280g Inwall

[Delphinus]

Thanks, but .. I'm not really interested in drilling rocks and nor really interested in foam. Sorry, just one of those things. I have a vision, and if it takes me longer to stay to that vision so be it. It's not like I have any shame left with the timing on this, so what's a little longer.

That link is crazy. I skipped forward a few pages and see pictures of his open heart surgery and I was all .. Ok I missed something there. For a minute there too I thought all the little electrical things next to his bed were part of his sump room or something.

[Delphinus]

Well, seeing lastlight and Parker update their threads I thought I'd give this thread a little resurrection to make it a gang of 3. Christy's not gonna believe what she missed on whilst sipping Juan's margarita's.

Last night I installed an electrical outlet box on one of my walls! Well, it's just the box part, no wires yet. But it's *totally* bolted onto the aluminum C-channel the outside basement walls are framed up with. And I didn't quite put the vapour barrier back.

I know, it sounds like, not a lot. But the prep work that had to go into it was insane. For one, the spot where I'm starting is adjacent to where I had my old 75g standing and the aluminum studs were seriously rusty (aluminum rusts? who knew!) So I had to rebuild part of that wall. I came out of that experience with a newly found profound hatred of metal studs for walls.

And Ok, I lied. I have done more than this since June. But it's hardly measurable stuff. Like, I put 4 circuits into the tank room. This was a logistical nightmare that went beyond the usual amount of work for such a task because the wall where the outlets are, is framed crooked but it's a load bearing wall AND it's finished on the other side AND it's a stairwell so knocking it down and starting over wasn't an option, but trying to fix it as I go along is laborious. AND I only work on things on this project after 11pm at night, so it tends to go slow. Oh and AND I might kind of had to do it over a few times because I wasn't happy with the results. It also included decommissioning the old 2 circuits that ran the 75g and 110g tanks (which are still running) because they were never inspected and only meant as temporary anyhow. I think I spent 40 hours in total getting the circuits done up in 2-3 hour chunks at a time.

I also had an opportunity to pick up a golden dwarf eel, who now resides in my 110g cube. At first I wasn't concerned about him getting out. Then I decided that too often have I tempted fate in the past and gotten burned that it was just too risky to leave the tank open-top indefinitely, and even though the tank's days are numbered, it's still long enough that a curious eel who wants to get out, has enough time to try. So I built a canopy for that tank using pine 1x8's and a piano hinge and about 20 screws. My DIY skillz are the shizzle marblez! Eat your heart out Mr. Professional Cabinet Builder Fishytime, you're gonna cry with a jealous rage when you see this work of art. You may also decide that my creative use of tuck tape to hold the canopy down onto the tank is something you wish to incorporate into your own designs. It's ok, I didn't apply for a patent so no need to pay me royalties as yet.

Pictures to follow. Sometime soon. When I find my home computer and a camera to use and stuff like that.

[lastlight]

Wow this night is already off the hook! Babysteps Tony! I also do all my work when everyone sleeps. Spent 3 nights now breaking my back trying to route cables in my crowded stand. Looking forward to some pics

[Dez]

Tagging along...........patiently

[danny zubot]

I was going to ask for an update back in like August, but I knew you'd get around to it when you were ready. Looking forward to the new pics.

[Delphinus]

So, here is the end product of the aforementioned 40 hours. I should mention that apart from redoing this several times, and even stepping down my original plans what I wanted (I wanted to do 6 circuits or 4 circuits of 20amps but gave up on that), I also ripped my tendon in my left thumb stripping some of the wires, swore, sweated, bled at times, and probably swore enough to scare a trucker. I'm not making any of this up, so, um .. I guess what I'm saying is please be kind when you critique the work.



And, uh ... hmmm Ok apparently I haven't taken a picture of it with the drywall cover on it (it's just temporary, it will have to come off when the inspector comes). It, uh, looks way better with drywall and actual covers. So just imagine it looking better for now. I'll take a picture of it, uh, maybe tomorrow.

When I took down the old two "temporary" circuits I found one of the GFCI's like this. Yikes. I'm relieved those plugs are now history.



Here is my beautiful canopy for the 110g cube. I know, it's so beautiful you can't help but cry a little bit. Trust me, I know. I'm just gonna sit back and wait for the accolades to pour in now. Any moment now, I'm sure.



Can you see the eel? I'm impressed, for a random shot you can see the eel, the dottyback, the rabbit, the tang (of course), the male bellus, and a chromis. Mind you, I'm gonna guess you might have to squint a bit since the tank part of the photo is so overexposed. Oopsadoodle. Hiding in this shot are the female bellus, the potter's, the blenny and the smaller chromis.



Yeah, I wasn't really going for form over function. If I had put more than 20 minutes into it, I might have made it sit outside the perimeter. I just measured the outside dimensions, built the box and taped it down so no little eel could push his little head under it and still crawl out. The front panel I sliced with a table saw, put in the piano hinge and put the clips on the sides to hold it closed. Hopefully this will keep jumpers and crawlers in where they're supposed to be.

And I guess that's sort of it for "stuff I've built" for now. But, hey, since others folks have been know to post livestock pictures in build threads before the tanks are actually running, so, I might as well do it too, since I have kinda nowhere else to post the next bunch of pics. Here is just as good as any other place.

Golden dwarf eel poking his head out of some GSP..



Ember blenny from Carmen..


This was one of those 1/4" (yes, 1/4") RBTA's from Red Coral back in February. The story cracks me up: Kevin told his supplier "Please don't send huuuuge ones like the last ones you sent" and they sent these wee-little-tiny things smaller than your average majano. I was honestly afraid it wouldn't last longer than 2-3 days before disappearing forever, but it's held on. It's still pretty small but as you can see it's bigger than 1/4". I think it's really pretty with the spotting or starburst pattern or whatever that sparkle-glowy stuff ought to be called..




Thanks for looking.

[lastlight]

I so have to get me one of those ember blennies man. Yours seemed like a sly little guy peeking at me from down in the rocks.

And for a 20 minute canopy that IS pretty kickbutt. You even have a locking latch on the front come on!

Have you done anything with the sump yet?

[Parker]

Originally Posted by Delphinus

When I took down the old two "temporary" circuits I found one of the GFCI's like this. Yikes. I'm relieved those plugs are now history.

That's scary.. I've added checking out the plugs to my things to check on every once in awhile list

I think the wiring was a my least favorite part. I had to run circuits through finished basement walls.. What a pain to try and not pierce the vapor barrier.

My second mistake was placing my sump right up to the cabinet on the left. My electrical cabinet is the left hand cabinet so now if I want to run a plug into it I have to reach over and behind the sump to try and dangle the cord in front of the access hole at the back of the electrical cabinet.

Looks good Tony!

[danny zubot]

Way to go Tony. I'm still using power bars so your electrical is far better than mine. Beautiful eel too.

[Lance]

Tony, Brett and Robb all showing progress on their respective tank build: The world's coming to an end, I just know it. I'm rushing out of the house right now to cross a few things off my Life-To-Do-List. Tonight is sky diving and buying a couple of hours from the Russian hooker triplets.