150 Gallon In Wall Build - Finally!

[bcwalz]

At long last I am finally starting the in wall build of my 150 gallon tank which has long been sitting empty (previously wasted on fresh water gold fish) and is now in need of cleanup (along with the kids play room). The noise and mess of the play room is what put it over the top for the wife to agree for a wall to finally be raised, so we can close a door.

Current

Right now I've been working on the framing design and I'm planning on 2x6's for the main support for the tank. I'm trying to design it so I can have a nice large opening below it for the 50 gallon tank that will become the sump. Any feedback on this would be most welcome.

Here is the front that will be facing the adult portion of the basement
Front

Here is the back that will be facing the kids room and will allow access to the tank
Back

Next step demolition to make room for the construction of the wall. :beer:

 

[tufkab]

I like that, looks good.

How long is the tank ? I'd be weary of a long unsupported span. Maybe a single vertical support would be a good idea.

I would move the tank a little closer to the wall on the left and the put a small door on the right end. Something like a louvered closet door.

When you walk through the door from the adult side to the kid's side, that little wall there covering the end of the tank - that's where I'd put the small door. You can put your outlets on the inside there so you'd just open that little door and have all your electrical easily accessible right there without having to dig around under the tank. Plus if you use a louvered closet door, you have a way to get heat and humidity out and get air exchange while being able to have the canopy and sump door closed.

 

[bcwalz]

Tank is 6' long. I am now thinking of doubling up the 2x6 on the open side to give more support. Suggestion from my brother in law the engineer. I like your suggestion. I'll have to look into that

 

[bcwalz]

Started construction. Didn't get far but got the ceiling torn down and one wall up. Thanks for the suggestion Tufkab. I've shifted everything down to give myself a small closet at the end.

 

[bcwalz]

As I am building I also want to get the bulk heads and diamond drill bit ordered to drill 3 holes in the end of the tank to do a bean animal over flow. Question I have is what size pipe should I plan for? I'm thinking all three bulk heads at 1.5 inches would be good. Opinions?

Drilling it myself makes me rather nervous, especially since I can't tip it on it's end but I figure if I make a drill guide out of 1 inch wood that forces me to stay straight and take it slow with water dripping in I should be ok.

Will 1 diamond drill bit be able to drill 3 holes before it wears out?

 

[tufkab]

I've bought a couple of those $15 drill bits and after having drilled about 10 holes in the past, I just drilled another two today and they still cut as well as the first hole. So yes, you should be ok for three holes.

One and a half inch bulkheads flow a ton of water and most people will never need the capacity. That being said, I'd still go with 1.5" myself. The only thing to watch out for is spacing. Those big bulkheads need big holes and things might start getting crowded on the side. Don't forget about spacing as well. I believe standard hole spacing is 1.5 hole diameters from the edge to centre of the hole and two hole diameters centre-to-centre between holes. If using 1.5" bulkheads makes that impossible, you should be fine with 1".

Also, for drilling the holes; what I've done in the past when I had to drill a hole on the side was get an old windex bottle and have my wife spray the glass while I'm drilling. I've also found that I actually got less chip out on the back side if I angled the drill slightly right near the end. That way, you break through the other side progressively around the circumference of the hole.

I was nervous too the first time I drilled a tank, but from what I've seen with the holes I've drilled, as long as the glass isn't tempered, you have to do something REALLY stupid to break the glass. The guide is a good idea to start the hole, but I'd pull it out as soon as you have a deep enough groove for the drill to ride in.

 

[Magnetic Reaper]

as long as the bit isn't turning red from heat, they should be good for a very very long time

 

[saybng]

On drilling the holes I clamped my hose the tank and had the water trickle on the hole saw...just use cordless..but u prbbly new that.

 

[scott3569]

i just got done buliding a stand for my 56 gal, i over built it, but i would rather over build then under bulid

 

[bcwalz]

Thanks forn the advice I'll go with 1 inch bulkheads. (And Poteau a bit when drilling anyhow...)

 

[bcwalz]

Did some additional framing today but not much given I only have about an hour after work before my son goes to bed. I'll probably post another pic tomorrow (assuming I get somewhere).

In the mean time I'm going to get three 1" bulkheads and a diamond hole bit ordered. I'm planning on drilling the end of the tank like this.

Given it is a standard 18" wide 150 tank I think I should be safe?

 

[bcwalz]

Finished the framing. Next I plan to put a piece of plywood on top of the stand to help ensure a level surface. I'm sure I over built the stand but I would rather over build than wind up with 150 gallons of water all over the basement.

 

[bcwalz]

Did some additional work this week. Having the wiring in and drywall mostly completed.

And here is the view my kids will enjoy from their play room

 

[scubadan206]

You know that play room will soon become your fish-room, right? I'd have a contingency plan for that at this stage....
Please let me know how the drilling goes. I'm in the planning stages on this myself with my 120 gallon. Need to drill three 1 1/2 inch holes for a bean overflow. I'm a bit nervous since it sits in my living room and will still have sand and a little water in it when I drill. I also designed myself a new sump at 80 gallons for the near future.
Post your design ideas for your sump so we can give you suggestions, and then get you all confused and second guessing yourself:lol:
Daniel :wildone:

 

[scubadan206]

P.S. You're pretty close to me in WI.

 

[bcwalz]

Very true. Once the kids are older it will make a great fish room I have the bulk heads and drill bit ordered from bulk reef supply. Once they come in I start to pray and drill.

 

[scubadan206]

I bought threaded bulkhead fittings. Now after thinking about it I should have bought slip fittings. I don't want anything to be permanent, but I am using 1 1/2 spa flex, and it doesn't work well with clamps or barbed fittings.
Daniel. :wildone:

 

[bcwalz]

Got the bulk heads and drill bit from BRS today. Time to prep the tank for drilling...

 

[bcwalz]

Woo Hoo!!

Woo Hoo!!

:beer: One hole down, two to go. Took about 40 minutes for the one hole alone. I may have gone a bit slower than I needed to but I didn't want to risk chipping the glass.

 

[maddmaxx]

:beer: One hole down, two to go. Took about 40 minutes for the one hole alone. I may have gone a bit slower than I needed to but I didn't want to risk chipping the glass.

40mins for 1 hole??? thats excessively long sir, i drilled 2 holes in my 125g in about 15mins... but if it works then go with it. just a heads up. the diamond drill bits to cut these holes get dull rather quickly. so i would make sure it will handle the 3rd hole. trying to drill the 3rd hole with a dull bit could cause problems. after the second hole is drilled. feel the bit and see if it is still rugged and a lil rough. if its is smooth then you need a new bit for the 3rd hole...