One Tank To Rule Them All

[Ron]

Looking good bud I'm liking it.  Is the 2nd part a canopy with a feeding port? or something else? Good lookin' lab as well

Hey Steve, I'd say that is the top of the stand (goes over the framework) and the square opening is where the center overflow is located for the plumbing to the sump.

That is correct. Here's a better shot of the tank since the only ones I posted prior were when it was coated in condensation:


A center overflow wouldn't be my first choice, but in lieu of saving money buying used, it's what I have. Would have been cooler if I had a good spot where the tank could be "in wall" and viewed on 3 or all 4 sides. My plan is to have a background on the overflow that matches the background on the tank. Then it'll look like a rock column rather than a big plastic box. I'm curious to see how the fish like it - provides a circular pathway around the tank and I'm wondering if they'll swim laps at times.

Good lookin' lab as well

Thanks - and close, she's a golden retriever. Easy to make a mistake though, especially when she blends in with the stand so well. 

[Steve]

What is this, a whole week and no new pics/update....I'm sooooo disappointed 

[Ron]

What is this, a whole week and no new pics/update....I'm sooooo disappointed 

Not much new - busy with work and other things in life. I cutout the wall on the tank side. I then realized I needed some longer pieces (8' lengths work between stud spans, but not when you start offset from the stud - doh). I picked up some 10' boards last night, so that's back on track. I also needed to pickup some new electrical boxes - got those as well. Should get back on track sometime soon.

[Ron]

No going back now:


Not exactly sure why it takes so long to accomplish what seems like so little. The above included removed electrical outlets, phone/ethernet/cable jack, insulation, studs, measuring to high tolerance in order to minimize drywall replacement, etc. I also got the framing for the inside sorted out, but need to keep access to the inside of the wall to finish some electrical work after I pick up more wire. Should be ready to move the tank in either next 1-2 weekends.

[Ron]

I'd presumed I was moving one outlet when cutting out the wall. I forgot the 3 on the other side and didn't expect the wiring laid out how it was with the one I'd planned on swinging out of the way. 2-3 trips for supplies and then more supplies I forgot from the time prior, coupled with not being able to work on this at night since the power is out in that room, has made for slow progress.

Right now the outlets on the other side of the wall are done, tank side the wiring is laid out and the interior framing is cut, so it's a matter of piecing together and feeding the wires through the last few pieces before finishing the outlets. I hope to have it done this weekend. Then I'll be at a point where I can finish cutting out the viewing side of the wall and start figuring out exactly how I want to trim it all. I should be able to move in the tank soon and it will really start to look like something other than a big mess. 

How things stand now:

[Ron]

The stand sure makes a nice work bench 


Electrical is done and it's starting to look like something!


... and then I took a break to watch Michigan football ... feeling like I wasted time that could have been better spent working on this project. 

[Ron]

I knew it'd be dusty, but damn ...




Photos is fuzzy because the basemen is so damn dusty. Progress made, but that's it for today. Hopefully the settles for tomorrow morning. Clean-up, a little drywall work, and another trip needed for supplies (trim) starts tomorrow.

[danielratti]

On a unrelated note.  How do you like that hammer?  I looked at one that looks similar to that and was a little iffy on it.  I broke 2 last week so need a replacement soon.

[Ron]

On a unrelated note.  How do you like that hammer?  I looked at one that looks similar to that and was a little iffy on it.  I broke 2 last week so need a replacement soon.

It's a 16oz head with fiberglass handle made by Plumb and I bought it about 10 years ago at Home Depot. I do like it. The head has been solid and the fiberglass helps relieve hand shock a bit. I've had a few other wood ones become loose over the same time. I have an old one with a metal body that I like even better from the perspective that it can't be broken, but it's hard on the hands over an extended period.

On the topic of tools used for this project, a few more notes...

Rotozip/spiral saw > Drywall saw/knife > 'drywall fine-tooth hacksaw blade'-thing
The rotozip is just so much faster and easier for me. Just set the depth so you're barely cutting all the way through the drywall and it's impossible to get caught up on interior studs/insulation/wiring/etc. The saw worked alright, but leaves a rougher cut. The other thing (not sure the proper name) was nice in principle - easier to cut a straight line, smaller kerf, etc. Every time I hit a stud it'd bend.

The fancy torx-headed screws are the bees knees. I never tried them previously due to cost, but the difference was negligible this time around. They work as advertised and hardly ever slip. It's much easier to apply torque and not be concerned about stripping out a head or ruining a bit.

[danielratti]

Yeah I broke the heads off two so that is good to know I do have a metal one but for demo that is like 3 swings and your done . those screws are awesome I just started using them as well and like them way better when using an impact with them

[Steve]

Awesome man love seeing the updates keep them coming. Lookin' good too Without going back (maybe you said) whats the stock gonna be again?

[Ron]

The original stocking plan was haps and some clown loaches.

Right now I've got the following haps in the bullpen:
N. livingstoni
P. phenochilus
C. euchilus
E. anagenys
F. rostratus
S. fryeri
P. sp "Taiwan Reef"
D. compressiceps
C. borleyi
P. spilonotus
P. taenioulatus "Tangerine Tiger"
^ Most of those are small groups (3-6 fish) and I'm not sure if I'll put entire groups into the big display tank.

I've got a few others in mind as well, but will add fish over time and not be in a rush to fill it up entirely. I'm also not sure how many fish would be "full". On my 6' 100, 16-18 haps was a good number. On my 6' 150t, 18-22 was a good number. This tank is roughly 550 gallons and I'm still not sure how I'll do the sump setup, but it'll either be a single 150 gallon or dual 100 gallon tubs.

So 8'x4' footprint with close to 700 gallons of water volume = how many haps? I don't want it to look like the infamous Toronto malawian cichlid tank:


I've also got a couple groups of clown loaches and a group of WC S. multipunctatus that I'm thinking of adding.

Stocking seems so far away though. Next up, I've got to finish the trim on the tank-side and paint before assembling the stand again to check the final height one final time prior to moving in the tank. Once the tank comes in, I'll get the general plumbing laid out and things might go faster once those parts arrive. Right now I'm not sure how realistic it would be to expect it running anytime before November.

[danielratti]

I may have some extra males you'd like

[Steve]

The original stocking plan was haps and some clown loaches.

Right now I've got the following haps in the bullpen:
N. livingstoni
P. phenochilus
C. euchilus
E. anagenys
F. rostratus
S. fryeri
P. sp "Taiwan Reef"
D. compressiceps
C. borleyi
P. spilonotus
P. taenioulatus "Tangerine Tiger"
^ Most of those are small groups (3-6 fish) and I'm not sure if I'll put entire groups into the big display tank.

I've got a few others in mind as well, but will add fish over time and not be in a rush to fill it up entirely. I'm also not sure how many fish would be "full". On my 6' 100, 16-18 haps was a good number. On my 6' 150t, 18-22 was a good number. This tank is roughly 550 gallons and I'm still not sure how I'll do the sump setup, but it'll either be a single 150 gallon or dual 100 gallon tubs.

So 8'x4' footprint with close to 700 gallons of water volume = how many haps? I don't want it to look like the infamous Toronto malawian cichlid tank:


I've also got a couple groups of clown loaches and a group of WC S. multipunctatus that I'm thinking of adding.

Stocking seems so far away though. Next up, I've got to finish the trim on the tank-side and paint before assembling the stand again to check the final height one final time prior to moving in the tank. Once the tank comes in, I'll get the general plumbing laid out and things might go faster once those parts arrive. Right now I'm not sure how realistic it would be to expect it running anytime before November.

NIIIIIIIIICE dude very nice, you have some great fish listed there. How big are they? They adult size fish? How big are the clowns?

[Ron]

I may have some extra males you'd like

Sounds good. I'm really trying to hold back from picking up anything more until the tank is running because I'm basically out of space with the tanks I do have running.

The original stocking plan was haps and some clown loaches.

Right now I've got the following haps in the bullpen:
N. livingstoni
P. phenochilus
C. euchilus
E. anagenys
F. rostratus
S. fryeri
P. sp "Taiwan Reef"
D. compressiceps
C. borleyi
P. spilonotus
P. taenioulatus "Tangerine Tiger"
^ Most of those are small groups (3-6 fish) and I'm not sure if I'll put entire groups into the big display tank. ...

NIIIIIIIIICE dude very nice, you have some great fish listed there. How big are they? They adult size fish? How big are the clowns?

None are what I'd call adult. Some are 6"+, most are 3"-4", and a few are a little smaller than that yet. I have a pair of clowns that are 6"+, one around 4", and the rest of the group is 2.5"-3". I'm looking forward to when they make the move, because I suspect they'll all have significant growth spurts.