141x29x31 inch 360x75x80 work in progress

[aislinn]

I started building my 360 cm (141 inch) aquarium. This aquarium i make, just like my previous project, from multiplex and liquid pond liner. I liked working with these products with my 2200 liter Malawi aquarium. I want to link both aquariums to each other through the filtering. I got reasonable extra capacity with my Malawi aquarium, but do want to make a new filter part with that. Also for the heating i would like to link the aquariums to eachother. And also my current heating system has extra capacity.
Besides all this i want to make a solarcollector for the whole system.
I started building the substructure of the aquarium, i think it is easy to make and doesn't cost too much. I plan to finish the whole with laminate. And i think i will also do that with the already existing aquarium, because i want both aquariums to have the same look.
The existing aquarium i painted, looks ok, but i don't want to paint for weeks anymore, lol. I don't know yet what i will use to create a background. And i think that when it is all finished, the Malawi fish will go to the aquarium i'm building now and that i will use the existing aquarium voor middle american cichlids.

 

[aislinn]

 

[minifoot77]

very nice where do you get your sealants from?

 

[Tony]

Holy cr@p. Living the dream!

What are you planning on for filtration? There is another current thread where we were discussing the logistics of a massive tank.

 

[Pat Kelly]

Holy cow.
I could swim laps in it.

 

[aislinn]

very nice where do you get your sealants from?

I use wood to get it waterproof and liquid pond liner (impermax) from aquaforte. To seal the window on the wood i use epoxy and use normal aquarium silicone kit. For an extra seal of the window where it touches the liquid pond liner i also use a special kit named Tec-7, but that is not really necessary.

 

[aislinn]

Holy cr@p. Living the dream!

What are you planning on for filtration? There is another current thread where we were discussing the logistics of a massive tank.

I want to connect this aquarium on the filtering of my 580 gallon aquarium. I have enough filter capacity there. But i'm going to extend the filter with an extra wet bio filter. So all the filters are going to be in one place. They are all out of sight but easy to reach. I will put a photo with the filter as it is now with this reply. But maybe i will make more extra parts, don't know that yet. I want a low electric power use with both aquariums.



Dry/wet and a sand filter.

 

[aislinn]

Today i bought the wood for the aquarium and some underlayment for the construction. I connected the parts together and glued some parts, including the underlayment. I still have to do some work at the construction, but i'm satisfied with the progress.
Getting stuff always takes a lot of time, so i hope the next few days i can work and take it easy.
I do have to buy some material to finish it, but i saw at a retail shop some laminate that i liked and can use for that and this week its for sale too!
The costs so far are:
110 euro (145 USD) for the bars + screws
240 euro (316 USD) for all the wood of the aquarium + plate material for the substructure, glue and screws
I bought everything at a retail shop where i also could use some coupons for 20% off.

 

[hotwingz]

One word...****! haha thats sooooo awesome!

Sent from my PG86100 using MonsterAquariaNetwork App

 

[minifoot77]

very sweet how does the heat exchanger work?

 

[aislinn]

I'm mostly busy with the front, the whole is quite long this is especially a difficulty at the top of the frame.

 

[crazyclowntang]

Looking good, but i got to admit I am extremely jealous deep down inside

 

[jonclark96]

Pretty cool. Thanks for posting the work in progress pictures.

 

[hotwingz]

So awesome! Ya keep the update pics rolling! And ill put it out there...way jealous!!! Im pretty sure my neighbors wouldnt be happy when the roof caved in from the weight!!! Lol.

Sent from my PG86100 using MonsterAquariaNetwork App

 

[verbal]

awesome build

 

[aislinn]

I'm almost ready to work of the substructure. I bought laminate for that and was looking how i want it to look when it is finished.
I think the best way to do it is as in the picture.

 

[minifoot77]

can you post a link or explain the heat exchanger? i'm gonna be building one of these soon and wanted to know the best way to heat the tank....

 

[mscichlid]

Dayum!!!! I'm so impressed...and a little jealous.

 

[aislinn]

can you post a link or explain the heat exchanger? i'm gonna be building one of these soon and wanted to know the best way to heat the tank....

The heatexchanger is a pipe that is closed on both sides.
There are 7 welding socks (don't know if that is the correct translation) on, 2 for the supply and return of the central heating.
4 welding socks for the 2 stainless pipes where the aquarium water runs through.
(they are going all the way through the steel pipe).
And 1 welding sock for temperature and pressure measuring.

 

[aislinn]

I don't know yet how i want to make the filter cause there are several options.
On the pictures you can see an example of how i could make it.
The filter excists of a relatively small before filter and a room for the pump, than the water will be spraid into the dry filter. The whole dry
filter is filled with bio balls and substrate.
I could of course also choose for a somewhat more confessional preparation with for example a large wet biologist.
Feel free to give your opinion ...