My Equipment Room+Multiple Displays

[8BALL_99]

Hey everyone, Several months back my wifes dog decided to chew through my Autotopoff line and soak the carpet in our fish room. So I needed to break down all my Reef tanks in the room and move them out to change the carpet. At the time there was a 180, 60 and a 35 gallon tank in the room. Needless to say this was a huge problem.. I decided to just move them to another room, But this time I was going to tile the room and build a equipment room to help decrease the chance of another water leak or spill inside the house.. Also I wanted to cut down on the moisture and heat the tanks added to the house..

My 180 is kind of like a inwall.. But I only have it set in the was about an inch.. I wanted to keep the view from the sides. I replaced my 60 gallon Cube with a 92 Gallon Corner tank. I kept my 35 as is. I added two 40 gallon frag tanks and a 75 gallon sump for the 180. The 92 one 40gallon frag tank and one 40 gallon sump/refuge are on one system.. The 180 plus the other 40 gallon frag tank and a 75 gallon sump/refuge is another system.. The 35 gallon Hex tank is a Seahorse tank and is on its own.

I built the room, wired it insulated it,,sheetrocked ect.. I also built all the stands and canopys and installed the lifts. The equipment room is about as water proof as you can get.. It was all rocked with Greenboard. Then I covered all the walls and ceiling with FRP board. All the seams were siliconed then I installed all water proof PVC trim.. The room has a window AC in it to cool the tanks. Everything was DIY. Anyway everyone likes pictures!

 

[8BALL_99]

 

[8BALL_99]

Frag tank For the 92

Frag Tank for the 180

What the room looks like in the garage.

This is above the room in the attic. Its a 55 gallon Poly Drum for my RO/DI water..The large shelf over the hotwater heater if for a 40-45 gallon Saltwater make up tank.. I've still got to build it. I just haven't had time yet.

 

[8BALL_99]

I've had alot of Questions about my lifts on my Canopys. I posted a picture of my 92 in another thread and it seems that everyone wants to know what parts I used..

I used Linear Actuators to lift the canopys.. I had planed on having the arm come through the ceiling to the canopy.. But my wife after seeing them wasn't crazy about the Chrome arm.. Crazy I know:rolleye1: So I ended up attaching Steel cables to the Actuators. The Actuators are from FA Automations
I used there Sleek Actuators rated for 150lbs Each. 99.00each
The guides mounted on the wall are just heavy duty slides from Lowes rated for 150-200 lbs each. They run about 20 bucks a pair
I also got there remote control system for 65 bucks.. Looks like the remote for your car..One remote controlls both canopys.. push one button one conopy goes up the the ceiling push another it goes back down.
I used a 12V powersupply from radio shack. Dont remember the price. If your not maxing out the Actuators you can use almost any 12v transformer.. I used a 1500mA one for a couple of weeks with NPs.

Here is a shot of the Actuators above the 180,

Hope that helps explain some of the questions about the lifts.. If not I'll be happy to answer any questions about the setup..

Please Ignore the mess in the equipment room.. My cables still need alot of work.. I'm no where near done yet.. I was going to wait and post when it was all finished. But I figure I'll always have something I want or need to do in there lol.. Hope everyone likes the pictures!

Will

 

[MickZu]

These are my favourite type of threads, great work Will.

 

[192clark]

8 Ball with your storage of RODI being in the attic, do you feel the heat will be an issue. I am asking because that would give me some more room also.

 

[Broreefr]

DAMM GOOD JOB ON EVERYTHING - you make us Bama boys proud

 

[TandN]

Thanx for all the info Will

 

[TandN]

Hey Will when buying the actuators Im looking to raise my canopy 6 inches up so do I go for the stroke lenght of 6" ????

 

[matthew112687]

Looks great! Youre tanks are beautiful..

 

[8BALL_99]

Thanks for all the coments everyone!

192clark, I dont think the heat is an issue at all. My tank however is a some what sealed tank. The only air hole is that hose on the top that runs to a Carbon block. I wouldn't have any kind of open container up there do to evaporation and cause of the dust. The water does get warm and I'm sure during the winter it will get cold but I dont think it will cause a problem.. I know several people that store theirs outside. I figured atleast in the attic sunlight won't be a factor.

tanya, Exactly if you want the canopy to move 6" you will want a 6" Stoke.

The tanks are getting there. They still are going through the new stage from the move. I can't wait till they start looking like they use to.

Will

 

[Avast Marine]

I'm glad you didn't wait until you finished to start your thread. Your work is top notch, I have gained so much from your setups and from all the knowledge you have shared with me.
Now lets get to the nitty gritty . How bout a run down of equipment on each of those tanks. Also maybe a little more detail as to how you have the 8-way plumbed, I just don't see very many returns?

Dan

 

[TandN]

Awesome This is what I believe I need LMK if im missing anything or dont need something
Heavy Duty Linear Guide Rails 23.75" Extension 1 set
2-4 Channel Remote Control Systems
6" Stroke Tubular Actuator 150 lbs force x2
Mounting Bracket for all FA Actuators x4

 

[8BALL_99]

Thanks!, Thats one of the main reasons why I take the time to post pictures. I always learn so much from seeing other peoples setups.. Heck 3 years ago I'd never even thought about an equipment room intill I seen a few others with them..

The 180 is plumbed with an Oceans motions 8way. The pump for it is a Sequence ReefFlow Barracuda.. Rated at 4200gph The Return for the 180 is just a Eheim 1260. Here is a picture of the hole layout. My paint skills aren't so hot lol. This is a drawing I made up for the company making the tank."Miracles In Glass" . I just added color to show what the holes are for. The tank is a standard dimension 180 But with an External overflow. Its got 1/2" Starfire on the front and sides and 5/8" standard tempered glass on the bottem and back. Its got 4" Euro bracing around the top.

Lighting on that tank is 2x250 Watt MH and 1x400 watt MH. With Lum3 Mini reflectors. The 250s are on Icecaps the 400 is a Electronic Coralvue ballast. The frag tank is a standard size 40 Breeder with a single 250 watt MH also with a Lum3 mini reflector. Its got a mag 7 for its return pump right now.. I plan on Either replacing it with a Eheim 1260 or getting one larger pump to to run both the 180 and the 40 gallon. The skimmer for those tanks is a H&S A200 1260 External.


The 92 Gallon has a Single 400 Watt MH on a Electroinc Coralvue ballast. It has an Oceans motions 4way on it. Powered by a Sequence ReefFlow Dart rated for 3600Gph. I don't have a hole layout drawn for it, but you can kind of tell where they are in the picture.. Since this tank was up against the wall I ran the closed loop over the back wall. The two 4" pipes above the tank are just for air circultion. The top one sucks out air out of the canopy into the Equipment room the other Sucks cool air from the Equipment room into the canopy. Works great and with this setup it keeps the moisture in the Equipment room and out of the house!! The 92 Gallon has a Eheim 1260 for a Return pump. Right now its split and is used for both the 92 and its frag tank. The Frag tank is Exactly like the one on the 180s system. The skimmer for this system is a ASM G4.

The 180 system and the 35 Hex both have AquaControllers on them. The 92 system doesn't have one yet. I'm still trying to decide what I'm going to get. Once I do I'm going to build an Oak Cabinet to match the stands and mount the Controllers In the viewing room. The Controller on the 35 is already in there but the one for the 180 is just hung in the Equipment room for right now.. The idea is to have both Controllers For both systems in one easy to see spot in the viewing room so at a glance I can check how the systems are doing.

Will

 

[8BALL_99]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=8312360#post8312360 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by tanya72806
Awesome This is what I believe I need LMK if im missing anything or dont need something
Heavy Duty Linear Guide Rails 23.75" Extension 1 set
2-4 Channel Remote Control Systems
6" Stroke Tubular Actuator 150 lbs force x2
Mounting Bracket for all FA Actuators x4

Thats a $$ list lol.
I would just go to lowes for your guide rails.. You can get much shorter ones for less money.. Also will help with shipping
Remote is cool but not needed a Toggle switch will work.. Although I much rather use the remote
You really dont need 2 Actuators to lift your canopy. if you can mount one in the center either behind the tank or above the tank it should lift you canopy fine. Nothing really wrong with using two just cost more. I used two on my 180 cause it is VERY heavy lol. I built it all out of solid Oak and 3/4 Oak plywood. And the colums on the front and sides are several layers thick of solid wood.. Its so heavy that I couldn't pick it up over my head alone.. I had to have help :rolleye1:
Mounting Brackets,, Well this is a tough one.. They charge way to much for theirs but if your not able to work with metel then they are your only option.. I just used some 1/8" steel for mine, But mine was where you can't see the brackets so I didnt' have to worry so much about how they looked..HTH

Will

 

[TandN]

lol yeah my husband does just about everything but electric and metal lol as for the rails there on sale for $25 INSTEAD OF 40 and I am settin it up behind the tank the canopy is 50"x 25" if you think one will handle ill get one then save some money do you have a link to the power supply i should get ????
Again THANKS 4 EVERYTHING !!!

 

[192clark]

8Ball-99 Thanks for the info. I would have never thought to put the water supply up there.

 

[8BALL_99]

Tanya, It depends a lil on how he built your canopy.. But I would bet it doesnt' weight no where near 150lbs probably more like 30-50lbs.. As for the power supply the one I'm using would be way over kill for what you need. Mine is a 15Amp large 12 Power supply.. The Actuators at full load pull 4amps.. So if your canopy weighs Exactly 150lbs then it will pull 4amps.. I used a 1500mA 12volt wall wart for a couple weeks on my 92 with No problems at all.. 1500mA is less then 2 amps they run about 20 bucks. IMO I'd probably try one of those.. Or look around the house you might even have an old phone charger or battery charger that is 12Volt if so it might work also..HTH

192clark, NP just remember though you might want to filter the air intake.. It is RO water so if the tank is sucking in dust and what ever else it doesn't stay RO water very long. LOL be sure you mount the tank where the floor can handle the weight or it might not be up there long

 

[jjackson]

whats going in each tank?

 

[gigiba]

Awsome idea on the canopy!