Tanglovers 520 Gallon Display Build

[tanglovers]

Update, sorry no pics. Will get some tomorrow.

I built a ramp and platform to aid in moving the tank. Basically the tank currently is on a cart I built, I have concrete all the way to my walkout. We are pulling the slider out, will roll the tank in, up a slight ramp and onto a platform that will make the tank sitting about 3" higher then the stand. This way we do not have to do any vertical lifting of the tank, just slide it off the cart onto the stand.

Got the drywall nearly 100% done, the mud took a little longer to dry then I expected, should have put a dehumidifier or fan in there to speed it up. I finished where the tank is going. I still have some finish sanding and likely one last coat to do on the outside of the wall.

Also drilled four holes in the eurobracing today in order to be closed loop returns. These are in the front for 1" bulkheads.

I also replaced a GFCI outlet in one of my circuits that was just not acting quite right so that is all resolved as well.

Other then that not much else to report today. Aquascaping is all done (outside of the tank), I really like how it came out. My wife did a great job with it, much nicer then I expected....this was I think attempt #3-4, this is the official one now.....she likes it as much as I do Before I liked it but she did not.

Looks like Monday my Hawaii fish will be arriving, well not all are Hawaiian but coming from there. If they acclimate well and these should be some nice additions. One for the 520 and one for our colder tank upstairs.

 

[tanglovers]

Well the tank is in place! The move went very easy, took maybe 20 minutes to move in the tank and stand.

Many thanks goes out to:

Invert
Masonite
Dagda
Dejavu
Pitbullguy
Wreckscuba
Lgerber
CK1
Planecrazy
Wingedwheel

I think that was everyone here, if I missed anyone no offense intended!!

I will get some pics up of the moving process (only got a few since it was over and done so quickly) and of it in place.

 

[tanglovers]

Alright update time. Made some decent progress.

Here is a quick pic of the stand before we moved it in, it is coated in white herculiner. The brackets on the left side of the pic is for the catwalk along the back of the tank.

Here is a couple shots of the ramp and platform build to aid in the tank positioning, this worked perfectly! I also laid down plywood across my whole basement floor to protect the porcelein tile:

Stand in position - no action shots here just the after, basically it was lifted through the wall into the fish room:

Here is actual tank move pics, a couple anyhow:

Break time, up on the platform:

Push! Moving the tank off the cart it rested on and on the stand. This was easy, when we rolled the tank and cart onto the raised platform, it made the bottom of the tank about 3" higher then the top of the stand:

Checking to ensure proper positioning:

 

[tanglovers]

Here is a shot of the tank after I did a quick cleaning, still a little more to get cleaned up:

My wife's hard work - aquascaping: I love the way it came out, exceeding any expections I had by far. Pics do not do it justice IMO.

Full Shot:

Right Side:

Left Side:

Back of the tank, shows some of the stand too:

 

[LamboBoy]

Do you mind if I asked you, why did you use egg crate underneath the LR structure?

 

[tanglovers]

The eggcrate was for a couple reasons. First this way if there are any sharp points for the rock this is not directly pushing on the bottom of the tank. Being 3/4" thick I do not think this would have been an issue. The second reason was so that until it was done, we could slide and rotate the mounds slightly to get the fit and look just right without tearing the mounds apart to move it 4-5 inches in any direction.

 

[Dejavu]

Looks great Scott. The ramp and cart work to a Tee .

 

[tanglovers]

Looks great Scott. The ramp and cart work to a Tee .

Yeah you can tell, in most of the pics your not doing anything Brian. There is an example of pics not doing justice

 

[JRaquatics]

It seems you never really get the idea of how big a tank really is until you see someone stand besides it. That think has to weigh a ton. Great job on your rock work.

 

[Dejavu]

Yeah you can tell, in most of the pics your not doing anything Brian. There is an example of pics not doing justice

I have to say I don't even see you in many of the pics. MIA for your own tank move.... well planed .

 

[tanglovers]

I have to say I don't even see you in many of the pics. MIA for your own tank move.... well planed .

Fair enough LOL, that is why I had so many people there, somebody had to supervise!

 

[gnorman]

I loved the ramp/stand idea... great job

 

[RickMartin]

Got to love it when a well planned job, works out just like you wanted it.

 

[skiprr]

can't wait to see more pictures of your upgrade! great job!!

 

[crvz]

looks great so far. I've been doing something similar with a cart to move my 300 gallon around recently. Look forward to seeing more!

 

[tanglovers]

Thanks.

Well small update. I got the final mud coat on the outside wall of the tank today, should be able to sand tomorrow and get some paint on there. This means we can get the basement cleaned and re-assembled - our main TV we watch is right by the tank and it was just upgraded....I really want to try out the 3D on it!

Yesterday and today I did not get a whole lot done, lots of errands to run. As a side note, my fish from Hawaii came in VERY nice....they are all in QT and settling in. Once they are past the critical phase I will think about getting some pics.

Maybe I need Dejavu to stop on over to get some pics....I know he is dying to see some of the fish that came in anyhow....

 

[ProInvert]

I have to say I don't even see you in many of the pics. MIA for your own tank move.... well planed

Someone had to go pick up the Pizza.

The Rock Work looks great.
It sure does not look like 400lbs when sitting in the tank.

 

[tanglovers]

Yeah I agree, does not look like 400lbs of rock, some of the rocks are quite heavy - 40 lbs or so each.

Today I finished the drywall sanding and once this was done, we reassembled the basement and fully cleaned it. As a result not too much new to report as a result.

All the fish from Hawaii are doing very well in QT, if all goes well they will make some awesome additions. Only details I will let out is 4 angels and 3 wrasses

 

[nata]

Aquascape is superb!!!!

 

[Hal]

Looks nice. What type of drainholes are in the overflow (size and number)?