The Begining! 300DD build in-wall and basement fish room.
- Thread starter DeepSeaBeauti
- Start date
DeepSeaBeauti
Will Fielitz
The wife has me building other things at the moment, and my contractor best friend had a preme babe that has had some major set backs. So right now im working on gathering equipment. I will fur sure post progress as soon as I start.
DeepSeaBeauti
Will Fielitz
Ok, I know its been a really long time since I've updated this but here it goes. My wife and I finally decided that building the tank into the 3' wall we originally wanted to would take away the old maids stairs and the character of our 107 year old house. So the compromise is building the stand into a desk and making that room our office. The plan is to make a portion of the stand slide out just under the tank. This would become the desk. On either side I will build some base cabinets for storage. Perhaps to keep files, some books, maybe a printer. Then under the tank more storage since all the equipment will be in the basement.
I'm hoping to get the tank up on the stand this weekend, level it out and then work on building the fish room in the basement. This is critical since it will be the main support to carry the load of this already heavy tank down to the foundation. I'm hoping to get most of this done rather quickly since school is starting in about another month.
Here are a few pictures of the stand as it is right now. I have to install the rails for the desk pullout and then I can place the tank on the stand to really get an idea of how this is going to look. Enjoy!
A shot of the tank and the stand in its location. Its hard to take pictures in this room because of the curved wall.
Here's a front shot of the stand.
Here is a view from the side. That radiator is being removed and replaced with one of a more period correct type. It will be on the other side of the room.
A view from the other side. Both sides as I described will have base cabinets. The idea is to give it a built in look without actually taring up the wall.
I'm hoping to get the tank up on the stand this weekend, level it out and then work on building the fish room in the basement. This is critical since it will be the main support to carry the load of this already heavy tank down to the foundation. I'm hoping to get most of this done rather quickly since school is starting in about another month.
Here are a few pictures of the stand as it is right now. I have to install the rails for the desk pullout and then I can place the tank on the stand to really get an idea of how this is going to look. Enjoy!
A shot of the tank and the stand in its location. Its hard to take pictures in this room because of the curved wall.
Here's a front shot of the stand.
Here is a view from the side. That radiator is being removed and replaced with one of a more period correct type. It will be on the other side of the room.
A view from the other side. Both sides as I described will have base cabinets. The idea is to give it a built in look without actually taring up the wall.
Sharkdog22
New member
Looks great so far I just found this post but feel I will be returning to see the updates.
So what was your final decision on the refrigum and your old 120g tank? I am currently setting up my 300DD as well, mine in not in a wall but I put a 8 inch riser under it. But that tank will have a 150g rubbermaid horse trough thing and a 30g frag tank all plumed into it. So if you have not made the jump on the refrigum then Im in agreeance with everyone here saying you are good to go with the 120g or if you want to go bigger go for it lol.
Forget the house and what the wife wants just make the whole house thing nothing but tanks lol. You guys are newlyish wedds right? She will get mad at you and then just start to let you do what you want after time anyways so just get all that other stuff out of the way now lol. JK and if my wife reads this someone else hacked my account and wrote all of this and I am denying my knowing of any of your guys or this site lol.
So what was your final decision on the refrigum and your old 120g tank? I am currently setting up my 300DD as well, mine in not in a wall but I put a 8 inch riser under it. But that tank will have a 150g rubbermaid horse trough thing and a 30g frag tank all plumed into it. So if you have not made the jump on the refrigum then Im in agreeance with everyone here saying you are good to go with the 120g or if you want to go bigger go for it lol.
Forget the house and what the wife wants just make the whole house thing nothing but tanks lol. You guys are newlyish wedds right? She will get mad at you and then just start to let you do what you want after time anyways so just get all that other stuff out of the way now lol. JK and if my wife reads this someone else hacked my account and wrote all of this and I am denying my knowing of any of your guys or this site lol.
Sharkdog22
New member
By the way my wife had about less than 3 mins to ok me getting a 300DD but it was not hard to talk her into it on the deal I got, but me drilling hole into the wall to plum the tank to my sump that in another room was a different story, and im still not hearing the end of it on am I going to fill in the extra space between the pipes going threw the walls lol. So I completely understand where you are coming from on the wife's input on the tank and in all honest you need to take and use her ideas of what she say to survive the night I mean umm umm have a happy marriage lol.
Sharkdog22
New member
Just to tag along with on reefnut2012 and chiton are fighting about. Reefnut is right about the pumps creating heat, but no one mentioned yet that lets say the pump is adding % degrees of heat to your tank. ok well that pump is running all the time with lights on and lights off so that 5 degree is not going anywhere. But when lights on the tank temp goes up and lights off the tank temp goes down the pump's 5 degrees is still there. With that being said Chiton how do you have your vents setup on your tank? with the basement at 64ish degrees and your vents set up to where one is blowing in cool air and one is blowing hot air out I would say you should not have to have a chiller inside a house
DeepSeaBeauti
Will Fielitz
I think in the interim i will be running my old 55 as my refrigum until the 300 is up and running. Then will mostly use the 125 as a sump and leave the 55 as just a refrigum. I will use the 30gal I have as my sump/refrigum now as a QT tank. At least that's the plan for now.
As for the wife, we are newly wedds, but believe me she has already been conditioned to accept my decisions and choices. Keeping the stairs was mostly my decision. I imagined myself as a kid again and remember how cool it was running around and playing hide an sneak. These stairs are a sneaky way to get up stairs with out being seen. lol
DeepSeaBeauti
Will Fielitz
Speaking of pumps, Have you figured out what pump your going to use? I plan on modifying the overflow drains in the tank to a Herbi style and routing the water back to the tank over the top hidden in the stand and canopy. This should not increase my drain rate but I figure the drop of about 9' will drain quick as it is. So im going to need a pump that has a high enough head pressure and flow rate to get a matched setup without having to valve anything back.
sawcreatives
Member
Here is the latest rendering of the 300 DD. Its taken a lot of compromise with the wife to even get this. I have to build this stand soon so I can get my
125g out my grandparents house. I'm open to tips an suggestions.
BTW, I know many of you maybe concerned with the tank under the windows. I'm still planing on running solar tubes to light the tank so the little bit of spill over is not a concern for me.
Oh, and the drawing is still a work in progress, forgive the crudeness of the drawing.
I love this idea. 300gallons is a whole lot of swimming room!
DeepSeaBeauti
Will Fielitz
I love this idea. 300gallons is a whole lot of swimming room!
Yes it is. My contractor and I were joking around yesterday since I started this hobby about 18years ago out of a 20L tank. I remember begging my dad to rebuild a 55g we got used. Needed to be resealed. Well I still have that tank, and it is now going to be my refrigum for a bit. Its really funny how big enough go be just a bit bigger still.
Vinny Kreyling
Premium Member
Pump
Pump
I would look into a Reeflo Dart for a return pump.
Coming from the basement is going to cut the flow down with head pressure.
From what I read they are reliable and energy efficient.
I seriuosly doubt you will get a pump with "just the right flow" and adding a valve usually reduces wattage anyway.
It is always nice to have the extra capacity for "add ons" in the future.
Pump
I would look into a Reeflo Dart for a return pump.
Coming from the basement is going to cut the flow down with head pressure.
From what I read they are reliable and energy efficient.
I seriuosly doubt you will get a pump with "just the right flow" and adding a valve usually reduces wattage anyway.
It is always nice to have the extra capacity for "add ons" in the future.
Sharkdog22
New member
Deepsea for the drains I used both overflow return and drain as drains so I got 4 drains I guess. And for the pump I have a Sicce Syncra 12.0 witch does 3200gph, but im running the other 30g tank off of it and am looking at getting a NextReef Reactor (most likely the Monster one) that I have pumped for but dont have just yet. For the 9' you got to go I know they have a Sicce Syncra 16.0 witch does 4200gph.
what is the Herbi style system? Im not familiar with it.
what is the Herbi style system? Im not familiar with it.
DeepSeaBeauti
Will Fielitz
Ill have to look into these two pumps you guys both suggested. I still have some time yet before I get to that point but its good to keep my eyes open for god sales and to see what everyone else is running.
As for the Herbi style overflow. Its a method to drain the tank in a silent fashion. Here is a post for the Beananimal style. Its the same idea but with a fail safe.
http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?t=1310585
vito is hooked
New member
Im kinda curios about the double drain since Im at that point right now with my 300.
.......I used a 180 for my sump/ref...
and was wondering if my 2- 1" 1/2 drains gunna be enough for the 3200 gph pump...
ridetheducati
20 and Over Club
How much head pressure on the 3200gph pump?
vito is hooked
New member
dont know...the pump was given to me.Im gunna have to start a new thread...I have lots of question's and dont want to highjak.....
Sharkdog22
New member
Vito - with a 3200gph pump you will be movin some goooood water if the pump is right under the tank, I would make sure you have a ball value on it to turn it down if needed. Will that pump just be running the tank or are you going to tap off of it and run some other stuff like a reactor?
When you start that other thread post the link on this one so I can follow that one, if thats ok with Deepsea?
When you start that other thread post the link on this one so I can follow that one, if thats ok with Deepsea?
DeepSeaBeauti
Will Fielitz
Here are some updated pic's. This first one is the stand with the desk drawing I made a few months back. Its what I used to negotiate with the wife. Haha
<a href="http://imgur.com/zKFin"><img src="http://i.imgur.com/zKFinl.jpg" title="Hosted by imgur.com" alt="" /></a>
Here is a shot of the desk installed just before the tank went up.
<a href="http://imgur.com/3NIox"><img src="http://i.imgur.com/3NIoxl.jpg" title="Hosted by imgur.com" alt="" /></a>
Pic of the desk pulled out
<a href="http://imgur.com/GUcbP"><img src="http://i.imgur.com/GUcbPl.jpg" title="Hosted by imgur.com" alt="" /></a>
My contractor father and brother getting ready to lift this beast!
<a href="http://imgur.com/zWka3"><img src="http://i.imgur.com/zWka3l.jpg" title="Hosted by imgur.com" alt="" /></a>
<a href="http://imgur.com/4DRrw"><img src="http://i.imgur.com/4DRrwl.jpg" title="Hosted by imgur.com" alt="" /></a>
<a href="http://imgur.com/x7hJp"><img src="http://i.imgur.com/x7hJpl.jpg" title="Hosted by imgur.com" alt="" /></a>
<a href="http://imgur.com/sOUF9"><img src="http://i.imgur.com/sOUF9l.jpg" title="Hosted by imgur.com" alt="" /></a>
Trust in the stand?
<a href="http://imgur.com/nWikh"><img src="http://i.imgur.com/nWikhl.jpg" title="Hosted by imgur.com" alt="" /></a>
Sitting up on the stand. Looking good
<a href="http://imgur.com/UG7eJ"><img src="http://i.imgur.com/UG7eJl.jpg" title="Hosted by imgur.com" alt="" /></a>
Tank installed and desk pulled out. I'm loving the way this is turning out.
<a href="http://imgur.com/LBbqB"><img src="http://i.imgur.com/LBbqBl.jpg" title="Hosted by imgur.com" alt="" /></a>
<a href="http://imgur.com/zKFin"><img src="http://i.imgur.com/zKFinl.jpg" title="Hosted by imgur.com" alt="" /></a>
Here is a shot of the desk installed just before the tank went up.
<a href="http://imgur.com/3NIox"><img src="http://i.imgur.com/3NIoxl.jpg" title="Hosted by imgur.com" alt="" /></a>
Pic of the desk pulled out
<a href="http://imgur.com/GUcbP"><img src="http://i.imgur.com/GUcbPl.jpg" title="Hosted by imgur.com" alt="" /></a>
My contractor father and brother getting ready to lift this beast!
<a href="http://imgur.com/zWka3"><img src="http://i.imgur.com/zWka3l.jpg" title="Hosted by imgur.com" alt="" /></a>
<a href="http://imgur.com/4DRrw"><img src="http://i.imgur.com/4DRrwl.jpg" title="Hosted by imgur.com" alt="" /></a>
<a href="http://imgur.com/x7hJp"><img src="http://i.imgur.com/x7hJpl.jpg" title="Hosted by imgur.com" alt="" /></a>
<a href="http://imgur.com/sOUF9"><img src="http://i.imgur.com/sOUF9l.jpg" title="Hosted by imgur.com" alt="" /></a>
Trust in the stand?
<a href="http://imgur.com/nWikh"><img src="http://i.imgur.com/nWikhl.jpg" title="Hosted by imgur.com" alt="" /></a>
Sitting up on the stand. Looking good
<a href="http://imgur.com/UG7eJ"><img src="http://i.imgur.com/UG7eJl.jpg" title="Hosted by imgur.com" alt="" /></a>
Tank installed and desk pulled out. I'm loving the way this is turning out.
<a href="http://imgur.com/LBbqB"><img src="http://i.imgur.com/LBbqBl.jpg" title="Hosted by imgur.com" alt="" /></a>
Sharkdog22
New member
Holy hell that beast is cooler than SH*****T. IM freakin loving that thing. I wont my desk like that lol. Now you just got to get your computer monitors in there without getting shocked lol and that would be great haha.
rogermccray
Active member
So the front edge of this tank is unsupported? other than the corners... Is that going to be a problem?
