gws76's- 150 gal. Build

[gws76]

It's time to start a build thread for the new tank. We ordered the tank several months ago from glass cages. It's a 150 gal. glass tank with 3/4" bottom and starfire glass on the front pane. The dimensions are 48" x 30" x 25" tall. The reason we ordered the tank 30" from front to back is that I'm just feed up with tanks that are 18" or 24" front to back. Once you get the water in the tank it only looks like its maybe 10" to 12" front to back, well that's just unacceptable. LOL. This build has required a little more planning than the last build. We decided to build a fishroom for this tank to house the 150 gal. rubbermaid stock tank that we'll be using as the sump. Here's some pics of a few steps we have gone thru, up to this point.

Here's a pic of the tank the night Greg and I unloaded it. It's kind of plain since we hadn't turned it into swiss cheese yet.

To build the fishroom we sectioned off the front third of our garage. Worked out great since I can still use the other 2/3 of the gargage as a workshop. The following pics are of the framing of the fishroom wall and wiring in the 4 double gang outlets. It's always nice to have an electrician in the family.:rollface: I'm sure you'll notice how uneven the boxes are, since this photo they have been evened up.

I will post more pics of the finished room this evening.

 

[Reef Happy]

Hey Glenn, Were you able to get the glass cages mess up taken care of on the holes. Looks like you are making them work as is.

 

[gws76]

It actually worked out better for me, since the holes in the back kept the plumbing well above the sump in the garage. We piped them straight out the back and thru the wall. A certain comas member built an awsome overflow tower out black acrylic. I'll post pics of the overflow and the crazy plumbing this evening. There's so much plumbing since we went closed loop on this one.

 

[OkR33Fer]

It doesnt look as big as I thought it would, cant wait to see how it looks now, Gelnn.

 

[gws76]

Tony,

It's not the size that matters, it's how you use it! BTW, that pic of the tank is from the end, it was the only angle I could get in the cramped garage at the time. I have some better shots of it, I'll post those this evening.

 

[GregC]

This tank is Nice!! Has really good width, going to be very very nice when he gets it set up. Looking foward to that day! I am glad for ya Glenn its been awhile getting to this point for ya.

 

[gws76]

Slowest tank build for me. It's been like 4 or 5 months in the planning and gathering up to this point.

 

[cjilge]

It is very nice, I've seen it! Can't wait to see it finished. Should be plenty of room for growth, for at least a little while! JK It's awesome to watch it from start to finish.

 

[magellan007]

Can't wait to see more updates. How high is it going to sit, glenn?

 

[gws76]

Tank stand is 31" tall, the tank is 25" tall, plus when I build the canopy I'm figuring roughly 14" tall on that. So it will total likely be 5 ft. 9 in. tall.

 

[gws76]

more pics

more pics

Here's the fishroom completed (the wall anyway). It was fun to do some framing, never done it before. I will tell you this. If you have never framed in a wall and are using 2x4 studs. Make sure your spacing of the studs is on 16" centers. I did not know this, but found out when I went to purchase insulation. Insulation comes in 16" wide rolls for 2x4 walls. Duh! But I never claimed to be a framer. :lol:

Here's a shot of the sump and mini fridge.

pics of the tank to follow

 

[gws76]

stand pics

stand pics

Here's some pics of the stand. It's still not skinned at this point. Working on that. I've decided to skin it in red oak, with a walnut stain. It's a very study design, and should withstand 3 kids punishing it when I'm not around.

 

[gws76]

DG,

This is how the problem was solved. Really wasn't a problem, since I ended up with a much better overflow than would have came in the tank. Eddybabyhd built this overflow, equipped with an awsome fish catcher. It looks great in the tank.

Here's the fish catcher in the top. For preventing fish from taking a trip to the sump. :rollface:

Here it is installed in the tank.

And here's the backside where the plumbing comes out of the tank from the overflow.

 

[poke75]

Very nice!

I think I will steal a couple of your ideas in the future...

 

[gws76]

Closed Loop & tank pics

Closed Loop & tank pics

Greg helped me drill holes for the closed loop. Thanks Greg. We drilled a total of 6 holes in the back wall that will accept 3/4" bulkheads and also 2 holes in the back wall that will accept 1.5" bulkheads. We also drilled two holes in the bottom front corners of the tank that will accept 3/4" bulkheads. These holes in the bottom of the tank will be used for a spray bar. I have two lines that are 1.5"'s each feeding the dart pump and all of the plumbing that is returning to the tank is 1.25" which branches off to each return port (all return ports are 3/4").

This picture shows the 6 returns on the back wall of the tank and the two larger bulkheads are the feed to the closed loop. I've been told, you don't want to starve a dart pump or it will cavetate. This is the reason for the two 1.5" feed lines.

Here's a pic of the spray bar.

Dart pump during the plumbing phase

Tap water leak test

Surface flow pic: I like this flow, it's a nice gentle flow in the lower levels of the tank and chaotic in the upper half of the tank.

That's pretty much it up to this point. I will probably not be posting any pics of my plumbing, since the tank is already set in it's final location. Plus, my plumbing isn't a work of art, but it does the job.

 

[gws76]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=14362757#post14362757 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by poke75
Very nice!

I think I will steal a couple of your ideas in the future...

Steal away Steve. I personally like the mini fridge. It should get a lot of use. ha

 

[magellan007]

fantastic! This is really coming along nicely.

 

[rbb213]

Nice, CLEAN and simple work....Kudos to you for taking your time, unlike the MOST of us oldtimers at this hobby, that when we first started this hobby, we simply rushed into it....

Greg, Nice drill work!
Rocky

 

[cjilge]

By the way, are the fishing poles in the sump room for looks or is Gretchin fish in the sump "like last thursday"? LOL

looking good, I'll try to get those adapters to ya tomorrow.

 

[gws76]

You know how 20 month kids are. She see's the sump and thinks it time to go swimming. There's a baby gate in the doorway now. No more swimming in the sump. lol