sixpackgarage
reef mechanic
great looking tank and fantastic progress! To be honest, when I first clicked on this thread and saw your profile pic, I said to myself, 'this guy is never going through with this'.. glad to say I was completely wrong 
So it begins...
- Thread starter alexkharden
- Start date
alexkharden
New member
Lol, I used that profile pic because it's funny to me. That was about 10 years ago and I was in a Thanksgiving day turkey coma, lol Thank you for your reply!
Thank you for your reply!
alexkharden
New member
Well, it doesn't feel like I accomplished much today, but in actuality it took two hours to finish the frame of my stand once I got home from work. So it really FEELS like I did a lot, lol. The bright side is that it's built like a bunker and level to within 1/16th of an inch all the way around. I'll fix that 1/16th when I put the 3/4" plywood on top of it.
Have a good night!
Have a good night!
alexkharden
New member
Merry Christmas everybody!
Didn't do much today but clean up the work area to prepare for Christmas morning with the kiddos.
I did do the plumbing inside the wall for the washer box. I also installed the 3/4" plywood on the top of my stand. Most of my efforts today consisted of correcting an issue I discovered. Turns out that while everything was/is level, the way I leveled the top portion of the framing left me without enough clearance height for the tank. The off level floor, combined with the off level ceiling, left me with ample clearance on one side and not enough on the other. Sigh, old houses. Of course, before i realized this, I had already started dry-walling. So I cut out the drywall sections pertinent to the problem. Then I sawz-all'ed out the bottom plate from the top section. Measured and marked and cut about an inch off the now dangling studs. Finally I cut new bottom plates and nailed them back up there. Viola! The opening is now correctly sized on one side, and about 1 1/8" too large on the other. I'll have to trim that out to hide the discrepancy. Honestly, it doesn't make any sense to me. The top is level. The bottom is level. They should be running parallel to one another, regardless of the ceiling or the floor. And yet somehow they're not. It boggles the mind, and I feel like the fundamental laws of the universe have ceased to function in that particular area of my house.
Before I put the tank in there I think I'll have to figure it out; I don't like conundrums.
No pics today, sorry, but I hope everyone has a Merry Christmas!
Didn't do much today but clean up the work area to prepare for Christmas morning with the kiddos.
I did do the plumbing inside the wall for the washer box. I also installed the 3/4" plywood on the top of my stand. Most of my efforts today consisted of correcting an issue I discovered. Turns out that while everything was/is level, the way I leveled the top portion of the framing left me without enough clearance height for the tank. The off level floor, combined with the off level ceiling, left me with ample clearance on one side and not enough on the other. Sigh, old houses. Of course, before i realized this, I had already started dry-walling. So I cut out the drywall sections pertinent to the problem. Then I sawz-all'ed out the bottom plate from the top section. Measured and marked and cut about an inch off the now dangling studs. Finally I cut new bottom plates and nailed them back up there. Viola! The opening is now correctly sized on one side, and about 1 1/8" too large on the other. I'll have to trim that out to hide the discrepancy. Honestly, it doesn't make any sense to me. The top is level. The bottom is level. They should be running parallel to one another, regardless of the ceiling or the floor. And yet somehow they're not. It boggles the mind, and I feel like the fundamental laws of the universe have ceased to function in that particular area of my house.
Before I put the tank in there I think I'll have to figure it out; I don't like conundrums.
No pics today, sorry, but I hope everyone has a Merry Christmas!
alexkharden
New member
Wow, it feels like forever since I posted. But after the holidays, working, and a sick day, I was back at it today in full force
Today was ventilation, water, and drainage day, woopee!
In the ventilation department, I installed an 80 cfm, ultra quiet bathroom fan in the ceiling and ran all of the ductwork for it.
Trust me, I will never be going into HVAC. That sucked, and with about a million micro-cuts all over my hands from the aluminum, I have absolutely no desire to be doing that again!
Today was ventilation, water, and drainage day, woopee!
In the ventilation department, I installed an 80 cfm, ultra quiet bathroom fan in the ceiling and ran all of the ductwork for it.
Trust me, I will never be going into HVAC. That sucked, and with about a million micro-cuts all over my hands from the aluminum, I have absolutely no desire to be doing that again!
alexkharden
New member
In the water department I ran all of the lines and connected the washer box to the house water. For drainage, I ran an EXTREMELY long run of 2" pvc to tie the washer box into my grey water drain line. 35' of it. I didn't realize how big my basement was, lol.
That's it for today. I have the next 7 days off work, so I plan on wrapping this up in that time. Remaining to be done is installing the lally columns in the basement and drywalling the inside and outside of my new fish room! Yay! Mudding will take forever, but at that point hopefully my wife will step in and lend a hand. She's better at that than I am. More patient, I think, or maybe I just suck at it for no particular reason! lol.
Have a great night everyone and I hope you all had a Merry Christmas
That's it for today. I have the next 7 days off work, so I plan on wrapping this up in that time. Remaining to be done is installing the lally columns in the basement and drywalling the inside and outside of my new fish room! Yay! Mudding will take forever, but at that point hopefully my wife will step in and lend a hand. She's better at that than I am. More patient, I think, or maybe I just suck at it for no particular reason! lol.
Have a great night everyone and I hope you all had a Merry Christmas
alexkharden
New member
Oh, I guess I should update my supplies list since I've actually received most everything and really don't have that much left to order. I've got:
Ocean reef + 1 five stage 75 gpd RO/DI system from the Filter Guys
Waveline DC-6000 return pump
Jebao RW-8 powerhead
Jebao RW-15 powerhead
2 - Reef Breeders Photon 24"
2 - Finnex Titanium 500W heaters
Lifereef SVS3-30 in-sump skimmer w/ Mag-12 pump
Apex gold system with extra power 8 bar, leak detection system, 2 break-out boxes, and an extra heater.
Salifert test kits for Nitrite, Nitrate, Phosphate, Ammonia, and PH
In addition to my main system setup, I also have 2 20g tanks that I'm going to use for QT/HT's, with heaters, pumps, and HOB filters for each.
I still need some odds and ends like water containers for my mixing station, test kits for Magnesium and Calcium, several more float switches, and all of the plumbing for my system.
I also need to start thinking about either a reactor or an automatic dosing system. I have no clue how to proceed with that though, honestly haven't even given it much thought.
Also, I don't know what I don't know, so if anyone notices that I'm missing something - please let me know!
Other than that, I think I'm pretty well set up!
Ocean reef + 1 five stage 75 gpd RO/DI system from the Filter Guys
Waveline DC-6000 return pump
Jebao RW-8 powerhead
Jebao RW-15 powerhead
2 - Reef Breeders Photon 24"
2 - Finnex Titanium 500W heaters
Lifereef SVS3-30 in-sump skimmer w/ Mag-12 pump
Apex gold system with extra power 8 bar, leak detection system, 2 break-out boxes, and an extra heater.
Salifert test kits for Nitrite, Nitrate, Phosphate, Ammonia, and PH
In addition to my main system setup, I also have 2 20g tanks that I'm going to use for QT/HT's, with heaters, pumps, and HOB filters for each.
I still need some odds and ends like water containers for my mixing station, test kits for Magnesium and Calcium, several more float switches, and all of the plumbing for my system.
I also need to start thinking about either a reactor or an automatic dosing system. I have no clue how to proceed with that though, honestly haven't even given it much thought.
Also, I don't know what I don't know, so if anyone notices that I'm missing something - please let me know!
Other than that, I think I'm pretty well set up!
Last edited:
alexkharden
New member
Today I enter the home stretch for the construction!
Doesn't look like much was accomplished, but it was a lot of tidying up and making ready. Spray foam insulation, building a supportive frame for the ceiling, trimming back excess wood and plaster here and there, and cutting and hanging the ceiling were what my day was comprised of. A lot of busy work, but it laid the foundation to run the crap out of some sheetrock tomorrow
Here's the ceiling:
So I'm pretty happy with where I'm at
Hasta Manana!
Doesn't look like much was accomplished, but it was a lot of tidying up and making ready. Spray foam insulation, building a supportive frame for the ceiling, trimming back excess wood and plaster here and there, and cutting and hanging the ceiling were what my day was comprised of. A lot of busy work, but it laid the foundation to run the crap out of some sheetrock tomorrow
Here's the ceiling:
So I'm pretty happy with where I'm at
Hasta Manana!
alexkharden
New member
So I made it my old years resolution to get every bit of the drywall hung today. Luckily I was a whole lot more successful with that than I typically am with new years resolutions. So here it is, all rocked up!
In addition to hanging all of the drywall, I also permanently rehung the door and screwed in all of the electrical devices. There's still a couple of small spots where I need to cut and fit small patches, or to bust out my cake icer filled with drywall mud and fill in.
It's hard to believe less than a month ago I was taking the "before" pics of this whole endeavor.
I plan on beginning 2016 by starting the taping process, as well as fixing those spots I mentioned. I received the suction cups I ordered today, so now I just need the bodies to help me move that aquarium.
Any volunteers?
Happy New Year!
In addition to hanging all of the drywall, I also permanently rehung the door and screwed in all of the electrical devices. There's still a couple of small spots where I need to cut and fit small patches, or to bust out my cake icer filled with drywall mud and fill in.
It's hard to believe less than a month ago I was taking the "before" pics of this whole endeavor.
I plan on beginning 2016 by starting the taping process, as well as fixing those spots I mentioned. I received the suction cups I ordered today, so now I just need the bodies to help me move that aquarium.
Any volunteers?
Happy New Year!
alexkharden
New member
Well the new year started off sad, with me having to cut something out of my vision. The 75g fuge has to go. I built the room with the size I had available, but now that the room is done, with the measurements available, I just don't see that there's any way I can fit it in there - reasonably. It'll fit in there, but not without being in my way every single time I turn around.
I guess I'll have to put a, much much smaller, fuge in the 55g sump.
The sump, that was going to be sitting on the floor, will now be under the stand. It'll hang out 15", so I'll have to build an extension arm on the stand to support it. As far as that goes, it actually works out because I bought a taller skimmer, so the skimmer can go into that 15" area and remain accessible and clear.
I just hope the 55 will be enough, and no I have to wonder how to keep lower flow going through the fuge while having high flow going through the sump. People do it all the time, I guess, but previously I haven't given thought to doing it that way.
Feeling frustrated.
I guess I'll have to put a, much much smaller, fuge in the 55g sump.
The sump, that was going to be sitting on the floor, will now be under the stand. It'll hang out 15", so I'll have to build an extension arm on the stand to support it. As far as that goes, it actually works out because I bought a taller skimmer, so the skimmer can go into that 15" area and remain accessible and clear.
I just hope the 55 will be enough, and no I have to wonder how to keep lower flow going through the fuge while having high flow going through the sump. People do it all the time, I guess, but previously I haven't given thought to doing it that way.
Feeling frustrated.
Hi Alex! Well my goodness, I take a little vacation and get back in town to see you've been extremely productive. This build is coming together nicely, and fast. Slow down and post more photos, *chuckle*.
By the way, one of the reasons this hobby is so rewarding is because there are ups and downs. Being frustrated is just a great opportunity to reflect on your work, thoughts, design changes, improvements, etc, in creative ways you may have missed out on otherwise. The build is the first chapter of this adventure.... ride the roller coaster like there's no tomorrow!
:wave:
alexkharden
New member
Welcome back FJHookah, how was your vacation?
My prognosis got a little better yesterday. Did some measuring and figuring, and with only a little modification I can fit the 75 into the opening under my stand, so that makes me happier. I'll still have to do a sump/fuge combo because there's no way I can fit both in there, but at least I can use the bigger of the two. I've still got a mixing station, a ht/qt stand, and an apex brain panel to put in there, all while keeping walking room and tank access open!
Yesterday I got most of the tape/first coat done with the drywall mud. If there's something I hate worse than drywall mud, I can't think of it right now.
alexkharden
New member
Well, another day down. Got the tape/first coat done.
To any of you pro or semi-pro drywallers out there, you can see the extremely amateur level of our mudding skills. Thanks to the help of my beautiful wife though, we got it done. Light sanding and block coating on the agenda for tomorrow.
Night everyone!
To any of you pro or semi-pro drywallers out there, you can see the extremely amateur level of our mudding skills. Thanks to the help of my beautiful wife though, we got it done. Light sanding and block coating on the agenda for tomorrow.
Night everyone!
Last edited:
alexkharden
New member
Also, I did some measuring, and discovered that with a slight modification of my stand, I'm able to fit the 75g, for the most part, underneath my stand. This makes me happier than first thing this morning, when I thought I could only use my 55g for both sump and fuge. Anyway, I did the modifying and then built the stand.
alexkharden
New member
Minor update, block coat done. Now just a bunch of sanding and a light skim coat/light sand remaining before paint and trim. Note to other do-it-yourselfers - do NOT use the ultra-lightweight drywall mud. It sucks.
Still haven't gathered enough people together to move that damn tank though. I guess my anti-social personality is coming back to haunt me now.
Still haven't gathered enough people together to move that damn tank though. I guess my anti-social personality is coming back to haunt me now.
alexkharden
New member
No pics because they'd basically look the same as the last pics, but an update.
After 4 days, I'm finally ready for paint. That'll likely happen Saturday, a la my wife, so I'll spent tomorrow cleaning up, installing lally columns, cutting the overflow hole in the stand, and stuff like that.
After 4 days, I'm finally ready for paint. That'll likely happen Saturday, a la my wife, so I'll spent tomorrow cleaning up, installing lally columns, cutting the overflow hole in the stand, and stuff like that.
alexkharden
New member
I know That was actually my 16 year old daughters idea. My original plan was for a wall build with only one side exposed. This is going to be so much better. I'll definitely have to be more creative with my aquascaping though, to have two sides both look nice.
Downside is that I won't have access to two full sides of the tank. I'm sure there will be points in which I hate that.
That was actually my 16 year old daughters idea. My original plan was for a wall build with only one side exposed. This is going to be so much better. I'll definitely have to be more creative with my aquascaping though, to have two sides both look nice.Downside is that I won't have access to two full sides of the tank. I'm sure there will be points in which I hate that.
alexkharden
New member
So I figured out the measurement disparity between top and bottom. It appears that my stand is not quite as level as I initially thought. It appears that the underlying framing is a little off here, and a little off there. Nothing, individually, to be of any note, but cumulatively it puts me at about 1/4" out at some points. More importantly there's a dip/twist in the stand decking.
Now, overall, maybe this isn't that big of a deal, but I feel like it is and I'm definitely not happy with it so I'm going to tear down the whole room and start over.
Lol, right. Not happening. What I AM going to do is build a temporary ledge around the whole stand, caulk the seams, and pour in some quick set self leveling compound. At the shortest point between top and bottom I still have about 3/8" play room, so I will have plenty of space to level that out with some quickset. I'm more concerned with the dip/twist than I am with the overall level, as I feel the dip/twist will put pretty severe stresses on the tank at certain points. Can't have that. Aquarium moving day is the 22nd, and painting day is tomorrow, so I've got plenty of time to get that all leveled out to perfection.
Now, overall, maybe this isn't that big of a deal, but I feel like it is and I'm definitely not happy with it so I'm going to tear down the whole room and start over.
Lol, right. Not happening. What I AM going to do is build a temporary ledge around the whole stand, caulk the seams, and pour in some quick set self leveling compound. At the shortest point between top and bottom I still have about 3/8" play room, so I will have plenty of space to level that out with some quickset. I'm more concerned with the dip/twist than I am with the overall level, as I feel the dip/twist will put pretty severe stresses on the tank at certain points. Can't have that. Aquarium moving day is the 22nd, and painting day is tomorrow, so I've got plenty of time to get that all leveled out to perfection.
alexkharden
New member
Well, I've been slacking on my updates.
So here's what's been done over the past 4 days.
The lally columns in the basement are all installed. The wall and ceiling painting is all complete. I built the double 20g tank stand for my quarantine tanks. I put the forms around the large tank stand so that I can have a mold for the leveling compound. I also caulked it so that all of the compound didn't run all over the floor, lol. All of the trim has been installed.
Still to be done:
Pour the leveling compound, let it dry, and remove the forms. Put plywood on the quarantine stand. Build a rack for the 30 gallon water barrels I'm picking up tomorrow for my RODI and saltwater mixing. Caulk, clean, and paint all the trim. Mount my RODI setup onto a piece of plywood and then hang it on the wall. Mount the Apex setup and hang it on the wall. Build a small bench in there to hold my laptop, test kits, knick knacks, etc... Build a support runner on the back corner of the tank area to give myself something to hold onto when leaning out over the tank. Install strips of polywall around the inside of the tank opening for aesthetics and waterproofing. Install the tank. Trim around the display area of the tank. And....
Then I'll actually be ready to begin reefing! Looks like we're making plans to do our Florida run like the second week of February, so that's exciting!
Seems like a lot, but actually given all I've done already, it's not much at all. I think I'll call this the "home stretch".
G'night everyone!
So here's what's been done over the past 4 days.
The lally columns in the basement are all installed. The wall and ceiling painting is all complete. I built the double 20g tank stand for my quarantine tanks. I put the forms around the large tank stand so that I can have a mold for the leveling compound. I also caulked it so that all of the compound didn't run all over the floor, lol. All of the trim has been installed.
Still to be done:
Pour the leveling compound, let it dry, and remove the forms. Put plywood on the quarantine stand. Build a rack for the 30 gallon water barrels I'm picking up tomorrow for my RODI and saltwater mixing. Caulk, clean, and paint all the trim. Mount my RODI setup onto a piece of plywood and then hang it on the wall. Mount the Apex setup and hang it on the wall. Build a small bench in there to hold my laptop, test kits, knick knacks, etc... Build a support runner on the back corner of the tank area to give myself something to hold onto when leaning out over the tank. Install strips of polywall around the inside of the tank opening for aesthetics and waterproofing. Install the tank. Trim around the display area of the tank. And....
Then I'll actually be ready to begin reefing! Looks like we're making plans to do our Florida run like the second week of February, so that's exciting!
Seems like a lot, but actually given all I've done already, it's not much at all. I think I'll call this the "home stretch".
G'night everyone!
Similar threads
