My Project ★ GENESIS ★ 110G (Miracle) SPS Dream Tank - (I) Pre-Build Thread

[reefmutt]

Stain the oak trim to match the desk.

Interesting idea but I think I like the cleanness of no trim.
The desk is big and dark. Extending the dark wood beyond the desk with the trim will be distracting imo...
I’ll help move the tank!.. oh wait.. I’ll be in montreal that day.. sorry..
But looking forward to seeing it in place.

 

[Wally.B]

Stain the oak trim to match the desk.

Interesting idea but I think I like the cleanness of no trim.
The desk is big and dark. Extending the dark wood beyond the desk with the trim will be distracting imo...
I'll help move the tank!.. oh wait.. I'll be in montreal that day.. sorry..
But looking forward to seeing it in place.

I'll not sure what I'll do.....

But I did drop by the Paint Store since I had a tiny bit of White Paint Left from the Hallway Walls. I had them Color it up a bit darker.

So I'm thinking slightly off white trim. Very close to wall, but a bit of contrast.

If I don't like it I can paint the trim Again with Matching Wall Color.

 

[Wally.B]

DELAY on Tank Carry-In (Nobody available till Sunday) Started WPC Plank Flooring

The guy on You Tube made it look so easy (In Fast Forward ) . But it is time consuming to stagger, and pick though the patterns to mix things up.

At least it cuts with a Xacto-Knife Score and break. No Saw needed.

I hate the end piece installs (very tight Tapping)

HOW DO YOU Like the "COLOR" (Beige/Brown/Grey) Not the original I was going with (Dark Oak look).

Change Color Choice at the last second after seeing Similar in Showroom.
Was Too dark for a basement (which has only one tiny window)

 

[Wally.B]

STUCK waiting for Tank (Flooring Work Maxed out) Head start on T5 Lighting Fixture.

Hard to believe the hardest part of this build is getting 3 Volunteers (available at the same time) to help bring in tank.

Did all the flooring I can.

Might as well start the T5 Fixture Build.

Have all the parts:

-> HEP Ballasts
-> T5 Reflectors
-> T5 Endcaps and Mounts
-> Wire
-> Wood Strips
-> T5 Bulbs (4x BP, 2x CP)

 

[Wally.B]

Interesting idea but I think I like the cleanness of no trim.
The desk is big and dark. Extending the dark wood beyond the desk with the trim will be distracting imo...

Matt, Some kind of Trim is A MUST.

If I go TANK FLUSH with drywall, I need to cover up:
-> Bottom, Right Tank Glass Edges
-> Top EuroTrim and down to Water Line

So to your idea (which I am leaning towards), I may do a very thin trim and either paint it to match wall, or just a tiny bit darker.

 

[Wally.B]

TANK Move ( 8 PM Sunday) Finally

Got everyone at the same time available. CONFIRMED.

Tank will be in place tomorrow

 

[Wally.B]

Found something to do (While Waiting for Tomorrow's Tank) MORE FUN THAN a BARREL OF MONKEYS

I made a mistake during my Early Learning Stage of the WPC install.

Upon CLOSE INSPECTION....
A couple of tiles (Didn't Fully CLICK into place) leaving a Protruding Ridge. They had minor damage so two had to be replaced.

You can't remove the planks without working backwards......Bad luck that the One mistake was in ROW #3

But it went fairly fast since all pieces were pre-cut to proper sizes.

Still it wasn't fun (Reverse Progress)

 

[reefmutt]

Tank install!! Woohoo!!!
Can’t wait!

 

[Wally.B]

Tank install!! Woohoo!!!
Can't wait!

tick.....tock....tick...tic......I can't wait either!!

Wasting Time....I learned this from Reading T5 Ballast Label....

T5 Dimmable Ballast (Must run 100% for 100 Hrs) BEFORE Dimming

Makes sense that your have to Burn in the T5 before dimming.
I never did this on my Other Tank Dimmable Ballast for Years. Never knew this.

Kind of a hassle but not a big deal since only when installing a NEW BULB every six months.

 

[Wally.B]

Fish Tank COUNTDOWN ( 8 Hours and Counting)

It's going to be a long day........

 

[reefmutt]

 

[Wally.B]

Final Pre-Check (Tank Bottom Trim - STAND TOP Overhang) NO-FOAM Center Needed

Was thinking of putting foam under tank (where trim is not [Drywall overhanging plywood area which is not colored on Sticks) to distribute weight more evenly.

Not needed since a good portion of Tank Bottom Trim will be on THE SOLID part of STAND. (The Black Striped marking)

I did test the foam under Tank sitting on 2x4" now. Although foam does compress a lot, it still raises the tank a for mm (so unstable).

ALL GOOD TO GO!!!

 

[Wally.B]

Sump Room (Waterproofing) Chalking VS BlueSkin

Before I put up the Final Drywall, I sealed the stud Framing.

After reading the BlueSkin Instructions I decided not to use it (more for flat smooth surfaces, NOT Rough Concrete, Stud Cracks)

Used High Quality Window Chalking instead. (Both sides of Sump Room Wall)
The stuff is liquidly/runny but filled and sealed everything nicely. After Curing if feels like it will hold/seal for a long time (for rare sump room spills)

This is the area where water flows (Floor leveling towards basement drain), since all the Metal Studs were corroded (which I replaced with Wood 2x4's)

 

[Wally.B]

I got you on my "Tank Carry" Helper list. What time are you dropping by?
You promised you would drive down from Montreal
I promised to feed all the helpers (Pizza and Lasagna). No Alcohol before tank move

 

[Wally.B]

★★ TANK IS at HOME ★★ (Brought in) Not Carried [PLAN B]

So things were a challenge.

The curve stairway was tough for 4 people.

PLUS THE TANK Felt Awkward and HEAVY.

Came up with a PLAN-B to get it downstairs.

Make a SLED and SLIDE it down.....


Cardboard Wrapped....Plywood Bottom....SyroFoam Padding.

Once wrapped up.....It was safe to slide down stairs (Two people at bottom, and 1 at Top to Guide tank).

IT WORKED. And Glad we did it this way (Since we could feel the awkwardness and weight doing this way).

 

[Wally.B]

HERE IS IT (TANK ON STAND) ** PERFECT FIT, LEVEL and FLUSH (AMAZING!!!)

Everything Lines up!!!

Can't believe it. Ready for Framing.

I'm really Happy Beyond my Greatest Expectations.

I EVEN LIKE THE CLEAR SILICONE EDGE

The BUILD IS GOING TO Be Fun!!!!!

 

[JonezNReef]

Looks awesome!!

 

[reefmutt]

Congrats Wally! It’s in!!
Too bad I missed the pre move drinking.
Anyways, you said you had two at bottom and two at top.. I would have been that guy going ‘weeeeeeeeee!!!’ While sitting in the tank.

 

[Wally.B]

Thanks Guys.

Sorry Matt, two daughters already thought of your "Weeeeeee idea". Wasn't much room left

So here is the TANK on the SUMP room Side

Things appear to fit without any SIGNIFICANT adjustments.

Lot's of thinking to do when the build start.

RIGHT NOW, I want to finished the DRYWALL, The Flooring around the Tank and get that Rec room/Office done.

It will help me daydream what to do next on for the Sump Room (I....mean....Deluxe MAN CAVE).

 

[tenurepro]

HERE IS IT (TANK ON STAND) ** PERFECT FIT, LEVEL and FLUSH (AMAZING!!!)



Everything Lines up!!!

Can't believe it. Ready for Framing.

I'm really Happy Beyond my Greatest Expectations.



I EVEN LIKE THE CLEAR SILICONE EDGE



The BUILD IS GOING TO Be Fun!!!!!

[emoji122][emoji122][emoji122]


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk