240g and Fishroom build

[rcmania]

All I can say is, yes!!! I have been really busy. I have a build thread on here of my 65g reef tank. At the end of that build I wasnt happy. I learned a lot building it and want to do things different and bigger. But before I could do that, I had to sell my smaller house. Well last December it sold and I broke down my 65 gallon aquarium. I had been homeless for several months until we bought our new ranch style house over a full finished basement! However with any good deal there had to be improvements made to the home. During this I decided to place a 240g long glass aquarium on the main floor in the living room. Unfortunatly this location is over the garage downstairs so a support post is out of the question. I cant run the aquarium across the joist due to the way the livingroom lays out. So ill have to run it with floor joist. After some measuring I figured the tank will fall over two joist. Luckly the joist are exposed in the garage so it made it a little easier. I took a jack and jacked the floor up some to be able to add two more floor joist. What I did was just doubled up the floor joist under tank location. The floor joist also have X bracing running from joist to joist. Im thinking this will be enough? If not, my wife will be really unhappy with the tank in her car. So I added my sheetrock to the the joist to finish out the garage. So in front of that garage is a door that leds into my shop, which had a smaller room off of the shop that had no wall dividing the two. The smaller room of the shop is now my fishroom. I tore out all the paneling and drop ceiling. As of right now I have the dividing wall up and door installed. Whats left is to run electrical and sheetrock it. Now my fish room will have my old 65 gallon tank (QT), Water mixing station, utility sink (yes the shop was plumbed for washer and drier) so i just have to move the plumbing about 4 feet and into the fishroom.

Now im all about easy and cool stuff. So I will have 3 pipes run from my tank to the fishroom. These pipes will run into the wall behind the tank and down into the garage and then over to the fishroom. 2 are for water changes and one for ATO. of course all this will be controlled by my profilux that still packed up. Right now im trying to think of a way to keep the water from syphoning back down to the fishroom, ill figure something out.

And pictures will be along in just a few.

 

[rcmania]

Here are a couple of the doubled up joist.

Here is the future fishroom

Just some sheetrock and electrical work to get get done.

 

[rcmania]

Here is a photo of the location of the DT. I origianlly was going to place it in the livingroom over the garage. Due to the joist running parallel with the tank I would need support under it. So to keep from taking over my wifes part of the garage and or risking the tank falling through onto her car, i decided to move it to this location. This also allows it to be directly over the fish room. Even though that the joist will still be parallel to the DT, Im pretty sure if i add one more joist and then place a few support post (4x4) under the floor, it should be fine. The opening you see now is 6 feet long. I can still place a 240g tall in this location or i can go with a 240g long and have it go to the closet door. Of course im thinking of just leaving it and sliding a 240 tall in. What I dont like about this setup, is that i wont be able to look down the end of the DT. Im also trying to decide if I want my sump in the basement or under the DT, Im leaning toward the basement. And these pictures where taking before we moved in, no my wall is no longer alien snot green.lol

And here is a picture of the shop that goes into the fishroom, before demo and remodeling was started.

 

[rcmania]

The orange floor joist will be added and everything in green will be 4x4 post

 

[AGreyCrane]

Good luck! I would always have an engineer take a look at some thing like this to make sure the load is being transferred properly. Then again... I'm paranoid.

:love1:

 

[rcmania]

Thanks, I don't think I'm done designing the support. I know I can come up with something better and stronger.

 

[rcmania]

Well I have been doing different options for support I do believe I have something that will work. Everything that is red will be added (Joist and studs). The green under the tank will be made of treated 4x4 post. This will also support the sump directly below the DT.

 

[rcmania]

Update

Update

Ok, I have been busy doing multiple projects around the house and working on the fishroom when I can. I have got some things completed

here is the completed wall up dividing the shop from the fish room.

As you can see the tank would only hit two joist and it would be center of the joist. I needed to add several joist to the area. Now I wanted to run the new joist from center beam to out block wall, however duct work and water lines kept me from doing this. I spent the first part of my working career building homes and know a few things when it comes to construction and weight load. So my brother (contractor) and I came up with this plan. I then took it to another friend who is also a contractor and showed him my plans and got a green light from him. I trust both of these people due they will help clean up the mess if something should happen. :ape:

The first thing I did was add a spacer 2x10 against the existing joist. This helped tie it all together and it makes it just right for the next 2x10 to land directly under the DT.

I then added 2 more 2x10s next to the first, attaching all together. Yes i know they are different lengths but all are longer than needed to be. Rather have a few inches hanging over the main support then lacking 2 inches.

The 2x4 is just a reference point of main support and also acted as my helping hand due to im doing this all solo.

And here it all is installed.

And I have started hanging the drywall and also replaced the overhead light.

 

[rcmania]

I took this old cabinet that was mounted in the garage and was going to trash it but decided it could be used in the fish room over the counter. So I peeled the shelf paper off and slapped some paint on it. I have doors for it but I need to pick up some new hinges.

I pulled the Ro unit back off the wall and painted the plywood it was mounted to. This sheet of plywood will hold the RO Unit and powerbars and other things that can be mounted.

Now the two lines go through that wall back into my shop where I have water supply and a drain which is located just on the other side of that wall.

 

[rcmania]

Update:
I have pretty much finished the fish room. I replaced all the outlets with GFCI outlets, Finished up the trim work, RO unit has been installed and Cabinet installed. I took my old 65 gallon and set it up in the "Man cave" for a temporary QT. I may make it permanent but im not sure at this point. Do take pictures of the 65 but ended up painting the back with black primer. I gotta say it went a lot easier than gloss paint and looking at it through the glass, it adds a nice shine to it.

Im about to purchase my water storage containers, 2 55 gallon vertical tanks. They are in my shopping cart but I havent manned up yet and click submit. 100 dollar shipping is a bit much I think, but they are the size I need for the space I have. OH and i spoke with my LFS the other day. Looks like im going in next Wed to purchase the aquarium. I am going with a 220 RR with duel corner overflows. It will take a week to get it to the store after he orders it for me.

 

[rcmania]

Using the Ol Brute until I can get my tanks

Cabinet and counter, Box has my Profilux 3

Filling the 65 gallon QT. It will remain a BB tank with a HOB filter. I want to give the fish a place to hide during the QT to try and reduce stress as much as possible.

Side build, the 20 gallon long. It will be my nano reef. Built the stand a little different but still needs to be skinned. This tank will have a HOB filter which will be here tomorrow.

 

[rcmania]

Also Could a MOD please move this thread to the Large Reef Tanks forum please? I jumped the gun when I started the thread.

Thanks

 

[rcmania]

Well I just got back from ordering my tank. I ended up going with a 220 marineland RR aquarium. It should be here in a week ( i hope). Well on a side note my opening is about an inch to small. The tank is 72 7/16. So I will have to move the closet wall over a little. But I wont start that until I get my tank here and stand built.

 

[rcmania]

AND THE TANK IS HERE!!
I also ordered my AI lights and the cable that joins it with my profilux.
I should have everything this weekend and ill be able to pick up my tank tomorrow.

 

[worm5406]

Very nice... Make sure you have the people ready and something to sit it ON (not on the glass) when you are there.

 

[rcmania]

Well I headed to Lowes early this morning and purchased a few items to help with moving this tank to the house. I bought 8 wheel casters and well, a few (10) of the straightest 2x4's I could find. I gotta say the early bird gets the worm. Going that early you can get some of the best lumber. So I went back home and made 2 dollies using 2x10,s and the wheel casters. I also took 4 of the 2x4's and cut a few to size and loaded everything in the Jeep along with two drills and a box of deck screws. I had two of my buddies meet me over at the house and we all jumped in the Jeep and took off to pick up the tank.

So we get to the LFS and I see my tank on a pallet which was still wrapped to it. I backed the trailer to the front door, dropped the ramps and 4 of us picked up the tank and walked it up on the trailer. I took my 2x4s and built a crate around it and screwed the crate to the wooden floor of the trailer. Then took a few straps and secured it down.

Once we arrived at the house (after the guys made me feed them) I back the trailer up to the garage, dropped the ramps and removed the straps and crate. Two of us picked up one end as a third slid a dollie under the tank then we moved to the other end and did the same thing and rolled the tank down the ramps and right into the garage.

Now this is our first place with a garage so my wife has become spoiled by being able to park her car inside. I gotta say im somewhat spoiled also. So the last thing I want to do is take over her parking spot with my build. So I decided to just leave the tank on the pallet and dollies while I build the stand and canopy. This way I can just roll the tank out when working on it and roll it back in the shop when done. This will keep her garage clear and keep her happy. :love1:

And whats a tank build without a picture of a little one in the picture.

Tank at the house in the garage! All safe and sound.

Finally a good look at the tank. Im so happy with the black silicone! its nice and neat!

So as I was drooling over my tank I hear the distinct sound of the UPS dude! He was so kind to drop off these. Its 2 of the 3 im gonna need. I purchased these from a RC member 2 days ago. FAST SHIPPING! Thank you drsalomon :dance:

 

[worm5406]

Very good.

Yeah... glad you left her a spot... Would not want the new tank to be your casket. LOL

 

[rcmania]

Very good.

Yeah... glad you left her a spot... Would not want the new tank to be your casket. LOL

lol, so very true.


Our house is set up differently. Any one of the three rooms would mike a dining room but we decided to make the dining room the room with the large tile and the fireplace. This is also the room that sits over the fishroom.
From the beginning once I mentioned a large upgrade she wasnt to sure about it, but let me do my thing. Now she is talking about turning the living room into the dining room, and the dining room into the living room. We will have to move the TV and re-run the cables but she said its a shame that its going to be in the dining room.
Today I hooked up my LEDs to my profilux to test them out and kind of play around with them. When she saw them in action she is all for the change over now. Which is fine with me. I originally wanted the tank in the living room but was unable to reinforce the floor due to it being over the garage.


Well I need to get off my rump and go pick up some 2x6's for the stand but ill post a few more pictures first.

 

[rcmania]

In this picture I have marked out where the tank will actually sit. I moved it over a few inches (4) to give me a 3 inch clearance for the MP40s.

The marks on the wall are showing how high the tank will be.

Im still trying to figure out the best option on cutting the floor tile on the floor. I dont want the tank sitting on the tile in fear that it would pop and break tiles causing an issue, so I plan on cutting out the area where the tank will sit. Any ideas on what to use?

 

[dave.m]

I agree that setting that much weight on tiles could be a risky business, and what you want most is to ensure you have a very level, very stable floor to set your tank and stand on. You haven't said what type of tiles they are but I would suggest lifting all the tiles in the area the tank is meant to go and renting a tile saw to cut out pieces that would fit around the stand once it is in it's final position.

Dave.M