TinWolf
New member
Hello everyone!
I've been a reader here at RC for quite some time, and now that I am diving into a salt water tank, I am going to document my progress and look for some general advice and comments. First a brief history to catch you all up:
In the past I have ran several successful planted fresh water tanks, the biggest being 90 gallons. After witnessing my cousin dive into salt water with great success, I figured I would give it a try; and to turn it up a notch!
The Mrs and I have bought a house in St. Albert, Alberta (Canada) in the summer of 2015. It is a two level split, 1500 square feet and it came complete with an unfinished basement which I have big plans for: Fish Room! To make matters more interesting, the display tank will be on the upper level living room, with the fish room in the basement.
THE MASTER PLAN:
Drop leg display tank on the upper level
Fish room in the basement c/w independent quarantine tank & future frag tank
Complete Apex control
Pump assisted salt water mixing station
ZeoVit? (Undecided)
LED/T5 Lighting
SPS Dominant
For my display tank I originally had purchased a used drop tank for $100: measuring 72" long x24" wide x30" at the drop foot (for the first 24" Long), and 12" deep on the shallow end (for the rest of the 48" long). My construction for the tank started using this heavy beast, but I had two problems: The Mrs didn't like how high the tank would be sitting on the stand (as it blocked a high window over the front door) and"¦ the $100 tank didn't hold water... Since I didn't have a stand (apart from the metal one that I was installing), it was difficult for me to water test (with that drop leg being the issue) so I didn't bother. What should I have expected for a $100! Scrap that tank...
To make myself and the Mrs happy, I did the next best thing: Custom tank!
The tank was brought to life by my local dealer: Aquarium Illusions in Edmonton. I believe I spent 5 hours with the owner, Randy, discussing and planning my tank! The tank went through 4 redesigns to be where it is today through numerous phone calls and visits.
The tank is installed into my front entry landing closet, and avoids the staircase into the basement. Lowering the tank meant a smaller closet: sacrifices had to be made! The Mrs is quite happy to have her window! Happy Wife = Happy Life. Is this correct?
Here is the beginning of the demolition of the top of the closet. Demolition started in November 2016. You can see the original 6' long tank that I was going to use. I'm much happier with my custom tank, however.
The stand is made from 1½" square tubing, welded up by my favorite welding shop, Arc Metal Industries in Edmonton. I install heating and cooling for commercial buildings, so I am using metal all day and hiring welders to build things. This stand is not the craziest thing he has built me! The glass is framed on plastic footing on the base of the tank and placed on ¾ plywood.
The stand sits on four (that's right: 4!) teleposts designed to hold up structural beams in houses. It did make leveling a snap, as the teleposts have screw-jacks on the top, allowing me to adjust the poles up and down. This is beyond overkill for the amount of weight these posts can hold!
Now; that puts the weight of the tank on the landing, not quite to the concrete. For that I will be installing two beams made of two by ten's to carry the front posts and back posts: then picked up by ANOTHER pair of teleposts down to the concrete! Will be more than sufficient!
The tank was lifted onto the stand on December 3rd 2016. It took 4 of us to lift the stand up the stairs and onto the frame. A strenuous job and I'm running out of friends to volunteer to move tanks!
I've been a reader here at RC for quite some time, and now that I am diving into a salt water tank, I am going to document my progress and look for some general advice and comments. First a brief history to catch you all up:
In the past I have ran several successful planted fresh water tanks, the biggest being 90 gallons. After witnessing my cousin dive into salt water with great success, I figured I would give it a try; and to turn it up a notch!
The Mrs and I have bought a house in St. Albert, Alberta (Canada) in the summer of 2015. It is a two level split, 1500 square feet and it came complete with an unfinished basement which I have big plans for: Fish Room! To make matters more interesting, the display tank will be on the upper level living room, with the fish room in the basement.
THE MASTER PLAN:
Drop leg display tank on the upper level
Fish room in the basement c/w independent quarantine tank & future frag tank
Complete Apex control
Pump assisted salt water mixing station
ZeoVit? (Undecided)
LED/T5 Lighting
SPS Dominant
For my display tank I originally had purchased a used drop tank for $100: measuring 72" long x24" wide x30" at the drop foot (for the first 24" Long), and 12" deep on the shallow end (for the rest of the 48" long). My construction for the tank started using this heavy beast, but I had two problems: The Mrs didn't like how high the tank would be sitting on the stand (as it blocked a high window over the front door) and"¦ the $100 tank didn't hold water... Since I didn't have a stand (apart from the metal one that I was installing), it was difficult for me to water test (with that drop leg being the issue) so I didn't bother. What should I have expected for a $100! Scrap that tank...
To make myself and the Mrs happy, I did the next best thing: Custom tank!
The tank was brought to life by my local dealer: Aquarium Illusions in Edmonton. I believe I spent 5 hours with the owner, Randy, discussing and planning my tank! The tank went through 4 redesigns to be where it is today through numerous phone calls and visits.
The tank is installed into my front entry landing closet, and avoids the staircase into the basement. Lowering the tank meant a smaller closet: sacrifices had to be made! The Mrs is quite happy to have her window! Happy Wife = Happy Life. Is this correct?
Here is the beginning of the demolition of the top of the closet. Demolition started in November 2016. You can see the original 6' long tank that I was going to use. I'm much happier with my custom tank, however.
The stand is made from 1½" square tubing, welded up by my favorite welding shop, Arc Metal Industries in Edmonton. I install heating and cooling for commercial buildings, so I am using metal all day and hiring welders to build things. This stand is not the craziest thing he has built me! The glass is framed on plastic footing on the base of the tank and placed on ¾ plywood.
The stand sits on four (that's right: 4!) teleposts designed to hold up structural beams in houses. It did make leveling a snap, as the teleposts have screw-jacks on the top, allowing me to adjust the poles up and down. This is beyond overkill for the amount of weight these posts can hold!
Now; that puts the weight of the tank on the landing, not quite to the concrete. For that I will be installing two beams made of two by ten's to carry the front posts and back posts: then picked up by ANOTHER pair of teleposts down to the concrete! Will be more than sufficient!
The tank was lifted onto the stand on December 3rd 2016. It took 4 of us to lift the stand up the stairs and onto the frame. A strenuous job and I'm running out of friends to volunteer to move tanks!
