The 4000-Gallon Twin Reef System at the World Wide Corals Superstore
At World Wide Corals, we’re known for pushing the boundaries of what’s possible in saltwater aquarium design. Inside our Orlando Superstore, we’ve built what stands as one of the largest connected reef systems in the country — a massive 4,000-gallon twin tank display, engineered to showcase what a true large-scale coral ecosystem can be.
This build isn’t just an aquarium — it’s a statement of what precision, planning, and passion for reefing can achieve.
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Project Overview: Twin 2000-Gallon Reef Displays
This centerpiece of our Orlando showroom consists of two matching 2,000-gallon display tanks tied together into a single, unified 4,000-gallon system. Each tank connects to its own sump, with both sumps integrated to create consistent water chemistry and balanced flow throughout the entire system. Filtration is handled through a Berlin-style sump setup with a modified flow pattern that directs water through cartridges of replaceable filter floss for mechanical filtration.
The backbone of the system features seven Varios 10 return pumps, a Reef Octopus SRO 9000EXT protein skimmer, Pentair UV sterilization, and dual Reef Octopus CR-250PRO with custom built secondary degassing chambers to help bleed off the remaining CO2 each with its own secondary media chamber for optimal calcium and alkalinity balance.
Lighting the display are Illumagic X4 Pro LED fixtures, with a custom built LED array blended to give that signature WWC blue. The entire system is automated and monitored through a Hydros Control System, insert image of the control board and real-time feedback on every parameter.
Engineering the Installation
Getting two 2,000-gallon tanks into place was no small task. The delivery required a forklift and plenty of muscle, with each tank carefully maneuvered into its final position. From there, the team spent two weeks fabricating and installing custom plumbing, connecting both systems into one cohesive loop.
To handle hundreds of feet of PVC pipe, the team relied heavily on Milwaukee M18 PVC shears, which made precise cuts fast and efficient — an invaluable tool for a build of this scale. Once the plumbing was complete, the next step was to build a custom wall and dedicated filtration room behind the display, housing all the life support systems neatly out of sight.
Suspending the lights was another major challenge. The Illumagic fixtures are hung from the ceiling, and we’re currently developing a motorized hoist system that will allow us to raise and lower the lights for maintenance and coral access.
Innovation & Highlights
What stands out most about this installation is the plumbing design. Each tank features six 2-inch overflows and three 1.5-inch returns, all tied together in a layout that ensures smooth, balanced flow between the twin sumps. Routing the overflow lines for efficient cross-mixing between the two systems was a significant engineering challenge — but the final result is both aesthetically clean and highly functional.
The end result is an immaculate, high-flow system that maintains consistent water parameters across all 4,000 gallons, providing the perfect environment for a diverse coral population.
Maintenance on a Massive Scale
A reef system of this magnitude demands a very different level of maintenance compared to a typical in-home aquarium. Every piece of equipment — from the skimmer to the reactors to the plumbing — is oversized and industrial-grade. Routine maintenance often means literally climbing inside the tanks to clean and scrub surfaces.
Lighting adjustments, parameter monitoring, and coral care are all scaled up significantly, requiring careful coordination among our service team and automation systems.
Expert Advice for Large-Scale Aquarium Builds
If you’re considering a project of this magnitude, space and planning are everything. You’ll need not only room for the display itself but an almost equal amount of real estate for filtration, plumbing, and life-support systems.
Budgeting for redundancy and backup equipment is essential — in a system this large, every component plays a critical role in the ecosystem’s stability. And, as always, be prepared for maintenance and cleaning on a much larger scale than a typical home reef.
A Living Masterpiece
The 4,000-gallon reef system at the World Wide Corals Superstore isn’t just a display — it’s a living testament to what’s possible when expertise, innovation, and passion for coral reef ecosystems come together. It embodies our commitment to creating awe-inspiring, thriving saltwater environments — from our showroom in Orlando to custom installs across the country.
Thinking about your own large-scale aquarium project?
Contact World Wide Corals Aquarium Installs today for a consultation.
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