My first aquariums - 404 display/150 frag

[b09u5]

Thanks for the reply! The exhaust is definitely more than 1m. away from the windows and air intakes, but it is about 1ft. from the electrical junction box for my future AC and hot tub.

Agreed, the cheater vent seems like a poor substitute for doing the job correctly.

[lastlight]

Past your bedtime boss.

[b09u5]

You're right! I am out!

[Parker]

Looks impressive so far, I look forward to seeing it come together.

[b09u5]

The inspectors came on Friday and passed all the work done a few weeks back. So I am cleared to close it up and call for a final inspection.

Brett came by and helped me vapor barrier and drywall. He helped me finish off the vapor barrier, which I was struggling with. Once it was all up, I went OCD on tuck taping and he did the lower half of the drywall around the whole room.


IMG_2900 by gschaus, on Flickr

Next it will be the drywall for the upper half of the room, the ceiling and framing in the bulkhead around the HVAC and plumbing.

If anyone knows a good taping and mud person that isn't busy, let me know. I really don't feel like doing that myself.

Then some more framing for the quarantine frag tank stand/counter, and it'll be time for glass!

[lastlight]

i've heard there are tuck tape shortages in and around the calgary area!

[b09u5]

Yup! If I had one more roll, I wouldn't have needed the vapour barrier!

[b09u5]

Over the past couple of days I have had more help. A buddy who is also into fish came over after work yesterday and helped me frame in the bulkheads around my HVAC. He is not responsible for them looking so crappy! It was my idea to have the lower 2x4 below the runners, but it worked out because I was able to use them to level everything out. On the longer HVAC run, I was way off on measuring, so the bottom 2x4s are only part way screwed in, to level it all out! Hopefully the drywall hides it all! If I need a little more surface to anchor drywall to, I may have to double up the long 2x4s... As you can tell, I do not do this for a living!


IMG_2911 by gschaus, on Flickr


IMG_2913 by gschaus, on Flickr


IMG_2912 by gschaus, on Flickr

Tonight, I started putting drywall up on the top half of the room. I didn't get very far, but I am sure I can plug away at this next week.


IMG_2916 by gschaus, on Flickr

I checked on the Starfire glass for the front of my tank, and it is ordered and on its way! I am pumped. I need to get this drywall up, have someone mud and tape, and I need to clean the silicone off the current pieces that I have. The glass should be in and ready in a couple of weeks, so the timing should be just about perfect!

I mentioned earlier that I am using the 8'x27" 3/4" front piece of glass from this tank as the base for a frag/quarantine tank. Does anyone have any suggestions on how deep the quarantine tank/frag tank should be? I was thinking 14". If I do that, I can nearly make the whole thing from the sheet of Starfire that I am bringing in. If I lowered it to 11", I could do the whole thing! I would like it a bit deeper, as I want to get some fish that like to burrow in the sand. It would likely be traumatic for a fish like that to quarantine in a shallow, glass bottomed tank.

Let me know your thoughts! Also, if anyone knows a mud/taping person that wants to get this done, let me know!

[gregzz4]

I QTd wrasses in a bare-bottom by using a take-out tray full of sand - about 2-1/2" deep
Coris literally 'dove' into it when the lights went out

Room is coming along very nicely

[b09u5]

Just a quick update to show that I am still working on this.

Glass just came in a week ago, so I am getting anxious to get it in the house.

I finished dry walling with Brett, then had a guy in to mud and tape. I threw three coats of Kilz Premium on before starting on the counter/frag stand. After that is built and both stands are painted, it'll be finally time to get the tanks built.

While I wait to add water, I will have time to finish the viewing wall and plumb everything together.

Here are some pics from the last couple of weeks:


IMG_2956 by gschaus, on Flickr


IMG_2955 by gschaus, on Flickr


IMG_2954 by gschaus, on Flickr


IMG_2952 by gschaus, on Flickr


IMG_2968 by gschaus, on Flickr


IMG_2969 by gschaus, on Flickr


IMG_2972 by gschaus, on Flickr


IMG_2978 by gschaus, on Flickr


IMG_2979 by gschaus, on Flickr


IMG_2980 by gschaus, on Flickr


IMG_2982 by gschaus, on Flickr


IMG_2989 by gschaus, on Flickr