APorter's new In-Wall Project Log

[APorter]

After spending a few months back on RC getting myself re-educated, I'm ready to get going on completing my in-wall tank. The tank is the last stage of a complete basement finishing project that was all DIY except installing carpet. The viewable front side of the tank will be in what was once suppose to be my lobby with arcade games that led into the home theater. However, when you have a 2 1/2 year old and a 3 month old who are the first grandkids for three sets of grandparents the amount of toys start adding up quick. My lobby has already been turned into a play area.

Tank: 36"x18"x22" built by Glasscages. The front glass is thier low-iron glass. 5" eurobracing on front top, 3" eurobracing on sides and back. I will be building an external overflow off one end of tank. Overflow will be 10"x6"x5" with two 1" drains. At present time leaning towards BB with black starboard. This leaves me with the option to add some crush coral later.

Sump: Currently looking for a used 20g

Lights: Two Phoenix 150W DE 14K bulbs. I may add a NO flourescent for dusk/dawn or if I need to turn on light at night.

Ballast: Either two Icecap 150W or Blue Wave VII 2-150W HQI

Skimmer: Undecided; originally planned to try and stay under $200 which moves me in the direction of the Coralife Super Skimmer 150G or 200G.

Pump: Not sure still researching. Looking for external and don't need alot of flow through the sump.

Tank Flow: Sump return and Tunze 6000 + single controller

I open to any ideas or suggestions. This isn't a big tank so I'll probably be talking to myself in this thread, but it works for space that I have. I'm going to start on the stand and overflow this weekend.

Here's a pic of where the tank will be located.

 

[Sregnar35]

I've got an inwall 75, it's the best thing you can do with a tank. Good luck.

 

[APorter]

Well Saturday didn't start off as planned. My HOB skimmer on the 46 bowfront leaked over night so I spent Saturday tearing down that tank in order to deal with the spillage. Removing 5" of sand sucks. Started working on the stand tonight, just need to cut the wood for the top.

Exchanged emails with Buckeye Field Supply about a RO/DI. I'm going to get the 75gpd unit sometime this week.

Here's the stand:

 

[Northside Reef]

looks like a real good start, is the room behind the tank going to be a dedicated fish room?

Also don't worry about time lines. Take your time do it the way ya want and have fun

 

[APorter]

The room is part tank room, part storage room for stuff we never use but wife says we have to keep, and hot water tank.

 

[APorter]

So far I've finished the stand and primed the room. Today I cut the opening on my tank for an external overflow. Opening is 8" long and 1 3/4" wide. I used a dremel with tile cutting bit.

 

[ohioreef]

Is that a glass aquarium or acrylic?

 

[APorter]

Glass tank by Glasscages.

 

[RGibson]

Is the hot water tank gas or ele?

 

[APorter]

The hot water tank is gas. I already have outside air coming into this room.

 

[ohioreef]

How did you cut the hole out for the overflow? That looks really nice.

 

[RGibson]

The gas hot water heater will not last to long near that salt water even with out side air.

 

[APorter]

ohioreefer- I used my dremel and a tile cutting bit. I put duct tape on the inside of the tank that had the circle I was cutting drawn on the duct tape. With the tile cutting bit you are grinding tha glass rather than cutting. It turned out being easier than I thought.

RGibson- Can you tell me more about your concern. I've tried to think off every issue that may occur. I have outside air coming into the room, freshwater evaporates, and the water heater is on the other side of the room so there should be no way for saltwater to get on heater.

I finished the painting the room and the stand today.

You can see the white door to the home theater in the picture above.

 

[APorter]

I ordered my RO/DI unit today from Buckeye Field Supply. No more trips to the grocery water center.

 

[ohioreef]

I ordered my RO/DI unit today from Buckeye Field Supply. No more trips to the grocery water center.

You will definately appreciate that!! I couldn't believe how much of a pain it was to go get water until I got my RO unit. Now I just walk out to the trash can and dip some out.

 

[APorter]

My moonlights from autolumination.com arrived in the mail today, so of course I had to see if they worked.

 

[APorter]

Before I drilled for my returns, I wanted to check and see if others thought this would work. I will two 1' drains. For flow I will have one Tunze 6000 in the back corner opposite overflow pointed toward front corner of tank. The remainder of flow is what I need help with. Maybe I'm going about this in the wrong way because I haven't picked a pump, but I originally thought that I would drill two holes in back eurobrace for 3/4 bulkheads. Here's a pick of what I has in mind.

I'm open to other suggestions. Would one eductor on the opposite end of Tunze be better than a return tee'd off to two locations?

 

[APorter]

I feel like a kid in a candy store setting up this tank. Received my black acrylic and my Icecap and MH DIY pendants in the mail yesterday. To bad I needed to do some yard work and didn't get a chance to work on tank.

Any suggestions on the previous post?

 

[APorter]

Received my cutting board from USPlastics. I order biege and got it cut tonight to fit inside the bottom glass brace on the inside of tank.

 

[APorter]

I got the acrylic cut and put in the tank. I'm still looking for any input on the bulkhead sizes and location from the previous posted picture.