Custom Tank/Indoor Pond set up

[pappa d]

If anyone has ever been to the Living Sea Aquarium in Park Ridge(i think), IL on devon, i was wondering on what your thoughts would be to have a set up like they do for their puffer
its basically like a....indoor pond, only about 2 feet deep and its straight on the ground, no glass at all, you get a top view only. for those who havnt seen it this might not sound so great to you, i however really like it for just a puffer or so. has anyone ever heard of doing something like this in your home. where did you get the structure for? did you make it? how many gallons? filtration, etc, etc, etc....how much do you think something like this would be to make?
if anyone had any good information/links to articles on this matter that would be greatly appreciated, thanks-
by the way i dont mean anything too big. like i said only about 2 feet deep, maybe 5/6 feet long, and so on....

 

[bang guy]

This is my lagoon.
It's 8 feet X 8 feet and 2 feet deep. It's set up off the floor with cinder blocks so it's easier to look into. The construction is plywood, 2 X 4's and "the pink stuff" for insulation.
It's about 900 gallons.

 

[rylan1]

I've seen this at my LFS. Pretty cool. They had a large puffer (approx. 14inches) and sting ray in it. Dimensions were probably 8x by 8x
3 feet deep

 

[pappa d]

Originally Posted by Bang Guy
This is my lagoon.
It's 8 feet X 8 feet and 2 feet deep. It's set up off the floor with cinder blocks so it's easier to look into. The construction is plywood, 2 X 4's and "the pink stuff" for insulation.
It's about 900 gallons.
thats really nice. did you build that yourself? the only thing i would be afraid of is there being a leak/everything just collapsing and killing my whole room

. that is what i was looking for except for a little smaller (not as wide). how do you have filtration up, im kinda pussled because thers not really the underneath of the stand to have a sump, etc r unning lol. was this an expensive project for you? i dont think that i would need much lighting if it was for my puff only with maybe something else in the future... the one at my pet store has no live sand or live rock in it wo they must have a huge filter or something...what do you think if i had just and and a little to no live rock?

 

[pappa d]

bump

 

[bang guy]

Yes, I build it all myself by hand.
Live sand plus a lot of waterflow is all the filtration you need for a saltwater aquarium.
A large skimmer will make everything a whole lot more stable and easier though. I highly recommend having a good skimmer.

 

[madddmarr]

how big is your filter

 

[pappa d]

i have nothing prepared for this, IF (big if depending on price, and i might only be in my current location for 2 1/2 years...ish, so im still thinking on if it would be worth time/money) i decided to go through with this though i would have to definatly look into what soemthing like this would need. right now im only running a 58g with a berlin classic turbo protein skimmer in a 20g sump, so im pretty sure i would need way more than that...?

 

[pappa d]

i just dont know where the filtration would go though on something like this? b eing no su mp and all...

 

[gmford1979]

Hey Banguy, how about some more pics??

 

[bang guy]

Originally Posted by Pappa D
i just dont know where the filtration would go though on something like this? b eing no su mp and all...
The live sand will filter the water, you won't need a sump.
You can easily have a sump if you want though, it would sit on the side of the lagoon.

 

[thegrog]

Originally Posted by gmford1979
Hey Banguy, how about some more pics??
I second that!!!

 

[pappa d]

bump

 

[pappa d]

bump

 

[pappa d]

if i were to make something to house my dogfish i was thinking about the measurements:
246 gallon tank - 66”x36”x24” (most likely this)
205 gallon tank - 66”x30”x24”
would anyone suggest anything otherwise? i am really trying to not push the ammount of gallons but also trying to get it as long/wide as i need it for a full grown dogface. if i can go smaller please tell me and give measurements. also what else would be a cool fish to put in this pond setting. something definatly not a jumper and maybe very sensitive to lower lighting standards??? i really wish i could have a ray but i have heard that a puff will nip at them, anyone have suggestions on this matter?

 

[pappa d]

if i were to make something to house my dogfish i was thinking about the measurements:
246 gallon tank - 66”x36”x24” (most likely this)
205 gallon tank - 66”x30”x24”
would anyone suggest anything otherwise? i am really trying to not push the ammount of gallons but also trying to get it as long/wide as i need it for a full grown dogface. if i can go smaller please tell me and give measurements. also what else would be a cool tank mate with a puffer in this pond setting. something definatly not a jumper and maybe not very sensitive to lower lighting standards??? i really wish i could have a ray but i have heard that a puff will nip at them, anyone have suggestions on this matter? :thinking:

 

[2563]

Originally Posted by TheGrog
I second that!!!

I'll third it!

 

[pappa d]

Originally Posted by gmford1979
Hey Banguy, how about some more pics??
i'll fourth that!, some plans would be extra nice too

 

[murph]

The store I buy my corals from has them all displayed in lagoon systems like this. IMO the effect is something different and most likely provides a more natural environment for the inhabitants.
I have also been doing research on a diy tank build as of late and now am leaning toward one of these lagoon systems. I have considered plywood glass builds then acrylic back to plywood and now lagoon.
I have never built one but the cost breakdown from my research so far for a 20Hx48Lx30w wide goes something like this. Top of tank will stand about 3 feet off ground.
2x4 lumber at 10 feet long apx 30 bucks
2 4x8 pieces of plywood 50 bucks
3/4 styrofoam to line inside of structure 10 bucks
Firestone pond liner 75 to 100 bucks.
Screws and other misc supplies 50 bucks
Comes in at about half the coast of of Plywood glass, plywood acrylic or acrylic builds for these demensions.
Of course there are additional cost after intial structure. Lighting, sand, sump etc. I already have most of these things so it is starting to look like I may start building this weekend.
Anything I forgot Bang?? Liner recomendation?

 

[pappa d]

hold do you line the inside with styrofoam? or insulation for that matter? what kind as well, thanks.