Hop's 300 gallon in-wall build

[steve the plumb]

hey hop nice to see you are back into the swing of things.How is your knee doing?I forget to ask.The tank looks nice.I am glad you didn't give up and are still in the hobby.It will be nice to see some critters in the tank.

 

[Hop]

Ryan: Playing with this from past experiences, I have not noted much of an issue between the cooler winters and warmer summers with the ventilation. It really only changes how long the fans are on to reach the desired setpoint. I just have the tolerance set on the AC Jr(upgrading to a III someday), so that it allows time in between the fans kicking on and off rapidly. With the headspace sealed from the home, it can sit at 100% humidity and not effect anything, but when the tank temp hits point X, the fans come on to cool the tank via venting the headspace. The next line of defense is the controlling of temp in the wetroom. the final, but have yet to be needed line of defense is the chiller

Thank you snslarison!

steve the plumb: Thanks steve... The knee is horrible, but at least it's still mine. Hurts, pops and grinds... So a lot like before the surgery! Hopefully I'll have some critters in there for you next week!

 

[steve the plumb]

The injections aren't working for you I see.I like the set up its nice and clean.Mine doesn't look as neat.I wasn't worried about my sump looking clean.I was looking at simple ,easy to get to and works.I spent a fortune on my controller.It looks nice and I think it will come in handy.I do think that I will need a chiller as well.I don't want to have to rely on my portable A/C unit.I will more than likely use it in the summer months but a chiller will make me worry less.I still would like to have a European A/C unit like the one I have upstairs.It looks nicer plus it will stay in the room all year round.Maybe I will get one I will see.I have spent enough money on this tank.

 

[Hop]

Steve: The injections seem to make it bearable, but not great. I still can't run and lifting any significant weight results in swelling... But what can you do? Too much playing when I was young! Being as winter is here, I would see if the tamps are controllable with the controller and fans, then go from there



A few more days and I should have some more pics worth posting. I'm working on getting about 100 gallons of extra water together, just in case

 

[steve the plumb]

Nice.Its been very warm here for this time of year.It was 29 degrees celcius the last week.Today its gotten colder its dropped 10 degrees but who knows it rained yesterday.The weather has been very warm so its given me a chance to see how hot the tank gets.MY tank is 78 degrees no heater no lights.Kind of scary.My tank is fully covered so I think once the lights come in I will have to uncover part of the tank and get a chiller.I will still use my A/C in the summer but I think having a chiller as a back up plan might be a good idea.

 

[Hop]

Steve. My 450 ran ambient at about 77 degrees. I never needed a chiller, although I did add fans over the sump and fuge in the summer. If I could have controlled the temp of the wetroom easier at the time, I would not have needed the fans. That is the point on this build. Temps hit 107ish here in the summer and I don't have an AC, just a swamp cooler, which keeps the house comfortable. Usually under 78 in the house.

We'll see how it works, as I mentioned I'm planning for a chiller, but I may not need one. I think the plans on this one are adequate

 

[Hop]

Just to add a few old critter pics of what will be going into the tank:

 

[Hop]

I got confirmation on friends for the tank swap on Tuesday Got about 100 gallons of extra SW made up. Just waiting for Tuesday morning now!

 

[Toddrtrex]

Good luck with it Hop

 

[kwaters]

Good luck with the clowns and the anemone...I bought a beautiful green BTA and it promptly wound up (literally) in the Hydor...twice. The second time caused its untimely demise. I think with your big tank, that won't be a concern...but in my 55 gallon and no way to really cover the PHs...

I doubt I will venture down that road again.

Kris

 

[Hop]

Thanks Todd!

Kris: Not much set in stone. I have an idea, but if it comes to light or not is a maybe Right now I'm just working on getting everything up and running. Once the scape is done, I think I'll have the anser I'm looking for and will be able to begin heading in one of two directions.

 

[Volkman]

Hop, simply amazing!! I am starting plans for a wet room myself, and your plans have helped immensely. One question, is your tank on the same floor as the room? I am dropping my wet room into the basement into a 8x10 closet attached to a crawl space. Any thoughts/recommendations? Can't wait to see more!! Beautiful!!!!!

 

[Hop]

Hi Volkman: Thanks for the comments. My wetroom sits about 20 some feet away from the tank and this area of the house is about 2' lower than the floor the tank is on. With your situation, I think that you will be fine. In a way I wish I had a basement under mine to have built and used the space below, rather than horizontal from the tank.

Being in IL, I think you will have the same concerns I do, which is humidity and temp control. Figure out how to take care of these two issues and the rest is easy

 

[Volkman]

Thanks Hop, gotta love the temp changes we get!! Where are you in CO?? My little bro lives in a western suburb of Denver, and I used to live in Vail and tought skiing at Beaver Creek. Wow what I life I must admit, but no more!!! (oh-well, we all gotta grow-up sometime!!)
As far as temp control goes, I might luck-out. I have been measuring the temps in that rooms since we moved in a year ago, and they stay perfectly even throughout the year. I know that once I start throwing pumps and equipment into the room that will change, but I would be able to vent into and from the outside pretty easily since it's on an outside wall.
Any problems with drop or head loss?? I am going to have to drop about 4' and run about 18' to get to the room. A good pump/pumps should be able to handle that right??

 

[Hop]

Volkman: I'm WAY west of Vail... About 120 miles or so. Near Grand Junction.

Good to hear on being able to vent the basement area! You won't beleive the humidity when you walk in the room in the winter:lol:

A good pressure pump should make things easy! I don't think with that run, your going to need a huge one, something like a panworld 50px-x running 1100gph at 90 watts might fit the bill. Double check the GPH vs. headloss when you know for sure!

 

[Volkman]

Pretty area.... I just love the mountians and foothills. Can't wait to get out and do some skiing!! Can't believe I just said that....sorry....
Thanks for the advice on the pump, didn't think about the humidity in the winter, was more concerened about a hot day in the summer! Where did you learn to do all this construction? Just a hobby you've picked up over the years? Or are you a builder of sorts? It all looks so amazing. I was showing my girlfriend and she was asking if I can make ours look like that. So thanks a ton buddy!!!!
Also, how did you draw up your plans? Computer program? Or are you just really good Adobe Illustrator too?

 

[Hop]

Volkman: Yup, great area, no more skiing, snowboarding for me Lucky to still be walking.

Yeah the humidity in the winter is much worse when it's cascading sheets of water off your windows and fogging your glasses when you walk inside.

The construction was just something I picked up from my dad who built/made, just about everything he could. No special training, just a desire to do stuff. And the plans were drawn up on google sketchup. Nothing to special, just playing with lines and colors:lol:

Thanks... Well I work today and then tomorrow is D-Day! Not sure I'll have time to post as I go, but I should have a ton of photos by Thursday or Friday.

 

[Volkman]

Rock-on Hop!! Looks beautiful!! Can't wait to see more!

 

[Hop]

Well day one of the tear down and rebuilt came and went. The old tank is out, critters in a holding tank and the new stand is built. I'm hoping on having the new tank in it's spot in 1-2 days, the system running in 3 days and everything trimmed and painted in 5 days

 

[chris wright]

Sounds like your going to be a bit busy this week :lol:

Looking forward to the pics mate.

Cheers

Chris