10ft tall cylindrical reef tank?

[BeanAnimal]

My concept is that there would be at least 6" to 12" or more of a drain grate encircling the the tank on the living room side, and on the staircase, which would catch water overflow. Yes this is a dilemma regarding the space possible for someone to physically enter the tank for cleaning. Conceivably the tank could have a diameter of 5 ft or more to increase space, but this of course would increase width and cost. Just because something is possible, does not mean it is a good idea.

OK the aquarium could not extend to the ceiling or it would be impossible to access the top. I have thought that the tank would go up to approximately 3 feet from the top of the ceiling allowing access via a retractable scissor ladder which would receed into the space below and alongside the tank.

I thought that there would need to be a scissor type custom tool with approximate 3 foot segments that could lock straight as the tool was inserted into the tank. It is possible (not something that sounds like a good idea (not that any of this may be a good idea, LOL) of having a hatch in the roof.


My concept is that the plumbing could go into the walls though which the tank penetrates. Plumbing/electrical conduit could also through central tube where coral is mounted, and drains in bottom of tank. Definitely this project would require significant tear out, and rebuilding.


The custom builder asked me my budget, I told him "under 100K" and we continued with the discussion with him saying that indeed people have ideas, but have no realistic idea of the cost.


I am here to get feedback, criticism, skepticism; it is all good as far as I am concerned. It will help me think through the feasibility, wisdom or non-feasibility and impractibility of this project. First I would like to see if it is possible, then determine if it is within budget, then can go from there.

We can make a list of 100 more issues and 100 more hypothetical work-arounds. But when you step back and look at the big picture, any small number of them are almost deal breakers on their own and the summation of them is ludicrously silly.

Hatches in roofs? Custom fabricated scissor tools or telescoping tools? Scissor lifts and a 10 foot tall 4 or 5 foot diameter aquarium, full room teardown and remodel with electrical plumbing, etc. 100K doesn't get you started. A modest kitchen remodel costs almost that these days.

Fish only tank? Maybe, but given the size and residential setting I can't see that being really doable either for many of the same reasons. You are imagining something form a Vegas casino lobby but not contemplating the real world daily maintenance nightmare.

I would go spend some time perusing the monster fish keepers sight to see what you are getting into. Most people with tanks over 5' tall have an equipment room on one wall of the tank with floor drains and facilities for snorkel/scuba. Not climbing in and out over a living room staircase and allowing saltwater to run everywhere. The tanks are typically large enough footprint for walking areas to be laid out in the rockwork, etc.

What about 5' tall or something that you can reasonably work with?

Instead of talking to custom fish tank guy for a "quote", why not put a reputable one together with a reputable architect and engineer so that they can actually design something that will work as an reef aquarium AND with your decor and style and in that 100K budget.

 

[BeanAnimal]

Sir, if you have the $$$ and the desire then you do you.....
you might want to look at Rainforest Cafe's tanks...

He is looking for something twice as tall as those... Unless he wants 2 or 3 feet of stand and 2 or 3 feet of canopy with 5 foot of tank in between (like above)

Beautiful tanks for sure. Our zoo has a similar setup for the seahorse display (or did been a while since I was there).

 

[Stevorino]

Sir, if you have the $$$ and the desire then you do you.....
you might want to look at Rainforest Cafe's tanks...

Their Disney world tank is pretty fun to look at while you wait 1.5 hours for your table

 

[BeanAnimal]

Their Disney world tank is pretty fun to look at while you wait 1.5 hours for your table

I did not see the overhead connector on that one. It is the same tank they have in Scranton PA at Electric City.

 

[BeanAnimal]

The upper cross tank on that is a trough

The corals are fake BTW. The do have other more traditional tanks with real coral.

 

[StaircasetoHeaven]

We can make a list of 100 more issues and 100 more hypothetical work-arounds. But when you step back and look at the big picture, any small number of them are almost deal breakers on their own and the summation of them is ludicrously silly.

Hatches in roofs? Custom fabricated scissor tools or telescoping tools? Scissor lifts and a 10 foot tall 4 or 5 foot diameter aquarium, full room teardown and remodel with electrical plumbing, etc. 100K doesn't get you started. A modest kitchen remodel costs almost that these days.

Fish only tank? Maybe, but given the size and residential setting I can't see that being really doable either for many of the same reasons. You are imagining something form a Vegas casino lobby but not contemplating the real world daily maintenance nightmare.

I would go spend some time perusing the monster fish keepers sight to see what you are getting into. Most people with tanks over 5' tall have an equipment room on one wall of the tank with floor drains and facilities for snorkel/scuba. Not climbing in and out over a living room staircase and allowing saltwater to run everywhere. The tanks are typically large enough footprint for walking areas to be laid out in the rockwork, etc.

What about 5' tall or something that you can reasonably work with?

Instead of talking to custom fish tank guy for a "quote", why not put a reputable one together with a reputable architect and engineer so that they can actually design something that will work as an reef aquarium AND with your decor and style and in that 100K budget.

Without the tank, there is no aquarium. Therefore it seems like the custom tank builder seems the appropriate person to start with.

 

[StaircasetoHeaven]

Most people with tanks over 5' tall have an equipment room on one wall of the tank with floor drains and facilities for snorkel/scuba. Not climbing in and out over a living room staircase and allowing saltwater to run everywhere. The tanks are typically large enough footprint for walking areas to be laid out in the rockwork, etc.

There is a 900 sq ft garage directly adjacent to the planned location of the tank as well as the space below the tank in the staircase.

 

[BeanAnimal]

Without the tank, there is no aquarium. Therefore it seems like the custom tank builder seems the appropriate person to start with.

For this type of project and budget you would (well at least I would) put that person together with the architect so that they could quickly find a direction instead of going back and forth with them. At some point they bring the engineer in for a sanity check.

 

[Jmp998]

It is possible, just not necessarily advisable unless you really understand the huge commitment.

Sporting goods store not far from me-Howdy from Texas (corals are fake of course). Naturally they also have an indoor ferris wheel.

 

[BeanAnimal]

So FO 10' tall 5' diameter or so with a fake coral column. There ya go.

BTW those coral columns are much narrow than they appear. Look at them above the cylinder. Still a maintenance nightmare. Makes me think of Snow Piercer and the little kid in the hatch of the engine.

 

[vcnt]

10ft anything sounds bad …. edited ( meant bad ash)

this should be a episode of “Tanked”

this show is fire

 

[StaircasetoHeaven]

For this type of project and budget you would (well at least I would) put that person together with the architect so that they could quickly find a direction instead of going back and forth with them. At some point they bring the engineer in for a sanity check.

Yes absolutely.

 

[BeanAnimal]

this show is fire

Except for that fact that most of the systems they built were impossible to actually maintain and my understanding is that they killed a whole lot of livestock and in most cases dumped it in for the filming and took it back out ASAP to get the system cycled, etc.

There was a whole reddit thread somewhere with actual customers and the real experience. I am not saying they are bad guys or anything, but like most of those shows... you see one thing and reality is very different.

 

[Gumbies R Us]

Following

 

[StaircasetoHeaven]

this show is fire

Had a custom Koi pond built 11 yrs ago. The builder says he was called in to attempt to save a fresh water pond build by Tanked. He also did participate as consultant for another aired episode .

 

[StaircasetoHeaven]

It is possible, just not necessarily advisable unless you really understand the huge commitment.

Sporting goods store not far from me-Howdy from Texas (corals are fake of course). Naturally they also have an indoor ferris wheel.

Yes fake coral certainly is more practical; just never been fan of fake coral.

 

[StaircasetoHeaven]

Agree, agree and agree. That is why I am here to hear input, possible solutions. Next thoughts are to break up tank into two half cylinders, which would give illusion of a full cylinder penetrating the wall. Decreases weight, and difficulty getting tank into house. Does not eliminate difficulty with cleaning and maintenance of such a tall reef tank. Unless there is something I am missing, a Fish only tank seems most reasonable.

 

[StaircasetoHeaven]

You are imagining something form a Vegas casino lobby but not contemplating the real world daily maintenance nightmare.

You have not been to my house. This would not be the first crazy project I embarked upon. I converted an enclosed patio into a recreation of the Disney Tower of Terror Basement boiler room complete with a faux motorized elevator, artificial rain system, faux lightning, custom deepfake of Rod Serling, and multitude of additional custom special effects over the past nearly 5 yrs. It was shown on National TV during a special Halloween edition of Good Morning America.

Twilight Zone Tower of Terror Theater

This Channel will be focused on my decade-long dream to recreate the Disney Tower of Terror basement elevator ride entrance from a standard sliding glass door entrance to my home theater. The project has continually become more ambitious over 5 years and the recreation has expanded to the...

www.youtube.com

 

[KrisReef]

I did not see the overhead connector on that one. It is the same tank they have in Scranton PA at Electric City.

Yes, every reefer should have one of these in their home just to keep frags in. The amount of grow out space is affordable. I want one now.

 

[Yanos]

This is not a realistic dream even if you have piles of money to burn. All of the coral will sit on the bottom with no light, if you raise anything above them (vertical reef walls?) then it shadows what is below it.

How does one shine light through the side of a cylinder and focus it down on the coral and/or not blind the people trying to look at the coral?

Where does the water and mess go when you literally climb into the tank to clean it? How does one climb in that narrow of a tube and clean it if there is stuff halfway up…. Even if not and it sits on the bottom, how do you not wreck it all like Godzilla stomping on a city? Shall you purchase a lift system like the wine cellar at Aureole, to suspend you at working depth? Flip upside down in the hinged harness like Mission impossible so you don’t touch the floor? Is this a custom underwater remote or is you wife standing outside with the controller? Do the scuba tanks fit or are you holding your breath like creep show, for a “very very long time”?

Is there a platform or are you getting out the 16 foot ladder to do maintenance and feed the fish daily?

Can you tell me how to get 12 foot long tools into a 10 foot tall tank unless the ceiling above it is another 12 feet away?

What? You need a winch to move the canopy and the 10kw of focused beam lights so you can climb in?

Pretty round tank that you can see through… where is the plumbing? Are you encasing it all in a floor to ceiling wall you are ripping out and rebuilding?

Any idea how thick a 10 foot tall acrylic tube needs to be and a realistic cost? They don’t sell these at the local plastic store, this is custom manufacturing, but who bends 1” or thicker acrylic into perfect distortion free tubes? Maybe they can custom cell cast you one?

There is so much about this that is insanely unrealistic that it is hard to take seriously. Any “aquarium” guy that is willing to take your money to entertain this idea is doing you a disservice, because they want your money. Honest guys would give you an honest answer… “this is not remotely realistic, have a nice day”.

The “go for it bro” posts amuse me.

Schuran does it