Michigan Cichlid Association
General Category => DIY => Topic started by: Steve on March 09, 2013, 09:45:01 PM
-
First off I have to thank Tony for remembering that I was looking for this size tank awhile back and getting a hold of me. You're a good guy Tony and I appreciate you holding onto the tank for me till I could get the money to ya after the holidays. Thanks :)
Well I've been waiting for my new tank to get here till I started this thread, now that it is here I figured I'd start a build thread for my latest project. I run a home based business building custom fly rods and since it has become a pretty successful business these last few years I have been wanting/needing to set up a home office for it. So I decided to build the office in the other side of the basement next to my workshop. Of course this meant adding a tank or else what sort of fish guy would I be? :D So I decided since it's the basement I would not have to worry about weight on the floor so I could go BIG. So today the tank and stand were delivered by the guys I hired to pick it up and bring it downstairs for me. Since I'm not as young as I use to be, have a bad shoulder (rotator cuff) and as hard as it is to get enough friends together at the same time, plus a truck to haul the big tank & stand in, and the fact that carrying 450lbs downstairs is not something I was looking forward to doing....I think hiring the guys to do it was the smartest move I have made in quite awhile.
I started by cleaning out the area where the future office will be built. I wish I had remembered to take a pic before I started because with years and years of "stuff" being stuck in the basement it was literally floor to ceiling and wall to wall. I ended up hauling 92 bags of junk out of the basement and to the curb. This picture is actually after 4 soild 8-10hr days of cleaning if you can believe that!
(http://imageshack.us/a/img35/281/basement2h.jpg)
(http://imageshack.us/a/img59/118/basement1g.jpg)
.
.
Then finally after about 2 weeks of work I had a clean slate to start with...
.
.
(http://imageshack.us/a/img843/2817/basement4.jpg)
(http://imageshack.us/a/img37/2236/basement3v.jpg)
Then finally after months of waiting, due to trying to get everything set up and one thing after another not going right, today the tank was finally delivered.
265 gallon 7ft long x 2ft wide x 31" tall. By far the biggest tank I have ever owned.
.
.
(http://imageshack.us/a/img9/6004/265gtank.jpg)
Now the actual FUN stuff will be able to begin. Plans are to tear out the ceiling and install I nice new ceiling in the basement, then tear up and replace the floor. Then build a wall in front off the tank which the tank will be flush with the wall so it will be a built in tank where I can sit at my office desk in front of which will be nice. Plans also include drywalling the entire office and painting. Then if you guys remember either of my 55g tank builds with the 3D backgrounds I made and the cold cathode cave lighting I did? I plan to do a 7ft 3D background for this tank that also uses some cold cathode back lighting. Haven't decided "exactly" what style I plan to do yet, but I want it to hopefully blow away what I have done in the past is my hope. One twist I plan on doing which is a bit wild but if I pull it off right I think it will be pretty darn cool is this. Once I get the new wall erected where the tank will be built into, I plan on covering the entire wall with foam, shaping/drylocking/painting adding moss etc etc to it (think Batcave here lol). So basically the tank with it's rock background will be built flush into an entire wall that has the same rock background floor to ceiling.
I'll keep pics updated as I progress on this over the next couple months.
-
Have fun, it looks like the hard part of cleaning up the room may have been the most work.
I like the wood walls in the room. Tongue and groove?
-
Yeah old Tongue and groove that was from when the house was originally built (mid-late 50's I think).
-
There was actually a floor under there huh?
-
Yeah and the bonus is I think the tiles are actually asbestos (I'm only half kidding because I think they actually my be :o)
-
Yeah and the bonus is I think the tiles are actually asbestos (I'm only half kidding because I think they actually my be :o)
If you have any doubts, just keep them all wet while tearing them out and discarding them.
You could always leave them in place. If there are broken tiles where it leaves an uneven surface you could apply a skim coat made to level the floor. Then just recover the floor however you planned.
-
I planed on wearing a mask but I will keep them wet as well Tony that's a good idea. Because I seriously am about 50/50 as thinking they could be asbestos. They are also original to the house (1950's) and they are about 1/4" kind'a brittle and seem different than any floor tile I have ever seen. Probably better safe than sorry.
-
I was lucky enough to work with asbestos from 1984-1988. I am starting to pay for that pleasure now.
If you really suspect that it is asbestos, think about wearing a full bunny suit, and a respirator.
-
Great to see this is starting to come together for you.
-
If your tile is 9inx9in its a good chance is asbestos.I know this because iam a flooring installer.Most of the times its best to just gp over it.
-
You nailed that one Stan, I just went down and took a tape to it and they are exactly 9"x9". Since that's the case then I think maybe I will do as you suggested and just wash them down and then put the new floor over it. Last thing I want to do is start messing with asbestos :o
-
Question for you guys that maybe have built in wall tanks, or guys with fish rooms because I'm sure you might have had to deal with this issue before. While doing some measuring and figuring things out tonight about the wall I plan to build in front of the tank and such I got to thinking. With building the tank into a wall with the wall right up against it, even when I get some glass lids cut for it am I going to have any issues with the new wall (drywall wall) and humidity/moisture from the tank right up against the wall? Would sealing the back of the drywall be something to consider or am I worrying about something that won't even be an issue?
-
If you can get rid of the drywall, I would. Otherwise if you can't, try painting it with a good kitchen/bathroom high humidity type of paint.
Humidity is a big problem for fish rooms. But since everyones fish room is different, we each need to handle it differently.
-
For drywall, "greenboard" is a moisture-resistant version that you could use near the tank instead of standard drywall.
An alternative would be cement board. This is also water resistant, though it's sold in different dimensions than normal drywall and might not paint over as nicely. I'm in the process of using it for a surround around my wood fireplace and will be covering it with either tile or rock rather than paint myself.
-
I actually used cement board to patch a spot in the ceiling when I redid the computer room last summer, found it a bit hard to work with and also to finish over as you mentioned. I have heard of greenboard but never used it, I'll check into that because that sounds like the best option for me.
-
If your tile is 9inx9in its a good chance is asbestos.I know this because iam a flooring installer.Most of the times its best to just gp over it.
There's always the unexpected element with a project.. asbestos isn't a pleasant one to run into ???
keep posting pics of the progress.
-
Yeah and the bonus is I think the tiles are actually asbestos (I'm only half kidding because I think they actually my be :o)
I worked for an environmental company for about 15 years. We specialized in asbestos abatement. With that said just by looking at those tiles and the area you are from I would almost guarantee you that those tiles contain asbestos. Asbestos is only dangerous when disturbed. On to the better news for you. The level of asbestos in those tiles is less then 2% and its not a highly friable form. If you are going to remove them yourself I would recommend buying a respirator that is rated for asbestos removal, I believe you can get them at Home Depot or Lowes. Also the tile itself being from the 50s has been waxed im sure many many times almost forming an encapsulated. You can if it makes you feel better purchase encapsulant and use it too. I have personally tore hundreds of thousands of those tiles up. Be careful not to go all caveman on it when removing it and just take your time. You can also tent the area with plastic to keep the fibers(which are very minimal) from spreading. If you have any other questions feel free to ask or PM me.
-
Thanks for the info CptSpaulding. It is good to know it is such a low % that is in them. I was looking it over today and I think now I plan to just wash them down and then do a tile over top of them. Probably just do a vinyl floor tile that way it will be easy to clean, won't have to worry about water, and won't break the bank.
-
Try paperless drywall for your moisture area. Instead of paper on both side it has fiberglass mesh and a water resistant gypsum core.
-
... fiberglass mesh and a water resistant gypsum core.
Dont know anything about it... but it sounds cool. Go with this stuff. 8)
-
Been working on this project a bit now. Here's a couple pics before and then to the point I am at now today. Ended up scraping the floor to get all the nastiness off of it so I could lay the new floor on top of it. Couple before pics....
'
'
'
(http://img267.imageshack.us/img267/6206/floor1k.jpg)
(http://img594.imageshack.us/img594/8622/floor2e.jpg)
The flooring I picked is somewhat of a slate/rustic look which should go nicely with the rest of the office once I get it done.
(http://img20.imageshack.us/img20/6910/floor3m.jpg)
Still have some edge work and trim pieces to do but most the main floor is now done.
(http://img9.imageshack.us/img9/2484/floor4.jpg)
(http://img580.imageshack.us/img580/7987/floor5.jpg)
-
Doesn't look like much yet but have faith it will get there. Just started the first coats of paint on the walls yesterday. The upper and lower colors will be split with a 9" tall border I just ordered last night which is a leaping Rainbow trout. Celing is going to be 2x4's spaced 1/4" apart and stained for a rustic finish. Then the drain pipe I am going to build a wood cover for where the lower half will be DIY faux stacked rocks and wood varnished upper section.
.
.
.
(http://img838.imageshack.us/img838/9095/wall1a.jpg)
(http://img526.imageshack.us/img526/1364/wall2vu.jpg)
(http://img836.imageshack.us/img836/3109/wall3n.jpg)
-
Looks like you're main progress.
-
I kind of liked the rustic look you had going with the pine. My fishroom has the lower 1/2 of the wall in that paneling.
-
I usually like rustic pine as well but the boards were starting to really show their age (and not in a good way lol) plus the work shop in the room next door is mostly the same pine so I wanted the office to be lighter and somewhat more "clean lines".
-
(http://img850.imageshack.us/img850/2610/wall4x.jpg)
(http://img818.imageshack.us/img818/7184/wall5.jpg)
(http://img694.imageshack.us/img694/5295/wall6v.jpg)
(http://img812.imageshack.us/img812/9852/wall7a.jpg)
(http://img692.imageshack.us/img692/6534/wall8i.jpg)
-
Still have some trim work to do at the bottom but here is the rock/wood pillar I built to hide the drain pipe.
'
'
'
'
(http://img825.imageshack.us/img825/5439/drain1.jpg)
(http://img703.imageshack.us/img703/4253/drain2v.jpg)
(http://img819.imageshack.us/img819/8774/drain3.jpg)
-
Nice, I am thinking on putting a big tank in my living room and using some architectural posts (18x18) to hide electrical outlets, water and drain.
-
I kind of liked the rustic look you had going with the pine. My fishroom has the lower 1/2 of the wall in that paneling.
I was going to say the same thing but then I noticed the wear on the wood...
-
Drain cover is now done. Added lower trim wood to it and a urethane finish to all the wood surfaces to give it a nice clear coat shine. The trout boarder came in earlier than expected so started putting that up yesterday as well. Also installed a new T12 48" twin tube light next top the stairs. Picking up the drywall in just a little bit so I can start the other wall tonight.
(http://img17.imageshack.us/img17/8754/office1m.jpg)
(http://img443.imageshack.us/img443/640/office2wf.jpg)
-
Looking good!
-
Good progress. Like the border.
-
Thanks guys, I can't wait to get it done. Been wanting to add this office onto the shop for 5 years now so glad I'm finally able to get it done this year. Well got some major progress done today now. I'm dead tired from working on it all day long today. Probably won't get much more progress done now for a few days because I have about 4 rods to build this week before I leave Friday morning on a Steelhead fishing trip. But today I got the wall on the right drywall sheeted and filled, the frame and wall built around the tank now, and started on doing the rock wall surface on the tank wall.
(http://img607.imageshack.us/img607/5752/office3o.jpg)
(http://img694.imageshack.us/img694/4927/office4.jpg)
(http://img547.imageshack.us/img547/2779/office5.jpg)
(http://img690.imageshack.us/img690/7997/office6.jpg)
-
Looks like good progress. Definitely gives a sense of accomplishment when you can start to see a big project coming together.
-
Your stuff is always above and beyond. Can't wait to see the finished product I'm sure it will be unreal!
-
What are you going to put in that big tank?
-
Some of the larger species of Haps, and some peacocks, probably a few of the fancier type of plecos, and probably my clown loaches once they get too big for the 55 they are currently housed in. Haven't really came up with a solid stock list yet on the Haps and peacocks. The ones I really like and am leaning towards so far are some blue dolphins, Compressiceps, Anagenys, Livingstonii, Tangerine Tiger and blue Ahli, but nothing is set in stone as of yet.
-
I thought maybe you'd do a Native American tank with the trout border and such. That way you could catch all of the fish yourself.
-
I actually did toss that idea somewhat around. I started thinking about keeping some trout in it but after checking into the cost of chillers I quickly dumped that idea :o Some bluegill/sunfish and bass would be neat (I've had bluegill in tanks before) but decided against that too since they don't have the colorful look I'd like to have.
-
I actually did toss that idea somewhat around. I started thinking about keeping some trout in it but after checking into the cost of chillers I quickly dumped that idea :o Some bluegill/sunfish and bass would be neat (I've had bluegill in tanks before) but decided against that too since they don't have the colorful look I'd like to have.
I am going to do it someday myself. I too have kept Sunfish in the past. I had a Bullhead for a while too.
-
(http://img59.imageshack.us/img59/3024/rockwall1.jpg)
(http://img716.imageshack.us/img716/2408/rockwall2.jpg)
-
Looking really good. I wish I was confident enough to try making some 3d backgrounds and stuff like this.
-
Manged to get the 3 rods I needed to get done finished over the weekend so that left me with pretty much the entire day to work on the office. Put another 12 hours straight in to it and got some good progress done today. First two pics are the base coat on the upper portion of the rock wall. Tomorrow I will start some of the detail paint work on it.
(http://img824.imageshack.us/img824/4197/rockwall3.jpg)
(http://img402.imageshack.us/img402/3599/rockwall4.jpg)
Looks like I'm gonna have to redo the stairs as well because now this wall makes the stairs look bad
(http://img822.imageshack.us/img822/2860/room1bm.jpg)
(http://img832.imageshack.us/img832/60/room2y.jpg)
-
Looking real nice.
-
With skills like these, have you ever thought about creating an indoor waterfall using the same technique over by the stairs? That would would take your office over the top !
-
LOL don't give me any ideas ;D
-
This project is looking really good. You have talent, to be sure, and are impressing many of us with the results. Looking forward to seeing the finished project; it will be a work of art.
-
Thanks Micheal. I'm always at my happiest when I can do something with my hands. I get too bored not having some sort of project going on it seems.
Figured I'd do a little more before the Tiger game comes on, so now the upper section done. Used two shades of gray followed by white highlights on the edges and raised portions. Have also started on the lower half as well. This will most likely be the last update till sometime next week. Have to spend tomorrow tying some flies and getting packed for a fishing trip so I won't be working on this now till I get back next week.
.
.
.
.
(http://img46.imageshack.us/img46/1174/rockwall5.jpg)
(http://img40.imageshack.us/img40/7554/rockwall6.jpg)
-
Not much done, but now that I'm back from fishing I did work a bit on the lower part of the wall tonight.
.
.
.
(http://img259.imageshack.us/img259/1797/wallqb.jpg)
-
Been trying to juggle rod orders and office build along with yard work and other things, could use about 10 more hours in each day it seems, but have got some more done on the office/tank this week. It's really starting to look like something now.
The wall around the aquarium is now done and just have some more detail work to do to it now (such as adding more foliage, moss, vines to give it a very realistic look). Just have to build in a door next to it now and then continue the rock wall over the door so it is not a visible doorway.
(http://img341.imageshack.us/img341/165/basement1c.jpg)
I picked up a desk and cabinet over the weekend for $35. They were two separate pieces but I removed a couple parts, leveled them out and screwed them together so it is now one 6'6" wide unit. The wood color as well as the top were a perfect match for the floor/wood in the office. Couldn't have lucked out any better by finding this for so cheap. I also snagged the grey office chair today off Craigslist for only $20
(http://img600.imageshack.us/img600/8767/basement2k.jpg)
Still have a bit more trim/detail work to do on the stairs but the stairway&stairs are now cleaned, painted and green carpeted runner installed on the stairs.
(http://img832.imageshack.us/img832/5564/basement3.jpg)
My grandfathers end table I refinished
(http://img208.imageshack.us/img208/3513/basement5.jpg)
I also started on the ceiling. Decided to go with 1 x 4 wood planks and stain them in Red Oak color stain then coated with Min wax spar varnish. These are two of the planks drying.
(http://img28.imageshack.us/img28/2817/basement4.jpg)
-
Oh my! :o That office is like a dream office!! The Rock wall looks amazing! I cant wait to read more on this and see more pics the farther you get down the line!! Nice work!!
-
It would be hard to get any work done looking at a tank like that. :D
-
Starting to install the ceiling now. You'll notice I changed the stain color, the first one was a bit too redish for me. I like the cabin/lodge/rustic look of this one now.
.
.
(http://img19.imageshack.us/img19/7967/ceiling2.jpg)
-
Been working tonight on adding detail to the rock wall now. In the words of Axle Rose....Welcome to the jungle!
.
.
.
(http://img195.imageshack.us/img195/9085/rockwall7.jpg)
-
Looking great!
-
Wow, that looks something you would see at a resort.
When you are done, can you "spruce" up my fish room LOL
-
I'll be right over Rich ;D
Well there is still a lot more to do such as - Pre-hung door built into the aquarium wall covered with 3D rocks so the door is not noticeable, wood threshold strip between the two rooms, finishing the wood trim work, fix and paint some of the original ceiling at the bottom of the stairwell, finish making the wood face plates on the stairs, build the 3D background for the aquarium, trim the opening of the aquarium with wood, finish the decor pieces....still lots to do, but this is where it is at right now.
(http://img189.imageshack.us/img189/9422/basement6g.jpg)
(http://img824.imageshack.us/img824/2097/basement7x.jpg)
(http://img694.imageshack.us/img694/6429/basement8.jpg)
(http://img41.imageshack.us/img41/132/basement9.jpg)
(http://img824.imageshack.us/img824/3186/basement10.jpg)
(http://img839.imageshack.us/img839/8166/basement11.jpg)
-
Looks great IMO!
-
Hey Steve do you like fish ??? couldn't tell :P This office is turning out to be a show piece! Nice work can't wait for the hidden door! 8)
-
I see a couple of dead fish on the walls, when will we see some LIVE fish in the tank ? :-\
-
Best office space in the state...sooo when we goin' fishing, beautiful Smally.
-
Steve
On the ceiling are you just using the stained planks or did you add insulation before installing them
-
I'm sure you'll get a ton of work done down there..............
-
I didn't add any insulation Rich. The basement is heated so it is always close to the same temp as the upstairs within a couple degrees give or take.
-
Well the past week was spent doing some work as well as upnorth fishing so just got a few hours this evening to get back on the office build. Tonight I installed the prehung door which I had to do lots of trimming and fitting but finally got it fit nicely now. And also started covering it with foam which I will start shaping/carving tomorrow so that once it is done then it will blend right in with the rock wall so you won't even know there is a door or room behind the wall (James Bond kinda stuff lol)
(http://img526.imageshack.us/img526/707/door1a.jpg)
(http://img600.imageshack.us/img600/8429/door2l.jpg)
-
The desk facing into the tank was a great idea. I didn't see that one coming.
-
(http://img13.imageshack.us/img13/7601/door3x.jpg)
(http://img40.imageshack.us/img40/8512/door4j.jpg)
(http://img802.imageshack.us/img802/18/door5.jpg)
(http://img341.imageshack.us/img341/4898/door6m.jpg)
Also did the pole at the bottom of the stairs to match the rock wall...
(http://img801.imageshack.us/img801/2883/polek.jpg)
Still some more work to do but getting close to being done now with the room and close to being ready to start in the tank on the tanks background.
-
That just looks amazing
-
Beautious!
-
Watch out, we got a badass over here! 8)
Nice work man.
-
Well the office/ultimate Man Cave is almost complete........
(http://img812.imageshack.us/img812/8409/room1gg.jpg)
(http://img37.imageshack.us/img37/82/room2x.jpg)
(http://img266.imageshack.us/img266/2874/room3f.jpg)
(http://img341.imageshack.us/img341/1055/room4p.jpg)
(http://img443.imageshack.us/img443/9311/room5.jpg)
(http://img849.imageshack.us/img849/4259/room9.jpg)
(http://img59.imageshack.us/img59/7720/room7d.jpg)
-
WOW ;D
I can only dream of a room like that :)
-
Looking great. Pretty soon you can start the tank up. Did you decide to go with cichlids or native fish?
-
WOW ;D
I can only dream of a room like that :)
Hey Rich, I bet you and I could set up our basements like that...if we stopped spending all our time shuffling fish and tanks around. Wait, who am I kidding. I'm not that motivated. Great work though, Steve.
-
One question on this awesome setup what will be going in the tank stock wise?
-
Mostly some peacocks and some of the larger Hap species such as blue dolphins, Livingstonii, Venustus and many others, plus my clown loaches once they get bigger and some cats. I still have a lot of researching to do on haps till I actually narrow it down to a list that I will post here to get some feedback on when I am ready.
-
okay awesome!
-
Totally awesome !!!
-
Thanks again everyone. I started on the 3D background for the tank last night so I'm finally doing some "in tank" work WOO WHO!! I'll post some pics of that progress as it comes along.
-
The craftsmanship is amazing, it shows that you really take pride in your work and I am blown away by it. I tip my hat to you Sir..:)
-
Sweet setup you need some stingrays cruisin in that tank! I would never leave the office
-
Well here we go with the 7ft 3D background for this tank. Actually will end up being 11ft of 3D background when done because I amd doing both 2ft deep side panels as well so this will take awhile to complete this one.
I will do doing it in a total of five panels. Three panels will make up the 7ft across the back of the tank and then two panels will be the side panels.
This is the first of the three back panels roughed in. This tank will also incorporate 2 to 3 cave openings that will be backlit with blue cold cathode lighting like my other tanks.
(http://img33.imageshack.us/img33/7806/bg1xv.jpg)
(http://img109.imageshack.us/img109/8088/bg2ia.jpg)
(http://img7.imageshack.us/img7/7934/bg3dz.jpg)
(http://img829.imageshack.us/img829/6485/bg4dj.jpg)
-
Sweet
-
It's been far too long since I was able to do any more work to this tank. Sometimes life, business and just other stuff gets in the way. Today though I managed to get a bit more caught up on other things so I was able to get started back on this one again. Started laying up and roughing in the middle section for it now. Should be able to do some carving to it this weekend.
(http://img593.imageshack.us/img593/6096/fzgk.jpg)
-
When are you going to start selling your backgrounds? ;D
-
Actually I started working on a business website for doing just that while back. Hope to have it up and live sometime this fall.
-
Wow, once again very impressive. The rock wall is probably my favorite part if i had to pick one.
-
Have all three sections cut out and and started building up layers now. Also creating some covers that will interlock each panel together so that none of the seams where each section butt up to one another will be visible at all. Hard to get the feel for just how big this is from the pics, but that's 7ft long and 31" tall. lots of work so far but still lots more to go :o
(http://img266.imageshack.us/img266/6306/kpmg.jpg)
(http://img826.imageshack.us/img826/3921/vcal.jpg)
-
Actually I started working on a business website for doing just that while back. Hope to have it up and live sometime this fall.
Awesome can't wait
-
Even with all the computer issues, still managed some work. Seams all hidden, all 3 sections done and carving started.
.
.
(http://img208.imageshack.us/img208/9717/kd9s.jpg)
(http://img713.imageshack.us/img713/303/s2do.jpg)
-
Managed to get quite a bit done tonight. All three back panels are now carved and textured and have the first coat of drylock on them. Still have to build the two side panels to cover the sides of the tank but those will come after the back is all done that way I can integrate the filter intakes into the corners of the background and side panels to completely hide them all the equipment from view.
(http://img39.imageshack.us/img39/7718/nznp.jpg)
Couple shots of it mocked up in the tank now
(http://img545.imageshack.us/img545/205/yuwu.jpg)
(http://img600.imageshack.us/img600/8351/9xxg.jpg)
Now I'm painting the whole thing black that way I can go back over it with dry-brushing drylok coat again and then start shading and highlighting. The black will stay in the crevasses and add to the 3 dimensional look of it.
(http://img543.imageshack.us/img543/9996/uhlk.jpg)
-
Rolling along very well now after a ton of work today. two full coats of drylock and a coat of black over that on all three pieces. Then two dry-brushed coats of Drylok to give it the base rock color with black depressions. After that I did some more dry-brushing with dark brown to simulate some dirt, as well as some dark green to simulate some algae. Then dry-brushed some white highlights on all the edges and raised portions to make the rocks look worn so it give it some nice depth to the rocks.
(http://img36.imageshack.us/img36/9494/5ud.jpg)
Some pics of it mocked up in the tank
(http://img594.imageshack.us/img594/5553/bp3g.jpg)
(http://img812.imageshack.us/img812/8004/w5x8.jpg)
(http://img571.imageshack.us/img571/3152/0ol9.jpg)
(http://img35.imageshack.us/img35/7518/rbmh.jpg)
Also started working on the side panels which will hide the intake tubes for the dual FX5 filters. Once the side panels are done then all that will be left on the background will be to coat it all in Pond Armor 2 part epoxy which seals it to durability and then I can start working on the cave lighting, tank lighting and substrate etc etc. This big background was a lot of work but I'm very pleased with the way this one is coming out.
-
Talk about setting the bar for a nice setup! Can't wait to see it with fish!
-
Looks awesome Steve.
I know when I was at you house a few weeks back the walls outside the tank were impressive, this is going to look great once you are done.
Rich
-
Thanks guys. It's coming together well now. Right now I'm starting to think about what color sand substrate to use and I'm kind'a torn. Not sure if I want to go white or black. It's gonna take a ton of sand to fill this tank so I want to make sure I pick the one I will want to stay with right the first time ;D
-
Steve - you will have to be a stop on the next Fishroom tour...
You should take a queue from the Light Workshop and set up a Background making workshop to teach us "dummies' how to do this...
AWESOME !! 8)
-
Steve - you will have to be a stop on the next Fishroom tour...
You should take a queue from the Light Workshop and set up a Background making workshop to teach us "dummies' how to do this...
AWESOME !! 8)
That sounds like a great idea.
-
I'm sure I could probably put something together for that sometime in the near future.
-
Wow, just looked at the whole thread. Thats a pretty sweet man cave! And awesome tank! Wish i could make such a good background!
-
Been working on the side panels and some lighting tonight. This is the first side panel, as you can see from this pic taken from the rear of the side panel I'm building angled "rocks" which will have an opening behind them that will have the intake tube for the filters so it's all concealed with only the strainer of the intake open to the tank.
(http://img820.imageshack.us/img820/7848/e3a8.jpg)
Here's the left side panel carved and the first coat of Drylok applied.
(http://img197.imageshack.us/img197/470/3mct.jpg)
The lighting I am doing for this tank since it is an odd size will be four dual T8 48" fixtures mounted side by side and one in front of the other so it lights the entire nice well. I bought two of the fixtures today and currently have them filled with Daylight spectrum 6500k bulbs. Once I pick up two more fixtures and some actinic bulbs each of the fixtures will end up with one actinic and one 6500k in them.
Here's a shot with just two of the fixtures let up.
(http://img30.imageshack.us/img30/6982/uggm.jpg)
-
Still a ways to go, still shooting for water/fish by Thanksgiving though, but getting closer every day now. Said panels are now all done. Just have to pick up some "Pond Armor" to seal the whole background with and then I can final install the background and side panels for good. Next job will probably be framing the edges of the tank window with some nice finished wood and getting the "cave lights" hooked up.. Here's the current state of the tank/office.
BTW Rich and Wayne "TrailerParkFishTanks"...it was really nice hanging' out with you guys here today and getting to know you both better.
(http://img837.imageshack.us/img837/4494/phwe.jpg)
(http://img534.imageshack.us/img534/3299/ke2q.jpg)
(http://img29.imageshack.us/img29/3856/3g73.jpg)
Also finally have the filtration sorted out (thanks for the deal Rich)
(http://img69.imageshack.us/img69/8956/zjrg.jpg)
Really starting to look forward to getting this up and running now.
-
I had a good time as well. I'm really looking forward to seeing this monster show tank up and running. So no pressure but there's a bunch of us getting antsy... lol
-
Picked up some 1x3 select grade pine the other day and got that all sanded smooth/stained and poly coated now and installed to add a nice finished look to the window for the tank.
(http://img14.imageshack.us/img14/5942/tr8k.jpg)
(http://img577.imageshack.us/img577/2538/vc9p.jpg)
Still have to pick up some Pond Armor so I can seal the whole background and then final install it into the tank but no where local carries it so looks like I am going to have to order that this week.
-
Testing out my moonlight setup I am making for it now. After checking into "aquarium moonlights" from aquarium supply shops there was no way I was going to pay what they want for moonlights on a tank this big. So spent some time today running around testing out the brightness on different blue LED rope lights that stores have out for Christmas now and finally found two 15ft LED rope lights that are not only nice and bright, but LED so they will give me the shimmer effect, plus they are able to screw together end to end so once I make the light fixture for the T8 lights I will build these into the fixture as well. From the quick test I think they are going to be perfect from what I can tell.
(http://img39.imageshack.us/img39/379/i29u.jpg)
-
This Post is amazing. I like the background. I wish i had this in my office. Not sure that I wol dget anything done though.
-
This Post is amazing. I like the background. I wish i had this in my office. Not sure that I wol dget anything done though.
My thoughts exactly !!!!
-
I received my order of Pond Armor / Pond Shield the other day and after getting home from the fish auction yesterday I spent the evening coating the entire background with Pond Armor. For those that don't know what that is it's basically a clear 2-part epoxy that is used for sealing/waterproofing ponds so it is fish safe non toxic. What it does is it seals the background so that fish like plecos will not be able to damage it, algae should wipe right off easily, and should make the background extremely durable for years of use in the tank.
Getting ready to do the final install into the tank now in just a bit.
(http://img823.imageshack.us/img823/5885/cf5v.jpg)
(http://img856.imageshack.us/img856/815/yc2k.jpg)
-
Well four complete tubes of GE silicone I* later and the whole background is now permanently installed. Making some real progress now. Hopefully my goal of having fish in it by Thanksgiving will be attainable still.
.
.
(http://img819.imageshack.us/img819/8782/6ylm.jpg)
(http://img32.imageshack.us/img32/1238/hi16.jpg)
Also started working on the cave lights as well. Using the same style internal inverter cold cathode light bars on this one as I have my previous builds. Testing out the right side cave lights here.
(http://img96.imageshack.us/img96/3874/tgjv.jpg)
-
I have found a new definition of "nerve wracking". Lift & placing rocks that weigh 30-50lbs each into a tank that is 31" deep on a stand that is 30" tall while on the 2nd step of a step ladder without dropping them and busting a years worth of work and a whole lot of money :P :o :-\
-
Find a friend....I put my rock placing on hold until I called my brother-in-law over to help me when I was in your situation.
-
Almost got them all in now, just two more small/medium size ones to go and that'll be it for the rocks. Couple of the big ones had me holding my breath for few seconds there. The big pain is the tank is in the basement and I'm about 6'6" and on the 2nd step of a step ladder and the basement ceilings are only 7ft, so it had me kind'a all jacked out of shape lol.
-
The LEDs look cool. I'd have never thought about getting Christmas lights - nice job!
FWIW, I'm not sure if they'll produce a shimmering effect or not, but would love to hear once you've got it filled with water how it turns out. My understanding is that the shimmering effect is best produced by single, strong light sources. I realize the LEDs are individual sources, but I'm not sure they are strong enough.
-
I actually tested them on my 20g fry tank last week to see if they give a shimmer and they give a pretty impressive shimmer effect 8) This brand (Holiday Time) is just unreal how bright the LED's are, they really surprised me. To be honest they are so bright I am actually thinking about buying one of these just so I can tone them down a bit http://www.amazon.com/Rope-Light-Dimmer-Controls-Round/dp/B005NBUS5I
When I get a chance I'll put them back over the 20g tank and shoot a little 10 second video of the shimmer they give off, you'll be amazed how great they work for cheap $8 lights. I know I was :D
-
Spent some time yesterday working in the filter room behind the tank getting it cleaned up so I have room behind the tank for easy tank maintenance and decided to build a stand for the dual filters. I always hate bending over to do maintenance on filters so I figured I'd make things a bit easier and get them up a bit higher so I built a stand for them using leftover wood and red oak that I had left from one of my 55g stand builds. Figure if I was gonna go to the trouble to make a filter stand then might as well make it nice even if it is hidden behind a wall ;D Also found a use for one of the spare 20G hood/light combos I have had laying around. Repurposed it it into a light over the filter table.
(http://img823.imageshack.us/img823/7064/3cou.jpg)
-
Well been waiting for this post for a while now, the past week I have most the "in tank" work done now. All that is left is the plumbing work, building the spraybars for the filters, adding two more 48" lights and adding four acentic bulbs, adding a pair of inline 300w heaters, and thats about it.
Here's the "done" pics. since the last I have done....150lbs of white sand, worm wood, and manzetia branches. I also added some fake plants.They are silk plants from Micheals and I did some brown/dark green shading to them with fusion paints just to make them look more realistic. I hate the plastic fake ones so I added silk ones which I bought from Micheals, then I cut them apart into smaller pieces, siliconed them together, added some dark green and brown fusion painted accents to add some lifelike look to them as well. Did much more, but I'll just post the pics and hope you enjoy the3 way it is. Hopefully in a few weeks the next time you see it there will be fish in it 8)
This has been 6-8 months of work, so hope you guys enjoy. If anyone is ever in area and wants to stop by, your more than welcome to come over, would love to have ya.
The next post should have water and FISH ;)
(http://img856.imageshack.us/img856/2096/3yrd.jpg)
(http://img201.imageshack.us/img201/1269/p7os.jpg)
(http://img208.imageshack.us/img208/9062/ce78.jpg)
(http://img19.imageshack.us/img19/2559/oi7a.jpg)
(http://img713.imageshack.us/img713/5670/37eg.jpg)
(http://img29.imageshack.us/img29/3567/wqkq.jpg)
(http://img34.imageshack.us/img34/524/2ixk.jpg)
-
Magnificent, I can't wait to see the tank filled with fish !
-
Magnificent!
You're going to need some big fish to make that tank look full.
-
Steve - curious - how did you suspend those pieces of drift wood from the top of the tank ?
-
I feel good about my tanks... until I look at this thread.
;D
-
Looking nice. :D
Is that a bow front tank I spy to the left?
-
I feel good about my tanks... until I look at this thread.
;D
Yeah - I feel like a slum lord LOL. Plain tank, no background, just sand and rocks...Poor fish they need obamacare ! :-[
-
Steve - curious - how did you suspend those pieces of drift wood from the top of the tank ?
I cut the end of them flat and then drilled a 3/16" hole in the end. Drilled a small hole in the cross brace and then mounted it with a 3/16" stainless steel screw to the brace.
Is that a bow front tank I spy to the left?
That's actually a very old mirror with a curved top that came from my grandparents house after they passed away.
-
The hanging decor is cool, but permanent mounting might make it difficult to net fish out if the day comes. I did something similar with plastic plants before and used magnets. Made it convenient to remove them when netting fish out.
-
Already considered that ahead of time ;) That's why as I mentioned each one is only held in with one stainless steel screw, so only takes about 30 seconds to remove both of them in preperation to net a fish if need be.
-
Very nice build, looks professionally done.
-
So Steve, the question on everyone's mind (well mine anyway) is "Did you get fish in by Thanksgiving?"
I hope so, this tank deserves fish!
-
Nope not yet. Still need to buy a pair of inline heaters (about $110 for the pair) plus media for the filters, but with Christmas shopping for the family it's thrown finishing this a few weeks behind now.
-
Family comes first, that's for sure.
Looking forward to seeing it once it's inhabited.
-
Thanks, it shouldn't be too awful long now till it's got water and stock in it. Probably won't be "fully" stocked at first by any means just because it'll take awhile to get all the fish I want for it, but I do already have a 7" Eupterus, 5" Eupterus, 4"Placidochromis sp- Pheno, 4"Red cap, 5"White knight and some 4"-5"adult male albino BNP's all in temp tanks just waiting to start making it home.
-
Well just got the first of the two 300w Hydor inline heaters delivered yesterday, and just placed and order for the 2nd one today which should be here by Dec 24th. There must be some issue with Hydor filling orders because the inline heaters are out of stock everywhere till Jan 20th, it took me a few days of searching to find a pair that were not double/triple normal price >:(
So once the other Hydor heater gets here then I can get my hoses, build the spraybars, and then just have to get the media and seed the filters and I can start filling with water then. Starting to get excited, won't be long now 8)
-
Did some work in the "filter room" behind the big tank/wall today. There's about a 8'x10' area behind the big tank and wall so I decided to move all the smaller tanks that were scattered in different locations of the basement and put them all behind the big tank wall so they would be all together and easier to clean as well as be a good location for hospital/quarantine/holding tanks for the big tank.
I also picked up a super nice 5.5"-6" OB today for the big tank so he's currently in a holding tank till the 265 is up and running. So now in the filter room is a 29g, 20gL, 20gL, 20gL, 10g.
You guys are becoming a bad influence on me :o lol
(http://img15.imageshack.us/img15/5493/81ja.jpg)
(http://img513.imageshack.us/img513/7439/8sqe.jpg)
(http://img6.imageshack.us/img6/1151/ze7x.jpg)
(http://img812.imageshack.us/img812/3775/pm5r.jpg)
-
Now you can heat that room and save on costs!
-
Looks like you've come down with MTS.
Are those breeding nets I see?
-
Yep my female OB spit some fry last week so I've got them in a breeding net till they are big enough to put into a tank of their own.
-
Been working on plumbing and building spraybars for the FX5's tonight. Everything is plumbed, Matrix media was shipped today so should be here by Thursday per the Amazon email I got. Annnnnnnnd ready for this? FILLING THE TANK as I type! 8) 8) 8) Been filling for the past 30 mins and still only about 30% filled right now lol.
If this is the last post you see from me it means the tank busted and I drowned in my basement ;)
-
Whoo hoo.
-
Been working on plumbing and building spraybars for the FX5's tonight. Everything is plumbed, Matrix media was shipped today so should be here by Thursday per the Amazon email I got. Annnnnnnnd ready for this? FILLING THE TANK as I type! 8) 8) 8) Been filling for the past 30 mins and still only about 30% filled right now lol.
If this is the last post you see from me it means the tank busted and I drowned in my basement ;)
the home stretch buddy!
-
The home stretch just got hit with a tornado. It is leaking. I tested it when I first got it and no leaks, just got it filled all the way up and I hear a dripping, it's leaking bad. Floor is soak and I'm pumping water out of it right now. I'm at a total lose for words right now.
-
That sucks. Hopefully you'll have it up and running by auction time!
-
Is it leaking at the bottom?
-
Is it leaking at the bottom?
From what I can tell it looks like it's the right front lower corner.
-
here's a few pics from the FUN night tonight.....
Starting to fill the tank up.....
.
(http://img22.imageshack.us/img22/4183/o2vx.jpg)
Getting there (yippie!)...
.
(http://img543.imageshack.us/img543/7010/6nsy.jpg)
Aftermath and carnage...
.
(http://img844.imageshack.us/img844/7660/0di7.jpg)
And here's what the complete disheartening feeling of watching almost exactly a year's worth of hard work, sweat and money literally go right down the drain looks like...
(http://img692.imageshack.us/img692/4522/4a85.jpg)
But hey on the good side, thing's couldn't possibly get any worse! :o :P
-
Ugh, that sucks man. Maybe you could get the number of the guy Blair knows that reseals tanks and have him do it right in the basement so you can get it running.
-
I dunno what I'm gonna do at the moment yet Marty. With all this work and time into it I refuse to let this thing beat me so no way I'm getting beat by a leak. It's gonna need to be resealed that's for sure, but the big thing is how to get the 3D background I spent so much time on out of the tank without damaging it.
I had to give up on it tonight because tired/frustrated is not a good combo for solving a problem. Tomorrow though I'm going to remove all the decor/substrate and everything I can get out of the tank out of it. Then I'm going to get out the 10" fillet knife and some flexible hacksaw blades and see if I can carefully get them behind the background and start trying to get it out undamaged so I can reinstall it. Once I do that then I am either going to get a hold of someone to come out and reseal it in place here. Or most likely I will tackle it myself.
I've never done it before and a 7ft 265g tank is a bit daunting to take on for the first reseal job. But one thing I am good with is my hands so I don't see why I wouldn't be able to do it myself. Well see though, that's something I'll have to decide once the background is out.
Just a set back is all.
-
Well I told myself I was not going to go back down and mess with it tonight, but my personality is the type that there's just no way I can rest or sleep knowing I have a problem like not knowing if I am gonna be able to save the background waiting for me in the morning. So I went back down and spent the last couple hours working on it till about 3am.
Needed to use something sharp and flexible to get behind the background without doing much damage to it so pretty much used these. Most the damage was to my hands, but that's okay as long as the background is safe lol
(http://img836.imageshack.us/img836/4049/9hnt.jpg)
And after 2+hrs of lifting heavy rocks, scooping sand, cutting, prying, sawing and cutting my hands to pieces........BAZINGA!
(http://img43.imageshack.us/img43/2553/wube.jpg)
Empty tank again. And all five pieces of the background are safe and undamaged in the other room now. There is obviously a TON of scraping silicone to be done now. And once all the silicone from the background is scraped off then I will have to remove all the silicone from the seals in the tank, then decide if I am going to tackle sealing it myself or hire someone. Even though it was two steps back earlier tonight, at least now it's a step forward with being able to save the background and get all the stuff out of the tank without damage.
Silicone scraping party at Steve's tomorrow your all invited ....it's BYORB (bring your own razor blade) :P
-
Silicone scraping party at Steve's tomorrow your all invited ....it's BYORB (bring your own razor blade) :P
LMAO. Glad to hear your not giving up.Looks like you can save the years worth of work with a few hard days of work. 8)
-
That stinks. Glad you got the background out intact. Good luck eith the reseal. You may want to invest ina respirator for the vinegar smell thats in your future.
:-X
-
Sorry to read. :(
When you reattach the background, what about embedding some magnets in it and add some more outside the tank to hold it in place?
-
That stinks. Glad you got the background out intact. Good luck eith the reseal. You may want to invest ina respirator for the vinegar smell thats in your future.
:-X
Yeah I was planning on running over to my sisters garage where I keep my GTO and dig through my tool chest and find my painting respirator. because that vinegar smell from silicone almost knocked me off my feet when I installed the BG the first time.
When you reattach the background, what about embedding some magnets in it and add some more outside the tank to hold it in place?
I had given that some though as well last night Ron, I still may look into it, but the only thing I am wondering is cost. Foam backgrounds are very buoyant so it would take some strong magnets to begin with. Then factor in the shear size of the BG (lots of magnets) plus the glass being about 1/2" thick and that would take quite a few strong magnets which I'm guessing would cost a pretty penny. Worth looking into though.
Well spent about 6+ hours scraping silicone today and about 1/3 the way there already. I wish I could do more tonight but my arms/shoulders are killing me right now. It's bad enough having to reach down into the tank scraping to begin with, but factor in that I have had a messed up rotator cuff in my shoulder for the past 5 yrs and that makes it really bad.
A good start at least though. Forward progress none the less.
(http://img199.imageshack.us/img199/8856/igja.jpg)
-
Good luck. Take some naprosyn. :'(
-
So disappointed for you Steve.
Keep calm and silicone on.
-
Well as of tonight, all the old silicon from the BG is now scraped off. It was NOT FUN but it is clean once again. This weekend hopefully between finishing the MCA BG and my nephews 29g BG I can get the old seam silicone seals out of the big tank. Then ready to reseal new silicone about Tuesday hopefully.
-
So Steve are you going to go with black silicone ?
-
No I already have 8 tubes of clear GE I* With the background covering all the tank except for the front glass and the substrate covering the lower front bead the color won't show up anyway no matter what color I went with.
-
How is it going?
-
Been tied up with some truck work the past couple days so haven't had much of a chance to get back on it but should be able to by tomorrow.
-
Got back to scraping silicone today. I think it's gonna take a bit longer than anticipated though :P Spent about 2 hrs scraping away tonight and still have a ton to remove yet. Having to reach down so far into the tank is making it twice as hard as it should be.
-
This stinks. But you'll get there...and it'll be worth it in the end.
-
Worked on scraping it out some more today. I'm about 50% done with cleaning out the old. Determined to have it all scraped out and ready to reseal this weekend.
-
Worked on scraping it out some more today. I'm about 50% done with cleaning out the old. Determined to have it all scraped out and ready to reseal this weekend.
GO HARD
-
Keep up the good work! Can't wait to see it!
-
Take your time! It's like body/paint work on a car. 90% of how well it turns out is in the prep work.
-
Well I have all the old silicone except for the bead along the front glass scraped out now. Should have the front bead removed by tomorrow. Won't be ready to reseal till probably Sunday though. Once I get the last front seal out then I still have to go back over again with fresh razor blades. Then going to go over it with steel wood pads, then back over with fresh razor blades a third time. Then alcohol wipe it and as long as it's good to go after that then resealing. Then I plan to let it sit and cure for at least 8-10 days before leak testing it.
I'm making sure that there is ZERO old silicone left because this job has been such a pain doing it all while balancing on a ladder upside down with the tank glass constantly pushing on my stomach/chest the very last thing I want to do is to have to redo this again :o
Quick shot of where it's currently at now.
(http://imageshack.com/a/img850/4661/1llw.jpg)
-
Damn. Do it right and do it once. It's a 100% office build now Steve lol. Gonna mean more to you after works done. Good job
-
Well I think I have finally reached the top of the hill at least. All the old silicone is out and have been just going back over it with steel wool and fresh blades now. Should have no reason stopping me from resealing this weekend from the looks of it.
I also think I know why it leaked as well. There was about a 20" long section of silicone in the front pane that was VERY thin and looked like I would say that must be where it started leaking and then just ran down the trim to the corner. Why I didn't notice that upon first inspection I have no idea.
-
Update???
-
Update???
"one up"
-
Not yet, dang "work" stuff keeping getting the way ;D Usually happens this time of year though, with spring just around the corner the rod orders start flooding in now.
-
Well it's been gnawing at every fiber of my being going down into the shop everyday and looking at the tank sitting there only to do "work stuff" and not touch the tank. So today after getting done with some work I dedicated a few hours to the tank this evening. Went back over it all again with fresh blades and then took some fine steel wool to the joints again. Now tomorrow afternoon I will go back over a final time just to make sure every last speck of old silicone is for sure gone, then wipe it down with alcohol. Then by this time tomorrow night it will have a fresh coat of silicone seals in it 8)
-
Masterpieces take time. This is gonna be a sweet one. Can't wait.
-
FINALLY...just finished resealing the tank. I'm "mostly" happy with the reseal job so far, looks wise I would say passable but not perfect. Since this is my very first reseal though and its so dang big I guess it's not expected to be perfect. There's a few spots where there's some excess silicone that my finger pushed out too far because I did not use any tape. Since every seal in the tank will be covered by the 3D background though none of those spots worry me because they will not be seen anyway.
Far as structural integrity of the reseal job (the important part) I am pretty confident it all went very well. I pushed the new silicone deep into the corners and laid some nice long beads without any spots that look suspect, so I believe it should be a pretty sound job hopefully. We'll find out in about 7-8 days I guess.
Couple pics....
(http://imageshack.com/a/img850/7277/m1rf.jpg)
(http://imageshack.com/a/img819/9294/5bs4.jpg)
-
Looks great to me!
-
And now your whole house smells like vinegar :P
Looks good!
-
Looks good Steve. Good luck with the water test...
-
And now your whole house smells like vinegar :P
That was my thought as well. LOL.
-
With all the 3D backgrounds I do down there I'm use to that smell ;D I tied a fan in the doorway while I was resealing, plus I had on my car painting respirator on while doing it so it wasn't too bad. It's pretty well cleared out now, unless you stick your head inside the tank then you can still smell the off-gassing of it.
-
I'm exhausted just looking at the pictures. If I can speak for most everyone here, we can wait until you fill this tank and start stocking it...
-
I'm tryin' my best to wait till Monday evening to leak test (that will be exactly 7days since reseal) but I'm REALLY itching to fill it and know for sure if it is gonna hold water ;D
-
Started leak testing about an hour ago. Currently have about 130g in it (50%) and so far still dry as a bone. Gonna let it sit with 50% in it for an hour or two before I fill it the rest of the way, but so far so good.
-
(http://cdn.buzznet.com/assets/users16/falloutboyluvr96/default/everyone-world-cross-their-fingers--large-msg-117995562012.jpg)
-
LOL trust me bud my fingers as well as toes have been crossed like that for the past few hours now ;D
Well it is now 100% full and has been for the past 30 mins now and still all dry/no leaks. I also put a 730gph submersible pump into the tank to blow the water around against all the seams. Just as kind of a "real world" test like it will have when the filters are running. I don't want to speak too soon and jinx myself, but I am close to thinking my first reseal job might be a success.
I will say this though. Nothing is as nerve wracking as leak testing a tank that holds 2120lbs of water. Every little noise sent chills down my spine. The furnace room is right behind the tank area and when the heat clicked on .....well lets just say I almost leak tested my drawers ;D
(http://imageshack.com/a/img829/3029/2snv.jpg)
-
I will say this though. Nothing is as nerve wracking as leak testing a tank that holds 2120lbs of water. Every little noise sent chills down my spine. The furnace room is right behind the tank area and when the heat clicked on .....well lets just say I almost leak tested my drawers ;D
LOL
Wishing nothing but the best for this project.
-
Thanks Ron...and I honestly appreciate your help with this Ron. In a question I asked about resealing about 6 weeks ago you made it clear that like a car paint job "prep" was 90% of the success. I have actually painted cars before so that was a perfect analogy for me so the numerous weeks I spent scraping and rescraping seems to have paid off ;) So thanks.
ANYWAY.....it is now 12+ hrs since starting to fill (10 hrs since 100% full) and I just again for the 396th time today (lol) went down and checked. And not a drop~!!! I am gonna proclaim it now as a SUCCESS!!!! I'll still leave it filled for another day or two before I drain and put the 3D BG back in. But I think it's good to go guys 8) 8)
Party at my place tomorrow..shhhhhhhhh (No one tell Blair :o)
-
Can't believe this about an hour ago I went down to check again and I found 2" of water in the basement and the tank less than half empty. I can't take this crap anymore I am done wit this BS. After 12+ hrs with not a drip all the sudden theres a major blow out. I feel like I wasted a whole damn year for nothing on that damn tank. I'm done.
-
I'm at a lose for words Steve, Such shitty news
-
Reseal it again and try putting some foam under it. It sounds like its something with your stand not the tank
-
Very sorry to hear this.
Cant imagine how disappointed you must be.
-
So sorry to hear this. What a disappointment for you I am sure.
-
IMO, drain the tank to insure nothing more leaks and then just hold on a bit before tearing anything down ...
-
I emptied it last night of all the water. I dunno what I'm going to do. Right now I am just thoroughly disgusted with it and don't even feel like looking at it.
-
IMO, drain the tank to insure nothing more leaks and then just hold on a bit before tearing anything down ...
Agreed, just take a break from thinking about it (Hang a sheet over it if you can't stand to look at it) Step back collect your thoughts.
-
That sucks so bad that I'll even bring over the sledgehammer. Blair has a reseal biddy. Maybe it's just time. Hang in there Steve!
-
Did you use acetone or alcohol to clean the seams and corners before you re-applied the new silicone? If there is even a spec of old silicone it wont seal.. Also tape is the only way to go, you can get a nice fat seam and have it still look nice.
-
Yes I wiped them down with alcohol. Believe me there was zero old silicone left I can guarantee that for sure. I went back over it at least fixe-six times with fresh blades plus steel wool to it as well as wiping with alcohol.
Well I'm still bummed out about it for sure, but now that the initial shock & PO'd of it has worn off at least I'm back to making a plan ......again :o
I think what I am going to do is give it one more shot myself. I'm going to strip the silicone out again, and then somehow (don't ask because I don't know yet lol) but somehow I am going to lift the tank so I can get a sheet of 3/4" foam under it that way if the stand is causing the problem then it will eliminate that from the equation. I'm thinking maybe pushing the tank slightly off the side of the stand so I can get a jack with a 2x4 between the tank and jack and lift it and slide foam under it from each end perhaps. We'll see though. Then after that I'll strip it yet again of silicone, then reseal it again and see what happens.
At least then I'll know I did everything in my power to fix it myself. And if it still leaks after that then I will just wait a few weeks till I get some extra cash from some of these rod orders I am working on and then call the guy that Blair knows and have him come out and see what he would charge to do it.
One way or another it will be done and have fish in it. Just might be longer and more costly than expected, but we'll see how it all shakes out.
-
Good to hear Steve!
-
Really sucks Steve. Hang in there, you will succeed and it will be worth it in the end. Sometimes it just takes time to see it.
-
The force is strong in this one 8)
-
I just re-read the entire thread. What a great job you've done. I wish you the best of luck :)
-
Well the battle of the big tank continues. As you guys know I'm forced to attempt resealing this myself again, so after Jon dropped off a great looking fish tonight that he's been holding for me which I planned on putting in this tank, it got me motivated to put the gloves back on and go another round with my old nemesis again.
One thing that was standing in my way was the fact that I not only built the wall in front of the tank when I made it, but I attached the wall and door frame to the stand and the screws for the rock wall are covered by the 3D rocks themselves, so moving the stand would mean risking damage to all the months of work on the entire 3d rock wall it was built into. But in order to do this reseal right I need to be able to move all the way around the tank this time. Standing on a ladder and hanging inside the tank trying to reach the front seal was not an option this time.
So with a few hours work, lots of sweat and a good deal of cursing tonight, I got the door frame and rock wall completely detached from the tank stand now. I was also going to wait to get some help moving all 700lbs of tank/stand but you know how it is when your PO'ed and the adrenaline starts flowing, you can lift a car lol.
My back's a little sore and I am dead tired, but I got the whole tank and stand moved back a good two feet away from the wall now so I can move freely all the way around it.
Round one of big tank battle "The Rematch"- Go's to STEVE ;)
(http://imageshack.com/a/img903/8416/hPryh2.jpg)
-
Congrats! Being able to move all of the way around the tank will make it a bit more pleasant. I'd also be inclined to take multiple "shifts" to get the job done. That way you don't get tired and rush or become sloppy. The most important job when resealing with silicone is to remove all of the old silicone from the corners while using extreme care to not cut into the silicone between the panes of glass.
-
Yep my thoughts as well Ron. Moving around the tank is my #1 thing now. Well see how it goes from here.
-
Gonna try resealing with silicone first, and if that don't work then I'll go that liquid rubber route.
-
Hopefully no damage to the rock wall in the office area... ???
As for moving that beast by yourself....I know your pain Steve. When I first brought that thing home I unloaded it out of my F-150 all by myself :o then moved it around the garage a few times.
-
Holy cow how in the world did you get it out of a truck by yourself Tony??
-
Okay here's question, Ron or anyone else that may know this. If I am not mistaken the lower plastic trim on aquariums does nothing for structural support/integrity correct? Reason I ask is because I am messing with the tank right now and I wanted to know exactly where it is leaking from so I can understand why it leaked. Just for my own piece of mind as well as so I can not make the same mistake twice.
So I just filled it up till it leaked a few mins ago. It starts leaking at the halfway full amount. The leak is not from the upright seams it is for sure from the bottom seam and best I can tell the bottom left seam where it meets the side glass. Reason I ask about the lower trim is because I am thinking of maybe cutting the about 1" higeght from the side trim so I can see the seam on that side so I might be able to just fix where it is leaking and not have to redo the whole tank. Then just epoxy the trim piece back on once the leak is fixed. But wanted to make sure before I decided to try that that I was correct in the fact the trim adds no support?
-
The trim doesn't do much, but I don't like the idea of a tank without it.
The problem with your idea is that silicone doesn't seal to silicone once dry. If you replace a strip, you'll have an increased risk of a leak at both ends of what was replaced. I wouldn't do it. I know it sucks to do the entire thing, but just take it a few hours at a time and in a week you'll have it done. It's like bodywork on a car. The results are largely based on the prep work (and the prep work is a boring, laborious task IMO).
After you remove the interior silicone (don't cut anything between the panes!), I'd use a vacuum of some kind and run it down all the edges. Then get a brand new razor blade and go over it all again to make sure you got it all. Then vacuum again.
On the day of sealing, make sure you have enough silicone to do it all at once - starting over because you ran out would be horrible. I'd run some rubbing alcohol down all the edges to make sure there are no finger oils or dust within 1-2" of all seams. Let it dry and then seal it all, making sure you get enough into the corners from all edges that it dries as one big piece.
-
I've always read that as well (silicone over old silicone) but I've also read where some people have had good luck with just fixing a small leak in silicone that is not that old. Since mine was just recently replaced and hasn't had fish or contaminants in it yet I was thinking it might be a candidate to be fixable. Especially since it seems like it has to be just a small pinhole the best I can tell. I dunno....I still might give it a try at just fixing just the spot and then leak test it for a few weeks to a month before I go any further with setting it up. Just weighing all my options right now so we'll see.
-
(http://imageshack.com/a/img661/4875/AaVAcr.jpg)
Well decide to just go ahead and remove it all and reseal the whole deal again. Figure better safe than sorry. Hope to have it all cleaned out within a few days with a little luck maybe.
-
Rod work has kept me slammed for the past few months and haven't had much time to do much else. Finally today I'm shutting down shop from now till December 27th so I can enjoy some relaxation before Christmas. So that means I will have some time to do things for myself finally again which means I will start back scraping and resealing this again probably over the next few days.
I think this is what......Steve vs Big tank part IV? Starting to feel like a Rocky movie :o
-
Make sure to let me know about materials... we still have THAT for you.
-
I think this is what......Steve vs Big tank part IV? Starting to feel like a Rocky movie :o
"Going in one more round when you don't think you can - that's what makes all the difference in your life." :D
-
(http://imageshack.com/a/img674/5190/k1CXLp.jpg)
(http://imageshack.com/a/img661/298/DnnFBJ.jpg)
Well I guess the more you do something the better/faster you get. Only took about 4 hours of work this time and it's not all scraped out, clean and ready for resealing which I will probably do tomorrow.
-
Hit a snag, tried 3 local places to get the silicone I wanted for this time but none stock it. Looks like I'll have to order it so that'll set me back a week.
-
(http://imageshack.com/a/img912/102/IyBfyb.jpg)
Success! Was able to find the stronger silicone that I was looking for which will bond Acrylic to glass locally. Stuff is not cheap, about $8 per tube, but as long as it works then that'll be a small price to pay. Gonna do another run with razor blades right now just to be sure it's good and clean and then wipe it down and maybe seal it tonight.
-
what did I miss here? Why do you need silicon that bonds glass to acrylic?
-
The leak I found was in the lower seam of the right side. So I bought a section of acrylic 1" x 1" square stock to make a patch to fit over the lower seam. Square stock will be pressed into the new silicone and then a secondary silicone bead will go on top of the square piece. Using acrylic because it is easy to cut myself without having to have a shop cut thicker glass.
-
(http://imageshack.com/a/img661/7417/chAl30.jpg)
(http://imageshack.com/a/img537/5064/b9tCmU.jpg)
Well tank is all resealed again. I feel good about it this time but I guess we'll find out in about a week just how good I should or shouldn't feel about it.
-
Glad you feel good about it. Wishing the best for this - should be amazing! 8)
-
My fingers are crossed, good luck ! ! !
-
Good luck Steve!
-
Today is four days since resealing.....I am having SUCH a hard time not filling this thing with water today to see if it holds lol ;D :o
-
(http://imageshack.com/a/img909/7074/XCpKC4.jpg)
Well......everyone keep your fingers crossed for a Christmas miracle ;D... 100% full for 1 hour now, so far so good :-X
-
Hope it keeps going well. Should be sweet! 8)
-
Good luck!
-
Woke up to a nice dry floor this morning. 13 hours and looking good so far 8)
-
(http://img.pandawhale.com/32641-festivus-miracle-hAeH.gif)
-
LMAO!! Too funny Blair that made me crack up. Seinfeld is one of my fav shows and I have been going around for the past two days telling people it's time for the feats of strength!!! ;D
-
Woke up to a nice dry floor this morning. 13 hours and looking good so far 8)
So glad for you, Steve!
Can't wait to see that monster with a 3D background and fish in it.
-
That is awesome Steve! Will be ready for next auction to fill with big fish. :)
-
I put one of my 740gph pumps in the tank yesterday and let it run all night just to put some pressure/circulation in the tank to give the seams a bit more real world test. Plus I went around and did a little rapping on the corners with the palm of my hand as well as went around and lightly shook the tank a tad just to simulate what the tank will go through during routine maintenance that way I won't have any surprises down the road. Happy to report that it's almost two full days of being full and not a drop of water anywhere! 8) 8) 8)
After the family leaves this evening I plan to drain it and then push it back into position, relevel it out, and start reinstalling the background & decor, then get all the filters and equipment hooked up. Looks like this nearly 2 year project is FINALLY going to be up and running very shortly. I can't wait to be able to go to the Feb MCA auction now and start looking for fish to fill this tank with finally.
I'll update pics as I get this set back up.
-
Great to hear Steve. ;)
-
Nice
-
Cool
-
It's about time! Glad to see you finally got it sealed up without any problems. Now I can't wait to see the pics when you have fish in it.
-
Got it moved back into position against the wall again last night. Leveled it out and have it to where it is no more than 3/16" off over the entire 7ft span which is pretty good imo. Filled it back up again last night about 7pm and let it sit overnight again for a 2nd leak test after moving it and this morning 15hrs later it's dry as a bone again so just started up the pump a few mins ago and now pumping all the water out so I can start adding the 3d background back in it now. Plan on spending the entire day today working on getting the decor set up.
-
Now that sounds like a worthwhile activity for the day after Christmas!
-
Just about got everything set up on it now,got a ton of work done yesterday. Background is in, sand, rocks, wood are all in. Filled with water, spraybars are made, one of the pair of FX5's is hooked up and tested, and lighting is just about done. I changed some of the decor around a bit from the first pictures I posted back in the spring, I think it looks tons better now than it did the first time. Also added a great looking huge piece of wood that I got from Tony. And added some super high power LED spotlights which give the entire tank an awesome looking shimmering effect. Should be seeded and cycling in the next few days most likely.
-
(http://imageshack.com/a/img537/1922/lZKa3v.jpg)
(http://imageshack.com/a/img537/9540/pLiV3W.jpg)
(http://imageshack.com/a/img673/7434/L9ku8p.jpg)
Still a ways to go but here's a sneak peak. Once it's completely finished I'll post some better pics of it. Damn it feels good to sit and see it running after two years of work 8) The CCF cave lights don't have that purple hue to them in person, they only do in pictures for some reason, they don't photo well. When I take some finished pics I'll have to play with the settings on my camera so I can get the true color to show on film.
-
Holy smokes! That is so cool! I bet you're grinning ear to ear. ;D
-
Auh dude no matter how long it took you, it is worth it. I am so glad you did not throw in the towel, this tank looks awesome ! I can't wait to see it filled with fish. You could charge $1 a head just to come down and see it in person...
-
Speechless. Very awesome Steve. So happy you got this going.
-
Very nice Steve!
-
Now you just need a big ass Midas Cichlid for it. ;) :P
-
noooooo........................tetras......10,000 cardinal tetras......
-
noooooo........................tetras......10,000 cardinal tetras......
LMAO - plus 10,000 neon tetras....and 10,000 tiger barbs. full color spectrum....
-
10,000 tetras? I was thinking just one tetra, that way he would be the happiest tetra in the world! ;D
Just finished up going through the filters and cleaning them up real good and replacing the hoses with some reinforced PVC hoses. Got the dual 300w inline heaters plumbed and mounted and currently starting to get the tank up to temp, sure takes a long time to heat this amount of water :o Found I was missing one of the bottom pieces which holds the screw fasteners on the lid of one of the fx5's so going to order that tonight. Once that gets here I'll rinse the matrix pond media and then seed the filters and get the cycle going. I'll be able to add some well established media from my other tanks so should be able to cut a lot of time of the cycle most likely.
-
That looks awesome! Like a public aquarium display:)
-
Thanks everyone, it's not done yet but getting there. Been a long road to get to this point though and I gotta admit I've been one happy SOB the past week or so now that all my hard work is finally paying off. Also owe a lot of thanks to quite a few of you guys here that have helped me on this project in many ways over the course of problems/issues ;)
Well decided to move behind the tank yesterday and today and start getting the backside in order. I figure maintenance on a tank this size is going to be a big enough pain so I wanted to make sure all the support equipment was clean and orderly so that it will make maintenance go as smooth as it can go. So spent some time routing and securing all the wires so they don't look like a big spiders web, as well as set up a little area to work/store items. Also paid a vist to the dollar store and got a bunch of containers to keep bulk foods in for the fish. Getting closer everyday now.
(http://imageshack.com/a/img540/3065/wwqbGa.jpg)
(http://imageshack.com/a/img911/239/bM6HT4.jpg)
(http://imageshack.com/a/img901/249/jdmiu7.jpg)
-
(http://imageshack.com/a/img661/895/ORUTxM.jpg)
LED moonlights installed and wired now.
-
What did you do for the LED moonlights? Wired up LEDs yourself, rope lighting, commercial fixture, ...?
-
(http://imageshack.com/a/img538/4306/i5Urk3.jpg)
(http://imageshack.com/a/img673/9591/plp1p7.jpg)
Kind of a combination of commercial and DIY Ron. I had some 24" LED moonlight bars I got off ebay that I wired together, then I wired them to a 7 position Universal plus adapter from another set of lights I had so that they have different brightness settings on them.
BTW ...I just finished running my LED spotlights to a dimmer switch as well (the LED bulbs I bought are dimmable) Which now gives me full control of the lighting in the tank. I'll snap a few pics in a bit of that ;D
You guys gettin tired of the updates yet? LOL ;)
-
(http://imageshack.com/a/img913/2870/i74GHp.jpg)
(http://imageshack.com/a/img538/371/vxzEWv.jpg)
(http://imageshack.com/a/img673/6112/Cacnct.jpg)
Here's some pics with the dimmer switch on it. I ran the cable for the switch through the rock wall and attached it to the front trim work around the tank opening that way I can control it while sitting at the desk. Honestly the pics don;t do it justice, for some reason the pics don;t look like that much of a difference in lighting, but in person the dimmer actually knocks the brightness down by at least 50% or more.
Pics above are full brightness and least brightness, it's also variable between the two.
-
Thanks for the details Steve.
-
10,000 tetras? I was thinking just one tetra, that way he would be the happiest tetra in the world! ;D
A MONSTER adult Black Piranha (Serrasalmus rhombeus) is technically a "tetra" so that will qualify :P
My personal preference over the Piranha would be another Characin (aka tetra),
the Goliath African Tiger Fish (Hydrocynus Goliath)
BTW Steve, extremely happy that the project is finally coming along so well.
-
(http://imageshack.com/a/img673/4480/3N1K2w.jpg)
Setting up the water storage containers/area now. Have the first of two 42 gallon storage containers set up with bubbler and heater to off gas and preheat the water which should give me the ability to change about 30% water from these two containers.
Also set up the filters with established media in the form of matrix media, bio rings and floss the other day, and added 24oz of Smart Start Complete as a little extra safe guard so plan to start SLOWLY stocking later today. It'll be a solid month 6-8 weeks of stocking so that I don't add too much to the bio load at once, but the first few inhabitants will be going in later this evening.
-
(http://imageshack.com/a/img673/4990/miO54s.jpg)
(http://imageshack.com/a/img909/8207/H3K0VD.jpg)
(http://imageshack.com/a/img661/138/dJbcG5.jpg)
(http://imageshack.com/a/img673/913/EOR61f.jpg)
(http://imageshack.com/a/img537/7333/t3u7qN.jpg)
(http://imageshack.com/a/img661/4057/4SPtlS.jpg)
First batch of stocking is complete. In this first round of stock there are-
6" OB
4" yellow lab x2
5" Yellow tail Acei
5" Williamsi North (Blue lip)
4" to 6" Synodontis multipunctatus x 6
5" to 7" Synodontis eupterus x3
-
BTW - Ron you may recognize the big catfish, he finally is in his proper home ;D
-
They look so small in that tank!
Congratulations Steve, that's just awesome
-
BTW - Ron you may recognize the big catfish, he finally is in his proper home ;D
I definitely noticed! Looks great! How are they coping with having so much room?! ;D
-
Right now I don't think they know what to do with themselves. The OB is trying to run the tank at the moment, but he gets tired of chasing after about 4ft and gives up.
-
Right now I don't think they know what to do with themselves. The OB is trying to run the tank at the moment, but he gets tired of chasing after about 4ft and gives up.
The beauty of keeping them in a big tank. :)
-
(http://imageshack.com/a/img540/4848/ffal36.jpg)
Had four Hydor 1" LED spotlights leftover from another project so decided to put them to good use by mounting them in the ceiling so that they light up sections of the rock wall to give a nice dramatic lighting effect for evening viewing ;D
-
Well Done Sir!!! That looks better than most zoo exhibits!
-
Thanks guys. I am REALLY enjoying it these past few days. It's so nice sitting at the desk and having such a big wall of water right in front of you 8)
Just doing my first water change in it as I type. Ammonia was a tad higher than I liked so making sure to keep it low during the initial stage. I'm defiantly going to get another 42g water storage barrel. Just moving the pump from tank to barrel to refill is so much easier now.
-
To help tame the cycling a bit, as a mini-cycle is almost always inevitable even when using established media in new filters, I feed a bit less. Fish in the wild don't eat anywhere close to the consistency of which we feed them in the home aquarium. Eating lighter for a few weeks shouldn't be a big deal. Less food in equals less waste out.
-
Good point Ron, I was still feeding these guys like I was when they were in my other tanks. I'll have to remember to scale down the food for the next few weeks.
-
Update- The seeded media seems to have now taken hold. I was doing 25-50-% water changes daily there for the first week or so because there was a .25 nitrite reading after about 24 hrs. But now the past few days the nitrite is gone and comes up 0, nitrate is steady around 10-20ppm, and tank seems nice and healthy/active. Went ahead and did a 50% wc last night and then added my group of six clown loaches. The loaches must really like all the new space because they use to hide during the day in the 55g but now in the big tank they are pretty much all out and active this morning.
-
Been working on a little project for this tank the past week or so. Been wanting to find a way to at a realistic storm to the tank with thunder & lightning. Had a failed attempt last week which resulted in a burned out controller and a brief whiff of ozone lol luckily I was testing it on the bench when it happened. But now have a pretty solid way of doing it I believe and just waiting for the parts to arrive.
Purchased a small electronic unit called an Apollo Jammer which is used by DJ's for light shows. The unit has 3.5mm input jack as well as a splitter 3.5 output and it is sound reactive which turns audio input into controllable light output signals. Also purchased 15ft of white LED cut-able light strips. If all goes as planned I should be able to download thunder sound effects on to an mp3 player which will be hooked to the Apollo Jammer, then have small hidden speakers to produce some background thunder off one splitter jack, while the set of white LED lights are ran off the other splitter jack and the flashes will be controllable by the level of sensitivity set to the thunder crashes.....I.E- realistic thunder & lightning.
Should be a neat little addition to the big tank if all works as planned.
-
Nice!
-
Cool it will be like going to Rainforest Cafe, but with a nicer aquarium!
-
Been working on a little project for this tank the past week or so. Been wanting to find a way to at a realistic storm to the tank with thunder & lightning. Had a failed attempt last week which resulted in a burned out controller and a brief whiff of ozone lol luckily I was testing it on the bench when it happened. But now have a pretty solid way of doing it I believe and just waiting for the parts to arrive.
Purchased a small electronic unit called an Apollo Jammer which is used by DJ's for light shows. The unit has 3.5mm input jack as well as a splitter 3.5 output and it is sound reactive which turns audio input into controllable light output signals. Also purchased 15ft of white LED cut-able light strips. If all goes as planned I should be able to download thunder sound effects on to an mp3 player which will be hooked to the Apollo Jammer, then have small hidden speakers to produce some background thunder off one splitter jack, while the set of white LED lights are ran off the other splitter jack and the flashes will be controllable by the level of sensitivity set to the thunder crashes.....I.E- realistic thunder & lightning.
Should be a neat little addition to the big tank if all works as planned.
Steve - Bought this for Christmas for my 180 tank, it has preset lightning effects - really cool :
http://www.amazon.com/Current-USA-Satellite-Freshwater-Aquarium/dp/B00CMFFMS6 (http://www.amazon.com/Current-USA-Satellite-Freshwater-Aquarium/dp/B00CMFFMS6)
-
I looked at a few of the lights like that, they are nice, only reason I choose to do my own though is so I could use audio in sync with the lightning. If my DYI one doesn't pan out like I hope it does then I may go with the ones you have. Should know maybe next week as I see my items were shipped the other day.
-
First test run of the lightning with white LED's wired into the Apollo Jammer and hooked into an MP3 player with separate speakers. The flashes are in sync with the thunder perfectly ;D https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ChcAht-7-F8&feature=youtu.be
-
it's going to look awesome Steve
-
It's hard for me to ever call a project "done" or to sit still for very long. Since I've been treating the tank itself for a slight outbreak of velvet for the past week (which is all but gone now but keeping up treatment for another week just to be safe) I decided to work behind the tank and turn that area into an actual filter/storage room. Just spent the past 7 hours cleaning it out and just started painting walls. Plan to do a tile floor back there as well as add some nice shelving units for dry good storage and make the area behind the tank look as nice as the front. Will post some pics as I move along.
-
(http://imageshack.com/a/img661/2568/yVC8XP.jpg)
(http://imageshack.com/a/img540/2159/Kr6QhZ.jpg)
Got everything pretty much cleaned out and the first two coats of paint on the side wall. Doing all the walls white, plan to do the floor maybe in a grey tile, not sure about the ceiling yet but might just put some painted plywood up there just to cover all the beams and heat ducts.
(http://imageshack.com/a/img905/8706/oRsBg9.jpg)
Also decided to use the humidity the big tank gives off to my advantage for my tropical bonsai trees. I opened up one of the non structural walls and am boxing in a 12" recess into it where my bonsai that have to come in for the winter will sit with a light on them. The higher humidity in the filter room will be good for them. Once done the above walls as well as the whole boxed in unit will be white as well.
-
Spent the entire day working behind the big tank today but got a ton done. Seems every project I tackle ends the same way, multiple trips to Lowes/Home Depot and a lighter wallet. All the walls are finished now (painted white). Picked up 100sq of white tile today and just about done installing that, looking very clean in there between the white walls and white floor. Decided to just use 1/2" thick closed cell foam board insulation sheets for the ceiling because I figure that will not only make it look better than just plain rafter, but also will serve to retain heat in the room which will keep the 300w x 2 heater on the tank from having to run quite as much.
Also got the 75 g tank moved where I want it as well as the dual 20g stand. I'm starting to think I may just leave the 75g where it is rather than replacing the 55g mbuna tank upstairs with it because it's nice having a big 75g behind the 265g for q-tank/hospital. Will decide for sure later. Recessed nook in the wall for the bonsai trees is all but done now too, just have to trim the opening on it.
All in all it's moving really well and looking good. Glad I decided to revamp that room as I was not happy with it the first time how it was. Should be done with it in a few days/week most likely.
-
Look'n good. I always admire how fast you move on completing projects once you decide to start them.
-
Doesn't matter much now but I figured I might as well show how nice the filter room came out with all the work I put into last week. I finished the filter room about 8pm last night, tank started leaking again about 10pm.
.
.
(http://imageshack.com/a/img907/9990/mdK5t0.jpg)
.
.
.
What a difference a day can make. yesterday I was happy that the filter room was done and the tank was done and was getting geeked about going to pick up new fish at the auction. Now 24hrs later I just got done ripping 2 yrs worth of hard work down with the rock wall and will be demo-ing the tank probably tomorrow.
(http://imageshack.com/a/img631/832/jXV9MV.jpg)
I'd be lying if I said I wasn't heartbroken. I swear I could very easily sit down and shed a tear that this 2 yr project is all but gone now. But looking back does nothing but point you in the wrong direction, so I guess I have to look forward to something else. I've decided I am going to keep one of my 55g tanks in my bedroom. It's the first tank I built and was the original inspiration for this 265g tank. So that way I can at least have a few fish. Just won't be the huge tank of my dreams, which turned into a nitemare. And I also think I might keep the 75g in the basement just so I have some sort of tank down there. Mainly because it would break my heart even more if I had to get rid of my Champ or my eyebiter or my big 10" venustus. So I might keep that tank for those three. Other than that though, my big tank journey, and all my custom made stuff/background building is over.
-
So sorry to see this Steve.