The inwall 380 starfire reborn

[jnarowe]

couple things Tom:

1. I have a school of 8 chromis and they do school at all levels in the water column. What I really like about them is that when I feed, they make sure nothing gets into the overflow. They are very agressive surface eaters and really balance out the whole dining experience.

2. On the trim, it does look out-of-balance with that giant door but you can do a lot with color too. Keep in mind that while the white may match other trim in the house, it does not help the reef "pop". Dark trim will probably give you better visual appeal. And you know the "door" is kind of cool. You might think about a nice dark stain instead of paint. I am not one for a lot of grain in my house (can't stand oak or pine) but that is an unusual piece and maybe it could add an artistic element to the display.

 

[Sparkss]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=9040528#post9040528 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by strittmatter
I personally think the trim is a littile thins. But if it was me I would just leave it. Once the tank is all up and running no one will ever even know what color the trim is.

I agree with you on both points. I am still undecided about routing an ornate edge to the door. If I could find a router bit to match the current trim then I would do it, but barring that I may just leave it plain right now. It is not like I can't take it down and modify and repaint it later.

 

[Sparkss]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=9040764#post9040764 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by jnarowe
2. On the trim, it does look out-of-balance with that giant door but you can do a lot with color too. Keep in mind that while the white may match other trim in the house, it does not help the reef "pop". Dark trim will probably give you better visual appeal. And you know the "door" is kind of cool. You might think about a nice dark stain instead of paint. I am not one for a lot of grain in my house (can't stand oak or pine) but that is an unusual piece and maybe it could add an artistic element to the display.

I think that once I paint the door it will hopefully "blend" a little better. I could have gone 2" shorter and still gotten away with it, but that piece came in that width, so I only had to cut it on one edge. I have some ideas for making the current trim thicker, as simply as adding some 3/4" corner bead on the inside (tank side, versus wall side). That would be the easiest way to add thickness to the trim. I chose this trim because it was the only trim of any width that had an overhang to tie it into the sheetrock opening lip. I know that the opening is square and level because of how I framed and cut it, plus the overhang helps to fill in the gap between the tank and the sheetrock (where I still need to silicone in with white silicone). There is a gap because the plastic frame around the top of the tank sits off the face approx 1/8" - 3/16", so that was as far forward as we could push the tank (without bowing out/breaking the sheetrock).

The wood piece is standard laminated board, oft times referred to as paint stock board (IIRC). It is a little straighter than dimensional lumber, and a whole lot lighter. Also the trim came in white, I did not paint it that color, although I will be painting it to match the door (whatever color that ends up being).

My main reason for pushing ahead with the door was that I wanted to get my front access set up, since I will be needing it for the aquascaping, and it also helps when I transfer water and LS from our existing tank. If this turns out to be temporary, then that's ok too, it will at least serve it's purpose, and then some

 

[jnarowe]

Well, I like the wall color allot because it's a darker shade and a nice color. There are a lot of darker colors that would look good with it too like maroon, some darker reds, black, some greens. I just find that piece to be interesting enough to warrant some creative thinking (not that you aren't mulling it over constantly ).

Is it flush with the trim or does it overhang it? You could even make it into a piece of artwork. I tend to like simple non-distracting installations, but I have seen some very cool stuff done with art and various materials to showcase the tank also.

 

[zemuron114]

Tom, anthias will school all over, not just a particular region in the tank Get a few large active fish (tangs etc) they will school in more tightly.
you cant go wrong with anthias!

 

[jnarowe]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=9041900#post9041900 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by zemuron114
Tom, anthias will school all over, not just a particular region in the tank Get a few large active fish (tangs etc) they will school in more tightly.
you cant go wrong with anthias!

Well except for that they need some special attention like multiple feedings each day to remain healthy. Also, fish behavior is much more unpredictable than that. They may not school at all. There are too many factors to say that they will.

 

[joshuasamuels]

I think paint would do better than stain on that particular door. There appears to be a patchwork of grain to it that would likely distract from the tank if stained (even if a dark stain is used). I agree with Jonathon that a darker color would help the tank stand out more.

Just my unsolicited $0.02...

 

[GreshamH]

I wouldn't do white trim either Tom. From experience, I can tell you that white tends to be a distraction when viewing the tank It pulls your eyes to the sides

 

[Sparkss]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=9041713#post9041713 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by jnarowe
Well, I like the wall color allot because it's a darker shade and a nice color. There are a lot of darker colors that would look good with it too like maroon, some darker reds, black, some greens.

Thanks, it took us what seemed like forever to settle on that wall color. I know that we drove our painters crazy since we went through at least 12 different smaples of paint (but we were also trying to decide on paint for 4 different, but "connected" rooms. Our walls looked similar to the patchwork of that door panel by the time we were done (what with all of the sample areas painted with various colors to "test" them out at different times of the day and against each other. If you couldn't already tell, we are an earth-toned kind of a family . When we bought the house it was all "renters white". There are still 2 rooms upstairs that need to be painted, pne we have even bought the paint for, but that is a project for another day and another forum . I Will discuss the darker trim ideas with the wife when she gets back into town and then see if I can pick up some tinting for the 2-part epoxy.

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=9041713#post9041713 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by jnarowe
Is it flush with the trim or does it overhang it? You could even make it into a piece of artwork. I tend to like simple non-distracting installations

The bottom of the door is flush (snug fit) with the top of the side trim. I also favor simple over complex when it comes to designs and living space.

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=9041900#post9041900 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by zemuron114
Tom, anthias will school all over, not just a particular region in the tank Get a few large active fish (tangs etc) they will school in more tightly.
you cant go wrong with anthias!

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=9043188#post9043188 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by jnarowe
Well except for that they need some special attention like multiple feedings each day to remain healthy. Also, fish behavior is much more unpredictable than that. They may not school at all. There are too many factors to say that they will.

I understand your concerns about the fish schooling, but addition of some larger active fish, as DJ suggested, will help ensure that the anthias (or any other schooling fish) will actually school more tightly. And as for feeding, I am a firm believer in automatic feeders, since I cannot guarantee our schedule from day to day, hor to hour. We have multiple automatic feeders, that can handle mutiple daily feedings, for good quality pellets and supplement that with a DIY food recipe, cyclopeez, arctipods, etc in the evenings, as time permits. So in general they should get plenty to eat. And with the skimmer we have planned, any "aftermath" from these "eating machines" shouldn't be an issue (the "powerfailure scenario" concern shoulnd't be a big deal, since for a couple of hours, or even a day, they shouldn't be enough to foul the tank to a toxic level, any more than that and we have other issues to consider).

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=9043362#post9043362 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by joshuasamuels
I think paint would do better than stain on that particular door. There appears to be a patchwork of grain to it that would likely distract from the tank if stained (even if a dark stain is used). I agree with Jonathon that a darker color would help the tank stand out more.

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=9043904#post9043904 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by GreshamH
I wouldn't do white trim either Tom. From experience, I can tell you that white tends to be a distraction when viewing the tank It pulls your eyes to the sides

All good advice and information. As I read this and think about it I would have to agree with the general consensus that a darker color trim would be better. It makes perfect sense.

Thaks to all that chimed in on this topic



On a side note, The Seachem ammonia detector is reading a solid green (Alert) level of ammonia. It really helps to remove the protective film from the detector chip on the card . Here is what their site said about the different detector levels :

As free ammonia, the ALERT color corresponds to about 0.05 mg/L, ALARM to about 0.2 mg/L, and TOXIC to about 0.5 mg/L.

We are still holding at the ALERT level.

 

[jnarowe]

well that all sounds great Tom. It's tough to pick this stuff...as I mature I tend to tell myself that if I don't like it, I can change it. I used to only do what I felt was permanently acceptable, so I still have rooms with no art on the walls because I haven't painted them.

Check out a bunch of TOTM FTS and see which ones you really like. I really like Steve Weast's viewing room and will use some of his ideas like a dark wood frame and grass walls. I am still considering a shallow oval bar as the sill of the tank window so that we could sit at it on stools and eat sushi. BUT, I am not sure that will be the most relaxing facade in the sense that sitting further away in the room, it may appear to cluttered.

 

[mrcrab]

Not very relaxing for the fish watching you eat sushi either! :fish1:

 

[jnarowe]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=9049335#post9049335 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by mrcrab
Not very relaxing for the fish watching you eat sushi either! :fish1:

Yeah well that was my first thought, and I don't know about your fish, but my fish would love to get their teeth on some good sushi. They just pile up to the glass and give me the sad eyes.

 

[Sparkss]

hehehe MrCrab and Jnarowe .. I was thinking the same thing about the sushi LOL

It is a great suggestion, but our floor plan does not really lend itself towards putting any sort of a shelf/ledge in front of the tank. So flat it shall remain (but I have seen some nice implementations with short counters in front of the tank, for drinks, snacks, etc, and really loved them, maybe in our next house on our next tank ).

 

[Sparkss]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=9044951#post9044951 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by jnarowe
well that all sounds great Tom. It's tough to pick this stuff...as I mature I tend to tell myself that if I don't like it, I can change it. I used to only do what I felt was permanently acceptable, so I still have rooms with no art on the walls because I haven't painted them.

I am more or less at that point myself. I also used to try to only install/implement the "final result", but realize as I get older that sometimes that is not the best way to handle some tasks. I have little doubt that the current trim/door will change before it all settles down (until the next whole-house re-painting event). How it will change and to what ? that I won't know until we get there

 

[mrcrab]

I seriously considered the counter option. I was going to do some type of rounded marble, I just kept having nightmares of someone knocking something into the veiwing pane and having a short-lived tsunami in my dining room.

 

[Sparkss]

yea... that would totally suck (and is a little to much on the possible/probable side for my tastes).

One other concern for us is that the wall below the viewing pane is more or less held up by the sheetrock, so the last thing I would want was someone putting a ton of downward/outward weight on that wall (like someone using the counter/ledge as a support for their body weight)

 

[jnarowe]

the one I am planning is 2" thick and built into the wall. My tank is actually behind a 6"+ deep wall and has that window frame look already. The bar would just be an extension of the box.

 

[mrcrab]

You also have an acrylic tank.

 

[jnarowe]

but it is a good point. I certainly don't want scratches on it and that is much more likely than a tsunami.

 

[nasotang]

Finally got caught up. This thread was full of links to goodies.

Can't wait to see pictures once you have the lighting finshed up.

How did the replacement of the Vortec go?