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World Wide Corals

WWC Visits The Largest Private Reef Tank in America

6

Tanks Featured

26

Minutes

2022

Released

This video tours Andrew Sandler's impressive reef tank setup, featuring his 17,000-gallon main display, which is one of the largest private reef tanks in America. The tour highlights the extensive infrastructure, including a dedicated sub-basement for equipment, multiple quarantine systems, and several smaller display tanks for specific livestock. Andrew shares insights into his maintenance routines, filtration methods, and passion for rare fish.

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00:01:15Introduction to the 17,000-gallon tank 00:02:25Feeding routine for the main tank 00:03:50Dimensions and volume of the main tank 00:04:30Heating and chilling systems 00:05:50Coral quarantine and grow-out systems 00:06:20GFO and carbon reactors, skimmers, and sulfur reactor 00:07:20Calcium reactor and fluidized sand filter 00:08:36RODI and saltwater mixing station 00:09:38UV sterilizer 00:10:00Clam tank and LPS/Chalice tank 00:11:30Fish quarantine systems and medical protocols 00:11:59Engine room and electrical systems 00:14:55Deep water cube tanks (downstairs and office) 00:16:532500-gallon display tank 00:19:40Challenges: microbubbles and flow 00:22:42Maintenance routine and water changes 00:23:58Inspiration for such a large tank

The Builds

6 Tanks Featured

Every spec, brand, and livestock mention pulled from the host's narration. Click any tank tour above to compare.

Tank 01

Andrew Sandler's 17,000 Gallon Tank

17000

Gallons

FOWLR

Style

24

Months Old

16' x 16' x 9'

This is Andrew Sandler's main 17,000-gallon display tank, set up in November 2019. It houses an estimated 400-500 fish, including a large hybrid sailfin tang named Mr. Picasso. The tank is primarily FOWLR due to angels picking at corals, but corals are being introduced slowly. It features an extensive filtration system including massive skimmers, GFO/carbon reactors, a sulfur reactor, and a large fluidized sand filter, all supported by a dedicated sub-basement infrastructure.

Dosing

calcium reactor

Filtration

GFO, carbon, sulfur reactor, fluidized sand filter, UV

Water Changes

1000 gallons weekly (backwash from sand filter), computer-controlled automatic water changes.

Feeding

Four times a day, about 4-5 pounds of mixed frozen food daily. 1-2 times a day several sheets of nori.

Fish

3

Mr. Picasso (hybrid sailfin tang)AngelsPowder Blue Tangs

Tank 02

Clam Tank

This tank is connected to the main system and is dedicated to housing clams, as the angels in the main tank would pick at them. It currently uses Radium 20k metal halide lighting, with plans to switch to Reef Brite lights. The tank is expected to be loaded with clams soon.

Lighting

Radium 20k $999.99in stock

Inverts

1

Clams

Tank 03

LPS/Chalice Tank

LPS

Style

This tank is also connected to the main system and houses various LPS corals like chalices, Bauer Bankies, and hammers. It serves as a safe haven for these corals, as the angels and butterflies in the main tank tend to pick at fleshy corals.

Corals

5

Pink Boobies ChaliceRainbow ChalicesBauer BankiesMeat CoralHammers

Tank 04

Deep Water Cube (Downstairs)

This cube tank is part of a separate system, kept at a cooler temperature (around 74-75°F) to accommodate its inhabitants. It houses rare deep-water fish like bi-color angels and grasses, along with various corals including rainbow chalices and meat corals. It is connected to another cube tank in the office.

Corals

3

Rainbow ChalicesBauer BankiesMeat Coral

Fish

3

Bi-color Angels (deep water amphibious)Grasses (deep water)Anthias

Tank 05

Deep Water Cube (Office)

Located in Andrew's office, this cube is connected to the downstairs deep-water cube and is also kept at a cooler temperature (around 75°F). It currently houses four angels, which are expected to outgrow the tank within a year and will be moved to a larger display.

Fish

1

Angels

Tank 06

2500 Gallon Display Tank

2500

Gallons

12' x 6' x 4'

This 2500-gallon display tank, measuring 12 feet long, 6 feet deep, and 4 feet tall, is designed with a unique feature that allows it to go up and down for access from both sides. It was empty during the previous visit but is now a potential future home for the growing angels from the office cube.

Shop the build

Featured products from our catalogue

Equipment mentioned in this tour that we cover in our gear catalog. Click through for full specs, retailer comparison, and where-to-buy.

EcoTech Marine Radion XR15 G6 LED

Radion XR15 G6 LED

Mentioned as: Radium 20k

In their own words

Notable Quotes

We don't know, we lost track in the quarantine.

Each inch is like a thousand gallons.

1.2 million BTUs natural gas, so I can heat up 10,000 gallons of RO 60 degrees to 80 degrees in about 15 minutes.

This is the reason why we have to do a water change like once a week in a time just to reduce the pressure, it gets dirty.

I always loved Joe's tank at the aquarium, and I always dreamed of that. When the marriage went bad, I moved out of the house and I basically took it the opportunity to do something big again and do it over again.