Lunchbucket's 48"x48"x20" Reef

[Lunchbucket]

I got a little time to work on the tank room tonight. Remember that the tank was outside the room waiting for the fish room ceiling to be done....well it's done so I needed to move the tank back in. My wife can't lift the tank so I called a co-worker to come help out. It was pretty light surprisingly. Moved the tank to the floor and then moved the stand (it's 2 pieces) into the the room and bolted the 2 pieces together and tried leveling the stand mostly. I'll level the rest when it is 100% in its final resting place. Then added the double thick 3/4" plywood that was all primed, added the foam, then put the tank back on top!

I now need to start on the "headers" and the framing the area above the tank.

I bought a Kreg pocket screw jig kit at Lowes to make this part of the project easier. No toe nailing all pocket screwed into place...MUCH EASIER.

Frame done. Remember the tank is moved away from the wall so that I can sheet rock it tomorrow

Side view

Those pocket screws made this WAY too easy

Tank level view

There isn't much framing on the front and side as I want to put 2 doors that open up into a 20" tall x 40" wide opening for access to the tank

Tomorrow will be insulating and sheet rock I'll be almost done w/ the rock!

Lunchbucket

 

[melev]

Awesome.

Did you make sure the tank will fit in the opening even after you level it? I know it isn't inserted into the opening itself, but it will align where you want it?

 

[Lunchbucket]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=12039265#post12039265 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by melev
Awesome.

Did you make sure the tank will fit in the opening even after you level it? I know it isn't inserted into the opening itself, but it will align where you want it?

It will actually stick up above the bottom railing by about 1/2" but I have to add some nice wood to frame up the inside of the window.

I actually measured the top from off of the tank measurements now. It has very very little leveling to do so it will work just fine.

Just so everyone knows the tank will actually sit behind the wall and not insert into any opening....just behind the opening

Lunchbucket

 

[jnarowe]

the pocket screws are rad man!

Just a bit of a RED ALERT: Primer will actually absorb moisture. You have to top-coat it. Primer is designed to improve adhesion and part of that is allowing a strong bond partly due to absorption.

 

[Lunchbucket]

I believe this is Zinser sealer primer stuff to seal in stuff. I'll check it out though. Thanks for the heads up

Lunchbucket

 

[jnarowe]

check into it thoroughly. I realize Zinser covers up stuff really well, but primer is primer for a reason.

 

[Ziggy953]

It's really coming together! Nice work!

 

[melev]

I still think Chuck's idea is better. You can even make the panel with a sheet of the pink or blue foam to insulate better. It wouldn't take much and be much simpler than painting all of that area.

And I agree, those pocket screws are really clean looking.

 

[Lunchbucket]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=12041400#post12041400 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by jnarowe
check into it thoroughly. I realize Zinser covers up stuff really well, but primer is primer for a reason.

I'm gonna play it safe and coat the primer w/ some paint Thanks for the heads up

Ziggy - It's getting there.

melev - It's gonna be REALLY hard to work in that hole if I have an access panel. I'm going to leave it open...sorry guys it will make things easier...I'm not all for aesthetics in the fish room.

I've been working since about 9am and just got done....I took sometime to do some other things but mostly downstairs.

Here is the progress. ALL ROCKED UP!!

Front

Side

From door in fish room

Looking through one of my 20" x 40" access holes into the room

Hope the mud guy calls to come over tomorrow and look. I'm thinking I'll go get the wood for the doors tomorrow? Paint the ply under the tank. Spray foam or caulk any cracks in the fish room.

My supervisor peaking out under the stand up to me working on the outside wall

I think it looks great. I LOVE IT!
Lunchbucket

 

[FFrankie]

Looks great Lunch! There is one problem though, You covered up the nice job you did with the pocket screws!

 

[jnarowe]

it's going great. final product is going to be sweet.

 

[Lunchbucket]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=12045490#post12045490 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by FFrankie
Looks great Lunch! There is one problem though, You covered up the nice job you did with the pocket screws!

LOL I'll cover it all up if it gets me closer to being done

Oh and on a side note I ate supper and was interrupted from finishing screwing in the sheet on the bottom in the side view pic. It is tacked up but not finished...oops

Lunchbucket

 

[jnarowe]

no one would dare give you a hard time about that!

 

[Lunchbucket]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=12045636#post12045636 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by jnarowe
no one would dare give you a hard time about that!

:lol: yeah I figured someone would and it would be you I'm glad that I noticed it though

Lunchbucket

 

[PaPa_Johnny]

Looking good! The anticipation grows! Your doing a good job looks like for a non-rock person.

 

[Lunchbucket]

Papa - Yeah it is growing. Who said I'm a non-rock person

Lunchbucket

 

[Bax]

Excellent progress!

 

[PaPa_Johnny]

oooo! I'm so sorry, didn't realize it no wonder you do such good work. I hates the stuff

 

[cbui2]

wow lunch your moving really fast there. hard to believed you had time to even eat with that much work going on .

 

[ReeferMonkey]

Wow. The last time I seriously read your thread you were shelving the whole system because of the move. Things are moving full steam! You guys are tearing it up - I can't wait to see the finished room.