[bguile]

Well, the time has come for it to start. Originally I thought there was no need to create another "watch me build my tank" thread , but I've learned so much in them all that I've come to realize that not only do we as bystanders get to learn a lot from others, but the builder also gets a lot of advice and heads ups to watch out for during the build. So enough chatter, here we go.

The plan is to build an in-wall 210G reef at bar height. There will be a 16" platform that will allow me or others to eat, read, chat, or just watch the tank from the high-back bar stools. It started here:


after demolition and some restructure:



the countertop:

and the said item in question:


More pics to come soon to catch up to my current progress.

[FireEater]

Originally Posted by bguile

Originally I thought there was no need to create another "watch me build my tank" thread , but I've learned so much in them all that I've come to realize that not only do we as bystanders get to learn a lot from others, but the builder also gets a lot of advice and heads ups to watch out for during the build.

Exactly!

Keep the pics coming, it's looking great so for.

[Reefland]

Glad you decided to start the thread.

First question, you mention the bar and being viewable from bar stools. Where will these go?

How large is the equipment area behind the tank and is this a dedicated equipment area? What are you planning for an electrical circuit?

[charlie]

Well heck, I'll throw my name in here so I can follow along!!! What are the dimensions of the 210?
I am also interested in the equipment room, just cuz I don't have one!!!!

[Reefland]

I must say that they are a must for anyone who can provide the space. We only have a 75 in the wall with a fairly decent sized tan kroom behind it (walk-in closet size) and it is simply the way to go.

[wozza]

ow cool like the look of the tank!

[bguile]

Originally Posted by Reefland

Glad you decided to start the thread.

First question, you mention the bar and being viewable from bar stools. Where will these go?

Actually the aquarium is the bar. The stand that I've built is 40.5" high(+1.5in. tabletop=42") with a 16" overhang. I think I called it something else before, but that is where the stools will go. I'll snap pics and post. The drinks will actually be stored in another place close by .

Originally Posted by Reefland

How large is the equipment area behind the tank and is this a dedicated equipment area? What are you planning for an electrical circuit?

This is the opposite side of the wall pre-construction. The blue tape marks the dimensions of the equipment area which is approx 4x6 total area behind the tank. I'm still deciding on electrical circuit details. I have access in or close by the room to any of 3 circuits. 1-20amp and 2-15amp. One 15 amp is just wall outlets around the room that would hardly get used if ever, the other holds a couple lights and the water heater. The 20amp I'm not totally sure of yet. It ends at an unused outlet on the island in the kitchen, but i haven't been able to trace out yet what else it's juicing. So depending on what's connected to it, I may just have an electrical guy come and run me a dedicated line from the panel.

Originally Posted by Reefland

I must say that they are a must for anyone who can provide the space. We only have a 75 in the wall with a fairly decent sized tan kroom behind it (walk-in closet size) and it is simply the way to go.

I'm in total agreement with that statement. I had a 90G before this one with a stand that barely housed the sump and skimmer. I was mixing water in Brute containers then hiding them in the closet immediately after. It was quite a task. No more carrying water for me this time!! It will pretty much all be either automated or in close proximity with easy solutions.

[Reefland]

Looking forward to the pictures so I can get an idea of what your saying. I think I have a visual but not totally sure.

I would definitely go with a dedicated circuit. We ran one for our tank room that runs the tank and the light in the tank room...it's worth the peace of mind knowing if I plug something in somewhere and turn it on that I am not going to trip a GFI or breaker.

[bguile]

Here's a pic from the side. The stools will go right in front of the display. Please excuse the mess




Here's a couple pics from the back and what will be the equipment area.




All of the blue area is what will be the equipment room. I used a rustoleum basement floor paint to protect the concrete from the saltwater. The sump will be a 40G breeder and will go below the stand. I am planning a refugium in a seperate 20G tank. I'm not sure yet if I'll go 20H or 20L. The covered thingy on the left under the stand is the sump pump which empties into the backyard below the deck, so emptying the tank there is not an option. I am going to have to plumb a system that will either pump water to the house main sewage using the return pump, or a seperate basin or tank that will be dedicated to removing water out of the room to the main storage.

Above the tank is where the 20amp circuit will go. It will power 2 light fixtures that with a total of 3 250W MH's and 2 110VHO's. I wanted to keep the tank accessible from the front for feeding and some maintenance if necessary so the front will be a triple panel with the appearance of a single unmovable panel. Because of the height of the total system, I will always need a stool or additional assistance to be able to reach deep into the tank. That is why I decided to make the tabletop 3 inches thick throughout. The ledges in back and front hold my weight.

Although I have drawn up plans many times on how I want the system to look and operate, it's continuously evolving and changing depending on space, feasability, materials...and of course most important functionality and personal preference All input and suggestions are of course welcome!

[bguile]

Originally Posted by FireEater

Exactly!

Keep the pics coming, it's looking great so for.

Thanks!

Originally Posted by charlie

Well heck, I'll throw my name in here so I can follow along!!! What are the dimensions of the 210?
I am also interested in the equipment room, just cuz I don't have one!!!!

Welcome aboard Charlie. Might I add I can only hope that my tank will look half as beautiful as yours one day. The dimensions of the tank are 72x24x29. Same footprint as a 180, just 5 in higher.

[weez1959]

Wow, I'm following along to! Looks really good so far

[FireEater]

The build looks like it is coming along great. I see you are using the sheetrock replacement for the green rock. I hang, tape and float sheetrock as my part time job. Have been doing it since the early 80's.

That rock is is what they are mandating construction to go to now in wet areas and I have heard it will be the only rock available for whole house construction. It's pricey at about 13 dollars a sheet down here.

[charlie]

Originally Posted by bguile

Thanks!


Welcome aboard Charlie. Might I add I can only hope that my tank will look half as beautiful as yours one day. The dimensions of the tank are 72x24x29. Same footprint as a 180, just 5 in higher.

Thank you, I wish you the best.

Now, get that thing built so we can drool.

What type of veiwing will you have besides the bar?

[Reefland]

We used the green sheetrock for the entire wall that our tank is in.

[bguile]

Thanks Weezy! Your tank looks great.

FireEater: the sheetrock I used was the only one that was available. i was told that Lowes switched over to this one and doesn't sell the greenboard anymore. It's the same expensive price up here $13/board.

Charlie: I'm not sure I understand the question right, but if you're asking what I think your asking I'm going to have an area with maybe a lounge chair or two that you'll be able to see the tank from. Actually, the one picture looking at the tank from a distance is the area that will be open with some opportunity for different ideas.

[charlie]

Yeah, I wasn't quite clear with the question, but you got the answer right!!!

[bguile]

Originally Posted by charlie

Yeah, I wasn't quite clear with the question, but you got the answer right!!!

Good Deal.

Now I have a few questions to ask. I've finished drywalling the front of the tank today and am ready to install the upper access panels and trim around the tank. As you can see, I have placed the tank on 3/4" styrofoam as per your suggestion. How much can I expect the styrofoam to compress once the tank is full?? I don't want to cut the trim now and have the tank or foam shift position on me once full and mess up the clean-ness of trim.

[charlie]

Can you fill the tank with water and let it sit for a couple of days?

[FireEater]

Why use the foam? Is your stand not level?

I didn't use foam on my build and I have no problems. I'm not sure why foam is used other than an unlevel setup and the person wants the stand to self level. Even then I'm not sure that would work as the water would gather on the low end and cause more weight which in turn would cause the foam to compress more on that end.

I could just never see the benefit of foam. I trimmed around the bottom of my tank with small crown molding. It came out nice and clean. Hides most of the side of the sandbed also.

[bguile]

Originally Posted by charlie

Can you fill the tank with water and let it sit for a couple of days?

Yeah, I could. Then I was thinking back to a thread I had seen about only using RO/DI water in large tanks to water test the tank to avoid phosphate leeching from unconditioned water. What do you think on this? If I should use RO/DI, then I'll have to wait a few days b/c I haven't plumbed my RO/DI into this area yet. Or I might visit Lowe's to see if I can get tubing long enough to go from where it is now to this area just for testing purposes. Actually, I might go ahead and do that anyway. My RO/DI is in my storage area with my hospital tanks and I will need tubing to get the water back there anyways. But still, what do you think about using the RO/DI for testing so to prevent leeching?