building a "big" Potamotrygon/SA Catfishes tank

[ElTofi, posts: 500]

Again, I feel more confortable to use a product "used by others before me"... and with the Mapelastic Smart, I have at least 2 concrete ponds (tanks, pools) to show me it worked quite well...

this one, Tropicarium Servion, was made in 2005 with cement and "simple" white silicon :


this one, Papillorama Kerzers, was made in 2006, with Mapelastic and Sika Silicon :


I must admit I like others to do mistakes and experiences before I try myself... and sometimes (read it carefully ) I try to learn from others, more experienced and wise... not to do the same mistakes they (may) did before me...

[apistomaster, posts: 4570]

I know that there are many patching and or smoothing concrete products are hyped a lot and often do not live up to the claims as many other products that are miracles in a can or bag so often don't.
The epoxy based products are usually the best. Some are designed to create a smooth surface to be covered with a more UV resistant epoxy coating. These leveling types bond especially well to a surface with a relatively high profile.

[ElTofi, posts: 500]

latest news...

yesterday, we put the main (and big) glass in place... Jesus, it was a big and good job !

a few pictures...










On Monday, I'm doing the same for the little right glass and I'll fill the lower concrete part, just to wash it from the dusts and chemical elements...

Somewhere around next week-end, I'll fill it to the top for washing and then again to begin the N2 Cycle... and first fishes will be in around late October...

that has been an adventure (almost done considering building)... and it will go on for years !

[Viktor Jarikov, posts: 2279]

Invariably, everything I've read shows that the silicone is applied to the glass/acrylic first and then it is put in place. You are the first example where this steps appear reversed. Is it true and if yes, why? Not that there must be some very scientific reason behind it... I think it is all about air bubbles in the silicone layer and squeezing them out.

Did you insert stops/shims here and there within silicone so that water pressure does not squeeze silicone out with time?

Did you make sure to use fish-friendly silicone?

I thought you'd remove the masking tape right away, before silicone cures. Did you not?

[AleGer, posts: 447]

Great Job

[Matt30, posts: 220]

wow that is some project ,carnt wait to see it completed.
good luck mate

[Sam, posts: 84]

Wow.. this is a fascinating read

[ElTofi, posts: 500]

thanks everyone...

I had a few waterproof problems 2 weeks ago, because I had choosen not to install the MapeBand (waterproof bands on the corners)... Very bad idea ! I had to call a professionnal to make it all allright My job was good on plane surfaces, but the corners and the part behind the waterflow was such a mess... The pro corrected it very well (and for not that much)

Saturday, we placed the big glass, yesterday I put the "hardscape" elements into the tank while it's not "closed" with the last glass, much easier to access... and today, I'll place the small one.

From yesterday, I filled around 3000 liters just to see if this time, it's waterproof... it seems all right... the OASE BioSmart 14000 is running well...

considering silicone, it's not a "fish friendly" because it has a anti-fungus component inside... based on the advice of the waterproof professionnal (who is also an angler and a aquarist, lucky me ) this is not a problem... even if the first water will need to be changed, considering the total volume of it (more than 10000 liters) versus the little volume of silicone (10 tubes), it's safe... I used SikaSil-C and 3 persons told me it was "food grade" :

1. the Sika man
2. the waterproof professionnal (who built such a tank at home a few years ago)
3. another crazy aquarist in France who used the same product...

Next pictures and explanations in a few days, with the complete fill in...

see you...

[NielsV, posts: 38]

Ow my god. What a huge tank!

[sidguppy, posts: 3827]

apart from waterchanges to get rid of the chemical residu, using a carbon filter is a good way of avoiding toxifications

both fungicides and the stuff that wafts out of hardening silicon glue are large organic molecules

these are easily mopped up with active carbon.

if you combine both methods (waterchanges and carbon filtration), you're quite safe

don't forget to replace the carbon on a regular base the first few months.
carbon's cheap; stingrays are not

[ElTofi, posts: 500]

There won't be any rays inside this tank before next spring. I'll place other fishes before, less valuable

[Viktor Jarikov, posts: 2279]

good idea; I predict possible problems because of the anti-fungal, anti-mildew agents, speaking from my experience with smaller tanks though... still, it is entirely possible I was losing fish for a different reason...

older thread viewtopic.php?f=4&t=29373

[ElTofi, posts: 500]

I haven't fed this topic from too long... pictures of partial filling :





[Mod edit: Fix broken IMG tags --Mats]

[ElTofi, posts: 500]

[ElTofi, posts: 500]

[ElTofi, posts: 500]

Last week, I had to make a "maintenance" on a colson on a root... the Panaque could have been hurt on it...









not that easy...


done...

[ElTofi, posts: 500]

the 100% filling will have to wait till December, for an inox "T" profile reinforcement of the big glass... I have to make a "financial" break for a while...

But 75% is still more than 8000 liters... not that bad...

next step : Myleus and Cichlas in late October...

[Cristoffer Forssander, posts: 564]

Very Nice job! Interesting to follow!

But, Christophe, is the aquarium for you or the stingrays? Feels like you're going to spend a lot of aquatic time down there

[MatsP]

But, Christophe, is the aquarium for you or the stingrays?

Who says it has to be one or t'other? Surely the rays won't mind sharing a little bit?

Christophe: Looks great!

--
Mats

[ElTofi, posts: 500]

you bet I won't go so often in the tank when the stingrays will be there... in "stingrays", there is "sting" if you know what I mean

I have a strategy for emergencies : plexiglass to separate the tank in two parts. The safe part and the rays part...