Colorado Reef

9/25 update

9/25 update

We've moved into a new home and started construction on the basement and where the new 300 gallon reef will live. The first pictures show the new door into what will be the fish room and the second photo shows the framing in the basement.

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We've since finished the basement and now I have dedicated my attention to construction the fish room. I cut and framed the opening to the wall where you will be able to view the tank from the living area.

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Next was framing out the viewing window. I probably should have used a 2x6 instead of a 2x4 header but since the wall is not weight bearing I figured it would be fine. I put in 6 separate electrical circuits to supply the tank room to ensure that I have plenty of power and fail safes so everything can be split up between them. After electrical was in, I put insulation in the walls and covered it with soundboard to try and get the room as quiet as possible so I don't hear pumps and the tanks from the living room. The metal support pole is inconvenient in the tank room, but I have enough room to get the tank in a run plumbing off the back of the tank and not hit the pole. Once the soundboard was in place, I starting hanging cement backboard to the walls and ceiling. It has since been taped and mudded on all seams and concrete caulk place at all seams. Today I will be applying RedGard to everything in the room. This will seal the cement board and make the room waterproof.

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9/25 update

9/25 update

The following pictures are of the 240 gallon sump tank and 125 gallon refugium tank. The 240 will be placed on the floor with a stand build around and over it to allow for the 125 to sit above it. Like my last build I will be using cement blocks to build the stands and the main tank will have a 3-4" sheet metal board to support the main tank.

<a href="https://ibb.co/n3g8K9"><img src="https://preview.ibb.co/fa9HCU/IMG_2816.jpg" alt="IMG_2816" border="0"></a>

Yesterday, I got the main tank delivered using a friend's horse trailer to transport it over to my house (long story). I had to build a palate and put wheels on the bottom of the palate to make it level with the horse trailer. This allowed for a palate jack to be used to lift the tank and slide it onto the pallet so I could get it into my garage without having to rent a forklift. Thanks to the construction guys around the corner for helping push it into the garage.

<a href="https://ibb.co/c9TYmp"><img src="https://preview.ibb.co/cHBVXU/IMG_0466.jpg" alt="IMG_0466" border="0"></a>

<a href="https://ibb.co/hbS4sU"><img src="https://preview.ibb.co/bCOcCU/IMG_0468.jpg" alt="IMG_0468" border="0"></a>

Next will be painting the RedGard today and next week painting the epoxy white over the RedGard so I am not living in a "Red Rum" fish room. I will also be installing a ventilation fan in the room that will run up into a bedroom closet above and up in the attic and out the side of the house. Once the exhaust fan is installed I will seal off the room and be installing a new floor drain into the concrete slab. Stay tuned and feedback and criticism is always welcomed..
 
Following along. Great documentation on the last build. Looking forward to seeing this come along.
 
I still hate the color Red...

I still hate the color Red...

[MENTION=14865]Bono[/MENTION] "“ the tank was made by CustomAquariums

I've started painting RedGard on the cement boards on the walls and ceiling. I hate painting RedGard but it's definitely worth it. Probably going to take 2-3 coats. After RedGard, I will put up a white epoxy paint. Hoping to be done with the RedGard tonight. After the painting I will extend the wall outlets out since I now have soundboard and cement board on the walls and they need to be extended. After that I will be installing the ventilation/exhaust fan in the ceiling and running it up through a guest bedroom closet, into the attic, and out the side of the house. The exhaust fan I will be installing is a Broan in-line fan from Grainger that is 1275 CFM which is more than enough to move air out of the room. I have to get a much bigger fan since it will be traveling through almost 50 feet of ducting. I will program it to run every 30 minutes to an hour for a few minutes to circulate the air.

<a href="https://ibb.co/nHpfbz"><img src="https://preview.ibb.co/mjD6Gz/RedGard.jpg" alt="RedGard" border="0"></a>
 
I ordered a tank from CustomAquariums about 3 weeks ago and was told it could take up to 12 weeks for delivery. What was your experience ?
 
[MENTION=14865]Bono[/MENTION] - mine was a few months and it ended up being a month behind schedule.


Finally finished applying the RedGard to the ceiling and walls of the tank room. Next steps are to apply a white epoxy paint to the walls, install the ventilation fan and ducting, followed by installing the floor drain. More to come...

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This morning I cleaned out the old sump and refugium tanks.

<a href="https://ibb.co/hiOm8e"><img src="https://preview.ibb.co/f34F1z/IMG_0496.jpg" alt="IMG_0496" border="0"></a>
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Today I picked up the 5 gallons of white epoxy paint and drilled two pilot holes from the bedroom closet above the fish room as a guide. I then cut the hole in the ceiling where the ventilation ducting will be. The path will be from the fish room, up into a bedroom closet, into the attic and out the side of the house. Tomorrow I plan on painting the epoxy and hopefully the rain/snow will hold off so I don't freeze with all my basement windows open while painting"¦

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<a href="https://ibb.co/k1gCOp"><img src="https://preview.ibb.co/bWRe3p/IMG_0513.jpg" alt="IMG_0513" border="0"></a>
 
Here are some updated pictures of the white epoxy painting. I finished it today, and coated the floor as well. Now just waiting for the exhaust fan to be delivered so I can install that and then install the floor drain.

<a href="https://ibb.co/enTSR9"><img src="https://preview.ibb.co/j4qwKU/image.png" alt="image" border="0"></a><a href="https://ibb.co/dwrE69"><img src="https://preview.ibb.co/mAgstp/image.png" alt="image" border="0"></a>
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It’s been a while since the last update. I’ve been busy with work and travel, but have had some time to get things moving again. I had to figure out a way to get some ventilation into the room. I found that the best (straightest) shot was to go up above the tank, into a guest bedroom closet, and into the attic and out the side of the house. Let the demo begin… The first picture is the ventilation fan. It is a monster of a fan. It’s a Broan in line 1275 cfm exhaust fan. It will definitely be able to vent the room and I will hook this up to the Apex unit so I can have it timed to exhaust every so often.

<a href="https://ibb.co/t8xQYsQ"><img src="https://i.ibb.co/XS3jFsj/IMG-0554.jpg" alt="IMG-0554" border="0"></a>

Here is the ventilation ducting. It is 12x8 ducting that will be connected the the exhaust fan.
<a href="https://ibb.co/nRGzkb9"><img src="https://i.ibb.co/JC15kKV/IMG-0557.jpg" alt="IMG-0557" border="0"></a>


This picture show the ventilation ducting running through the closet and into the attic. I will have to build a frame around the ducting and insulate it with sound board to deaden the sound. After that will be hanging drywall with texture and paint to make it disappear.
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<a href="https://ibb.co/FXKZKnM"><img src="https://i.ibb.co/zFr9rNY/IMG-0562.jpg" alt="IMG-0562" border="0"></a>

This picture shows the exhaust line louvre vent out the side of the house from the attic. It’s been sealed and all I need to do now is to paint it to match the house.
<a href="https://ibb.co/DpNcBrF"><img src="https://i.ibb.co/pygVHhT/IMG-0604.jpg" alt="IMG-0604" border="0"></a>

Concrete blocks are the devil. I lugged these things into the garage and down the stairs into the fist room to start build my tank stands. These will be the base of the stands and will be filled with concrete to make them solid.
<a href="https://ibb.co/wWpkKX5"><img src="https://i.ibb.co/0MY7fSH/IMG-0611.jpg" alt="IMG-0611" border="0"></a>
 
The garage has become a holding area for supplies. My wife is being very patient, especially since it's winter now in Denver (I need to clean this out soon). Below is the main tank and refugium metal platforms. The plan is to sit these metal platforms on top of the concrete cinder blocks and have a sheet of plywood with homasote under the tank. I finished buffing both metal frames and next is to prime and paint them with the epoxy paint. The plywood layer will also be sealed with the epoxy paint. If it warms up today in Denver, the plan is to start painting.
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This shows the outline on the floor where we have begun concrete demolition. This will be the floor drain and line that runs into another floor drain in the utility room next door to the tank room.
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For the floor drain, the outline was marked on the floor where the saw cuts would be made. I then used 2x4s on the floor to build a frame and sealed the seams to the floor with caulking. This was done to trap all the water from when we made the concrete cuts and used a hose to limit the amount of dust produced. Basically mimicking a wet saw. A shop vac was used to them suction the water and lead it to the current floor drain behind the water heater.
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These last two pictures show the concrete being busted out. I used a sledge hammer, pickaxe, and drill to demo the concrete. The concrete chunks were put into buckets and then carried upstairs for disposal. I am currently using the same method for removing the dirt underneath. The plan for today is finish digging out the dirt from the trench and then will fill 2" of gravel into the trench. Once the gravel is in place, I can do a dry fitting of the plumbing to make sure everything looks good. My next day is Friday, so hopefully the floor drain will be finished and concrete will be placed back into the trench and cinder block stand frames.
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<a href="https://ibb.co/qd5q5rP"><img src="https://i.ibb.co/47dvdV5/IMG-0634.jpg" alt="IMG-0634" border="0"></a>

Anyone have any luck with 3-4 convict tangs in a tank? Until next time, cheers"¦
 
making progress

making progress

Back at it today. Floor drains have been replaced and installed. Concrete was poured and set. Cement blocks for the tank stand bases are in place and glued/cemented. I am waiting to grind the concrete around the floor drains smooth this afternoon after my wife wakes up (she was working the night shift last night). I am going to grind a slope towards the drain in all directions with the majority coming from the tank side of the fish room. Then the metal tank frames, which have been primed and painted with epoxy, will be brought into the tank room and set on the cement block bases. All the tank equipment has arrived and will be unboxed as soon as I can get all these items on my list crossed off. The big tank move is only a little bit away"¦

<a href="https://ibb.co/PZ3s4SB"><img src="https://i.ibb.co/MDWypXq/56512482713-1-C5-A88-CB-412-C-4361-94-D4-90960-CE0-EA5-E.jpg" alt="56512482713-1-C5-A88-CB-412-C-4361-94-D4-90960-CE0-EA5-E" border="0"></a>
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Finally!

Finally!

This past Sunday was a big day in the house. The tank was moved from the garage into its final resting place in the basement thanks to the help of some serious engineering, 8 guys, and one wife documenting/supervising/directing. I can't enough thanks to all those involved.

0900 on a Thursday: I started building a ramp over my basement stairs to reduce the slope of how the tank would slide down the stairs. We decided that the tank was too heavy and big to safely carry down the stairs. Empty weight was 690 lbs. I started with 4x4 posts connected with 4" lag screws to create a platform on the steps.

<a href="https://ibb.co/Zhfd4dV"><img src="https://i.ibb.co/qRDBqBd/IMG-0741.jpg" alt="IMG-0741" border="0"></a>

The tank would not make the turn into the basement with the stair bannister in place so it had to go. Luckily my wife wanted a metal one so it's the perfect time to get rid of the wood one.

<a href="https://ibb.co/qCG2bW3"><img src="https://i.ibb.co/Lrws4JX/IMG-0739.jpg" alt="IMG-0739" border="0"></a>

The 2x6 beams were placed on the sides and top of the ramp to allow for more area to mount the plywood top to and secure the ramp from any wobble.

<a href="https://ibb.co/7yd9Gn2"><img src="https://i.ibb.co/MNxXRcM/IMG-0744.jpg" alt="IMG-0744" border="0"></a>

Placing painters paper followed by plywood down on the hardwood floors.

<a href="https://ibb.co/5YZYrwW"><img src="https://i.ibb.co/k3Z34vg/IMG-3508.jpg" alt="IMG-3508" border="0"></a>

A few pictures of the final lag screws going into the upright 4x4 posts on the ramp.

<a href="https://ibb.co/SfsSw3x"><img src="https://i.ibb.co/5KMZhR9/IMG-3510.jpg" alt="IMG-3510" border="0"></a>
<a href="https://ibb.co/JqfHdH5"><img src="https://i.ibb.co/bFSX3Xz/IMG-3512.jpg" alt="IMG-3512" border="0"></a>

The tank is being moved from the garage, around the side of the house, and to the front of the house where we will put it on a platform level with the rest of the house. The plan was to slide the tank from the front door all the way down to the platform downstairs.

<a href="https://ibb.co/Pcxr306"><img src="https://i.ibb.co/ByLfdFC/IMG-3513.jpg" alt="IMG-3513" border="0"></a>
<a href="https://ibb.co/wyvNYHZ"><img src="https://i.ibb.co/6YdRNhc/IMG-3517.jpg" alt="IMG-3517" border="0"></a>
<a href="https://ibb.co/2WrzZCG"><img src="https://i.ibb.co/KbgtKfT/IMG-3516.jpg" alt="IMG-3516" border="0"></a>
 
Finally part 2

Finally part 2

The next photos show the tank being slide on top of some soundboard that we placed on top of the plywood. The soundboard not only protects the tank from snags in the plywood but allowed for easier sliding. The last pictures show the tank about to make the transition down.

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<a href="https://ibb.co/B4X6qw7"><img src="https://i.ibb.co/Rhx6z7M/IMG-3526.jpg" alt="IMG-3526" border="0"></a>
<a href="https://ibb.co/z7LRmdP"><img src="https://i.ibb.co/pRsz1q4/IMG-3534.jpg" alt="IMG-3534" border="0"></a>

<a href="https://ibb.co/37mwLXr"><img src="https://i.ibb.co/80gJS3K/IMG-3536.jpg" alt="IMG-3536" border="0"></a>
<a href="https://ibb.co/S7HdNWt"><img src="https://i.ibb.co/gFQPyHS/IMG-3538.jpg" alt="IMG-3538" border="0"></a>

The next few show the build of the downstairs platform. I had to build this platform in the basement since it was way to heavy to make it down the stairs. It's the same height at the hole cutout in the wall for the tank to then slide into place. I did not account for the plywood underneath the wheels of the platform so I had to remove it to make the height work.

<a href="https://ibb.co/RcMBpqX"><img src="https://i.ibb.co/CQXM5fj/IMG-0746.jpg" alt="IMG-0746" border="0"></a>
<a href="https://ibb.co/DW28W0X"><img src="https://i.ibb.co/bm92mch/IMG-0749.jpg" alt="IMG-0749" border="0"></a>
<a href="https://ibb.co/hL0z0dQ"><img src="https://i.ibb.co/9cP5P4K/IMG-3549.jpg" alt="IMG-3549" border="0"></a>
 
Finally part 3

Finally part 3

Picture thread of the tank being slid into place.

<a href="https://ibb.co/n1D6B0D"><img src="https://i.ibb.co/FYBmXWB/IMG-3552.jpg" alt="IMG-3552" border="0"></a>
<a href="https://ibb.co/nMg27tM"><img src="https://i.ibb.co/gZj1ShZ/IMG-3556.jpg" alt="IMG-3556" border="0"></a>
<a href="https://ibb.co/tXqXx8C"><img src="https://i.ibb.co/Ry3yBzH/IMG-3557.jpg" alt="IMG-3557" border="0"></a>

IT"S IN and LEVEL! The next two weekends I will be leveling the other two tanks in the tank room and working on plumbing.

<a href="https://ibb.co/6m176Ph"><img src="https://i.ibb.co/L8JX4tw/IMG-3560.jpg" alt="IMG-3560" border="0"></a>

Happy unboxing of equipment day to me. More to come in the coming weekends.

<a href="https://ibb.co/7QvSjbt"><img src="https://i.ibb.co/kJKG5M2/IMG-0751.jpg" alt="IMG-0751" border="0"></a>

I spent 3 days of building the ramp and platform. I thought that was the worst part but taking everything apart and carrying it back upstairs to the garage was by far the worst. It took me 8 hours to break everything down thanks to dying drill batteries and to clean the house back to normal. Excited for the progress, more to come"¦
 
Man, this is impressive! The thought and work you've put in, just to make it all work in your home blows my mind. I look forward to more!
 
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