Extra-Large Tank Upgrade Project to begin

[sixxer]

I have looked at Joe's pics. and his thread on how he built his tank for the last 2 years. Unfortunately he constructed his tank of wood, whereas my tank will be constructed of concrete, and his is set up for Sharks, not a reef of any sorts. An amazing job, and great looking tank!

 

[delusions]

Sixxer,
Since you are building a tank from the ground up, have you given any thoughts to a surge tank? While letting my imagination run, I designed a tank larger than yours and through many wasted hours on RC, decided that multiple surges, multiple Tunze streams, as well as a few eductors would suffice for a large SPS tank. My main point is that if you can, try to setup a surge or possibly multiple surges.

 

[sixxer]

I have not really done a lot of research on surge tanks, so I do not know of the benefit to surge over closed loop, etc.

Got any diagrams or info. on what you dreamed up?

 

[delusions]

Diagram? Err, nothing that anyone could decipher. I'll try to get something that is legible.
As for the surge tanks, do a search here on RC and people will be able to explain the benefits of a surge far better than I could regurgitate right now.

 

[sixxer]

Real quick update.

I have all my re-bar, greenboard, plastic, plywood, 2x4's, basically everything I need for the time being except for the concrete itself.

1st stage (begins tonight)of the project will be the vapor barrier and greenboard going up in the room, then coating that with Killz.

2nd stage will be putting together the actual re-bar skeleton of the tank being constructed and then framed in with the plywood and 2x4's so that we can pour the concrete.

3rd stage will be 2 part epoxy coating of the tank

4th stage will be installation of the acrylic

many more stages to go after that (plumbing, lighting, sumps, refugium, etc.)

I had a friend take a few pics. of the room as it is now, just have to download them and then can post, so that we have a work in progress photobook of the project.

 

[draxijn]

this sounds exactly like a project i am planning for the future. please post as many construction pics as possible so we can learn with you! good luck =)

 

[ObscurityKnocks]

About the blown in insulation. You still need to tear down the existing drywall. I have not done this myself, but I have seen it done. Basically you put a netting of the studs that holds in the insulation. Then you would drywall over the studs as usual.

 

[viggen]

can't wait to see the final product, shoot me a email & I can try to save you some $$$ on pumps & suppplies

 

[Shoestring Reefer]

Mmmm...dream tank.

What't the winter like in Cincinnati? What will you do for heating?

 

[sixxer]

Shoestring: Winters are typically not very bad in Cincinnati, we are lucky to get snow 4 to 5 days a year. Of course we got dumped on last night, and it's snowing now, but hopefully with the humidity from the fishroom combined with a few heaters will be more than adequate.

Viggen - For sure! You'll have to stop in and the project or finished product!!!

 

[OceanNwisconsin]

ok im jealous!

 

[sixxer]

Has anybody had experience with these Sequence 8400 pumps yet?

I am looking at doing two of them with the oceanmotion 8 ways, along with the return pumps.

 

[alvin]

Sixxer, bet you didn't think we'd get 20 inches! I'm out on the west side, and in the final stages of installing a 265 in wall. Fun stuff. Spa pumps are not made for continuous use, and get hot and are prett expensive to run. trust me, I have one in my living room, and it drives electric costs up about 40-50 bucks a month. 3 1 HP pumps, plus I seriously doubt they can handle salt water. You could always talk to Jason at Aquatics and Exotics about his large tanks. He has a 10,000 shark tank and a 2200 in wall in the store in Mt. Healthy. Just ask him to see the setup, and he'd be willing to show you everything and explain it in detail. This would probably help you more on equipment choices. I'd be intersted in stopping by to see the tank when completed. John

 

[sixxer]

John,

I have looked at the equipment behind Jason's 2200 gallon tank and was actually trying to find a day to head over to his store to talk to him about his actual construction(Jason is a very nice guy, and always more than willing to share his knowledge and experiences)(he has supplied me with some very nice fish as well), and more details on his equipment. I am def. not doing jacuzzi pumps, I am probably going with the new Sequence 8400's. The only think I do not like about Jason's shark tank is that he installed such small side viewing windows (of course you can look thru the top as well.

You are more than welcome to stop by and check things out, just keep an eye on this thread for progress.

Got any pics. of your install so far?

 

[Earl87gta]

seen you never got a answer on the blow in insalation just kut a hole big enough for the nosle of the blower to go intothe top of the wall and then fill it up the netting is only usedin new construction building codes say insolation has to be in place before the walls dride in so if their is no drywalll you have to screan it in to hold it until the inspector says your good to go. now if its already done with rolled insalation you may need to make a bigger hole so you can remove the older but still no reason to nock a hole wall down. you may also what to use the rubber panaling they have now it is in 4x8 sheets and you can glue it to the dry wall and seal the joints with silicome its white and easy to clean plus works as a great vaporbarier it is desined to be used in bathroom shower stall. I think lowes even sellsit now.

 

[sixxer]

Any idea what they call the rubber paneling?

 

[alvin]

No pictures as of yet. I had a bunch of my 180 install, but it was destroyed in a fire two days after I spent 4 months finishing it. That was back in september. It took this long to get a new tank made, delivered, and hooked up. It's currently not running because I have to go to Maryland for a month for work. I'll check back from time to time to see the progress. John

 

[alvin]

Here is one I just had sent to me.

 

[H20ENG]

That paneling is called FRP -Fiberglass reinfoced plastic- (or P!ss board in the building trades ). Its the stuff you see in most resturant bathrooms, etc. Kind of pebble textured. Its fairly reasonable and waterproof. I've seen it in the paneling section at HD.

 

[Earl87gta]

Im not sure what the ruber panneling is called but I was in lowes to day and they had it . Its not the same as the fiberglass board it is a sheet of ruber it is whitew and smoth no texture at all and supper flexible you can roll it up if you want it looked abought an 1/8 thick.