Jay Fortay
Uber Member
Thanks for the advice. I consulted a structural engineer, and the news was good! No extra support required.
My Dream Tank- 225 Gallon Custom Shallow
- Thread starter Jay Fortay
- Start date
Jay Fortay
Uber Member
Picture intensive update
Picture intensive update
And, I have some build update pics...
Very Messy build day.
Plywood and foam cut and added to stand.
Framing up the fish room tank supports.
Lots of priming and gluing got done.
Sump. Top line is emergency drain. Middle bulkhead is Tanner's RO/DI float valve invention. Looks pretty slick. The bottom line is the pump intake.
Tanner and Nick getting some crawlspace plumbing done.
Refugium on top. Quarantine in the middle. Sump on bottom.
Super Reef Octopus SSS-5000 Skimmer. Really excited to get this beast fired up.
Picture intensive update
And, I have some build update pics...
Very Messy build day.
Plywood and foam cut and added to stand.
Framing up the fish room tank supports.
Lots of priming and gluing got done.
Sump. Top line is emergency drain. Middle bulkhead is Tanner's RO/DI float valve invention. Looks pretty slick. The bottom line is the pump intake.
Tanner and Nick getting some crawlspace plumbing done.
Refugium on top. Quarantine in the middle. Sump on bottom.
Super Reef Octopus SSS-5000 Skimmer. Really excited to get this beast fired up.
Jay Fortay
Uber Member
Tank is being drilled and fabricated today. Final install and fill will be next friday. :bounce1:
Jay Fortay
Uber Member
The 2x4 frame is screwed together with deck screws. The frame is bolted to the studs with lag bolts as are the 2x4s on the left-hand wall. There are 2-8" lag bolts that go through the 4x4 post then into both sections of the 2x4 frames. It feels really solid. Any suggestions to add a little more support? Maybe a couple more 2x4s across the front spans that tie into the wall support, the frame, and the 4x4 post?
Last edited:
Jay Fortay
Uber Member
We did a little plumbing and reenforcing of the fish room framework last night...
Jay Fortay
Uber Member
Sorry it's been a while since I've made an update. Crystal Clear Aquatics in Bozeman was having trouble completing the construction of the display so I ordered the tank from Dutch Aquarium Systems (DAS) in Texas. A great group to work with. They had a few new ideas to add to the mix. I ripped out some of the previous plumbing we had installed in order to accommodate the new plumbing idea.
3-1.5" drains (1 main, 2 emergency) The main will be a regulated full siphon "herbie" The other two will be emergency.
Here are a couple of the tank being built. Now in Texas by DAS. The small holes you see drilled in the front and back panes are for small stainless steel rods that will be used to brace the 2-88" spans. I think the finished look will be really cool.
The tank will be delivered the first week in April. Fingers crossed for it's safe journey from Texas to Montana :thumbsup:
Thanks for following along. I am stoked to get this thing up and running!
3-1.5" drains (1 main, 2 emergency) The main will be a regulated full siphon "herbie" The other two will be emergency.
Here are a couple of the tank being built. Now in Texas by DAS. The small holes you see drilled in the front and back panes are for small stainless steel rods that will be used to brace the 2-88" spans. I think the finished look will be really cool.
The tank will be delivered the first week in April. Fingers crossed for it's safe journey from Texas to Montana :thumbsup:
Thanks for following along. I am stoked to get this thing up and running!
Newbie Aquarist
Reefing is my middle name
Great update. Someone else had their tank built the same way by the company that is making your tank and it came out beautiful.
Jay Fortay
Uber Member
Thanks, Newbie. Do you know who it was or know a thread I can search for? I'd love to see it!
Newbie Aquarist
Reefing is my middle name
tonymission
New member
This build is all sorts of awesome. I'm in the planning stages of dropping my sumps downstairs for multiple tanks and going large and shallow in the living room. Inspiring!
Jay Fortay
Uber Member
Thank you tonymission. I appreciate the compliment. Good luck with your setup!
Jay Fortay
Uber Member
IT'S FINALLY HERE!!!!
Really well crated from DAS. The tank looks beautiful without a scratch. There were a few spots with stray silicone and partial fingerprints in silicone. Nothing a quick razorblade scrape can't fix.
Set in place... Finally!
side view
Leveling with composite shims. It was pretty close to level as it sat. Now it is within 1mm all the way around.
My Daughter watching the first drops of water go in
She wants a baby dolphin or a pengode (penguin). She'll have to settle for Dory and Nemo.
Slowly but surely. The tank is filling off of my Melevsreef 100GPD RODI. with our extremely cold water and the couple of feet of head it is pushing about 30-40GPD. Its like watching grass grow.
I have about 30 minutes of plumbing to finish up then she should be ready to roll when full in a few days. I did water test the drain lines before filling any into the tank. So far so good!
Really well crated from DAS. The tank looks beautiful without a scratch. There were a few spots with stray silicone and partial fingerprints in silicone. Nothing a quick razorblade scrape can't fix.
Set in place... Finally!
side view
Leveling with composite shims. It was pretty close to level as it sat. Now it is within 1mm all the way around.
My Daughter watching the first drops of water go in
She wants a baby dolphin or a pengode (penguin). She'll have to settle for Dory and Nemo.
Slowly but surely. The tank is filling off of my Melevsreef 100GPD RODI. with our extremely cold water and the couple of feet of head it is pushing about 30-40GPD. Its like watching grass grow.
I have about 30 minutes of plumbing to finish up then she should be ready to roll when full in a few days. I did water test the drain lines before filling any into the tank. So far so good!
Jay Fortay
Uber Member
Thanks, ntrlsur! I always have strived for clean and tidy and it never happened before. Now, with the extra room for equipment and supplies I can at least shut the door.
Jay Fortay
Uber Member
Thanks JT
Newbie Aquarist
Reefing is my middle name
Your daughter is going to fall asleep in front of the tank waiting for it to get filled.
Jay Fortay
Uber Member
Alright folks... I need some advice. I finally got enough water in the tank to start running the pump a bit. It seems to have a really annoying harmonic being on the floor above the crawl space. I can hear it in every room downstairs. I know that Tanner plumbed it pretty funky with all of those elbows and 45s between the sump and the intake. I had a feeling it would cavitate, and it is.
My question is; can I drop my pump down into the crawlspace without hurting the pump? I know it will add about 5' of head to the pump, but the reduction in noise would be worth the loss of flow. Especially with how oversized this pump is for this system as it sits.
My question is; can I drop my pump down into the crawlspace without hurting the pump? I know it will add about 5' of head to the pump, but the reduction in noise would be worth the loss of flow. Especially with how oversized this pump is for this system as it sits.
