350 Gallon Modern Reef Aquarium
This client’s reef obsession evolved from their original 46-gallon, stand-alone aquarium to a 265 gallon, stand-alone and then to this 350 gallon, custom-built aquarium design.
The tank holds roughly 600 pounds of live rock and is home to a green pocillopora coral (top right side of tank) that wants to take over the world!
Every square foot of the live rock has at least one new pocillopora bud and the mother colony is constantly being trimmed back.
The aquarium filtration is located in the garage, one level below the display tank, and consists of a 75 gallon sump, 80 watt UV sterilizer, protein skimmer and calcium reactor.
The water level is maintained with an automatic top-off system which draws water from a 200 gallon storage container that holds reverse osmosis filtered water.
The aquarium lighting is made up of an array of five EcoTech Radion XR30 G5 Pro LED lights which are complimented by ReefBrite’s XHO LED kits for extra coverage.
This entire aquarium system is controlled by a Neptune Apex controller which allows for 24/7 monitoring and device control via iPhone/iPad or laptop computer.
Frameless Aquarium in Brazilian Rosewood
Built from the ground up, this custom-built aquarium design and installation is intended to house large, exotic fish.
The “frameless” aquarium tank was built with optically clear glass, mounted in custom-built cabinetry and finished with a stunning Brazilian Rosewood veneer by Jim Campo of CUSTOMWOOD Inc.
To highlight the fish, simple decoration and over-built aquarium filtration is employed.
A large wet/dry filter was used in conjunction with a 2,500 gallon/hour recirculating pump.
Accessories include a 57-watt ultra-violet sterilizer, protein skimmer and a canister filter, which is used as a customizable media chamber.
A Pair of 350-Gallon Reef Aquariums
These two large reef aquariums were custom-built and added to a pediatric hospital’s recreation areas to entertain patients and visitors. They house dozens of species of fish and coral.
While the exterior aquarium design was handled in-house, Diamond Aquatics worked closely with the architects, designers and contractors to build the tanks to specification and to design a life support system that would handle the burden of such large systems but also fit into the space provided for the aquarium installation.
Each tank is lit by five hi-output, programmable LED lighting units. Other accessories include 80 watt UV sterilizers, protein skimmers and chillers to keep the tanks below critical temperatures. All of these are connected to a web-based control system which allows for 24/7 monitoring to detect leaks, water parameter abnormalities and equipment failure.
Dining Room Reef Aquarium
Framed with a Myrtle Burl finished, custom molding by Jim Campo of CUSTOMWOOD Inc., this 75-gallon reef custom-built aquarium installation creates a wonderfully peaceful dining experience.
The delicate reef environment required a complex filtration set-up utilizing a bubble-less sump, 900-gallon/hour recirculating pump, protein skimmer and calcium reactor.
Two 14,500-kelvin/150-watt metal-halide lamps are accompanied by two 96-watt PowerCompact actinic lamps to create the effect of an exotic, sunlit reef aquarium.
New Museum Aquarium Installation
German artist Carsten Höller designed this temporary aquarium installation for his exhibit in the New Museum of New York City. The clear aquarium is constructed from acrylic while the base and surrounding benches are comprised of molded PVC. The approximate volume is 400 gallons.
The custom-built aquarium design was intended to allow museum guests an opportunity to lie down on the radiating benches and insert their heads into the corresponding notches in the aquarium.
The effect is similar to lying on the bottom of a lake or river looking up while fish swim about above you.
Corner Built-in Aquarium
This exotic aquarium installation consists of two 54-gallon corner tanks and a custom façade designed and hand crafted by Jim Campo of CUSTOMWOOD Inc.
Both custom-built aquariums utilize a simple, yet effective, freshwater set-up with only two “hang-on-back” filters for each tank and natural stone decoration to create the look and feel of a natural spring.