My 90 In Wall Project (Photo Intense)

[aberg12012]

I think I'm dreaming... As if being a first time home owner isn't exciting enough, come to find out I have the perfect setup for an In-Wall tank. A little research, and away I go...

First the stand I built a month ago before I even knew what I would be doing with it. Talk about going with your instinct.

The next step was a little scary for me, since I've never done anything like this before and certainly not to MY NEW HOUSE! Here's the before shot:

And here's the before shot of the backside of the wall:

Then I crossed my fingers, and dug in. (Literally.)

Thats it for now, Still waiting on the trim to dry:

Will post more as things progress. Planning on moving the existing live stock over on the 9th, hopefully.

 

[masterswimmer]

Nice job, nice pictorial. Keep'em comin'.

Russ

 

[Hella]

hmmmm, some day I to will have that kind of fun

 

[Stigmatic]

If you want to take some advised precaution... On the base of the stand, lay down about 1/4" of rubber matting. It will help leveling the tank and reduce the risk of future stress cracks.

 

[masterswimmer]

That wall and room behind it were really SCREAMING, "PUT A TANK HERE"! That is an ideal location.

We want more pix!!

Russ

 

[MalawianDude]

very cool, guy above is right perfect location for tank with all that room behind it.

You a welder? did a really good job on that stand.

 

[aberg12012]

Thanks, and yes I guess I can consider myself a welder. I just built a trailer a couple months ago with no prior welding experience, with the help of my father. My father can weld with a wire feed with his eyes closed, literally. Although I did all the welding on the stand, I had an excellent teacher. And it's amazing how you can make a bad weld look really nice with a grinder. :lol:

Anyways, here's the rest of the photos from today, after finishing up the framing in the wall.

Next Wednessday the tank will get some live stock.

 

[mako56]

Very cool project, I am a welder fabricator also and was noticing in the first painted picture of your stand there was't any type of gussets but then noticed in the later photos you can see you added some I think that was a very good idea the stand is a bit high to not have any bracing. I have a spot in my basement that this type of thing might have to happen too.

 

[MalawianDude]

very cool man, can't wait to see stuff in it!

 

[iceman5]

looks very nice can't wait to see if full. thanks for the pictures!

 

[aberg12012]

Very cool project, I am a welder fabricator also and was noticing in the first painted picture of your stand there was't any type of gussets but then noticed in the later photos you can see you added some I think that was a very good idea the stand is a bit high to not have any bracing. I have a spot in my basement that this type of thing might have to happen too.

The first pic of the stand primed was a bit pre-mature. I had to get a coat of primer on it since I had it all claned up and ready. I knew it would be sitting for a couple weeks before I got around to the finishing touches, and I didn't feel like wire brushing it again. I actually wasn't going to put gussets on, but I thought what the heck, I may want to set a house on it some day... :lol: After building this stand, I'm amazed at the cheepy metal (more like wire) stands in the pet stores.

very cool man, can't wait to see stuff in it!

You think YOU can't wait?!?!?! Now I need to buckel down, finish painting the stand, clean the tank out, run the plumming, and figure out how in the heck I'm going to move everything over from my apt. At least it's only a 15 minute drive on hy 41 from my apt. to my house. Just wish I had a van instead of a pickup. Maybe it'll be 78 out next Wed... :lol:

 

[aberg12012]

That wall and room behind it were really SCREAMING, "PUT A TANK HERE"! That is an ideal location.

We want more pix!!

Russ

Sorry, just saw this post now.... and yea, it's funny cuz a week ago Friday when I closed on this place, a good friend of mine came over to see it. And his first reaction to the basment was "why didn't they extend the finished portion out to this wall?" No more than a minute later he answered his own question and gave me the idea. The perverbial "you know what would really be cool?" Gotta give him credit for the idea in the first place, as it never even crossed my mind till he suggested it. And I still can't get over how easy the whole project was, and how everything went so smoothly. It was just scary, thinking about tearing a great big hole in my new house and not really being sure how it would work out. Now looking back, seeing the before photo, man that wall was boring!!

I can only hope the tank move goes as smoothly.

 

[Aquabucket]

That is going to be sweet!

I guess we know what room you will be spending your most time!

Good luck and enjoy!

 

[aberg12012]

I guess we know what room you will be spending your most time!

You got that right! Eventually the opposite wall that you see my computer on will have my 75 gallon oscar tank. That side is the same situation, behind the wall is a laundry room.

 

[aberg12012]

Just an update on the subject of lighting:

Yesterday I picked up a used PFO daul 400 watt EYE ballast from Scott of Gooch's Corals. (Thanks Scott.) Today I ordered the Iwasaki's and quick connect cords to go with it, along with replacement bulbs for my existing VHO and PC ballasts.

I will be running 2x110 watt VHO URI Actinics and 2x65 watt PC 7100 K Blue Bulbs. Suposedly the 7100 K Blue PC bulbs will help balance out the 400 watt 6500 k's, and Hellolights had them on clearance for 9 bucks. :lol:

 

[mako56]

Wow!!!!!!!!! that will light up your world. Are you going to have all 1150 watts running at the same time?

 

[aberg12012]

Wow!!!!!!!!! that will light up your world. Are you going to have all 1150 watts running at the same time?

Yep. 220 watts of actinic, 130 of blue, and 800 watts of daylight. The beauty of it is the tank is in a cool basement, and should stay cooler even in the summer months. (Granted, the tank itself will warm things up.) And because it's behind the wall, the lights will not be enclosed by anything, and I can blast as big of fans as I need at the tank, lights, and sump(s). Hmm, which brings me to the next thing I need to order...

Auto top off. :lol: I predict massive evaporation on this tank.

 

[masterswimmer]

Auto top off. :lol: I predict massive evaporation on this tank.

Yes you will have lots of evap. You also made mention about it being in your cooler basement. So is mine. I don't have any water problems but cement/concrete walls do have a tendency to sweat during the summer months. That in conjunction with your tank evap you should run a dehumidifier. I run mine all year long.

Russ

 

[aberg12012]

you should run a dehumidifier. I run mine all year long.

Russ

Yep, have been planning on it.

 

[Stigmatic]

I have an auto top off on mine... I turned my dehumidifier off. I have the basement sump and it seemed like the dehumidifier was sucking a lot of water from the sump.