Our 400 Gallon In Wall Natural Sun-Lit Reef"

jdpiii3

jdpiii3

Member
Hi guys here it is my 400 gallon DIY build. I will update as I can. What I have completed so far has been a complete garage remodel, in order to make room for the washer and drier. I had to run a new drain line, hot & cold water and new electric. I had to relocate my Nautilus workout equipment, rebuild my workbench and I actually gained workbench room. After that was completed it was time to start the demolition in the house, well I started to take out the sheetrock and found that I had a three inch vent pipe right in the middle of where the tank is going to be. So that had to be moved. All the electrical had to be moved as well.
Stand construction: Building the stand, I built the stand out of 2x4's and 2x6's all glued and screwed, as you can see I might have went a little over board on the lumber, I also put up some new drywall. That's been textured and painted. Solar Tube lighting is just about complete, I have a bunch more to do; Tank should be on the stand by this weekend. Stay tuned.

<a href="http://s905.photobucket.com/albums/ac256/jdpiii3/400%20Gallon%20Tank%20Build/?action=view&current=DSCN2113.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i905.photobucket.com/albums/ac256/jdpiii3/400%20Gallon%20Tank%20Build/DSCN2113.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a>
<a href="http://s905.photobucket.com/albums/ac256/jdpiii3/400%20Gallon%20Tank%20Build/?action=view&current=DSCN2120.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i905.photobucket.com/albums/ac256/jdpiii3/400%20Gallon%20Tank%20Build/DSCN2120.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a>
<a href="http://s905.photobucket.com/albums/ac256/jdpiii3/400%20Gallon%20Tank%20Build/?action=view&current=DSCN2117.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i905.photobucket.com/albums/ac256/jdpiii3/400%20Gallon%20Tank%20Build/DSCN2117.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a>
<a href="http://s905.photobucket.com/albums/ac256/jdpiii3/400%20Gallon%20Tank%20Build/?action=view&current=DSCN2074.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i905.photobucket.com/albums/ac256/jdpiii3/400%20Gallon%20Tank%20Build/DSCN2074.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a>
<a href="http://s905.photobucket.com/albums/ac256/jdpiii3/400%20Gallon%20Tank%20Build/?action=view&current=DSCN2071.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i905.photobucket.com/albums/ac256/jdpiii3/400%20Gallon%20Tank%20Build/DSCN2071.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a>
<a href="http://s905.photobucket.com/albums/ac256/jdpiii3/400%20Gallon%20Tank%20Build/?action=view&current=DSCN2040.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i905.photobucket.com/albums/ac256/jdpiii3/400%20Gallon%20Tank%20Build/DSCN2040.jpg" border="0" alt="Old Area Before"></a>
<a href="http://s905.photobucket.com/albums/ac256/jdpiii3/400%20Gallon%20Tank%20Build/?action=view&current=DSCN2039.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i905.photobucket.com/albums/ac256/jdpiii3/400%20Gallon%20Tank%20Build/DSCN2039.jpg" border="0" alt="Old area before"></a>
 
h2odvl said:
Good Job! I always like the solar tubes. Can't wait to see more
Click to expand...
I have one of the tubes in sofar and it lights the area up like you would not believe, I can't wait to see how it looks when both of the 21" tubes are done. I needed to order an extra part for the other tube so they should be complete by Thursday.
 
What type of roof do you have on the house? Is it shingles, tiles, or something else? Just curious how to install tubes in a barrel tile roof. Mind telling us an approx cost to install the solar tubes? Thx.
 
reefsahoy said:
What type of roof do you have on the house? Is it shingles, tiles, or something else? Just curious how to install tubes in a barrel tile roof. Mind telling us an approx cost to install the solar tubes? Thx.
Click to expand...

I have a shingle roof, you can contact Don at http://www.sun-dome.com he was quite helpful. The two 21" domes cost me $1100.00 for everything. From what I figure it should only cost me around $40-$50 a month to run this tank. Down from $140-$150 to run my 150gallon, with the 3 250MH and 4 6' VHO's.

The 21" tubes give off the equivalent of 1500 watts of light each.

Also there is no added heat, I taped a thermometer to the top of the tube and it reads only 2 degrees warmer than the rest of the house.
 
I just about finished installing the sun domes today, all that’s left is finish the ceiling and put up the shield to keep dust and bugs out of the tubes.
<a href="http://s905.photobucket.com/albums/ac256/jdpiii3/?action=view&current=DSCN2080.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i905.photobucket.com/albums/ac256/jdpiii3/DSCN2080.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a>
<a href="http://s905.photobucket.com/albums/ac256/jdpiii3/?action=view&current=DSCN2103.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i905.photobucket.com/albums/ac256/jdpiii3/DSCN2103.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a>
<a href="http://s905.photobucket.com/albums/ac256/jdpiii3/?action=view&current=DSCN2122.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i905.photobucket.com/albums/ac256/jdpiii3/DSCN2122.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a>
<a href="http://s905.photobucket.com/albums/ac256/jdpiii3/?action=view&current=DSCN2127.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i905.photobucket.com/albums/ac256/jdpiii3/DSCN2127.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a>
 
Finished up the Solar Tube Lighting cover today
We were going to have the tank delivered today but it’s been a monsoon all day. Wow, the lightning effect on the tubes is amazing, I’ll have to take a video and post it. <a href="http://s905.photobucket.com/albums/ac256/jdpiii3/400%20Gallon%20Tank%20Build/?action=view&current=DSCN2129.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i905.photobucket.com/albums/ac256/jdpiii3/400%20Gallon%20Tank%20Build/DSCN2129.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a>
 
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