Another dirrection.... again.

[magdelan]

I've decided to downsize once again. However, this time is for a good cause. I am going to build a cube into a partition so that it is viewable from three sides. I drew a picture so that I could see my vision (and to okay it with the wife...she said, "okay").

Here is our livingroom which is conected to the current fish room.

Here is the drawing with the tank incorporated into the two rooms.

My plan:

2'x2'x2' cube with back wall overflow.
10g sump
small skimmer (any recomendations?)
LED lighting (haven't decided on brand yet)
1 x Vortech mp10
Small submersible in-sump pump for recirc.

I'm going to try my hardest to K.I.S.S.

 

[jdoenumber2]

Small skimmer. I love my SWC 160. Same size tank.

 

[magdelan]

JD- Can you post a pic of your tank? I'd love to see it!

 

[truebeliever71]

Love the idea. I can't wait to see how it turns out. As for lights why not DIY an LED fixture?

 

[Capt_Cully]

Looks sweet Michael! I take it, that's not a load bearing wall, if you're going to notch it? What type of reef are you planning? More tolerant stuff?

 

[rjmayes34]

i think that the tank built in to a wall like that looks sweet!!! My only advice would be can you go any bigger? If your going to do all that work could you do a 4x2x2??? Just my thoughts that if you going to do all that work might as well go as big or bigger than you current tank.....Maybe move the other side of the opening back farther to give you more tank room. And what about the ambient light that wil come in through you dining room window?

 

[captain7359]

Do the 30*30*24 93 gallon. ARC has one and it looks awsome for a "smaller" tank.

 

[magdelan]

Tank Size

Tank Size

i think that the tank built in to a wall like that looks sweet!!! My only advice would be can you go any bigger? If your going to do all that work could you do a 4x2x2??? Just my thoughts that if you going to do all that work might as well go as big or bigger than you current tank.....Maybe move the other side of the opening back farther to give you more tank room. And what about the ambient light that wil come in through you dining room window?

My current tank is a 4x2x2 and I'm trying to keep it on the smaller side. The ambient light coming in won't be any different from the location of the tank now.

Do the 30*30*24 93 gallon. ARC has one and it looks awsome for a "smaller" tank.

Those are some nice dimentions, but a 2' cube is about as big as I'm "allowed" to go. I'm going between a 24x24x18 (18" high) or the 2x2x2.
Also, I'm wondering if I would benefit at all form going rimless. That way there would be no moulding around the top of the tank where the tank meets the wall. It would just go glass to wall.

Present 120g display

Picture I took last night through the long end

 

[magdelan]

Load bearing wall?

Load bearing wall?

Looks sweet Michael! I take it, that's not a load bearing wall, if you're going to notch it? What type of reef are you planning? More tolerant stuff?

Seeing that it would be very bad if I over looked this, how can i find out if it is a "load bearing wall"?

Love the idea. I can't wait to see how it turns out. As for lights why not DIY an LED fixture?

Do you have any links to a DYI LED unit? I would certainly considder it.

 

[mr.maroonsalty]

That looks like a small remodel job; even if the opening isn't carrying any load you'll need something to hold up that header, replace it, or remove it completely. Knowing the direction the ceiling joists run will help you decide how much engineering will need doing.

 

[magdelan]

Floor Joists

Floor Joists

That looks like a small remodel job; even if the opening isn't carrying any load you'll need something to hold up that header, replace it, or remove it completely. Knowing the direction the ceiling joists run will help you decide how much engineering will need doing.

The floor joists run perpendicular to the outside wall and parallel to the wall being remodeled.

 

[mr.maroonsalty]

Thats a good sign; what's built on top of it on the next level?

 

[Capt_Cully]

How do you plan to access the tank? Your drawing doesn't show any door, hidden or cabinet style. Where and how will it be plumbed?

 

[magdelan]

Tank access will be through a hinged door on the left side of the tank. Same for access to the sump. As for plumbing, I was thinking about doing a herbie style overflow to make it as quiet as possible. Maybe a Mag Drive 9.5 for the return pump, maybe smaller?

I'm going to reroute the main electricity wire over to the new setup to give it it's own power source again. I may also reroute the drain plumbing over to it so I can drain the sump dirrectly into our sewer line as I have it right now.

I have 4 months to figure this out. So continue asking questions. As always, I'm learning.

 

[magdelan]

Thats a good sign; what's built on top of it on the next level?

Our dresser is up against the wall that seperates our room from our son's. The wall that I want to notch out for the new tank is dirrectly under our dresser.

 

[Gary Majchrzak]

what the hell?




fwiw I like the new plan.

I'm already starting to wonder what will be next! :lolspin:

 

[truebeliever71]

Do you have any links to a DYI LED unit? I would certainly considder it.

Check the DIY section. There's dozens of threads out there... here's a good one.

http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?t=1957396

This one is great!
http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?t=1975251

If you have any questions let me know. I would love to help. I'll be posting pics and such of my LED build.

 

[letuanvy1268]

mike,
go get the solara, all in one

 

[magdelan]

mike,
go get the solara, all in one

Do you mean the Solana? I am looking to put this in a wall. Otherwise it would be a nice setup. I think the Solara is an LED light.

 

[letuanvy1268]

you right, solana.
trs may have a 40g cube