very large tanks

[Saleenfan]

I managed to get the behind the scenes tour of Underwater world in the MOA a while ago and all i can say is DANG its impressive. all of the people there are uber nice and great people so just ask and they will be straight with you.

[Mizer67]

Originally Posted by MJaquariums

Thanks for the help everybody. I'm not too worrid about the money i'll find a way (actually i think i already know a way). but thats not the point right now like i said if i did do this it wouldn't happen for at least 7-8 years. right now i just want to get as much info on building a system that big, about keeping critters that big and just about everything. I still have a ton to learn, but i think the rewords are well worth it

any more help wold be greatly appreciated.

The odds on powerball aren't nearly as good as you think. Or perhaps you have a rich lonely widow in mind.....
Either way, best of luck with this. See if you can find the Reefzilla thread. It never got finished, but will give you some idea of what you are up against.

[Mizer67]

http://www.thereeftank.com/forums/f1...ead-90861.html

Found it. This guy was building a 17,000 gallon aquarium. As I said, he never got done, but he discusses alot of the nuts and bolts before the thread turns soap opera. He did get quite a long way. The tank actually held water for a leak test and then it all went wrong. Very sad, but interesting reading for a guy with big dreams.

[REEFSTOCK]

Originally Posted by MJaquariums

by the way i live in MN and im not even sure if we have a public aquarium around here. Does anybody know of a public aquaruim around here

There are plenty of people who shop at our store that work at Underwater world in the Mall of America, both the zoos, the FW aquarium in Duluth ect.

Underwater world has sharks and a nice fish only system... huge systems... massive with tunnels under the tanks to watch the rays and stuff. Getting a behind the scenes tour is a MUST. The zoo folks have been in getting info on a new large reef aquarium... They actually have a hobby based guy working on it and he is getting them hooked up with decent equipment.

...and get hooked into the local clubs, MN is blessed with many large and wonderful private reef aquariums.

[icebear]

Originally Posted by MJaquariums

Besides everything that i have said, i have one more question
What creatures would you really like to see in a place like this, i dont care what it is or rare it is.

personally, i'd like to keep a couple beluga whales.

[aquawolf]

I saw them at the Georgia Aquarium and think it would be incredible to be able to have a tank that big to support them someday. However, even with their state of the art facility they have had trouble keeping them alive as well.

[koda]

Hi all,
I have worked in the public aquarium industry for nearly 20 years now, thats nearly of my life!

In Europe, giant tanks are usually made from shuttered concrete and fibreglassed. Small tanks say under 8m X 4m X 5m are made from fibreglassed marine ply.

As for starting your own business, the risks are high and the competion will have years and years experience. Also the equipment and factory space needed is massive. That is the situation in Europe at least.

[nickxp]

I can have it built for you, but looking at 2.7 million for the up front payment for the first 2-3 years of planning. After that we can look at construction costs

[billwann]

IAm the guy who built the 17,0000 gallon tank . It was finished awhile ago . The tank is doing well but still working out alot of bugs . If your planning on doing something this size all i can say is do your home work . There was alot that went into this tank that no one ever saw . Good luck .

[Mizer67]

Bill, congrats on finishing the tank. The last I had heard you had decided to sell and move to CA. I'm sure it is incredible. How does Fred like his new digs? Any chance you might give us a little peek?
Thanks,
Ray