Tamara and Guido have so much to share with us, starting with their stunning 4,500-liter marine aquarium — a feast for the eyes and more!
Article available also in: Italian Language 
We recently visited Tamara and Guido in a small village in the province of Vercelli and discovered not only two passionate aquarists but also two incredible individuals with multifaceted personalities that left us absolutely amazed. Tamara works for a well-known retail chain, while Guido is a blacksmith—a skill that greatly helped in building their aquarium. Yes, the aquarium was entirely self-built, but we’ll dive deeper into that later in the article.
Before reaching the aquarium, we were greeted by a beautiful pond, which was originally a pool, then turned into a natural swimming pond, and finally transformed into a koi pond. This reveals two key aspects of Tamara and Guido’s character: a desire to innovate and improve, paired with a hands-on, DIY approach. It’s hard not to admire these two enthusiasts for their efforts and creativity.
But that’s not all! Before we continue, check out our documentary about their marvelous aquarium. Enjoy!
The 4,500 Liter Tamara and Guido’s Marine Aquarium Documentary
Watch the documentary, then return to finish reading the article for all the technical details. Expand to fullscreen, sit back, and enjoy the documentary. Don’t forget to leave a comment, like the video, and subscribe to our YouTube channel!
Getting to Know Tamara and Guido
We haven’t even begun to truly introduce our two friends. They are also dog breeders, specializing in Bull Terriers—a breed recognized by ENCI and FCI—with exclusive English bloodlines. If you’d like to learn more about this aspect of their lives, check out the link to their kennel, “The Lucifers Bull“.
On top of that, Guido is a passionate Ducati enthusiast. Yes, you read that right! Their living room features three Ducati motorcycles on display, including a Ducati Desmosedici RR shown in the article’s opening image, alongside a Ducati 998R and a Ducati Monster S4RS Tricolore.
Often, aquarists complain about the size of their tanks, but this time, the aquarium is so massive that its height is its only limiting factor. The tank has a square footprint of 2.5 x 2.5 meters, a height of 70 cm, and a sump that’s relatively small—comparable to what you’d find in a 300-400 liter home tank. These are the core specs of Tamara and Guido’s aquarium. Let’s dive into the details.
Minimalist Techniques
The aquarium has a gross capacity of 4,375 liters, housed in a tank measuring 250x250x70(h) cm, constructed entirely of 19mm glass. Guido revealed that he built the entire aquarium himself, ordering only the main 250 cm panels and sourcing the base glass from “scraps,” including pieces from elevator towers. The result is extraordinary—something you wouldn’t believe unless you saw it yourself.
The technical setup of this aquarium is every hobbyist’s dream, as it’s housed in a completely separate room. This separation is necessary, especially considering the tank’s massive weight, supported by cement blocks. Maintenance revolves around water changes. Since the aquarium doesn’t host animals that consume a lot of calcium and carbonates, frequent small water changes of 10 liters are sufficient. Guido, the owner, aims to replace about 10 liters daily. While not always possible, he ensures around 200 liters are changed monthly, roughly 10% of the tank’s volume.
The tank uses a Deep Sand Bed (DSB) filtration system with about 10 tons of sand, creating an average depth of 8-10 cm. Guido manages water changes daily, aiming for 10 liters per day, although he sometimes opts for around 200 liters monthly, equating to just under 10% of the tank’s volume.
Lighting: Ecotech Marine Radion XR15W G6 Blue and HQi 400 watt
We always start the lighting section by emphasizing that light is the heart of any reef aquarium. And rightly so, as light represents energy and oxidation. In this setup, the main lighting system comprises nine Ecotech Marine Radion XR15W G6 Blue fixtures arranged in a 3×3 grid, as shown in the accompanying video.
Each fixture illuminates a square of about 83 cm x 83 cm, sufficient for the soft corals and anemones inhabiting Tamara and Guido’s aquarium. PAR measurements from DaniReef LAB show that the older XR15W G5 PRO model delivers a peak of approximately 110 μmol m²/s at 60 cm height, which is consistent and ideal for the corals in the tank. The G6 Blue models used here offer similar PAR values.
Adding to this, a single 400-watt HQi lamp with a handmade reflector is mounted high above the tank. Its primary purpose is to create shimmer effects. While it likely contributes minimally to PAR on such a large surface, this subtle touch adds a unique aesthetic.
The photoperiod is extensive, lasting from 7:30 AM to 10:30 PM—a total of 15 hours—with sunrise and sunset effects. The HQi lamp operates during the central six hours of the day to complement the primary lighting.
Protein Skimmer and Return Pump
Despite the tank’s massive size, the sump is relatively small, comparable to those found in slightly larger-than-average home systems. It features an older but still excellent Royal Exclusiv Bubble King 250 Supermarin skimmer with a Red Dragon pump. This skimmer processes 1,500 l/h of air and 3,000 l/h of water. Despite being about 10 years old, it performs flawlessly and requires no replacement.
The return pump is a New Jet 6000, with a rated flow of 6,000 l/h and a head pressure of 432 cm. Since the pump is not positioned directly beneath the aquarium, its output remains close to or above the 3,000 l/h needed to optimize the skimmer’s performance.
Water Movement
To manage flow within the tank, Tamara and Guido use five Ecotech Marine Vortech MP40 pumps, each capable of producing up to 17,000 l/h. Four pumps are placed on the back glass in sync, while the fifth is positioned on a side panel to disrupt the flow. This setup provides a maximum flow of 85,000 l/h for the 4,375-liter gross volume tank, achieving a turnover rate of 19 times the tank’s volume—ideal for SPS corals. However, the pumps are often run at lower speeds to prevent sand displacement.
Additional Sump Features
As previously mentioned, Tamara and Guido have an entire dedicated technical room for their aquarium. However, the sump itself is compact and houses a few additional components: a small refugium producing about 2 kg of algae weekly to help reduce nutrient levels, two 15-watt UV sterilizers, and a small ozone generator.
Interestingly, there is no advanced controller or dedicated heating/cooling system. The aquarium’s temperature is regulated by the home’s HVAC system, maintaining 23-24°C (73-75°F) in winter and 25-26°C (77-79°F) in summer. Active carbon is not used—a topic that warrants further discussion.
Water Parameters
Monthly water testing, primarily with Elos colorimetric kits, is performed to ensure stability.
| Element | Value |
| Kh | 8-9 dKH |
| Calcium | 450 ppm |
| Magnesium | 1300 – 1350 ppm |
| PO4 | about 0 ppm |
| NO3 | 30 ppm |
| Temperature | 23° – 26° |
| Salinity | 1,026 |
Feeding
The fish are fed generously, consuming three packs of nori daily, along with pellets, flakes, and a homemade frozen mix prepared by Guido. This mix, consisting of shrimp, mussels, and fish, is provided daily in 30-40 gram portions. This nutrient-rich diet also benefits the corals and anemones, keeping them in excellent health.
Photos and videos of the aquarium attest to the fish’s outstanding condition, with broad, robust appearances.
DaniReef’s Commentary
Tamara and Guido’s aquarium is stunning—a miniature version of the famous Polo Reef. The only aspect lacking is height, something the couple plans to address in their next system. At just two years old, Guido still considers this tank in its maturation phase. Their prior 500-liter aquarium, focused on hard corals, was a stepping stone to this larger, more immersive display. It’s hard to imagine a more beautiful and balanced system.
Very roughly, using our calculator (which you can use too by clicking here), we estimate a flow rate between the tank and the sump of approximately 3,500 l/h. This is a perfect value for both the skimmer and the aquarium in question
Let me remind you of the key characteristics of this marine aquarium: 110 PAR and a flow rate equivalent to 19 times the tank’s volume, in a system holding 4,500 liters.
Now, let’s talk about how I would improve this beautiful aquarium. One striking feature is the tank’s extreme depth. With a length of 250 cm, the space seems endless. Unfortunately, the constant activity of the fish at the bottom contributes to the water not being as clear as it could be, which is truly a pity.
I’ve already suggested significantly increasing ozone dosing and resuming the use of activated carbon in large quantities. A tank like this would require something like 4 liters of carbon per month. This would make the water crystal clear, and I believe it’s something worth doing. In my opinion, the aquarium would improve noticeably. For everything else, it’s really hard to find any fault.
Everything is perfectly suited to the tank. Every detail has been carefully planned. This is an aquarium we could call SLOW in terms of management, but it’s perfect for what it houses. It has everything it needs—nothing more. And with this approach, you get an aquarium managed with the bare minimum effort but maximum enjoyment. A dream come true.
On page two, you’ll find all the photos we’ve taken of Tamara and Guido’s beautiful aquarium, along with a list of the fish and corals it houses.
