Nick's Miracle Build

[this is me]

It's time to start a build thread for this. You can call this Nick's reef 3.0 since this is the 3rd serious tank upgrade. But this is something I called a Man-Cave or "œIn-Laws are Here" cave. We should be able to finish the all the electrical and plumbing roughing this week and start the drywall early next month.

I started this project since August of last year. I had very limited amount of time on it and at some point I stalled and didn't even want to set the tank up. But I kept chipping away one bit at a time and I'm starting to see the light at the end of the tunnel. I'm hoping to finally get the tank up and running in the next couple months and let it run for a bit before moving the existing tank(Link here) content to it.

First off, let's start with the tank. The tank was delivered October of last year. Other than the initial inspection, it was crated back up and has been sitting in my garage.

Tank dimension is 72"x48"x24" and holds ~360gallons. It was built by Miracle. Miracle also made the stand for it. The tank is built as a peninsula set up. Large external overflow with 3 drain(planning on doing a Bean overflow). Two returns from the overflow side and 4 return holes from the opposite side. Starfire on all viewable side.

 

[this is me]

Now for the project itself and why it took so long. When we built the house, we did not get the basement finished. The unfinished space is ~1200sq ft. I had an estimator came in to give me a quote on finishing it and his quote was absurd(to me). I’ve never picked up a hammer in my life but there’s no way I’m going to pay $80K to finish the basement on top of what we’ve already spent on the house and the Elos tank upstairs. I started to do some research and planned out on what needs to be done. Learned how to frame a wall or two from Youtube and see how far I can get before I call in a professional.
Original unfinished basement. Green taped marked the location and size of the tank. I had no idea if I can do this project or not but taping the concrete floor was easy! And a constant reminder of my goal.

To-be lounge with the tank behind.

More space

Most important of all. The to-be fish room

 

[this is me]

First delivery of building materials. I’m using foam board to cover up the concrete walls because framing and then add batt insulation.

More studs

How do I get all the studs down to the basement? In a Lexus of course!

VIP delivery

 

[this is me]

Okay, stop messing around. Time to get serious and build a work table/bench.

Gotta cover up the concrete walls first.

 

[this is me]

Concrete walls all covered up. Now let’s build a wall.

Or two

Or three

 

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Had to crack the trigonometry look for this one.

Hey moron, you just blocked yourself out of the fish room with that wall!

Ceiling strapping and soffit.

 

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Next is the electrical work. I use 12 gauge on all the receptacles boxes and 14guage on the lights. The 12guauge is probably overkill but it’s cheaper to do it now than later.

Fishroom electrical

The 40amps wall in the fish room. I will be using metal halide and T5 as my lighting and there will be a utility sink with a pump. Gotta make sure I have enough juice.

Lights! I’m using recess can for light to preserve the headroom. And they look great!

 

[this is me]

Ahhh, the monkey behind the hammer.

Next, a utility sink in the fish room.

Finished drain

Water hook up for the sink

 

[this is me]

Thank god for PEX! Had to buy a $250 cinch tool but it’s a hell lot cheaper than not doing it right.

Water lines and drain line tied to the main.

Ball valve and checked valve on the drain

And we have water!

 

[stonecold]

For someone that hasn't held a hammer before, you have done an AMAZING job!!

 

[jmiotke]

Great story with the photos. Will be following along.

 

[FDAWG]

Love the depth of the tank!

 

[sfsuphysics]

Does that sink drain have a sump pump? Because the picture makes it look like the drain loops back up higher than inside of the tub

 

[locito277]

Thank god for PEX! Had to buy a $250 cinch tool but it's a hell lot cheaper than not doing it right.

Water lines and drain line tied to the main.

Ball valve and checked valve on the drain

And we have water!

Rock on man!! Its looking great!!

 

[this is me]

Thanks guys!
Drywall is scheduled for mid next week!

 

[this is me]

Does that sink drain have a sump pump? Because the picture makes it look like the drain loops back up higher than inside of the tub

One of the pictures shows some black electrical wires under the sink. Those are the utility pump wires. You can also see the check valve and ball valve to control the flow of the drain so that the pump does not pump too fast and goes into pulse mode. I have to use a pump! The drain line in at the basement ceiling.

 

[this is me]

Nothing tank related updated. Just last chance wiring before the drywall guys come.

 

[this is me]

Drywall guys are coming next week so I got to get my stuff together. Last chance for any wiring including burying wiring for upstairs family room.

Two Ethernet ports for controller and something else that requires internet. Like I mentioned before, I prefer wired connection over WiFi

Another room with RG6 and Ethernet ready.

I also took the chance to burying the wires from the family room to the basement ceiling for my home theater once the Elos is out of the family room. 4 pairs of speakers with 2 subwoofers routed to the rear of the room for 7.2 channel set or 5.2 bi-wire set up.
Also included 4 Ethernet ports and an RG6 cable.

One of the rear side.

The central hub. I will have to upgrade my switch box to accommodate all the new wires.

 

[asting]

That's a scary way to transport 2x4s. How far to the right of your vehicle did it hang?

 

[this is me]

Probably 2-3'.
Just to be clear, I was only getting the 2x4s from my garage to the basement in the rear since I didn't want to walk up and down the lawn with a couple of 2x4s at a time. I like to work smarter and not harder. It was never on public road like this.