The Begining! 300DD build in-wall and basement fish room.

[DeepSeaBeauti]

OK sooooooo, finally diving in to, what is in my mind a huge tank. 300 gallon DD. I'm moving to a new house, and decided now is the time to upgrade. I'm planning on building it right into the wall in my office and have it viewed from both sides. Here are some of the things I want to incorporate.

I want to build the tank into the wall, be viewable from both inside and out side of the room.
Have all the equipment downstairs in the basement, and perhaps make a dedicated room for it.

I'm upgrading from a 125 and most of my equipment is already over rated but there are new items that I'm going to need if most of the equipment is one floor below it.
Ive been looking through a lot of builds but there are not a lot of in-wall builds for a tank this size with a basement setup. So I'm looking for any and all input as too what equipment I will need to do this (pumps, valves, size of plumming, heater, chiller, ect). What type is recommended right down to the hose clamp if possible. I want to get a lot of the planning out of the way now before it becomes a mad rush.

Oh, and thanks in advance.

Will

 

[RubberFrog]

this should be fun to follow

 

[DeepSeaBeauti]

Here are a few pictures of the new tank in the back of my truck. This is where it will sit until I can find a couple of really strong men to get it out!!! This thing is heavy and huge! I should have it out Wednesday; ill take better pictures then.


<a href="http://imgur.com/yuw3J"><img src="http://i.imgur.com/yuw3Jl.jpg" title="Hosted by imgur.com" alt="" /></a>
Table ?? lol
<a href="http://imgur.com/vC2qf"><img src="http://i.imgur.com/vC2qfl.jpg" title="Hosted by imgur.com" alt="" /></a>

<a href="http://imgur.com/2NQ8n"><img src="http://i.imgur.com/2NQ8nl.jpg" title="Hosted by imgur.com" alt="" /></a>

Decided starphire just was not that important to me.
<a href="http://imgur.com/To3Oq"><img src="http://i.imgur.com/To3Oql.jpg" title="Hosted by imgur.com" alt="" /></a>
<a href="http://imgur.com/qezcH"><img src="http://i.imgur.com/qezcHl.jpg" title="Hosted by imgur.com" alt="" /></a>

 

[RobE]

Congrats on the new house and tank. I just helped my friend set up his 300dd and man you don't realize how heavy they really are until you have to bring one through a doorway. Good luck on the build.

 

[sullyfish]

nice tank. I like those dimensions.If I ever upgrade that is the one I want to go with. I currently have a 180 in wall so that would fit in the space nicely.

 

[DeepSeaBeauti]

Congrats on the new house and tank. I just helped my friend set up his 300dd and man you don't realize how heavy they really are until you have to bring one through a doorway. Good luck on the build.

Thanks, Ive been reading a lot of 300DD builds. One that scared the hell out of me today with a bottom seal failure.
The tank is still in my truck until i can find help to get it out until its ready to go in the new house.

nice tank. I like those dimensions.If I ever upgrade that is the one I want to go with. I currently have a 180 in wall so that would fit in the space nicely.

I love the dimensions, and have to be honest. I knew the size was huge but until you see it in person you have no idea. lol

 

[cubsare1]

Just brought mine (300dd) in the house. You will need at least 6 people total, more if possible.

 

[Jamie9169]

Definitely tagging along. Like you, I have not seen one this large built into the wall. Gonna be a great ride.

 

[skidder84]

Some day I will also

 

[scarface70706]

daaaaaaamn!!!!!! thats such a big tank. i know im going to buy a 210 gallon tank but another 90 gallons on top of that?!? idk about that lol. im def. sticking around to watch this build

 

[DeepSeaBeauti]

Just brought mine (300dd) in the house. You will need at least 6 people total, more if possible.

Its still on the pallet I picked it up on from the wholesaler. I'm going to have to lure everyone with beer to get this thing moved!

Definitely tagging along. Like you, I have not seen one this large built into the wall. Gonna be a great ride.

The great thing about this tank is its width, the problem with finding a place for it is its width. The house I just bought was build in 1905, one of the walls in the to be office is thick because of the closet that will be removed(at least thats the plan). I want to be able to view it from both sides some how. I need to get back in the place to start drawing up ideas of exactly what will work.

Some day I will also

I started this hobby with a 20 gallon long tank lol. I just love the length and width associated with the 300g.

daaaaaaamn!!!!!! thats such a big tank. i know im going to buy a 210 gallon tank but another 90 gallons on top of that?!? idk about that lol. im def. sticking around to watch this build

Yeah, lol Believe me I know. I use to think my 125 was huge, but this is a whole nother animal!!

 

[usatennisfan]

Totally tagging along!

 

[DeepSeaBeauti]

Well were being delayed by title searches, lawyers, and construction so the tank had to be put in storage unti the house is ready. I did not want to move this thing once, now I have to move it twice. Took 4 guys to lift it out of the truck and onto a dolly to get it in.

At least this gives me more time to research how I should plumb the drains and returns, and find what pumps are going to work best for me.


<a href="http://imgur.com/1leeU"><img src="http://i.imgur.com/1leeUl.jpg" title="Hosted by imgur.com" alt="" /></a>

 

[Paul B]

This will be a nice job, I also put my 100 gallon tank in the wall of my basement also in Long Island. I also did it as soon as I bought this house about 35 years ago and it is still in that place. I only would have changed a couple of things but so far it has worked out well.
Have fun

 

[ridetheducati]

While the tank is resting, take the opportunity to add a bead of silicone to the inside of the overflow boxes. You will find that there is not a bead of silicone on the inside. Also, you probably already did this, but inspect each panel to ensure there are no scratches, cracks, or blemishes. Complete the inspect before you add water.

 

[DeepSeaBeauti]

While the tank is resting, take the opportunity to add a bead of silicone to the inside of the overflow boxes. You will find that there is not a bead of silicone on the inside. Also, you probably already did this, but inspect each panel to ensure there are no scratches, cracks, or blemishes. Complete the inspect before you add water.

Yeah Ive been reading about the lack of silicone on the inside of the overflows. I also keep seeing mention about modifying the teeth so you get better water flow. Do you know anything about that? Pictures, and why exactly? I also want to do a Herbie style overflow to keep it silent, but doesn't it require 2 lines? I have 4 holes total, so does that mean I should have two more drilled?

This will be a nice job, I also put my 100 gallon tank in the wall of my basement also in Long Island. I also did it as soon as I bought this house about 35 years ago and it is still in that place. I only would have changed a couple of things but so far it has worked out well.
Have fun

I'm planing on putting it on the first floor, and right below it in the basement a room dedicated to all things fish. Still debating on using my current 125 as a sump/refrigum, or the 55 I was going to use on my 125.
What are the things you would change? I would love to avoid any and all changes if possible.

 

[gmate]

Tank is going to be beautiful. Following along, can't wait to see the developments. Best of luck!

 

[Paul B]

There are only three things I would tweek on mine if I did it all over again. The stand which I built out of heavy guage galvanized Kindorf has rusted where the skimmer is bolted to. One leg was fairly bad and I had to replace it and one I scraped and coated with epoxy paint. I would have coated it with epoxy before I put the tank on it although I am not sure it was even available then. Galvanizing is great but with salt water it does not last forever.
I also would not have set the tank almost up against the back wooden wall. I water proofed that wall but there is now salt all over it and I can't clean behind the tank in that area. I know you will not have that problem being your's will be viaable from both sides.
I also would have installed an exhaust fan over the tank at the time of the installation. I added one a few years ago and it has helped greatly in reducing the moisture in my basement. It exhausts outside the house about 30' from the tank.

Here with the front open you can see my tank is in a closet and there is a staircase behind it. I should have left an inch of space from the wood as it has warped and gotten a little rotten.
The left side of the tank is an open space in a closet.
You can also see the exhaust fan above it.

 

[DeepSeaBeauti]

Tank is going to be beautiful. Following along, can't wait to see the developments. Best of luck!

Thanks! I hope it goes as smooth as it possibly can.

There are only three things I would tweek on mine if I did it all over again. The stand which I built out of heavy guage galvanized Kindorf has rusted where the skimmer is bolted to. One leg was fairly bad and I had to replace it and one I scraped and coated with epoxy paint. I would have coated it with epoxy before I put the tank on it although I am not sure it was even available then. Galvanizing is great but with salt water it does not last forever.
I also would not have set the tank almost up against the back wooden wall. I water proofed that wall but there is now salt all over it and I can't clean behind the tank in that area. I know you will not have that problem being your's will be viaable from both sides.
I also would have installed an exhaust fan over the tank at the time of the installation. I added one a few years ago and it has helped greatly in reducing the moisture in my basement. It exhausts outside the house about 30' from the tank.


An exhaust fan is probably a good idea, keep some of the moisture out of both the wall the tank will be in, and in the fish room. As for the stand I'm planning on framing it right into the house with wood. I'm much better with steel but I think in my situation wood will be better adapted for the build.

 

[Paul B]

There is a huge problem with wood. As the years go by, it drys and warps, your tank will not warp but will stand a chance to leak. Wood never stays straight as it ages.
No matter what coating you use, it will change shape. You could use 4X4 wood legs and get some heavy galvanized steel for the frame the tank will sit on but if your set on wood, good luck.
Either way get some good rubber to sit the tank on. I used 3/8" rubber and it is still good.