Huge 4,500 Gallon DIY River Aquarium Build Progress and Wetland Bog Filter Build!
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- čas přidán 22. 07. 2023
- The 4,500 gallon diy build enters the next stage of construction with the completion of skinning the inside of the aquarium and filling all the seams and screw holes. We are on to fiberglassing and epoxy coating, the glass installation! Also, we go in depth on the Wetland Bog Filter build and discuss the integrated natural riverbank system...Episode 92 is action packed!
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I love Joey but this right here is the king of diy
😊
Facts
Apples & oranges. Joey keeps fish for 5 days, gives them away, and then buys them again. He has the worst hobby imo. I like the "house the fish for life" mentality that @aquariumdomain has
Joey is shit. Never liked the guy. He's got nothing on Aquariumdomain
Same! Joey does amazing setups but he so fake and lame
I've been involved in the fiberglassing industry for more than 20 years and if there's only one (VERY important) suggestion I'd be able to make, it would be to say that you be best to fill in those knot holes in the plywood... Any separation of any kind between the fibreglass and the surface it's being applied to WILL Cause air bubbles that could very easily spread (enlarge) thus causing the fiberglass coating to separate from the plywood in this situation.
Remember; an ounce of prevention is worth a ton or three (of water) of cure!!
You're going to want to make absolute sure the surface of that plywood sheeting is pitless as possible!!
100% everything you mentioned is dead on. I put a lot of emphasis on doing each stage of the build correctly and not "making up for it" in other stages of the build. Fortunately the plywood isn't as bad as it looks on video in regards to having to fill the knots...only a few of them are actually recessed...but many look like they are until you run your hand over them. 😀
I LOVE LOVE LOVE that you are going with natural bog filters for these tanks...can't wait to see the big one!! I am starting a bog filter for my 75 gallon tomorrow. Very excited about adapting/utilizing this pond filtering method for my indoor tanks and I'm so happy to have an account to follow that's doing the same thing 😊
Thanks! I am very excited to get started soon on building the bog filter for the 4500. The one I built for my 315 gallon is working great! 😄
could you do an in depth build of a wetland filter explaining how the plumbing should be done? maybe a simple model in an aquarium so we can see the levels and have a better view of the wetlands filter.
I am filming extra parts beyond the vlog updates on the tank build and will release a video on the entire build and a video on just building the wetland filter once the tank is complete.
This has got to be one of the most beautiful biotopes I’ve ever seen. Kudos! Can’t wait to see the 4500!
Thanks!
Love that discus tank
Thanks! I keep thinking that one Discus tank is just not enough lol 😊
WOW WOW WOW! This aquarium is a beautiful TANK! Literally and figuratively speaking! You never cease to amaze us brother! Phenomenal Job!
Thanks Cleveland! Man you have been cranking out the videos, I need to get caught up! 😊
How does this CZcams channel only have 18k subs?!
🤔
Please do not divide the tank, it would be a luxury to see the fish swim the entire length of the pond
Agreed. I believe that's his plan unless he needs an estuary.
Like @boja23 said there will be times that I need it divided, but ideally I would like it to be non-divided...but I have to build in the option. 😊
Well he already has grown fish and he want some new fish he gotta start them from juvenile. He need to divide the tank and eventually take the divider out when the fish about the same size and something fish fight and need a time out. You don't want to move big fish. Chasing them to the size and put the divider is the best solution.
yes pleace dont
Discus maybe are growing very slowly but they are very beautiful and maybe there will be the moment when they start growing rapidly. I used in my aquarium the medicine for green hairy algae it was company FEMANGA (femanga) made in germany not harmful for the plants and fishes. I put, poured it after every water change - dose, and after three weeks they disappeared. Good luck.
Thanks for the comment, I am going to look into that.
When you get the Aquarium stocked can we get a video of you on a raft in the Aquarium with lets say with a cigar and a glass of Champagne?🛶🥳 I would love a picture of that! After this build you would certainly deserve it.
Hehe too funny 😀 I was thinking about videoing me swimming laps in it LOL 😀
Just a LEGEND
🥰
If this gives you ideas you’re welcome.. Geophagus Surinamensis get an easy foot long and any Geo is great for substrate turnover especially sand..
That is my favorite species of Geophagus 😀 and I have plans for them in the annex 😀
Wow this looks amazing. I hope for your sake you never need to take apart the wetland filter :D
Yeah, that would be a lot of rock to move :-)
Good Stuff Young Man !
Thank you sir! 😊
The 4500g build is really coming together now. You’ve made some great progress! Great job bro.
Thanks Rogue! Finished filling, sanding and prepping for fiberglass last night...its go time on the glassing! 😀
I love it. But that egg crate is very brittle. I can't believe that it is holding up the rocks without collapsing.
Lot's of supports! The wetland filter in the 4500 though will have much more heavy duty materials as it is much larger and supporting way more aggregate! 😊
The wooden dock and dividers are a great idea!!! This is going to be public aquarium level!!!!
Can’t wait to see the finished product!!!! Thank you for consistently sharing your builds!!!
Thanks Thomas! The Bass are really going to like chilling under the dock 😊 Also can't wait to see a couple of big Arowana swimming through the tree roots and dock....man I can't wait for this tank to get running lol 😊
Great!
😊
Fisha are cool. My Sarpae Tetras hang out in the plants and wood the same way yours do,.
I was watching the Serpae Tetra school in the 750 the other night just cruising through all the riverbank roots picking at the biofilm...very natural looking...loved it! :-)
dude.... I'm loving your channel.
Thanks!
This is awesome ❤…. So informative
Thank you! 😊
Wow, talk about doing it right. This is so well thought out, no cutting corners or skimping to save on cost. Just 100% solid and perfect. All your experience on the other tanks is really paying off here. Keep it coming! (And maybe a peak at your sharks once and while, we miss seeing them too. Lol.)
I think someone would be crazy to cut corners with 4500 gallons involved lol 😀 Seriously though it is starting to come together...I am getting excited!
Thank you for showing the bog filter set up. It is going to be incredible on the 4500! What a build!!
Thanks! I am really looking forward to getting started on all the wetland, riverbank and aquascape plans I have for the 4500! 😊
I’m loving the ideas for building in a divider sections to further improve the tank be it grow out or predator segregation if necessary 👍
Unfortunately it is a must at times....big predatory fish don't always place nice with each other lol 😀
Brilliant mate.. I always look forward to your videos keep them coming... Going to be so exciting when you get to the end and ready to scape that Beast
Thanks! I am really looking forward to scaping this beast...I have some very big plans for the scape...I think a lot more than what most folks will be expecting 😊
@@AquariumDomain. Well you always take things to the next level... I'm sure you will just blow everyone away👍
Great job man. I’m watching closely because I’m planning to build a 12 foot plywood build. Thank you for sharing your experience.
I can't wait to see you do that Ras.
Thanks! Not sure if you have seen it or not, but I did do a step by step building series on diy wood / fiberglass / epoxy builds czcams.com/video/GFh7Xaw1vGo/video.html
@@AquariumDomain. I saw some of it. I plan to follow it. Thanks
@@AquariumDomain. I’m currently putting up sheet rock 🙄🫡
What a phenomenal vision for what will be an entirely unique aquarium.
Thanks! 😊
This series has been epic so far and I am so glad to see that more people are finally starting to find this channel! Keep up the great work
Thanks Murphdawg! I am really looking forward to working on the aquascape for this build...I have some big plans for that! 😊
The removable partitions are a great idea. At the end of this build I would like to see a materials list and hours of sweat equity for just this build. Best guess would be just fine. The suspended bog(?) planting will be fantastic. Thanks for sharing.
Thanks! I will give a total cost for the build once complete and there will be two separate videos with one being the complete build from start to finish and one focusing just on building the wetland filtration.
I just found this channel,unbelievable build and its all freshwater tanks,i built a 240gallon plywood tank but this takes the cake
Welcome to the channel! 😀
You should rip or use a jointer on all your boards to make them line up a lot nicer. Box store lumber can be pretty twisted but doing a little bit of mill work really can go a long way on strength and making your life that much easier on future builds
I got pretty lucky this go around that most of my wood came from fresh stacks...so in terms of Home Depot wood it wasn't too bad. 🙂
Hey, as always I enjoy watching your videos. You are very informative, and understand that some people have a much smaller budget than others. I had a hell of a weekend last week, after my 120 African Cichlid Peacocks tank started leaking, the following week I had a power outage from a storm and lost most of my fish. I do still have a nice size albino Oscar, Jack Dempsey, Salvini, Green Terror, Texas Cichlid, and what was sold to me as a flowerhorn. Would like to donate them to you. I would just need to know when you would be able to come get them.
Man, sorry to hear about the tank leak and power outage...those are the top 2 fears of any fish keeper. ☹️ I appreciate the offer of donating fish, but I am not anywhere near a point where I can take an any fish. Don't wait on my and go ahead and find those guys a good home.
Definitely recommend a different caulking gun. The ryobi ones will fuck up depending on how much you use it
Hopefully it will get me through the annex builds 😊
@@AquariumDomain. it probably will, we were using it for contract work so im sure this will be less brutal for it lol. cant wait to see it
I'm excited to see this project actually moving along.
Agreed! 😊
Well my friend, all the info that you passed to us in this video, shows how fantastic this tank we'll be, loved the idea of the dividers this well really give you several alternative's to you, it's great to see also, how much you have improved as a tank constructor, this project is going to be fantastic after you finish it.
All the best to you, really want to see this finished.😊😊
Thanks Wagner! It is always good to have some options when dealing with big Cichlids / Bass / etc. they can be a handful at times 😊 That said, I really am looking forward to the aquascape portion of this build...going to be something special.
Thanks for sharing! This build is and going to be amazing!
Thank you!
Damn, this is just so awesome. I'm looking forward to every update.
Thanks! 😊
So epic mate. 👍🏻🏴
😊😊
Looking great sir 😊
Thanks Jeff! 😊
You could have a trough running over the tank at the back with water running through substrate and grow more plants in there. You could also make waterfalls come out of that trough, and maybe hide some plumbing in there...
I was thinking the same. 👍
You described the plan for the upcoming Zen Aquarium 😊
Awesome build! You could even create a “river” on top of that tank where the water flows towards the wetland. A kind of canal against the back wall where water is pumped in and then flow to the wetland. You could fill it with gravel and plants so it adds to the filter capacity.
The thing is though is that the water entering the wetland filter needs to be under pressure, as it will be pumped into the bottom of the wetland and then up flow through 3 feet of substrate....so needs some pretty strong pumps to achieve.
@@AquariumDomain. I understand, maybe just have it flow back in the tank from that extra “river”? Would add a ton of extra bio filtration.
This video had it all. Great progress on the 4500 gallon. Any plans on a brackish tank?
Thanks Phil! No plans for brackish at this time. Right now I am kind of laser focused on the 4500 and the Predator Bay move. I would really like to get those done as soon as possible so that it opens up all the other plans I have in fish basement.
Could you instead of the faff of making channels for the deviders get some high powered magnets and inset them in the wood then fiberglass over the top then any dividers you put in would be held in by magnets just a thought
That is an interesting idea and seems doable, but I have already built the channels...I think you will see when the tank is done that the divider channels are pretty much invisible when viewing the tank.
I sense Redtail Catfish, and possibly Piraiba ?
🤔
I love all types of substrates however I believe as your fishies get much bigger you’re gonna want to accommodate for the peacock(s). Whatever you choose to do I’m all in. I love your work plus your discus look so healthy and the aqua scape is so beautiful. Keep doing what you’re doing.🎉
The Bass will feel right at home with the materials I have planned for the scape....lot's of sand and some accent gravel 🙂
Would love to see a video of why you use tempered glass vs non tempered. Also low iron glass
That video already exists 😊, here it is: czcams.com/video/_fiiG_8Etn4/video.html
As usual, great vid!
Question, how are you keeping live plants (Val) with Silver Dollars....what's the secret?
The only thing I can think of is that the Val came from another tank and was already very mature thick and tall plant and was in the tank before the baby Silver Dollars were added...so they just kind of grew up with it there
Have you considered lava rock for the lower layers of the bog filter (adding more places for beneficial bacteria)? Where is the intake for filter? How will you ensure the entire aquarium has water flow?
Generally lava rock isn't used because of all the small crevices that will trap the mulm, ideally we want the mulm settle back down at the bottom for removal. Even without the extra porosity of the lava rock there will be plenty of surface area for bacteria.
Hey man i love this build! Super inspirational 👏 Im saving up for a half size ... How are you heating it? Would it be worth it to insulate?
Thanks! 😊 I temperature control all of my tanks by heating/cooling the rooms and not the individual tanks. If you use this method, you would not want to insulate the tank from the room as you want the water to equalize in temperature with the room. Additionally the lights and pumps used in the tanks provide a little extra heat in the water as well, as I cover all of my tanks for humidity/evaporation...also traps in the heat.
Sounds beautiful, as well as breathtaking what is the width from glass to ply? I find it so hard to tell my tank biggest tank is a 220, but it always looks like a 5 foot on film😂
It is right about 5', little wider at the glass sections little less at the vertical post sections.
@@AquariumDomain. cheers it’s gonna be epic👍
Hello, could you tell me what kinds of lights do you use in your planted aquariums? Or just point me to a video that you might have shared this information in. Thanks
I use a few different types, some are Kessil Tuna Suns, Current Plant Plus and some are just LED floodlights off of Amazon. They all work for growing plants, the real difference is in the lighting coloration and the shimmer.
@@AquariumDomain. Thank you!
Iam concerned about the mini split right over the top changing you temps to fast .but filter looks awesome
I have made some modifications since that video footage was taken...the louvers on the mini split are now pointing up and I have lid on part of the aquarium. Beyond even temp change it would evaporate water really quickly with air blowing on it 😊
maybe get a sheet of that corragated plastic and attach it underneath the mini split to kinda like a roof were air could blow over it and not on it
@@jeffsfishinginthesunshine5903 Good idea 😊
Gotta have a turtle or two in there.
😊
💯 ❤✌️
Considering about building something like this in the future 🌿✨️💯
Quick question as wood has become more expensive than metal in many countries wouldn't it be easier, more durable to do all in welded metal structure ,then plywood and fiberglass 🤔
Possibly, I have never done any fabrication using metal so I don't really have any experience or knowledge of what it would take to build something like this using metal.
What length are the screws that you used for the framing and all the 2x6?? Thanks!
In some areas 4 inches and some 3.5 inches.
Awesome thanks!
I like how you are not just building something big but that everything has a purpose and a long term vision so you are building in advance of thereof, whether its divider slots or places to hang additional plants. Uff... I bet transporting ginormous fish will be a hoot. I had to move my 22 inch pacu a bunch of times... not fun at all. Hearing you having to move 40+ inch fish gives me the heebie jeebies. I hope you have a method to that maddness. Water all over the place... fish hurting itself... Hoping it all goes well for you when the time comes.
Yeah, moving multiple 40" Bass and 20" Pike is going to be interesting for sure. Then once I convert the 3000 gallon over to saltwater I will be moving multiple 48" Bamboo Sharks over to that tank....going to be interesting for sure lol 😊
But how do you build the system where does the pumps go
The 4500 gallon has been completed for a while now, check out the other videos and it shows how the whole thing works. 😊
Great project can you give a price breakdown
Yes, I will give a breakdown of the total costs of the build once completed.
Take the discus rut out of the tank with the larger ones, it’s hormonal.
Don't really have another home for him, I Ok with him not growing max size as long as he is healthy.
Why don’t you line the front in ply ? Or Will the glass cover the Timbers?
Once the structural part of the build is complete I will be building a facade for the front to make it look nice.
@@AquariumDomain. sorry I was talking about the inside front of the tank
@@michealcaruana8712 Ahh gotcha...that will all be fiberglassed.
Would you be kind enough to explain why you need to put pond epoxy over fiberglass resin. I thought fiberglass (polyester) resin was 100% waterproof.
Fiberglass polyester resin isn't safe for potable or live fish scenarios, it will leach out chemicals over time. The pond armor gives a longer life and more importantly it is fish safe. Not to mention the appearance, fiberglass wood would be very unnatural looking IMHO.
I may have missed it but what is the thickness of glass you are going to use and are you considering low iron glass? Almost forgot what are the viewing opening dimensions?
The glass panels will be right around 7 feet long each. No plans for low iron, the cost of 4 x 7' panels is already quite high. 😊
@@AquariumDomain. No doubt! What thickness glass are you plan on using?
@@markkaupas8921 1/2" tempered
What filler caulk do you use on the raw wood seams. Looks to be liquid nails or something
I would assume just like any other aquatic application the 100% silicone because you don't want those other chemicals leeching into the water.
@@ONEFUNFONE nothing sticks to silicone, so the pond armor wouldn't stick in the corners
@@RcBlade it's never peeled on me in the past and I've used silicone.
@@ONEFUNFONE you used silicone on the raw plywood seams, then applied pond armor and fiberglass over top of it?
@@RcBlade no, you use silicone in the corners and other gaps/ seams, fiberglass over it, sand down the fiberglass Then coat it in pond armor. You only use enough silicone to fill the seams, you're not doing a window or sink where you need half a tube of it. Clean up and sand down the areas before you glass. If you actually read the question and your responses you'll see where you goofed up at.
No dividers please! Awesome work and love the channel
Hopefully they are only temporary, the goal is to ultimately have the 4500 be just one huge tank for the fish go everywhere, but I will need to complete the two 1500 gallon annex builds before I can make that happen. 😊
I dont understand upgrading the footprint just to have less swimming area. Basically 16ft of 33 would be usuable. Im not understanding why youre deciding to do that. It's still a phenomenal build and I'm still jealous but I'm just curious why you would take away swimming area with docks and a shallow area
Currently the big Fogo Peacock Bass live in just half of the 3000 gallon with the Orinoco Bass living on the other side. Neither will let each other into their areas. Ultimately I expect the 4500 to be two sides with each species of Bass having about 16ft of swimming room.
The big Bass are going to love the docks, they will love hanging out underneath it...right now they do the same under a big piece of wood I have floating in the 3000 gallon.
It is possible that the 4500 will have a group of fish that can all coexist together well enough to remove all of the dividers and have a single large tank...that is the ultimate goal, but I will need to finish the 2 x 1500 gallon builds before I can really make that happen.
Gotcha. That makes sense. Keep harmony in your tank by any means
Hi what kind of body filler did you use?
Gorilla wood filler for filling knots, cracks, etc. and liquid nails construction for seams.
@@AquariumDomain. thanks
I am wondering what is the cost of building this tank.
More than $250 J/K 😀 I will cover the full cost in an upcoming video once the build is complete...I am keeping all of the receipts 😀
How much does one of those builds cost
It varies quite a bit from build to build, but I am keeping all of the receipts and will share the final cost once the build is completed.
No dividers pls. Free swimming.
That is the ultimate goal, but I do need options for the short term. 😊