably get a pretty simple system that would serve your purposes. You could probably figure it out for under $300.
I prefer to wire the float switches in the “normally closed” orientation. This way a short or fault should trigger the alarm.
I ended up adding a water detection sensor that works with my house alarm, (hopefully no more leaks) but if it does happen I will get a notification on my phone. :-)
cant believe that the side and back frame you made with these little woods is standing the pressure :O
Connected the correct way all those little woods becomes incredibly strong :-)
I want a tank like yours...
But, in the words of Danny Glover (retiring cop) in Lethal Weapon...
"I'm getting too old for this Shizzz.."
So, I would saw a hole in the concrete floor... For a Sump Pump... A lot less wet towels and shop vac work.
Great job, man!
Happy for you!!
Thx for sharing this awesome project! Cheers!
-Scotty on Maui.
Hey Scotty! Thanks! It is a beast of a tank, but also my most enjoyable. If your getting too old for dealing with a 3k aquarium, there is always a 2k version like Predator Bay....much much easier to mange! LOL :-)
@@AquariumDomain. Lol..
I live in a shack cabin on Maui on a mountain.
The whole room would be an Aquarium. I would need my own house first. Haha..
I have a 55 with a couple of small puffers.. And the whole Pacific ocean for now. Thx man!
I just searched Plywood Aquariums again..
Now I see..
Predator Bay is one of your builds..
Will check out your saltwater! Cool!!
Was impressed watching the 3000 again.. No cross brace needed on a 20 footer. Genius!
@@bubblerings I guess the Pacific ocean is a pretty good substitute for a 3k gallon aquarium LOL 😛
Almost like the tank is nicer than the fish you can keep inside haha it would be a hard stocking decision for sure 🤯
For sure! 😀😀
If i win the lottery i will hire you to cone to U.K and build me one of these. You should be super proud of yourself this is simply AMAZING. and to have in your house. Well that is just a dream come true. Great job sir. 😉👍
Thanks James! I hope you do win the lottery....would be fun to build another one of these on someone else's dime LOL :-)
Dude, this thing is a beast. You are a beast. Great job. I just found you and had to subscribe. I will definitely go through your videos, but one thing I would love to know, is if there is anything you would change about the construction aspect of it. Design to execution. Thanks for your content!
Thanks Gibby! Sure, I find that I am always refining the construction process with each new build based on experience of what worked well and not so well. Also the nice thing about DIY tanks is they can be modified to some extent even after built and running. You will see some pretty serious improvements to the 3000 gallon in the next video I do on this tank...it is always evolving :-)
I had a 300 gallon aquarium with guppies, betta, shrimp and Apple snails… it was the hardest thing to leave behind once I moved to Africa
I can imagine! I used to have to move a lot for my job...hopefully I will never have to move again. :-)
Him: "We're not gonna put guppies in here" (chuckle)
Me: "I'd put a million guppies in there...."
I wonder if a million would be enough to fill it up :-) Well, I guess with guppies they breed so fast it would just be a matter of time LOL :-)
@@AquariumDomain. Congratulations btw.
That's the dream aquarium.
Great build bud !! You need a nice arowana in there !!
I agree! :-)
Beautiful design but with one detail seemingly overlooked. MOLD With a 3000 gallon open lid tank - you will have a large amount of humidity evaporating into the very near overhead wood beams. That floor fan will do very little to stop the mold from taking over your basement ceiling and walls. I am a Home Inspector and Appraiser. I would suggest lids and 3-4 dehumidifyers in that back room.
Might not have been reflected in the video, but I do not run any of my tanks open top. All tanks are covered and sumps are covered as well. With all of the big tanks I have, you are correct that managing the humidity is very important. I have two hard-plumbed dehumidifiers (1 on each side of the basement) and dedicated mini-split system that conditions the air and dehumidifies. My office is downstairs as well, so proper humidity temperature is very important (to my comfort and the houses) :-)
Building an above ground pond in my backyard currently. My dimensions are 144”x48”x36” with 96”x18” viewing windows on both sides.Did you use tempered glass or regular plate glass? Also is 1/2” thick enough for my project? TIA
Hey Dale! Yes, I used 1/2" tempered glass on my 3k build. If on your build the viewing window is at the top of the pond 0-18" depth, then 1/2" tempered glass with proper bracing around the edges should be fine.
Hahaha I'm not sure if you're mad or a genius, but I love the size/aesthetics of that tank. I've seen quite a few plywood build videos and to be honest, until I saw yours, I always thought they looked a bit naff... As you put it "Big wooden boxes with windows". Congrats on an amazing build, you're far braver than I am and evidently, significantly better at DIY too :)
Hey David! I don't know about genius, but you definitely have to at least a little mad to decide to build a 3000 gallon aquarium in your house LOL :-P That said...I wouldn't change a thing! :-)
Are you engineer by trade ? It was amazing to watch you work and figure out how to solve the few problems that you encountered... I know it's nobody's business but the cost of building it had to be astronomically high... Hats off to you sir because we all OVER SPEND on the hobbies we love and my wife would be very upset if she knew how much I spend on fishing equipment... Lol
Hey Reggie! My day job is in Cyber Security, but I did grow up with a father who was a finish carpenter so I picked up some wood working skills along the way. I estimate that the 3000 gallon was about 8 thousand for everything as you see it in the video, but I would also say that in 35 years of fish keeping I bet I have spent less than if I bought a single fancy sports/luxury car. Plus doing a lot of DIY work saves a ton of money versus trying to buy something like a 3000 gallon glass or acrylic tank from a manufacturer. :-)
awesome build, just make sure you find a way to waterproof the soleplate on your walls, should have used pressure treated lumber on concrete surfaces, maybe a layer of epoxy and silicone might help keeping the wood from rotting,
definitely will build something similar to this once able to do so.
Hey Alex! Definitely build something similar when you are able to do so, I enjoy the heck out of this tank every day! Good luck with your future build!!
Just subbed
Welcome aboard Dennis! :-)
@@AquariumDomain. thanks brother
Only half inch glass would scare me, but that’s one hell of an aquarium good job sir !!
Thanks Jeff! Keep in mind the glass is tempered and is fully front braced on the entire panel.
Very true ! I just know I wouldn’t be able to sleep for the first little bit knowing I have 3000 gallons of water just waiting to escape lol. I’m renovating my basement in the spring and a 1500 gallon reef tank will be added in to the mix ! Your videos inspire me to actually get it done
@@jeff_d1 Get it done...and put up a video, I want to see it :-)
one day when i have enough money saved i would love to build one. great work. ball park how much money should i expect to spend lets say to build a tank this size
Hey Dailo! Depending on how you build the tank, materials used etc. price can vary greatly. For me based on how and when I built the tank the cost was approximately $8000; however, the price of the materials can fluctuate a lot. I know that both the wood and glass are considerably more expensive now (just build the 600 gallon) than when I built the 3000 gallon.
I know you did your research on glass thickness but how did you come to the conclusion that 1/2" is thick enough? Every thing I find on the subject tells me your crazy. I'm looking to build an aquarium with 10' of glass (2-5' pieces) 28" tall and 30" deep. Do you have a recommendation of glass to use? Thanks
Hey Jeff! I am using 1/2" tempered glass, which is much stronger in regards to deflection than plate / float glass. Commercial aquarium builders rarely use it on larger aquariums because of the cost. With plate glass commercial builders can buy large sheets and cut to size, which saves them a lot of money. Tempered glass has to be made to size and cannot be modified. This is why you see a lot of 3/4" plate glass used on larger aquariums.
Assuming proper bracing (bracing effects deflection greatly) 1/2" tempered glass will provide a suitable safety factor up to 36" in height. The most I have gone is 33" in height on this glass on my builds. Also I full face frame all of my tanks, which is the best form of bracing for my style of builds.
Assuming proper tank construction, the only dimension that matters for the glass is the height. At 28" tall you would be good with 1/2" tempered glass. Plate glass you would probably need to go 3/4" over 24" tall.
At 13:37 why didn't you stagger all those joints for strength?
Also are you worried at all about humidity and moisture on the house floor joist above to tank...?
Long story short on that section not being staggered is that it was originally, but I cut the tank down and then rebuilt it as I almost had to move. That is the time I left my old career and started the new one so the having to move a lot is no more. As for the humidity, I keep the tank covered with poly-carbonate lids, also I have hard plumbed dehumidifiers (one on each end of the house) to keep the humidity levels at proper levels.
time stamp 13:37 looks like a bunch of butts stacked on top of each other and not staggered :-/ hopefully that's not the case and it just looks that way, still incredible job, cant wait to build my much much much smaller version
Hey Charles! Sort of...as you can imagine by looking at it, that was not the original design. Long story short, when I first got engaged we were going to move into her house and I was taking the tank down to rebuild it at her basement (tank was not fully completed at that time), but we decided to stay at my place, so I rebuilt the tank.
So what you are seeing there are pocket-hole screwed butt joints, with big course thread, pan head pocket hole screws that have the big head to really pull the wood together. Also keep in mind that each layer of the tank framing is glued and screwed using a comical amount of 4 inch screws and gallons of gorilla wood glue, and of course connected via the plywood on the inside of the aquarium that is screwed into the frame.
awesome video. do you mind sharing approximately how much this whole build costed you? just trying to get an idea for when I attempt a large plywood build
Thanks! I built it over the course of a year and didn't keep exact cost totals, but a reasonable estimate would be about 8k for everything except fish and plants.
did you say 1/2" or 3/4" glass? is it tempered? I am planning a tank that will have a similar viewing window. 10x3x4 ft. I was planning on 3/4" but didn't know if I needed to temper it
Hey Matt! Mine is 1/2" tempered glass. From my research you can do 1/2" tempered if depth is 36" or less and fully braced by the frame (top, bottom, both sides).
@@AquariumDomain. thank you so much! That what I have seen as well. Tempered let's you get a thinner panel but if not tempered then need larger
This is the most incredible build I've seen. Great job! I also really like the aquascaping job you've done. It's hard to make a big tank look natural but you've pulled it off.
A couple of questions (just so I know if I try to do something similar): (1) I notice you only had to brace the tank in the middle. Do the 2x4 stack walls bow at all? (2) I also notice you did not drill the tank anywhere for the plumbing. Was there a reason you decided against that?
Thanks and again, really amazing tank! I look forward to seeing ongoing updates.
Thank you!
No, the stacked walls do not bow, the stacked 2x4's are screwed / glued extensively and overlapped at each corner. This means all the four sides support each other, the middle braces of course provide added strength for the long sides of the tank.
Not drilling was a conscious design decision. Bulkheads can leak and uplift tubes can be disturbed by very large Cichlids. My pvc overflow box design eliminates bulkhead failures and is screwed down to the top and side of the tank like all of the other inputs and returns to keep big fish from disturbing them. I feel a safer design for the size of the tank, construction material and large fish.
@@AquariumDomain. Thanks for your reply!
HOLY COW! Great video and well spoken! You did a tremendous job, absolutely perfect, kinda jealous...lol. I'm presently building a 1000 gallon saltwater system, be sure to check us out on youtube as part 18 just got released.
Wait a minute...is this Slow Joe? :-) Sorry I have watched too many OFR live streams :-)
I will definitely check out your 1000 salt build!
@@AquariumDomain. hahahahaha
I might be slow, but I'm incredibly good!
mennn I would die for a tank like that.. :D although I would stock it with 100 discus and 100 angels... and ofcourse a ton of small fish.. maybe even an arowana's... love to see your tank this size..awesome.. I am dire to see the cost of this beast
I wonder what it would cost to actually fully stock the 3000 gallon with all smaller community fish like the ones you mentioned 😊
@@AquariumDomain. well the Discus I can get at a price of 17,50 and that is about the same for the angel.. ofcourse in the quantaties I want them, that will drop the price a bit.. yeah life stock won't come cheap ;) so I will go for a 450g tank.. also due to the fact I have a apartment :)
Amazing tank. Excited to see the development.
Question: Aren't you worried about the pressure across the top of the tank pushing out?
I didn't see a top cross brace and I would greatly appreciate any guidance you can share.
Very inspiring! Thanks
Shout out all the way from Trinidad and Tobago, Caribbean 🇹🇹
Thanks! Trinidad and Tobago, woot! There are actually 2 cross braces in the middle of the aquarium (you can see them later in the video when I am putting in the hard scape. The corners are all overlapped and each level of stacked 2x4's are both screwed and glued together, the tank is very rigid as is required to support the 2 part epoxy paint. (cannot have flex/bowing when using epoxy paint)
@@AquariumDomain. thanks. I missed that part of the vid. Excellent work!
Is the overflow a siphon then? Seems overly complicated and prone to error. I prefer bulkheads fittings.
Well done! Gorgeous tank and basement.
Hey Green Giant! It is basically a pvc pipe version of an overflow box.
Did you had to do any reinforcement on your basement floor or the typical basement concrete slab is OK for this type of weight?
currently planning to build a 2000g following your design. 16x6x3. thanks
Hey AtheroS! The 2000g you are planning sounds awesome (great foot print). To answer your question though, No I didn't need to do any reinforcement to the concrete. In my case the weight is distributed over three 22'x6" beams so the psi is within the range of the 3500psi 4" thick concrete pad of my basement. If your build design and floor are similar to mine I think you should be good.
Thank you very much for your reply. What is your OC beam both horizontal and vertical. Im planning on doing 12 but i dont know if i can go wider since the wood is not cheap these days
@@atheros6058Sorry didn't see your reply. My beams are 12" on-center for the verticals and the horizontal joists are also 12" on-center. With the exception of the last beam where I access the sump I used 6"x6" beams on extra thick posts to create wider spans to give myself more access to the sump.
@@AquariumDomain. thank you very much! I enjoy so much your content! All the best
Hi what brand epoxy resin did you put down before pond armor? Thanks
I use True Composites Polyester Fiberglass Laminating Resin-Grade A.
I have been watching this build and the 1800 over and over again and I’m in awe. I’ve built many wood tanks over the years but nothing like this. I do have a question about the glass. You state that it is 1/2”, is it tempered? All recommendations on line call for 3/4”. I want to build a 36” tall but cost of 3/4” is insane. Amazing builds
Hey Brian! Yes, it is tempered glass. I have used 1/2" tempered glass on all of my builds thus far. On the 3k & 1.8k builds the glass is 36" tall, but I only fill to about 32". If you checkout the 600 Reef Slope build that is 48" in tall tank with 36" tall 1/2" tempered glass panel that starts 12" up from the bottom, which is a way to go deeper without having to accommodate the pressure of the bottom of a 48" tank on the glass.
Amazing thank you
Lots of work!!! Nice front panel work as well! However. I'm a Cichlid guy, so...going to guess this was about 6000.00 ?
Oh yeah...finishing the basement and building my dream aquarium at the same time made for a busy 9 months LOL :-) Its been a while, but I think your cost estimate is definitely in the right ballpark. :-)
Hello, congratulations on your great aquarium!!!
Where did you find the information that allowed you to know the correct way to build the tank structure?
A few places, I built 3 diy tanks before the 3000 gallon build, but also found a lot of good information on some older websites garf and monsterfishkeepers.
@@AquariumDomain. Tanks.🙂
I’m a little baffled by your choice of using a siphon based overflow with an overflow box instead of just using a weir with a standpipe. That would solve the overflowing tank problem because the filter just stops if anything goes wrong with the pipe. It just stops overflowing
6 years ago when I built the 3000 it was the biggest tank I had done and I was a little paranoid about drilling it, but as you see in the videos on that tank it didn't take long before I drilled it and installed bulkheads lol 🙂
Could you explain the silicone youth a little better maybe a better picture or like a skew code that I can use at my local hardware store so that I can get the same thing
I am working on part 3 right now of a step by step guide to building DIY plywood aquariums where I am going over everything in much greater detail. I should be installing the glass in part 4 and I will go into detail on the installation and show closeups. The silicone I use is GE Silicone 1. (key is 100% silicone, no additives).
Do you have one of those 'water on the floor alert' sensors? If not, that could be a good thing to find and get. Cool tank so far though. :)
I don't have a water alert sensor, but I agree it would probably be a good idea to get one. :-)
@@AquariumDomain. The king of diy didnt initially have one either, but after a big leak he got one too. so good luck getting a good one, I do think they can alert to cell phones (if they are smart phones).
Actually it looks like my alarm system has one that ties right in with my existing phone app for alerts and they are not too expensive...pretty much a no-brainer. :-)
What kind of lights did you use ? I'm planning on getting some to light a 180 gallon
Hey Tyler! The lights are LePower LED IP66 Flood Lights (6000k). They work pretty good, but I would like to get the color temperature of the tank closer to 6700k so I am still looking to make some lighting upgrades.
@@AquariumDomain. I love the colour it shows on camera personally !! Camera isnt always the perfect representation of colours to be fair, but it looks so nice and natural like the sun is shining through the tank. Thank you very much for the reply !! I think almost daily about the sump you made for this tank too
Can only imagine the fear you felt coming down to see the water level so low that morning. lucky the FX4 wasn't deeper!
It sucked! Was first thing in the morning on a work day, could hear the pump sound coming down the stairs, flipped on the light and there it was....that sinking feeling in the pit of your stomach :-( like you lost your wallet or car got stolen or something like that....did I mention it sucked!
Hey buddy, I’ve been following you for a while and about to build my monster tank would love to talk to you about some logistics about your 3000 gallon tank
Shoot me an email (adog@aquariumdomain.com)
If only I had the money and the space in my home to do a tank like this
Hey gingabee! Well my friends joke with me that I could live on an island inside my tank lol, but that doesn't solve the money part. :-)
@@AquariumDomain. was looking in to making a 200g and that was several thousands 😳 I cant Imagine this size
@@gingabee I think I guestimated about $8k to build it with my "free" labor, but I built it over the course of almost a year at the same time as finishing the basement....so it is pretty hard to nail down the exact cost. However, compared to trying to buy something like this in acrylic or glass (if you could even find anyone to build it) would be astronomical, so in that sense DIY builds at least make it possible to do something like this.
What kind of sand did you use and how did you know it was safe ??
I used finely graded 100% natural play sand. The key is 100% natural product and you want something that is finely graded/screened to get out any contaminants like rocks with metal ore or decaying wood / plant material.
What did you use to fill in the screw holes?
Bondo body filler to fill the screw holes then fiberglass/resin over that and lastly pond armor for the top coat.
1 betta and 5 shrimps will look great in that size tank.
Hey Ailopp! If I did that we could play where is waldo fish and shrimp edition lol :-)
Over engineered for strength under engineered for filtration. The strength is good for a 20,000 minus the glass and the filtration is good for a 55 gallon minus the size the sump. Overall it’s still a beautiful tank but I can tell that algae is gonna be a problem because there just not enough water flow
Pretty spot on assessment...though maybe a little rough on the 55 gallon part LOL :-)
Tank has evolved a lot since then and is actually under going an overhaul right now, making changes to the aqua-scape, lighting, filtration and internal water flow.