Finally the 300 gal build....

[DripN.Wet]

Three days ago I broke out the power saw and started this long awaited build. I went straight to cutting a hole in the wall...no turning back!! If you have to fill in a hole anyway, ...might as well fill it in with water. I enlisted the help of Shane the "neighbor/adopted kid" and we went to work.

THE STORY.....(feel free to skip this section if you want to stick right to the build)
This tank has been a dream I have had since I was a kid myself; keeping freshwater fish with my Dad. It was the only hobby I think I actually ever shared "peacefully" with him when I was a teen. Within the last few years, we had talked about building a tank into the wall of my home on several occasions, however convincing a landlord to allow you to cut a hole in the wall can be a bit tricky.
Just over a year ago we conviced our landlord to sell us the place we were living in, and a few months after that we lucked into a 300 gallon acrylic tank. So we jumped on the opportunity to buy the tank thinking we would just bring it home and set it up and forget it. Well the joys of homeownership took over and the tank was shoved to the back burner...redo the roof, complete bathroom remodel from the joists up, remodel of bedroom and closets etc.
The last time I was in the storage shed I decided it was now or never if I was going to do it. The Bathroom walls are ready to go up and once they're up there will be no room to maneuver the 8ft monter tank into the ONLY wall it will fit in. So I cleared the boxes from arround it and took some measure ments. There is only one problem, my Dad, "the guy that could build ANYTHING out of wood" passed away a year and a half ago. So after looking at the wall and realizing I should have listened to him more in the woodshop when i was younger, I was actually leaning toward selling the tank. Then Shane says to me "Hey I will give you a hand installing that tank." So we decided to go ahead as planned and tackle this crazy build.

(...back to build!!)

First, we cut an 8ft x 36" hole in the wall...
http://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=485594137871&set=a.485593107871.265556.593537871

Then we started assembling the stand...
http://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=485595007871&set=a.485593107871.265556.593537871
http://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=485597362871&set=a.485593107871.265556.593537871

MORE PHOTOS AND UPDATES COMMING SOON!!!!!

 

[DripN.Wet]

 

[SwitchedToLinux]

No pics?

Hmmm

Like to see it.....

 

[DripN.Wet]

Well we just finished up for another night. This time Justin jumped in to give us a hand and progress was good.

 

[NaClH2Opgh]

Nice start. So will you have an entire "fish room" there? Also, what kind of wood did you use for the 4X4 legs?

 

[DripN.Wet]

Yes it will be an entire fish room, directly across from the 300 gal will be another tank installed in the bathroom wall over the tub. I used treated 4 x 4's from lowes there are 8 4x4 posts and there are 6 2x6 joists that run under the platform where the tank sits. Also there are 5 block pillars under the floor that support the weight of the tank.

 

[NaClH2Opgh]

You definitely won't have an issue with supporting the weight but be careful with the treated lumber for the legs. I have read where people used them and when they dried out they twisted some causing the stand to go out of level a bit. People also posted and said they used them without issue. Dunno just a heads up.

Definitely looking forward to seeing how this turns out.

 

[SirusX1721]

use double up 2x4s. 4x4s are the worst lumber. it WILL twist sooner or later. treated tend not to twist as much but i would avoid treated with a fish tank. better off coating reg lumber with an epoxy. sry my typing isnt great...my phone is junk lol.

 

[hybridazn]

Yea chad I agree with above posts about 4x4's. They do nothing but twist and warp. Either double up 2x4's or step up to 6x6's

Sent from my DROIDX using Tapatalk

 

[DripN.Wet]

Well after reading and getting kinda of bummed about the posts I recieved about the 4x4s; I re-thought the design layout of the stand. I called on the help of a carpenter friend and we went to work... first, we demo'd the stand as it was.(FYI: the stand was built according to instructions given to me by the last owner of the tank, who also happens to own a pet shop. However, I should have known better, he half-asses everything and gets away with it; I'm not that lucky.) Then we went back to work and came up with something that looks like this...

We worked from 4:30pm yesterday until about 6:00am this morning and this is what we came up with after making the seemingly endless trek accross the drive carrying the 300gal beast.:dance:

The dry fit went ALMOST perfectly....with the exception that once framed in one 2x4 has a bur that sticks out 1/32" that i didn't notice and will have to be hit with the palm sander to ensure a perfect stress free fit.

Thanks to everyone that talked me out of the 4X4s!!!!!!

 

[DripN.Wet]

 

[DripN.Wet]

Sorry about the crappy cell phone pics but at 6am you get what you get!

 

[Fire-Reef]

Sweet build so far....I'm following this one!!

 

[NaClH2Opgh]

Nice stand. you should be able to drive a truck on that thing.

 

[DripN.Wet]

well hopefully it will hold more than one truck...I think the tank will weigh more than a pickup when it is all said and done..

 

[Jabberwock]

1990 Chevy S-10 Manual Pickup = 2648 pounds.

Approximate filled weight 300x8.55 pounds per gallon (saltwater, assuming no rock, no sand, no sump, no equipment, and weightless tank) = 2565 pounds

One truck. Yes. :beer:

 

[cloakerpoked]

Not a real truck...just the sissy truck my wife wants to buy so that she'll look cute while still having a truck

The stand looks great, and the build definitely has my interest.

 

[DripN.Wet]

that is water weight alone.... +200 lbs for the stand, 350-400lbs (LR), 400lbs sand and a 125gal sump.

 

[cloakerpoked]

But all that displaces water, so it works out to be roughly the same. The sump is adding some weight. Now we're getting to the manlier F350 Diesels that I'm looking for

 

[Jabberwock]

1997 F350 Power Stroke Diesel Crew Cab = 9800 lbs

9800/8.55 = 1146 gallons

I think we're going to need a bigger sump... ;-)