Dez' Tank Journal

Dez · #1 05-18-2009, 08:47 PM

Finally some progress to this tank build. I've been busy the last few weeks with work, family etc. My brother came up this weekend and I convinced him to be my "variable jig" for building my stand for my sump room in the basement. After about an hour here's what we came up with. Everything is screwed and glued.

The sump is going on the floor, in the middle rack is my existing frag tank - 48 x 18 x 14tall, and at the top either a standard 75 gallon tank, or 54 gallon tank as my reservoir/water change tank.

Dez · #2 05-18-2009, 08:52 PM

Earlier today I got up the motivation to drill my tank for the closed loop. As usual my 3 year old son was helping me spray with water to keep it cool while I drilled. Here's what we ended up with. The 2 holes in the corner really close together are going to be patched (they were the holes for the existing "reef ready" tank when I bought the tank. I ripped out that internal overflow). The biggest hole is for my 2" intake of the closed loop. I'm getting antsy now because I'm getting closer and closer to plumbing. I have to order an Oceans Motions 4 way cause I can't seem to find one used.

Dez · #3 05-21-2009, 02:02 AM

A little more progress today. Got some primer and I primed the supporting structure of the tank. My wife was great and painted the entire wall that the tank is going against with "mold, mildew and moisture" resistant paint. She also painted the inside ledge. It doesn't even look like she repainted cause we tinted the paint the same colour as the rest of the walls. Maybe tonight after the kids are in bed I'll paint the stand with the same paint.

mark · #4 05-21-2009, 02:55 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dez

Maybe tonight after the kids are in bed I'll paint the stand with the same paint.

thought they were your helpers?

Dez · #5 05-21-2009, 04:27 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mark

thought they were your helpers?

Ha ha....with paint, it's a different story. I'd rather the paint stay off of them, I wouldn't want them to become mildew, mold and water resistant would I?

Eduardo · #6 05-21-2009, 02:55 AM

looking good Dez!

BlueAbyss · #7 05-21-2009, 04:44 AM

Wow looks amazing! I hope my stand looks as good as yours when I'm done. I also hope my siliconing job looks something like yours when it's done

Dez · #8 05-22-2009, 06:47 AM

Well, more progress today. I painted the stand last night. Looking at it today though it'll need another coat. I cut a hole in my wall today. In the picture you'll see a rectangular hole in the floor already. I cut that hole in the floor 4 years ago when the house was being built in anticipation of setting this tank up. If we ever move, I'll just put a cold air return vent to cover this hole and there will be no patching of drywall needed. This hole is where my drains/return will be going to the basement sump directly underneath.

In that picture you'll also see a GFCI plug. I put that plug in tonight. There was never a plug there before. Originally when we were building this house, we were planning for the tank to stick out into the other room(living room) instead of the den. We were going to use the den as an office, but after we had kids, we realized that with an office on the main floor, you can't get any work done unless you ignore your kids. So now we had to add a plug. Wish some fishing of wires, I managed to get a new plug on there (on a separate breaker) without damaging the drywall.

Here is a picture of the plug and hole with the stand in place. Notice the green light on the plug

.....it works!!!! I didn't even electrocute myself.

BlueAbyss · #9 05-22-2009, 07:18 AM

Lookin good! No electrocution? How can you call yourself an amateur electrician

banditpowdercoat · #10 05-22-2009, 12:03 PM

You wired the plug backwards, supposed to light up blue HAHAHA