To the basement!

[adamyaws]

Hi RC,

Not a complete newbie here but was out of the hobby for about 8 years while I moved around the country. Now we're settled in the Denver metro burbs (Littleton) and won't be going anywhere for quite some time. Technology has definitely improved!

I am building a 90G LPS/invertebrate tank which has been cycling for about 10 days. Things are coming along as expected with LS/LR and nitrates are starting to slowly rise...good news.

So now for the interesting project -- my DT sits next to a stairwell leading into the mostly finished basement. The only unfinished part is the mechanical room and the area under the stairwell next to the DT. My question is this -- how are people going through the wall and making it look decent? I can cut as big a hole as needed (1in drain and 3/4in return expected.)

I've considered installing one of those laundry center boxes which would certainly provide enough room and enough connections. (Of course, I'd replace the bronze valves with PVC FWIW.)

Thoughts? I've done quite a lot of searching and seen some amazing setups but haven't seen many pics of how people are traversing walls and floors. I do not want to drill through my hardwood floors (marriage needs to survive this project.) When I mentioned going through the floors, I got some nasty looks.

Thanks for your help and advice!
Adam

Gear:

Aquarium:
90G Glass Aquarium (standard 48x18)

Sump:
Trigger Systems Ruby 36 Sump
Building a custom 60x18 stand for it in the basement

Return pump:
Pan World 100PX (expected ~500 GPH with head loss.)

Skimmer:
LifeReef VS2-24 running off an Iwaki MD30-RLXT

Eventual gear:
Neptune Systems Apex controller
Either Kalk Stirrer or Calcium reactor

 

[skeeter_ca]

Remove the drywall behind the tank and drill several holes down through the header to route any hoses and wires. Remove the drywall in the basement below the tank to have the hoses come out of the wall to the sump.

skeeter

 

[adamyaws]

Thanks! I guess the simplest answer is the best here. I was hoping there was something a bit more elegant.

I'll break out the box knife and start drilling holes!

Thanks for the help,
Adam

 

[woodnaquanut]

Thanks! I guess the simplest answer is the best here. I was hoping there was something a bit more elegant.

I'll break out the box knife and start drilling holes!

Thanks for the help,
Adam

Everything else after that is an embellishment!

You could frame the opening in with a little molding, painted to match the wall. If it's hidden behind the tank you'll be the only one to know till the tank and stand go away.

After you get all the pipes thru, I'd insulate.

One of the wonderful aspects of DIY is you get to do it to your level of OCDness. :lolspin:

 

[adamyaws]

Good point. I'm fairly OCD but my Interior Designer wife is off the charts OCD!

She's getting quotes on a new stand and canopy from cabinet makers. I was just going to build something and cover it in hardwood plywood then stain it to match some other stuff but she doesn't want me to do that.

Happy wife = happy life. (7 years married today.)

 

[adamyaws]

Thanks for the advice.

I ended up drilling through the wall, then down through the beam supporting the second flight of stairs. 2x1.5" holes should be fine according to my homebuilder father-in-law.

This site has been fantastic thus far --

Used the DIY stand thread to build a stand for the sump/fuge.
Used the Beautiful Plumbing Thread for a few ideas on how to plumb it all up.

Should wrap it up Tuesday or Wednesday.

In the fish room:
TriggerSys Ruby 36S Sump/fuge (Trying to decide on a fuge-light.)

LifeReef VS2-24 skimmer with PanWorld 50PX pump

Return Pump is a PanWorld 200PS plumbed into a 1" return with a tee off to a manifold for 4 reactors. (Making decisions here on what to add.)

Bought a Tunze Osmolator to run ATO
Bought a 20 gallon plastic potable water tank from plastic-mart for an ATO reservoir. (Tank running burns 1.5-2 G/D)

Still considering automating it all with a Neptune Systems Apex controller.

Excited for the UPS truck on Monday. My Gyre is coming in!

 

[CanReefer]

In my situation, I had a room with 3 heat ducts (totally unnecessary for its size). So I took out the one in the middle and was able to route everything down without doing anything permanent.

 

[adamyaws]

Nice!

Last night I got everything up and running in the basement. I still need to find a smaller (physically) heater than the 300W Eheim Jager I'm using. Until I do, the Eheim is going to have to stay in the overflow and operate off the APEX EB4 I wired up there.

At present, I'm using a PanWorld 100PX to drive return up to the main level of the house. It's pushing roughly 10' of head through 1" and 3/4" PVC to the DT and still throttled back by 1/3. I originally hooked up a PW 200PS which was WAY too powerful not to mention noisy. Time to see if I can send it back or if it gets relegated to a backup or craigslist/ebay sale. Going to have to see if I can quiet down the return a bit with some insulation. Then it's drywall patch time.

The APEX gold is up and running too. It's nice to be able to see all stats on my mobile and histograms over time. That thing was worth its weight in gold. One issue I'm having and still need to research is why my pumps won't run on 'auto.' They're manual-on right now.

Tonight I clean up my mess, vacuum up some dust and possibly plumb the LifeReef skimmer back in. Since this tank doesn't have anything other than crabs in it so far, I'm not too worried about going a day or so sans-skimming.

Thanks for all the help out there!
Adam

 

[dukduk]

I saw these wall holes by ELOS over at Aquarium Specialtys site. Like a fancy hole trim