New tank?? 280ish

[kiran523]

No prob, I was trying to kill when I was doing some waiting at the mall.

You could use more flexible material but I don't know what your psi req's are for the drains in concern. I would think it would be risky to use something softer than flexible PVC on a long term basis.

Everytime I think about a 90 I think about one more place for a drain to get clogged.

 

[8BALL_99]

I know that was my biggest concern. I can just see me running a snake in Chances toilet once a week haha.

 

[TOYTEK]

Will thats the vent for the drain right? If so, I don't see where a few 90s would make any difference. Might change the lowest 90 a T instead and cap the upper outlet that way if you ever have to run a pipe snake down it, you wont have to fight it through all those 90s, just go up in rthe attic and pull the cap off.
They also sell check valve type vent caps like this http://www.plumbingsupply.com/autovent.html but then you have the hole in the roof from the existing vent to deal with.
P.S. I'm not a plumber but hope I helped

 

[8BALL_99]

Its not the vent pipe. It does connect to a vent further up. The 3" connects to a toilet and a sink upstairs. The attic space I'm talking about is beside the bathroom. But the T with a cap is a good Idea also. That way if the 90s did cause a problem down the road it would be a lot easier to snake the drain.

LOL BTW you guys are up late...

 

[mltmtascp]

Will,
Any updated pics?
Monica

 

[8BALL_99]

Well I've got the frame built and hung over the tank for the light shaft.. But thats about as far as I got.. The pipe has sorta put a wrench into the plan.. I was in the attic this morning trying to figure out a fix. As is its looking like my skylight might get replaced with Three 14" Solar Tubes. Infact I went today to see if I could pick some up in town to install them in the morning but I couldn't find anyone that stocks the 14" ones only the 10". I can order them and have them in about 3 days.. Since I have to order them anyway, I'm trying to figure out what brand I'm going to get.. I guess I'm going to go ahead and stain and poly the stand/canopy while I'm waiting on the Tubes..

No one ever gave me any opinions on the tile for the shelf though

 

[mltmtascp]

I like the marlborough the best.

 

[8BALL_99]

Well I guess I'm getting 3 Sola Tube brand 14" tubes.. Everyone seems to say they put out much more light then the off brands.. The only dealer around here is 2 hours and 30 mins away lol.. But I talked to them and he said they make trips this way pretty often. Infact he was here monday said he will be back here saturday.. He has to order them though since he only has one 14" instock.. So it will probably be about a week or so before I get them. I figured it was worth a few extra bucks and a few extra days to get the better tubes.

 

[Tomoko Schum]

You are quite an inspiration, Will I like the idea of solar tubes. If I ever get to build a fish room addition, I would certainly consider solar tubes (after you get all the bugs worked out with yours first . )

Tomoko

 

[8BALL_99]

I found a few dealers closer by. One as close as 8 miles away.. They dont have any 14" instock though.. Said it would take about as long as the other guy to get them. One had the 10" tubes in stock and thought I was crazy for wanting 14" tubes.. He said are you sure you need 14s the 10" put out a ton of light to much for some people.. He paused for a sec when I said I need 3 of the 14"s to go over a reef tank and that I thought about the 21" but the flashing was to large haha

 

[kiran523]

He must not have dealt with a reefer before lol!

 

[H@rry]

Tell him you're going to use it for a tanning parlor.

 

[8BALL_99]

Guess I'll give a small update.. I've had a couple pms with Hows the tank going lol. Its still going.. Slow I know. The 180 is sold and picked up. They came and got it sunday. I ordered the solarTubes last week.. I was told about 1-2weeks for them to get here so fingers crossed it doesn't take long.. In the mean time I went ahead and stained the stand and canopy. I also put three coats of Poly on it a couple days ago. I also skinned the light shaft and got it ready for painting. So Next is to fix the whole in the wall from the water leak, Then I'm going to paint the wall and the outside of the ligth shaft to match. I'm hoping the solarTubes come in in the next few days cause once the wall is painted thats really all I'm waiting on Be my luck the day they come in we will have a weeks worth of rain or something haha. I'll post a couple pics of the stand and canopy tonight..

Will

 

[8BALL_99]

Well when I drove up the drive way I got a nice surprise 3 Boxes stacked infront of the garage.

Now I just need to get them installed!
Here is what the stand looks like now.. The canopy is also stained but I didn't tank a picture of it

A little OT I guess but it still has to do with the fish room. The Tv and stand in the room has always looked bad to me since it sits infront of the window. But its either that or no TV so it stayed haha.. Well since the new stand sticks out another foot it really made the TV look more packed in there.. So the simple fix was for my son to get the Tv for his room and replace it with a LCD. Since we have sat receiver and a PSII in there also. Sticking the Tv on the wall left that stuff either on a shelf or on the floor. So I built a small cabinet to match the fish tank stands. Since its no where near as deep I can put it beside the window and still have plenty of room for the closet door to open.
The Problem

And the Fix

Will

 

[scaryperson27]

Great!! sounds like this project is going to start taking off!

 

[8BALL_99]

I got the sola Tubes installed! Took all day lol but they are done. Well I say done I'll probably still add extensions to the ends of them to bring them down closer to the tank. I'll wait to do that when I get the inside of the canopy buttoned up. They seem to pickup light pretty good. I don't even have lights in my canopy yet and the domes light up just from the light in the room. I figure worse case they will atleast help. I really hope to get by with the tubes and a few T5s though.

Will

 

[8BALL_99]

I took some pictures this afternoon around 5. I also checked the par. At the end of the tube I was getting anywhere from 500-800 par. But you move the par meter down 15" or so and it drops to 200 or less. When the light exits the tube it seems to shoot side ways and where else. I think if it was directed down the light output would be much better.

 

[8BALL_99]

Small update. I've got some extensions ordered for the tubes to bring them down closer to where the tank will be. I'm pretty sure I got the whole lift thing figured out. I put everything in place tonight and took my measurements. I'm going to try and get the lift installed and working this weekend. Once thats done all I have to do is finish out the inside of the upper canopy and paint the outside of it. Once the extensions get here and I get them installed I'll be ready for the tank I also got the TV stand finished and installed.

Will

 

[8BALL_99]

Thought I'd post an update. I got the lift installed and working last weekend. Once I had it all working I took the canopy back off and painted the inside. I also Painted the outside of the upper canopy to match the room. I covered the inside of the upper canopy with FRP and trimmed it all out with PVC Trim. I put door sweeps where the cables come through the ceiling. I got the Tube extensions installed and put covers on the ends to keep the moisture out of them. All I did was take the light distibrator apart and use the inner part along with some weather stripping to seal the ends of the tube. So now I'm ready for the TANK! :rollface: I plan on trying to move it in in the next couple of days.. Just got to get some helpers together lol

I Tried to take some pics of how the lift works. Little hard to tell since its in the attic and all. I have one cable on each side of the canopy. They come up through the ceiling to pulleys. The first pulley on each cable changes the direction of the cable from vertical to horizontal and directs both cable to the middle then the 2nd set of pulleys turn the cables to the linear actuator where they both connect to one motor.

Will

 

[H@rry]

Are the solar tubes stationary and the canopy slides around them or do they "telescope" up and down with the canopy?