TheCoralReef731
New member
looking good.
In-Wall 180 Project
- Thread starter jarhed
- Start date
Shot a couple pics. I suck at picture taking and the camera sucks, but I'm trying to show the gap I found on the left corner of the tank.
I put some water in there just to get some weight on the stand and try to settle things in. The left corner as viewed from the front wasnt even touching the stand when it was empty. I put some shims underneath the corner to give it a little support.
Overall, with this much water in it, there is only a 1/8" slant in the tank.
I'd appreciate your input. Good? Bad? Shall I shim the entire front section of frame? Should I tear the whole damn wall down and start over?
I put some water in there just to get some weight on the stand and try to settle things in. The left corner as viewed from the front wasnt even touching the stand when it was empty. I put some shims underneath the corner to give it a little support.
Overall, with this much water in it, there is only a 1/8" slant in the tank.
I'd appreciate your input. Good? Bad? Shall I shim the entire front section of frame? Should I tear the whole damn wall down and start over?
LittleBlueGT
New member
1/8 inch isn't too bad at all.
I would do one of two things.
Leave it alone. Don't have shims under the glass, it puts uneven pressure on it.
Shim the whole thing with some self leveling product that it poured into place.
I would do one of two things. Leave it alone. Don't have shims under the glass, it puts uneven pressure on it.
Shim the whole thing with some self leveling product that it poured into place.
Thanks!
So, you wouldnt even put shims underneath that right corner? Thats really the only place that is a supporting point that shows a gap. If I dont at least shim that corner, then fill it, I'm afraid the tank will bend down 1/8" to try to meet the plywood. I'm I completely off?
So, you wouldnt even put shims underneath that right corner? Thats really the only place that is a supporting point that shows a gap. If I dont at least shim that corner, then fill it, I'm afraid the tank will bend down 1/8" to try to meet the plywood. I'm I completely off?
LittleBlueGT
New member
I am not exactly sure what you are asking, but, you want the tank evenly supported on the frame.
Hope that helps.
Hope that helps.
Yep, that helps. What I was saying is that there was one corner of the tank that didnt have any contact to the plywood platform, yet the tank itself was level. So, I put a couple shims under that corner. Now all four corners have contact with the plywood. I think I'm going to leave those there, go ahead and plumb, then fill it all the way with a garden hose and test it. No creaking or anything last night with the partial fill.
LittleBlueGT
New member
jarhed said:
I understand now. I would still ensure that the stand is evenly supported on the WHOLE frame.
I see. So, I'll just put the shims all the way up (only about a foot) from the corner toward the center of the tank underneath the frame. It's not much, but that little 1 foot gap makes me nervous.
Also, I'm not going to shove them in hard, just enough that they make firm contact and are snug. That way the entire frame, all the way around, has contact with the plywood platform.
Thanks for the help silvermax!
Also, I'm not going to shove them in hard, just enough that they make firm contact and are snug. That way the entire frame, all the way around, has contact with the plywood platform.
Thanks for the help silvermax!
Good day/Bad day
Not sure which? Came home and the AC, which was set at 77, was blowing semi-cool air. More like moist air. The inside temp was 81 degrees.
It was a hot day here in the "valley of the dirt people", so I figured the unit probably gave up. It's an old Whirlpool with a manufacture date of 1984. The house was built in 1985. It's officially reached the end of it's intended life span. The 40gallon was ok, so I just setup a fan to blow into the canopy.
Bad or good?
Well, I knew when I bought this house two months ago that the AC unit would eventually have to be replaced. I know NOTHING about HVAC, but looking at that old unit, I somehow knew that it would have trouble making it through the summer. I kept saying, even two weeks ago, that I should just break down and get the thing replaced. Even chatted with my neighbor about it last Sunday.
Called a service guy, he came over and LAUGHED at the unit!! :lol: Said he just got done replacing one just like it today! haha!! He said he could probably fill it up with refrigerant but he'd be back out doing it again next month or fixing something else. I figured since I bought this house for two reasons: to build a huge reef tank and for an investment (SoCal population is moving this way), I might as well go ahead and replace it. It'll end up raising the value of the house anyway. The tech was really cool and said he would go ahead and install my AC duct into my fish closet at the same time, no extra charge!
bad day or good day?
I'd say it's a good day!!! :rollface:
Not sure which? Came home and the AC, which was set at 77, was blowing semi-cool air. More like moist air. The inside temp was 81 degrees.
It was a hot day here in the "valley of the dirt people", so I figured the unit probably gave up. It's an old Whirlpool with a manufacture date of 1984. The house was built in 1985. It's officially reached the end of it's intended life span. The 40gallon was ok, so I just setup a fan to blow into the canopy.Bad or good?
Well, I knew when I bought this house two months ago that the AC unit would eventually have to be replaced. I know NOTHING about HVAC, but looking at that old unit, I somehow knew that it would have trouble making it through the summer. I kept saying, even two weeks ago, that I should just break down and get the thing replaced. Even chatted with my neighbor about it last Sunday.
Called a service guy, he came over and LAUGHED at the unit!! :lol: Said he just got done replacing one just like it today! haha!! He said he could probably fill it up with refrigerant but he'd be back out doing it again next month or fixing something else. I figured since I bought this house for two reasons: to build a huge reef tank and for an investment (SoCal population is moving this way), I might as well go ahead and replace it. It'll end up raising the value of the house anyway. The tech was really cool and said he would go ahead and install my AC duct into my fish closet at the same time, no extra charge!
bad day or good day?
I'd say it's a good day!!! :rollface:
Well, I was going to go with foam, and still have some styrofoam in the garage, but the biggest problem is that there is no room to pick the front of the tank up because of the overhanging wall. The bac can just be rocked forward no problem and the styrofoam shoved underneath.
I would try sliding the tank back, placing the styro, then pushing back forward, but you and I know exactly what would happen to the styrofoam if I did that.
I would try sliding the tank back, placing the styro, then pushing back forward, but you and I know exactly what would happen to the styrofoam if I did that.
LittleBlueGT
New member
Styrofoam does not make up for a unlevel stand. It just evens out any imperfections. I would always prefer to carefully shim a framed tank.
bheron
Active member
wow, great job so far jarhead. you seem to be doing great with the drywall - much braver than i am. nice work. and it looks like your method of hanging the top portion is going to work.
this part about the uneveness of the tank is intruiging me since i'm about to partake in a similar project.
littlesilvermax - can you expand on your thoughts to "carefully shim a framed tank"?
this part about the uneveness of the tank is intruiging me since i'm about to partake in a similar project.
littlesilvermax - can you expand on your thoughts to "carefully shim a framed tank"?
LittleBlueGT
New member
bheron said:
You want to have equal pressure on all points around the perimeter of the frame. When the tank is sitting on something unlevel it will flex a bit. If you shim it with it flexing a bit it might not be shimmed enough and you will have extra strain on the tank.
On the other hand it is easy to overshim it and have the tank flex a bit the other way. Same outcome.
Take your time, be very careful. This isn't something you want to redo!
Your exactly right silvermax!
I had to be careful inserting shims because say I put in three or four under one corner going inward toward the center, if I put them in too hard or forced them, more of the tank would actually come up and you'll see even more of a gap underneath the frame.
It's actually quite easy to change the level of a huge tank like that with those little shims. I put them in just a little snug. No forcing or anything. The weight of the tank, especially when full, will see to it that they dont move. All I did was fill in the gaps.
I had to be careful inserting shims because say I put in three or four under one corner going inward toward the center, if I put them in too hard or forced them, more of the tank would actually come up and you'll see even more of a gap underneath the frame.
It's actually quite easy to change the level of a huge tank like that with those little shims. I put them in just a little snug. No forcing or anything. The weight of the tank, especially when full, will see to it that they dont move. All I did was fill in the gaps.
Bax
Premium Member
jarhed
Your industrious efforts have inspired me, I have had a new 75 laying around the office in various parts and boxes for six months now. I have every thing I need to to start but the time to put it together. Well, had a slow day today and just went crazy asembling and doing final touches to the stand. I got to the part where you need to put the tank on the stand and see how the plumbing will line up and no one was there to help. So... I got out the 2 x 4s hiked up one end on the stand and got to the other end and shoved ... tank is now in place and will be wet tested this weekend.
This mehtod of placing your tank, of a size that you should never ever lift alone, should here to for be known as the "jarhed method" of tank placement ... unles you break it then it's the "bonehead method". Thankfully, today I was a jarhed.
Thanks for the inspiration
Your industrious efforts have inspired me, I have had a new 75 laying around the office in various parts and boxes for six months now. I have every thing I need to to start but the time to put it together. Well, had a slow day today and just went crazy asembling and doing final touches to the stand. I got to the part where you need to put the tank on the stand and see how the plumbing will line up and no one was there to help. So... I got out the 2 x 4s hiked up one end on the stand and got to the other end and shoved ... tank is now in place and will be wet tested this weekend.
This mehtod of placing your tank, of a size that you should never ever lift alone, should here to for be known as the "jarhed method" of tank placement ... unles you break it then it's the "bonehead method". Thankfully, today I was a jarhed.
Thanks for the inspiration
Bax said:jarhed
Your industrious efforts have inspired me, I have had a new 75 laying around the office in various parts and boxes for six months now. I have every thing I need to to start but the time to put it together. Well, had a slow day today and just went crazy asembling and doing final touches to the stand. I got to the part where you need to put the tank on the stand and see how the plumbing will line up and no one was there to help. So... I got out the 2 x 4s hiked up one end on the stand and got to the other end and shoved ... tank is now in place and will be wet tested this weekend.
This mehtod of placing your tank, of a size that you should never ever lift alone, should here to for be known as the "jarhed method" of tank placement ... unles you break it then it's the "bonehead method". Thankfully, today I was a jarhed.
Thanks for the inspiration
HAHAHAHAHAHAHAAAA!!!!!! :lol: :lol: :lol:
The Jarhed method! ROFLMAO!!!!
Thanks! Well, Durso has his overflow pipe system, I've got the "load the tank onto the platform" system. Kewl! :bum:
LittleBlueGT
New member
jarhed said:
Sounds like you have it under control. Keep in mind that the tank is probably twisting ever so slightly with the gap there. Therefore you might have to do just a little bit more then "fill in the gap" when inserting the shims. Not much more but a bit more.
TheCoralReef731
New member
any more progress
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