Slightly Wide 500 Gallon Reef Tank

[JaySchulz]

wow, why kind of concessions did you make to get such a big tank???!!! looks great

Ha let me go down the list. And excuse the mess. We are normally very clean people but we're still moving in (for the last 6 months) and we've been doing so much remodeling that I've given up on keeping things clean. Not to mention multiple leaks from a shitty roof replacement. I had two big holes in my ceiling for the last two weeks. Actually worked out great because of the electrical lines I had to run to the garage for the tank.

But to get to that concession list lol

-paint colors downstairs. I wanted white. She wanted grey.
-new pantry (needs to be painted)

-new bench seat at bay window

-we're going with her flooring choice

-I wanted shiplap on the tv wall but she wanted it on the stair wall

-she picked the wainscoting which I acted like I didn't like but I don't mind. I like the simple look. Atleast she agreed to it being 48" tall so that it was the same height as the fish tank stand. It will make the fish tank stand look like it was built into the surrounding

I'm sure there will be more concessions as I go. She uses the fish thank as her trump card.


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[dave.m]

The furniture is all facing the wrong way. It should be focused on the tank.

Dave.M

 

[ca1ore]

Yea I think I'm going to use another gasket. As you said I don't see anything wrong with it. Though by looking at the overflow box, I don't see how the removable weir box would make any kind of impact on why or why not you wouldn't put a gasket behind the flange. I'll post pictures of it tomorrow and you can tell me what you think. Maybe I'm missing something. Regardless I think I'll be fine.

Like I said, I have not seen the new design in person; but I understood that the skimmer box has PVC pipe stubs that extend out from the back and slip into the bulkheads on the back of the tank. Seemed to me that this would not be a 100% water tight connection - though perhaps any leakage would be so small as to be immaterial.

I see no downside to using a second gasket, in fact, were it me I think I would also :lol:

 

[Zacktosterone]

I would personally always make sure that any scape structure has negative space facing the viewing oanels. And any rock walls are on the side of the tank that people can't see like against a wall. (negative space being an open view with less rock near the viewing panels

 

[reefmutt]

Ha let me go down the list. And excuse the mess. We are normally very clean people but we're still moving in (for the last 6 months) and we've been doing so much remodeling that I've given up on keeping things clean. Not to mention multiple leaks from a shitty roof replacement. I had two big holes in my ceiling for the last two weeks. Actually worked out great because of the electrical lines I had to run to the garage for the tank.

But to get to that concession list lol

-paint colors downstairs. I wanted white. She wanted grey.
-new pantry (needs to be painted)

-new bench seat at bay window

-we're going with her flooring choice

-I wanted shiplap on the tv wall but she wanted it on the stair wall

-she picked the wainscoting which I acted like I didn't like but I don't mind. I like the simple look. Atleast she agreed to it being 48" tall so that it was the same height as the fish tank stand. It will make the fish tank stand look like it was built into the surrounding

I'm sure there will be more concessions as I go. She uses the fish thank as her trump card.


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Buddy, in my books you are getting away with murder.
If my wife let me put in a tank like that, I'd give all the trump cards her heart desired...
Not to mention, she has made some pretty good choices so far..

Good luck with the coming storm!

 

[ca1ore]

Pick the fights worth having ..... concede everything else! When we moved into our current house, I got the basement to do with as I pleased; she got the rest of the house. Fish room, big tank, home theater ..... who cares about the rest.

 

[JaySchulz]

@reefmutt I know I can't complain. She is very understanding and she enjoys reef tanks as much as I do. She just doesn't like the maintenance.

@ca1ore I have pretty much conceded on everything else. I do wish I had a home theatre but I don't have enough rooms. Is your tank in the basement?



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[JaySchulz]

Well since we have been stuck at home today because of hurricane harvey, I decided to start on the plumbing.

Plumbing will be a BeanAnimal set up with 1.5" pvc drains. I decided to use sch80 pvc instead of sch40 because of its extra strength. It might be overkill but it makes me feel better about the plumbings longevity.

Emergency drain is about an 1.5" from top of overflow box. Siphon is about half way down the box and the open is in the middle. I made my first mistake by not having the drain holes separated enough to have enough space for elbows on siphon and open. The siphon drain will just have to be without an elbow. I also had to cut the bulkheads shorter (about 1/2") to accommodate room for the drain lines. If I were to redo the overflow box I would of spaced out the holes and kept them away from the bulkheads.

I went with uniseals for the drain holes instead of bulkheads and I'd be very surprised if they ever leak. Definitely a bit of pain to get the plumbing through the holes. Not a huge deal but I've also realized how difficult it is to decide how high I want my drain pipes with the overflow box being black.

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[JaySchulz]

Stayed up late last night and got the dry fitting for the drains done. Although not visible each drain has a union above the header. I'm pretty hopeful that with only (2) 45 degree turns I won't have issues purging the air.

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[JaySchulz]

Trying to aquascape today. I can't make anything I like. I think this the most frustrating part of the reef build.

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[Brother D]

What if you took the first image, cemented and rodded it together,turned it upside down, added support under where necessary and then added some shelf pieces on top for mounting sps or whatever? Just a crazy thought:rollface:

 

[ca1ore]

That flamingo is going to look awesome in the tank .......

 

[ca1ore]

@reefmutt I know I can't complain. She is very understanding and she enjoys reef tanks as much as I do. She just doesn't like the maintenance.

@ca1ore I have pretty much conceded on everything else. I do wish I had a home theatre but I don't have enough rooms. Is your tank in the basement?



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Tank is in the FM, but all the messy bits are in the fish room in the basement.

 

[cFloor]

Very impressive build and the house is looking great as well! I like the first scape in post #59 minus the middle island. You have some other good ones too, I'm sure you'll get it the way you like.

 

[mike810]

Great build!! Just a couple notes about the overflow. I had a toothless weir on my 240g tank and I lost some prized fishes due to them being sucked into the overflow and dying. Those fish were expensive too!!!!

I believe I read that you have the removable weir. I have the same with my synergy reef overflow. They're not water tight so plan for some drainage from the tank down or close to the removable weirs when the return pump is off.

I must have glossed over it but which BK and Dastaco model did you get? I have a Deluxe 250 and love it. I also have the Dastaco A3, my first calcium reactor and it was a breeze to dial in.

 

[JaySchulz]

I haven't posted in awhile as life has been crazy. My mom ended up in the hospital a little over two months ago with some very life threatening problems and thankfully it looks like she is going to make it. Unfortunately she had to amputate her leg, she had multiple strokes, a leaky heart valve, and she has liver sorosis. All of which stemmed from sepsis. The lesson I've learned is don't wait when you start to feel sick and feel like something is wrong. We're hoping that she has multiple years to live as she is only 59. But with all this I'm adding an addition to my house and moving her in so that my wife and I can help her out. Needless to say the tank project took a complete halt.

Now that I can breath a bit, I decided today was a good day to coat the bones of the wood stand with primer so that I can put a couple coats of paint as a sealer. I'm hoping this will protect the structure that's going to be holding 5,000 lbs of water.

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[jmmbones]

Awesome!

 

[reefmutt]

You’re a good son!!
Family!
Stand looks great.

 

[JaySchulz]

You're a good son!!
Family!
Stand looks great.

Thank you and yes family is always first.

 

[RCS82]

Wow that is some heavy news. Good to hear everything is ok.