Concrete tanks

[Milliman69]

I wanted to ask if anyone has ever built a tank out of concrete?



Looking at doing this for the new system and wanted to see if anyone has ideas or comments.



I'm planning on using acrylic for 2 viewing panels on the tank.



Tank will be pretty large.



I'm planning on doing a 12" thick base and then 6"-8" walls.



The acrylic will be inset in to the concrete by slots. It will then be sealed on the inside.



I know there are many other things but just looking for ideas and stuff.

 

[Pete polyp]

I haven't heard of concrete being used as a tank before. I would think concrete would leach all kinds of stuff, for a very long time. I have heard of plywood being used, and actually read a few build threads on them. Good luck!

 

[thormx]

Unless your building a swimming pool sized tank those wall thicknesses are way overkill. Cantilevered concrete balconies aren't even that thick.

 

[Pete polyp]

Unless your building a swimming pool sized tank those wall thicknesses are way overkill. Cantilevered concrete balconies aren't even that thick.

But they more than likely have a steel frame for structural integrity.

 

[thormx]

Definitely and you would want to do the same for a concrete tank or any concrete really

 

[underwaterfirefighter]

I have thought of using concrete as well. As stated above you would definitely have to use rebar or wire in the concrete to add strength. I had looked into the possibility of coating the concrete with an epoxy type product to seal it. I did not research it very extensively though. Also as previously stated the thickness of the walls you have described would be way overkill. Good luck with this project. I will be following to see what you come up with.

 

[Reefing Madness]

Man Builds 20,000 Gallon Reef Tank in His Living Room | AquaNerd
http://www.reefkeeping.co.za/Marine_Aquariums_of_South_Africa/2012/01/
Seans concrete Reef tank

 

[Ryan2428]

Not for me yet but that is awesome lol

 

[Novillac]

I haven't built any, but I know if you build a tank with concrete you have to seal the concrete with an epoxy of some sort to keep it from leaching anything into the water.

 

[Frattoniser]

Concrete will have many properties thAt will be highly likely to cause all sorts of problems! not least of all the salts which will leech out and throw your prams your of the solar system!

 

[Milliman69]

I forgot to say it will be coated w a expoy on the inside if I do this.

 

[gar732]

I believe sweetwater epoxy is what you'd need to coat the concrete with. Google " 20,000 gallon tank construction" and a few links down you'll find a thread with tons of info on that tank that reefing madness posted, you might find some of the info you're looking for there.

 

[Milliman69]

Thanks

 

[CWMorrow]

I built a 2,000 gallon goldfish pool of concrete. Leaks were sealed with a product called "Throughseal", but there was no sealant used on the whole pool.
The two methods of aging are to fill it in the Fall and drain in the Spring, or to fill and empty it six times, swabbing it with vinegar in between fills.
Some aquarium rock is made of ferro cement, I understand. Since marine aquariums have a high pH, what would leak from the concrete to be harmful to fish?

 

[DomC]

When our company did drawing for the Mandalay Bay Aquarium we spec AQUAFIN-2K/M. I could pull up drawings and look for acrylic connection to concrete.

AQUAFIN Inc. - AQUAFIN-2K/M

 

[DomC]

Another item we spec. ENVIROLASTIC AR 425 SPRAY APPLIED RAPID-CURE POLYUREA

EnviroLastic AR425 - Protective & Marine

 

[DomC]

Some details.. just so you know me or the company I work for cannot be responsible for any damages... This is just to give you an ide.

 

[SantaMonica]

There is a fellow "hedgedrew" building 30,000 in his Long Island house, but not sure how much is concrete.