125 Gal in wall project... tank is in :)

[Gawdly]

I was pretty torn between T5 and Halides for this tank. After a lot of reading and discussing, I decided on Halides.

I wanted the most flexible setup I could find. I plan on keeping SPS and some clams as well as some rics, frogspawn and maybe even a shroom or two.

First thing I had to do was make room for the ballasts.

That should do it...
I chose to supliment the Haldies with VHO Actinics. 2 6' URI Super Actinics run on an ARO ballast.

The lower bulb sits in the 45 degree recess in the wall and points at a 45 degree angle towards the back of the tank. I installed 1/4 round shelves on each side to attach the second VHO that points strait down. Light pattern seems to have come out pretty good.

Then I hung the first of my Halides. I will have to buy the other 2 (right and left) after I go donate blood again.

And here they are on...

 

[Gawdly]

I'm using 250watt DE aqualine ab 10k bulbs. The pendants are PFO Minis and the ballasts are PFO HQI.

Here's how it looks with only the one Halide and the VHO.

It's a little blue but not as blue as the photo would lead you to believe. We'll see how it turns out when I get the rest of the Halides.

Also ordered some base rocks from Hirocks. Nice stuff.

I said "Large and interesting shapes". So I got 2 30lbs rocks that are pretty cool and have lots of crevaces. I pretty happy and thinking about ordering another 60lbs only smaller.

I've got the rocks and some of the liverock from my old system setup now but the sand storm is clearing. I'll post more pics again later.

Other than that, I'm running the system watching water parameters. I did empty my sump and add a couple more baffles before my return pump yesterday but that's about it. Need more money.

 

[doody]

First of all, looking good. Second, stop donating blood. Sperm generates more $$$

 

[Sm0kin]

you can also give more often, well depends on the age...

 

[doody]

Do you have both darts hooked up? Does'nt look like you're getting a sand storm from all that flow. Obviously a good thing.

 

[MOX]

wow i am aw struck to see it done blow by blow it great this is coming along quite nicly makeing me wish i owned my own house and 125 or larger to also consider doing what u are congrats and i hope u continue the post n progress

 

[Gawdly]

Hey Doody
Think of all the money I've wasted over the years! :eek1: :lol:

I do have both Darts hooked up. The one I'm using as a return is cranked down to almost nothing though.

No sand storm... though I do have to run the valves on my top two outlets of my closed loop 1/4 closed. I was getting low spots in the sand where those outlets point. I also have tiny sand particles suspended in the water, thought they were microbubbles at first. I'm going to keep an eye on them and may close the valves on the bottom returns down a little too.

Next I'll prolly paint the shelf white and clean up my wiring. I can do that for free.

 

[Gawdly]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=6518022#post6518022 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by MOX
wow i am aw struck to see it done blow by blow it great this is coming along quite nicly makeing me wish i owned my own house and 125 or larger to also consider doing what u are congrats and i hope u continue the post n progress

Thanks MOX!
I'll keep posting... though it seems a couple weeks usually go by between posts.

 

[doody]

Can't wait til I get to the point of doing projects that are free. Right now I'm just working my butt off to buy all the equipment I need. Got the starboard, return pump, all my penductors, and bulkheads. I should be drilling soon. I still need alot of equipment.

 

[sharemaster]

Looking good now it's wet! that flow looks good as well.
As for the floating sand I found a small filter with some floss will polish the water up I did the same thing with my sand added before rinsing :eek2: only take a few hours.
Keep the updates coming

 

[tonym10]

Very nice set up . I am considering doing an in wall. What are the dimensions inside your fish room? How much room do you have from the back of the tank to the back wall, and do you find it to be enough? If I do an in wall I will not have much room behind my tank.
Do you have any details on the stand you built? How its supported etc.....
Thanks

 

[Gawdly]

I'll post the short answer tonight and draw up a picture later... can't believe I haven't posted measurements.

Tank to back wall is 16.5".

It is enough but it's tight. I'm 5'11" and 175 lbs... If I were to gain weight it would not be fun.

Next room will be bigger but this is all I had to work with. Fully usable and I have no complaints considering.

Will describe the stand in a future post.

 

[Dark]

You didn't have a front door? You woulnd be able to see your fishes eating!
Funny this post, i'm doing the same project right now...

Take a look:

At the begining

the hole

The tank (same as yours! lol) and the stand

Now i'm doing the wood around, and the finition.

It's a nice project! You did a really great and nice job!

Dark

 

[tonym10]

Gawdly, thats exactly the amount of room I would have behind my tank If I do an in wall where I want to. Glad to here its enough room. Look forwad to hearing about tour stand construction.

 

[Gawdly]

Hang in there guys...
Can't wait to give you the run down but it's crunch time at work. :eek1:
Think I can do a detailed post this weekend.

 

[boviac]

This is great!!! Love your concepts and future planning for conversion to a bath should need to move arise. I have a 55 gal and have been overgrown with LPS and sofites so much my LFS tells me I need to buy bigger tank. I too want a 125 AGA RR with the predrilled then tempered bottom. Still renting but I plan to do an in-wall system and this is has given me lots of great ideas!!!
I really like your concept of protecting the back paint. Let us know how that holds up.

The angles for the tank opening are a great idea. Can you explain how you did that construction wise?

Chiller in the crawlspace - great idea! Under house piping too. I told my wife I wanted a crawlspace for ease of modifications and this absolutly justifies it whenever the house comes around.

Let us know how the OM 4 way helps simulate more ocean like wavy currents. I just used melev's SCWD concept on my 55 and they're spaced just a bit too far apart and my huge frogspawns and torch corals are blocking the way for effective sway surging. But it is still the best wave patters I have simulated in this tank.

What is the controller device mounted on the far wall? White box? Does that control the exhaust fan?

Did you slope the floor at all for the drain?

How tall is the top of the tank and do you think you will want a stool or something to access the lower parts. Do you plan to have a way to raise the Halides when you need to get in?

Great detail online as well as in construction. Tagging along. Keep it up.

 

[Gawdly]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=6576585#post6576585 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by tonym10
Very nice set up . I am considering doing an in wall. What are the dimensions inside your fish room? How much room do you have from the back of the tank to the back wall, and do you find it to be enough? If I do an in wall I will not have much room behind my tank.
Do you have any details on the stand you built? How its supported etc.....
Thanks

Here is how the room measures out.

As I said before, the room between the tank and back wall works but is tight. If I had the option I would definatley give it at least another 3.5 inches, 7.5 inches would be even better.

The stand is substantial. The front wall under the tank is 2x4s roughly 1' apart supporting a horizontal 4x4 that runs the length of the tank opening. The back of the stand (inside room) is 4x4s on each end and one in the middle, supporting a hoizontal 4x6 running the length of the tank. 3/4" MDF makes the top of the stand and is then covered with a Corian counter top cut to size.

This picture shows a little bit:

 

[Gawdly]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=6579796#post6579796 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by Dark

It's a nice project! You did a really great and nice job!

Dark [/B]

Thanks Dark!

Not that I have any extra experience in the matter, but looking at the back legs of your stand is making me a little nervous. Have you thought about replacing those 2x4s with 4x4s? May not need em' but better safe than sorry.

Looking Good!

 

[Gawdly]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=6589312#post6589312 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by boviac

The angles for the tank opening are a great idea. Can you explain how you did that construction wise?
[/B]

Here's a picture that might help. Basically the 2x4s coming down from the header were cut at 45degrees. Then horizontal 2x4s were attached. Drywall was then later attached to the 2x4s.

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=6589312#post6589312 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by boviac
Let us know how the OM 4 way helps simulate more ocean like wavy currents. I just used melev's SCWD concept on my 55 and they're spaced just a bit too far apart and my huge frogspawns and torch corals are blocking the way for effective sway surging. But it is still the best wave patters I have simulated in this tank.
[/B]

Don't really know yet. I've been having problems with the unit. Paul at OM is helping me out. great Customer Service over there.

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=6589312#post6589312 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by boviac
What is the controller device mounted on the far wall? White box? Does that control the exhaust fan?
[/B]

Bingo... it controls the temp and humidity in the room by switching on the exhast fan if either get too high.

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=6589312#post6589312 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by boviac
Did you slope the floor at all for the drain?
[/B]

Actually... whoever built the house put the slope in for me. The house wasn't exactly built with the utmost respect for the concept of plum and square.

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=6589312#post6589312 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by boviac
How tall is the top of the tank and do you think you will want a stool or something to access the lower parts. Do you plan to have a way to raise the Halides when you need to get in?
[/B]

The top of the tank hits me just under the armpit. Not an exact measurement but that is what I had it built to. I can do most everything with no stool but if I need to get both arms in I have a small stool to get me up just a little higher.

The halides are pretty slick. They hang on chaines from cup hooks at the top going down to eyelets in the top of the pendant. I put in a second set of hooks under the shelf. When I need the Halides out of the way, I just lift them up and slip the eyelets onto the second set of hooks. This puts the pendant 15" off the water instead of 4" off the water where they normally sit.

 

[Gawdly]

Did I miss anything?