A very large aquarium in a very small condo!
- Thread starter captngreg
- Start date
captngreg
New member
36 Hours !!!!!
It has taken 23 hours to too move the live rock, water & fish into the old aquarium along with the pump & pluming for the closed loop system. It took an additional 13 hours to finish pluming the filter-refugium systems, protein skimmer and reinstall the lights. After 30 hours I was pretty loopy, but had to finish for the fish & coral's sake. We compleated the entire tear down, move & rebuild in just 36 hours.:fun5:
It has taken 23 hours to too move the live rock, water & fish into the old aquarium along with the pump & pluming for the closed loop system. It took an additional 13 hours to finish pluming the filter-refugium systems, protein skimmer and reinstall the lights. After 30 hours I was pretty loopy, but had to finish for the fish & coral's sake. We compleated the entire tear down, move & rebuild in just 36 hours.:fun5:
Newbie Aquarist
Reefing is my middle name
After 36 hours sounds like either a long sleep or some serious coffee. The good thing is that it will pay off in the long run. Great job.
captngreg
New member
Tunajunky
d-man
I hope you enjoy the ride, it's a love hate relationship for me, this project is is intermingle with periods of joy, expectations, & real feelings of accomplishment sprinkle with moments of utter despair. It's a great once in a life time experience, I hope!!! I don't think I'd want to do it again.
captngreg
New member
Newbie Aquarist
Thanks for the complement. The last 13 hours should have only taken maybe 6 hours, but by then the workforce had dwindled down to just Abraham & myself and we were not working very efficiently or rapidly. I can barely remember the last half hour. I do remember trying to double check my work and trace out the pluming for the filter & chiller just to make sure everything was hooked up properly. It was fairly straight forward but by then my mind was in an absolute fog. Luckily when I did open the valves & turn on the pump, everything worked as expected. I had feared, waking up and finding all the aquarium water on the floor. I could not stay awake for another minute so I went to sleep on the floor next to the aquarium, figuring if the water did start to leak out it would wake me up.
Thanks for the complement. The last 13 hours should have only taken maybe 6 hours, but by then the workforce had dwindled down to just Abraham & myself and we were not working very efficiently or rapidly. I can barely remember the last half hour. I do remember trying to double check my work and trace out the pluming for the filter & chiller just to make sure everything was hooked up properly. It was fairly straight forward but by then my mind was in an absolute fog. Luckily when I did open the valves & turn on the pump, everything worked as expected. I had feared, waking up and finding all the aquarium water on the floor. I could not stay awake for another minute so I went to sleep on the floor next to the aquarium, figuring if the water did start to leak out it would wake me up.
Newbie Aquarist
Reefing is my middle name
SnapDragon
Member
I used to live in Peru, I can only imagine how difficult it is to get all of the supplies for this build. Simply amazing!!!
I'm going to live in peru ,
So i need to compare Notes
My wife knows of some places to go for livestock , But lets just say Gringos like me should not really go !
LOL
Well I know Lima very well and I feel your pain ! ..Thats why i always { in peru hold back the final payment until all is good .. cause thats your only warrantee period .. lol
Your issues with customs comes as no surprise = white powder ... hummm
Keep up the good work , I have the benefit working with Mr Wilson in Oakville ontario , where your a pioneer in lima and have my tool attention Sir and wish you all the best and hope we can meet up over the few years !
Cheers
So i need to compare Notes
My wife knows of some places to go for livestock , But lets just say Gringos like me should not really go !
LOL
Well I know Lima very well and I feel your pain ! ..Thats why i always { in peru hold back the final payment until all is good .. cause thats your only warrantee period .. lol
Your issues with customs comes as no surprise = white powder ... hummm
Keep up the good work , I have the benefit working with Mr Wilson in Oakville ontario , where your a pioneer in lima and have my tool attention Sir and wish you all the best and hope we can meet up over the few years !
Cheers
cameronpalte
New member
Interesting build. You seem to have a lot of restrictions but I love the way you explain each one. Good luck!
captngreg
New member
djd
I sense from you post, that you either feel or fear a type of discrimination against Gringos. I have been living in Peru for over 10 years and have not found that to be the case. I will grant you the fact, that you will, in many cases be charged more for a product or service because you are a Gringo.
AS far as customs goes they are equally hard to deal with, weather you are local, or a Gringo. Items I import into Peru are addressed to my friend Abraham. He's Peruvian, and still we have months of delays in getting items thru.
My latest foray into the world of Peruvian customs is a perfect example. I did not like the bulkhead fitting that I received & brought to Peru last month. So I went ahead and bought new more beefy ones. The invoice, for the fittings said "œOrder # not Invoice #" Custom will not clear the package because I do not have an Invoice that has the word Invoice on it!
There are two companies in Lima that sell saltwater livestock that I am aware of. I import almost all the live stock for my aquarium in my luggage when I fly to Peru from the US. The airlines charges an additional $270 dollars per extra 70lb bag. That cheap when you consider I can get them thru airport customs without months of delay LOL, and the cost of livestock in the US compared to Peru.
I lost my copper banded butterfly during the move. I had had a pair of skunk clowns that where very aggressive & would only allow my copper banded to eat Aiptasia anemones in about ¼ of the tank. So when we moved the old tank I removed the skunk clowns, but without a copper banded I was afraid I would have an explosion of Aiptasia before I could return from the US with a replacement. I went ahead and bought a $40 dollar copper banded butterfly US price for 700 solas or about $270 dollars here in Peru!
When you get to Peru Please email me and we can get together.
I've been planning on going up to Oakville Ontario in the spring, for two reasons. One; I PM Mr. Wilson a while back and he told me he could get me a nice selection of coral. Secondly; I'm hopping I might have a chance to see Peters tank personally!
captngreg
I sense from you post, that you either feel or fear a type of discrimination against Gringos. I have been living in Peru for over 10 years and have not found that to be the case. I will grant you the fact, that you will, in many cases be charged more for a product or service because you are a Gringo.
AS far as customs goes they are equally hard to deal with, weather you are local, or a Gringo. Items I import into Peru are addressed to my friend Abraham. He's Peruvian, and still we have months of delays in getting items thru.
My latest foray into the world of Peruvian customs is a perfect example. I did not like the bulkhead fitting that I received & brought to Peru last month. So I went ahead and bought new more beefy ones. The invoice, for the fittings said "œOrder # not Invoice #" Custom will not clear the package because I do not have an Invoice that has the word Invoice on it!
There are two companies in Lima that sell saltwater livestock that I am aware of. I import almost all the live stock for my aquarium in my luggage when I fly to Peru from the US. The airlines charges an additional $270 dollars per extra 70lb bag. That cheap when you consider I can get them thru airport customs without months of delay LOL, and the cost of livestock in the US compared to Peru.
I lost my copper banded butterfly during the move. I had had a pair of skunk clowns that where very aggressive & would only allow my copper banded to eat Aiptasia anemones in about ¼ of the tank. So when we moved the old tank I removed the skunk clowns, but without a copper banded I was afraid I would have an explosion of Aiptasia before I could return from the US with a replacement. I went ahead and bought a $40 dollar copper banded butterfly US price for 700 solas or about $270 dollars here in Peru!
When you get to Peru Please email me and we can get together.
I've been planning on going up to Oakville Ontario in the spring, for two reasons. One; I PM Mr. Wilson a while back and he told me he could get me a nice selection of coral. Secondly; I'm hopping I might have a chance to see Peters tank personally!
captngreg
captngreg
New member
cameronpalte
RESTRICTIONS !!! I have Restrictions on the Restrictions!
I feel like a person trying too but a 4" square peg into a 3" round whole!
I'm just too hardheaded; many people told me I could not put a 600 gallon system into a 1000 square foot house.
It will happen; as long as I don't die trying.
Hopefully I'll have some picture tomorrow. I'm putting wheels on the new tank. Since my space is so small I need to move the aquarium around to be able work in different areas.
captngreg
RESTRICTIONS !!! I have Restrictions on the Restrictions!
I feel like a person trying too but a 4" square peg into a 3" round whole!
I'm just too hardheaded; many people told me I could not put a 600 gallon system into a 1000 square foot house.
It will happen; as long as I don't die trying.
Hopefully I'll have some picture tomorrow. I'm putting wheels on the new tank. Since my space is so small I need to move the aquarium around to be able work in different areas.
captngreg
captngreg
New member
Putting wheels on a 500 gallon aquarium:lolspin:
I'm putting wheels on the new tank. Since my living area is so small I will need to move the aquarium around to be able work in different areas.
I bought 8 heavy duty ball barring swivel 1000lb cater wheels from Granger. I used these casters to construct three dollies. The two dollies that will be place at either end of the stand will have two caster wheels each, the dolly in the middle will have four. Once the tank is in its finial location I will lower the tank the same way I raised it. I'm planning on reuse the casters to make a couple of round dillies to be able to move garbage cans of water around for water changes.
Sorry for the poor quality of the pic. It was the only one I took of the caster wheels. Just goes to show you, you always need to take multiple pictures of everything!
I will be using two 2000 lb hydraulic car jacks to elevate the tank & stand so I can insert the three dollies.
Dollies are in place & we are preparing to remove the jacks.
I'm putting wheels on the new tank. Since my living area is so small I will need to move the aquarium around to be able work in different areas.
I bought 8 heavy duty ball barring swivel 1000lb cater wheels from Granger. I used these casters to construct three dollies. The two dollies that will be place at either end of the stand will have two caster wheels each, the dolly in the middle will have four. Once the tank is in its finial location I will lower the tank the same way I raised it. I'm planning on reuse the casters to make a couple of round dillies to be able to move garbage cans of water around for water changes.
Sorry for the poor quality of the pic. It was the only one I took of the caster wheels. Just goes to show you, you always need to take multiple pictures of everything!
I will be using two 2000 lb hydraulic car jacks to elevate the tank & stand so I can insert the three dollies.
Dollies are in place & we are preparing to remove the jacks.
captngreg
New member
Drilling two holes in the back wall that will be used for the heat exhaust port. There will also be louvers on the exhaust ports that will prevent outside air from entering the hood.
The aquarium hood is being designed with a 4" opening running along the top lenghts of the tank and an opening at the top of the hood as well. As the air is heated by the tank water & lights, the air will raise drawing new cooler air from the room over the surface of the tank. The warm air will be either actively vent to the outside by two 6" exhaust fans or allowed reenter the room thru the vents at the top of the hood. The two 6" fans will be controlled by a combination of temperatures from the house using a "œWON BROTHERS D-58 LED DIGITAL DISPLAY TEMPERATURE CONTROLLER" and from the aquarium using the APEX controller. If the temperature of the house is less than 72 degrees the fans will not come on, and if the temperature of the aquarium is at or under the temperature set for the aquarium's heaters the fans will not engage either.
The original concept drawing for the aquarium.
The aquarium hood is being designed with a 4" opening running along the top lenghts of the tank and an opening at the top of the hood as well. As the air is heated by the tank water & lights, the air will raise drawing new cooler air from the room over the surface of the tank. The warm air will be either actively vent to the outside by two 6" exhaust fans or allowed reenter the room thru the vents at the top of the hood. The two 6" fans will be controlled by a combination of temperatures from the house using a "œWON BROTHERS D-58 LED DIGITAL DISPLAY TEMPERATURE CONTROLLER" and from the aquarium using the APEX controller. If the temperature of the house is less than 72 degrees the fans will not come on, and if the temperature of the aquarium is at or under the temperature set for the aquarium's heaters the fans will not engage either.
The original concept drawing for the aquarium.
Newbie Aquarist
Reefing is my middle name
Everything is coming along fine.
Sent from my iPhone using Siri and Tapatalk.
Sent from my iPhone using Siri and Tapatalk.
captngreg
New member
Thing are progressing slowly.
Finished the two holes for the exhaust vents, inserted the lovers and used expanding foam to seal up the openings around the louvers.
We have now started to line the walls with ¾" marine grade plywood. The plywood will be stained & coated with DD varnish. DD varnish is a two part varnish that holds up well in a moist environment. This plywood will make installing lights, pluming & hardware in the hood much easier.
I'm using a Sony Alpha NEX Cameras to take my pictures. I keep getting these two toned pictures. Does anyone know why & how to stop it from happing?
Can anyone recommend a good camera for taking nice aquarium pictures? I'm not really into photography that much. What I'm looking for is a camera that takes great auto everything pictures, if it exists!
Finished the two holes for the exhaust vents, inserted the lovers and used expanding foam to seal up the openings around the louvers.
We have now started to line the walls with ¾" marine grade plywood. The plywood will be stained & coated with DD varnish. DD varnish is a two part varnish that holds up well in a moist environment. This plywood will make installing lights, pluming & hardware in the hood much easier.
I'm using a Sony Alpha NEX Cameras to take my pictures. I keep getting these two toned pictures. Does anyone know why & how to stop it from happing?
Can anyone recommend a good camera for taking nice aquarium pictures? I'm not really into photography that much. What I'm looking for is a camera that takes great auto everything pictures, if it exists!
deepblue68
Premium Member
awesome build. good luck with everything!
Spirofucci
New member
El Capitan! What a great build thread! I like how you documented your philosophy first and then the build. Very interesting so far!!
